Chicago DUI
Accident Lawyer

Advocates for fair compensation

Drunk driving accidents are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on American roads each year. Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol who choose to operate a vehicle put everyone, including themselves, at risk.

In a fair world, DUI victims and their families would have no trouble collecting financial compensation from an obviously intoxicated driver. But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, and you can’t count on an insurance company to treat you fairly. A Chicago drunk driving accident lawyer with Paul & Steve can help you build your case to get the compensation you deserve.

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What makes us stand out

The Paul & Steve Difference

Choosing a Chicago drunk driving accident attorney to represent you can be challenging. Why call Paul & Steve?

Proven success

Our firm has earned more than $250 million for our clients, including 75 cases at $1 million or more. We are expert litigators willing to fight for every dollar that our clients deserve.

Fairness

Would it be fair for your Chicago DUI accident lawyer to make more than you do from your personal injury claim? We don’t think so. We promise, in writing, that we never will.

Client-first approach

From start to finish, your needs come first. We answer all questions, do the legal heavy lifting, and even ensure you get the expert medical care, treatment, and support you need.
(312) 635-5400
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They are highly knowledgeable, professional, and very service-focused. They deliver excellent outcomes. I would highly recommend them to anyone.
— Jasmin A.
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Why Do You Need a DUI Accident Attorney?

It seems like, after a drunk driving crash, victims should be able to expect a quick settlement and fair treatment. After all, how could there possibly be any question about who was at fault? 

You’d be surprised. The insurance company isn’t on your side. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible, not to ensure you’re treated fairly. As a result, injury victims often struggle to receive financial compensation in line with the true value of what they’ve lost. An attorney can help with: 

  • Establishing liability. Even if the at-fault driver was visibly intoxicated and cited for a DUI, the insurance company could still try to pin some of the blame for the crash on you—for example, by saying you didn’t check for traffic before entering an intersection. This could allow them to pay you less than your claimed damages. 
  • Calculating compensatory damages. After a DUI crash, you may have experienced an extensive list of economic damages (such as medical bills, lost income) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or loss of quality of life). The insurance company will try to minimize these loses. Our experienced litigators work with doctors, life care planners, and other experts to prove how much you truly deserve. 

Furthermore, in certain cases punitive damages might be added to a drunk driving accident claim. Punitive damages are meant to punish defendants for grossly negligent or reckless behavior. However, punitive damages are rarely awarded, and there’s no set guidelines for determining how much to award. If punitive damages are a possibility for your drunk driving accident case, an experienced attorney will help you make the best possible case. 

After a being hurt by a drunk driver, you shouldn’t have to worry about fighting the insurance company over medical bills, lost income, and how to value your non-economic damages. You should be able to focus on what really matters—getting better, for yourself and your loved ones. Paul & Steve can help. We work hard to hold drunk drivers accountable and get you compensation you deserve. 

(312) 635-5400
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Drunk Driving Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021 alone, 13,384 people died in alcohol-involved auto accidents. More than 30% of all traffic fatalities occur in drunk driving crashes. Even when DUI crashes aren’t fatal, they often leave victims with devastating, long-lasting, and even life-changing injuries.

And the problem is getting worse, not better. Alcohol-related car accident deaths increased 14% from 2020 to 2021.

Every person injured or killed in a DUI accident has a family who loves them and people who depend on them. And every one of those crashes are preventable. Our law firm is dedicated to seeking justice for accident victims and holding at-fault drivers accountable for driving under the influence.

DUI Laws in Illinois

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any intoxicating compounds. More specifically, a person may not drive or be in physical control of any vehicle if their BAC (blood alcohol content) is over the legal limit of 0.08%.

They also may not drive or be in physical control of a vehicle if under the influence of any drug or substance which renders them incapable of operating a vehicle safely.

Criminal Penalties for DUI:

  • Misdemeanor: First time offenders will have their license revoked for a period of one year (two years if under the age of 21). Second time offenders will have their license revoked for a period of five years.
  • Felony: Third time offenders will have their license revoked for a period of ten years. Fourth time offenders will have their license revoked for life.
  • Aggravated DUI: Any DUI resulting in serious injury, permanent disability, or disfigurement of another person is also classed as an aggravated DUI, which is also a felony. The minimum prison term for aggravated DUI is one year while the maximum is twelve years.
  • Reckless Homicide: Any person operating a vehicle while intoxicated which results in someone’s death can be convicted of reckless homicide. This carries a minimum six-year sentence if one death occurred, and up to a maximum of 28 years if two or more people were killed.

Offenders with a BAC of more than 0.16% or who were transporting a person under the age of 16 at the time of the violation are subject to additional prison time, community service, and fines where applicable.

The Chicago DUI victim attorneys at Paul & Steve know that first time and repeat DUI offenders are sometimes let off with just a slap on the wrist by the criminal justice system. When we take on your case, we’ll do everything in our power to hold perpetrators of DUI accidents more accountable for their actions.

Non-Alcohol DUI

DUI is not restricted only to alcohol. It is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of the following controlled substances:

  • Marijuana
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
  • Salvia
  • Morphine
  • Psilocybin (Mushrooms)
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

A complete list of controlled substances can be found in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.

Always by your side

We are a law firm close to the client.

$
75,000

A pharmacy blunder left our client with a painful and lasting skin condition, but our determination and advocacy led to a settlement of $75,000 from the insurance company that truly acknowledged her suffering.

$
145,000

Despite facing blame for a painful accident in a parking lot, we fought tirelessly for our client, securing a $145,000 settlement to help them heal and move forward.

$
125,000

After a painful fall in a grocery store due to spilled yogurt, our team faced the insurance company head-on and secured $125,000 in compensation for our client.

$
175,000

In the midst of a snowstorm, our client suffered a broken ankle due to unmarked uneven pavement at a fast food restaurant. We fought tirelessly for a triumphant settlement of $175,000, seven times the initial offer.

$
250,000

A traumatic rear-end collision left our client in pain and with questions, but our team secured justice as the at-fault driver’s insurance recognized their mistake and offered the maximum compensation.

$
405,000

Following a traumatic accident with a semi-truck that landed our client in the hospital, we fought tirelessly to ensure the insurance company met their needs, securing the justice they deserved.
View All Settlments

Call Our Chicago DUI Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of a DUI accident in Illinois through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. The Chicago DUI accident attorneys at Paul & Steve are committed to holding those who drive under the influence responsible for their negligent and destructive actions.

Over the years, Paul & Steve have recovered total settlements of over $250 million. More than 75 of those cases involved amounts exceeding $1 million. Many of these court victories were on behalf of DUI victims and their families.

If you’ve been injured in a DUI accident, let the caring professionals at Paul & Steve handle the legal battle while you focus on recovery. We will be fighting for you every step of the way. Call us at (312) 701-3333, chat with one of our representatives online, or submit a free case evaluation 24/7

(312) 635-5400
Book a Free Consultation

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(312) 635-5400