Getting behind the wheel of a truck while intoxicated is one of the most dangerous decisions a truck driver can make. The sheer size and weight of trucks make them inherently more difficult to control and make the accidents they are involved in especially deadly. Alcohol reduces a driver’s ability to stay focused and maintain control over their vehicle, making intoxicated truck drivers some of the most dangerous people on the road.
Truck operators with a commercial driver’s license are held to a stricter standard when it comes to blood alcohol count (BAC) in drunk driving cases. In the state of Illinois, a truck driver is considered legally drunk if their BAC is .04 or higher. When truck drivers violate these laws and cause injuries as a result, they can be held financially accountable for their negligence.
If an intoxicated truck driver caused you injuries in an accident, contact the experienced Chicago drunk truck driver lawyers at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC for help. We can discuss your legal options with you during a free consultation when you call us at 312-346-8620 today.
How an Attorney Can Help
In most DUI cases, trucking companies have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to their employees operating their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unfortunately, this policy does not stop these deadly truck accidents from happening on a regular basis.
The driver being convicted in criminal court alone will not help you pay for your many accident-related expenses. You will need to pursue a civil case to win these needed funds. You need a skilled and dedicated attorney by your side that will help navigate the legal process. Our attorneys can work with medical experts, investigators, forensic specialists, and law enforcement to gather the evidence necessary to hold the drunk truck driver accountable. Seeking legal representation is essential because an attorney can help negotiate with the insurance company. In many accident cases, an insurer may offer a low settlement or simply reject your claim.
Since 1970, the law firm of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC has vigorously defended injured victims of drunk truck driver accidents. We will ensure that you receive any financial compensation owed to you or your family for the injuries and damages incurred in your crash. We have won millions for our clients in the past, and we are ready to do the same for you.
Liability in Drunk Truck Driver Accidents
Truck accidents are unique in that there are often multiple parties who can be held liable for your injuries. In the case of an intoxicated driver, the driver will certainly be one of the at-fault parties. However, it is highly likely that you may hold other parties responsible as well. This may also allow you to recover more money, since companies tend to have much larger insurance policies than individual drivers.
For example, if a trucking company failed to run a background check on the truck driver before hiring, the driver may have had a history of previous drunk driving convictions that the company may have overlooked. In this instance, the trucking company can be held liable. If the company failed to properly supervise or neglected to hire a responsible driver, the trucking company may be found liable for any damages or deaths that occurred because of the accident.
Not only can trucking companies be held liable, but under Illinois dram shop laws, a commercial vendor can also be held liable for any injuries or damages caused by a drunk driver so long as:
- The vendor sold alcohol to the truck driver that caused the the injury
- The alcohol sold by the vendor caused or contributed to the truck driver’s intoxication
- The intoxication was the proximate cause of the victim’s injuries
Dram shop laws mean that restaurant owners, bar staff, liquor stores, or other vendors who served a truck driver can be at fault for an accident. If it is proven that a bar, restaurant, or a liquor store knowingly served or sold alcohol to a truck driver who was already visibly intoxicated, the owner or bartender may be held accountable. An experienced attorney can interview servers, interview witnesses, and review bar tabs and credit card statements to determine how much alcohol was served to the driver over a certain amount of time.
Contact our Chicago Drunk Truck Driver Accident Attorneys Today
The Chicago attorneys at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC realize the physical, financial and emotional hardships you face as well as the devastation that is caused after a drunk truck driver accident. Our aggressive and committed truck accident lawyers can make a difference in the outcome of your accident claim. You can depend on our skilled legal team to help you obtain an appropriate settlement to cover expenses and medical costs. Contact us at 312-346-8620 today for a free consultation.