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Driving under the influence does not only mean alcohol. Prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and even some over-the-counter medications can impair a driver just as dangerously as alcohol.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a driver under the influence of drugs, you deserve someone who will fight to hold them accountable. At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., our Chicago car accident lawyers have been standing up for everyday working people since 2002, recovering more than $100 million for clients just like you.
When you need a drugged driving accident lawyer in Chicago, we are ready. Choose Charlie.
Why Drugged Driving Cases Are Harder to Win Than You Might Expect
When a drunk driver causes a crash, a blood alcohol content reading can tell a clear story. Drugged driving cases are rarely that straightforward. Here is what makes these cases challenging and how we fight back.
There Is No Breathalyzer for Drug Impairment
While Illinois law establishes “per se” limits for cannabis of 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood or 10 nanograms for other bodily substances, there is no universally accepted standard for measuring most types of drug impairment, the way there is for alcohol.
Insurance companies use this gap to argue that the presence of a drug does not prove the driver was impaired.
We work with medical experts who can explain exactly how the substance involved would have affected the driver’s ability to control their vehicle at the time of your accident.
Toxicology Results Can Be Disputed
Defense teams may argue that a drug was metabolized, present in a low concentration, or taken at a different time than the crash.
Our Chicago drugged driving accident attorneys move quickly to preserve toxicology evidence and engage experts who can speak to what the results actually mean. We also use police reports and officer observations from the accident scene to support evidence of impairment.
The Driver May Claim the Substance Was Legal
Drivers who were impaired by prescription or over-the-counter medications may claim that because the drug was legal, they cannot be held responsible. But legality does not erase negligence.
By reviewing medication warning labels, medical records, and working with qualified experts, we can demonstrate that the driver knew that the medication made it unsafe to get behind the wheel.
Evidence Can Disappear Quickly
The window for gathering critical evidence is often narrow. The moment you hire us, we begin securing every available piece of evidence from the accident scene, toxicology results, and any dashcam or surveillance footage.
A Criminal Case and a Civil Case Are Not the Same Thing
If the drugged driver was not criminally charged, or if charges were dropped, your civil case is not automatically lost. Our personal injury lawyers in Chicago build your claim independently using the lower standard of proof that applies in civil court.
Common Injuries in Drugged Driving Accidents
Crashes caused by intoxicated drivers often happen at full speed, with no braking and no attempt to avoid impact. That makes the resulting injuries particularly severe.
Some of the most serious injuries we see in drugged driving accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal organ damage
These injuries carry enormous medical expenses and long-term costs that can stretch for years. When someone else made the choice to drive while impaired, you should not have to bear those costs alone.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If you were hurt by a driver under the influence of drugs, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Medical expenses for treatment you have already received
- Future medical care for ongoing treatment, surgery, or rehabilitation
- Lost wages if your injuries kept you out of work
- Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional toll the accident has taken on your life
- Property damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
- Loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries have affected your ability to do the things that matter to you
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one, including funeral costs, loss of financial support, and compensation for your grief and loss
Our Chicago drugged driving accident lawyers go through every detail of your situation and make sure your claim accounts for the full impact of what happened.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Illinois?
In most personal injury cases, Illinois law dictates that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations, and missing it will take away your right to seek compensation, no matter how strong your case might be.
Two years can feel like a long time, but in drunk driving cases, especially, it is not. Toxicology results have to be obtained and preserved. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Witnesses become harder to locate. Police reports get buried. Building a case that holds up takes time and preparation.
The sooner you reach out to a drugged driving accident lawyer in Chicago, the better positioned you will be. Do not wait until the deadline is looming.
Contact a Chicago Drugged Driving Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Being hurt by a driver who chose to get behind the wheel while impaired is a deeply unfair situation. You were doing everything right. You had no way to protect yourself from someone else’s reckless decision.
And now you are the one dealing with the pain, the medical bills, the missed work, and the uncertainty about what comes next. That is not how it should be. If you want to find out how a car accident lawyer can help you, reach out today.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we offer free consultations with no pressure and no obligation. Our Chicago car accident lawyers are ready to listen, ready to investigate, and ready to fight for every dollar of accountability and compensation you deserve.
