Being hurt by a drunk driver is different from other accidents. There’s nothing accidental about getting behind the wheel intoxicated, and the law treats it that way. If you or someone you love has been injured in a drunk driving crash, you have the right to pursue compensation not just for what you’ve lost, but potentially for punitive damages that go beyond standard injury claims.
A drunk driving accident lawyer in Orland Park can help you understand exactly what that means for your case. At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we represent people who have been seriously hurt through someone else’s deliberate choices. We know how these cases work, how insurance companies respond to them, and how to build a claim that reflects the impact of what happened.
If you’ve been injured by an impaired driver, an Orland Park car accident lawyer can help you pursue every avenue of compensation available through our personal injury practice.
Who We Help and Cases We Handle in Illinois
Drunk driving accidents cause some of the most serious injuries we see. We represent:
- Passengers in vehicles driven by an impaired driver
- Drivers and occupants of other vehicles struck by a drunk driver
- Pedestrians and cyclists hit by an impaired driver
- Families pursuing wrongful death claims after a fatal drunk driving crash
Our Orland Park personal injury lawyers handle cases involving all types of impairment: alcohol, prescription medication, illegal substances, or any combination. If another person’s decision to drive impaired caused your injuries, we can help.
Your Rights After a Drunk Driving Crash in Orland Park
In Illinois, being hurt by a drunk driver gives you the right to pursue both compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages cover what you’ve actually lost: medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering. Punitive damages go further, existing specifically to punish conduct that goes beyond simple negligence. Drunk driving qualifies.
Illinois courts have consistently recognized that getting behind the wheel while impaired is a conscious, reckless decision, not an accident in the traditional sense. And it happens more often than most people expect.
Affluent drivers are more likely to drunk drive than many assume, which means these crashes happen in neighborhoods and on roads where people feel safe.
There may also be third-party liability in play. Under Illinois’ Dram Shop Act, a bar, restaurant, or licensed establishment that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person before they drove can be held partially responsible for the resulting crash; an avenue worth exploring in every case.
What To Do After a Crash
The steps you take immediately after a drunk driving accident can significantly affect your claim. Here’s what matters most:
- Call 911: a police report is essential, and law enforcement will document the driver’s impairment at the scene
- Seek medical attention right away: even if you feel okay, some injuries take time to appear
- Document everything: photos of the scene, vehicle damage, visible injuries, and road conditions
- Note any witnesses: names and contact information from anyone who saw the crash
- Do not speak to the other driver‘s insurance company without a lawyer present
- Preserve everything: don’t repair your vehicle, discard clothing, or sign anything
If the driver was arrested or cited at the scene, that documentation becomes a critical part of your civil claim. Make sure your drunk driving accident lawyer in Orland Park has access to the police report and any records from the criminal case.
Proving Fault and Damages
In most personal injury cases, proving fault requires establishing that the other party was negligent. In drunk driving cases, that bar is significantly lower because a DUI arrest or conviction is powerful evidence of fault in your civil claim. In some cases, it’s close to conclusive.
That said, fault and damages are two separate things. Proving the driver was impaired is one part of the case. Proving the full extent of what that crash has cost you (and will continue to cost you) is another. Both are important, and both require thorough documentation.
Common Evidence We Gather
Building a strong drunk driving injury claim means pulling together evidence from multiple sources. Here is what an Orland Park drunk driving accident lawyer will tell you to gather:
- Police reports and DUI arrest records
- Breathalyzer and toxicology results
- Witness statements from the scene
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage
- Medical records documenting your injuries and treatment
- Expert testimony on long-term medical and financial impact
- Bar or restaurant records if a Dram Shop claim is in play
- The driver’s history of prior offenses, if applicable
The criminal case and your civil claim run separately, but evidence from one can strengthen the other. We coordinate both timelines carefully.
How Illinois Law Treats Drunk Driving Injury Claims
A DUI conviction creates a strong foundation for your personal injury claim, and you don’t need to wait for the criminal case to resolve before pursuing compensation. An Orland Park drunk driving accident attorney can begin building your civil case immediately.
Illinois’ modified comparative fault rule still applies. If the other side argues you contributed to the crash, your damages could be reduced by your percentage of fault. That argument is harder to make when the other driver was drunk, but insurers will still look for any foothold they can find.
If the driver was overserved at a licensed establishment before getting behind the wheel, the Dram Shop Act may also hold that business liable. Those claims carry a one–year deadline, shorter than the standard two years, so timing matters.
What Your Claim May Be Worth
Drunk driving accident claims often result in higher compensation than standard car accident cases for two reasons. First, injuries tend to be more severe, as impaired drivers frequently cause high-impact collisions that result in long-term harm. Second, punitive damages are on the table in a way they typically aren’t in other personal injury cases.
Depending on your situation, your claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
- Wrongful death damages
No lawyer can guarantee a specific outcome. What we can tell you is that we build every case with the goal of recovering everything you’re entitled to, and that includes categories of compensation people often don’t know they can pursue.
Insurance Tactics and Deadlines
Even in drunk driving cases, where fault seems obvious, insurance companies don‘t simply pay out. They’ll dispute your injuries, point to pre-existing conditions, or push a low settlement offer before you fully understand what your injuries will cost long-term. Early offers are almost never in your best interest; once you accept, you can’t go back.
On deadlines: Illinois gives most personal injury victims two years to file. Dram Shop claims cut that to one year. Miss either, and you lose your right to recover regardless of how strong your case is. The earlier you speak with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Orland Park, the more options remain open to you.
Hiring a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Orland Park
Drunk driving cases are winnable, but they still require the right preparation, the right evidence, and someone who knows how to use the full weight of Illinois law on your behalf.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we take over communication with insurers, build the strongest possible claim, and fight for compensation that reflects everything this crash has cost you, including damages that go beyond a standard accident claim. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
If you’ve been hurt by a drunk driver, don’t wait to find out what your case is worth. Choose Charlie today.
