Aurora Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

A drunk driving accident can leave victims with life-changing injuries, overwhelming medical expenses, and uncertainty about the future. If an impaired driver caused your crash, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your losses. An experienced Aurora drunk driving accident lawyer can investigate the accident, identify all liable parties, and fight for the financial recovery you deserve.

At Conboy Law, we are committed to helping injured victims hold negligent drivers accountable. Call (312) 726-9000 today for a free consultation.

Why Choose Conboy Law for Your Aurora Drunk Driving Accident Case?

After a drunk driving accident, you need more than legal advice; you need a team prepared to protect your rights from the very beginning. At Conboy Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges victims face after being injured by an impaired driver. We are committed to thoroughly investigating every case, identifying all potentially liable parties, and pursuing the maximum compensation available under Illinois law.

From handling communications with insurance companies to gathering critical evidence and preparing your case for trial if necessary, our legal team manages every stage of the claims process so you can focus on your recovery. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

How Drunk Driving Causes Serious Accidents

Alcohol impairs nearly every ability a driver needs to operate a vehicle safely. It slows reaction time, reduces coordination, affects vision, and weakens judgment, making it harder to recognize hazards, judge distances, stay in the proper lane, and respond to changing traffic conditions. Even a small delay in reacting can have devastating consequences on busy roads.

As a result, impaired drivers are more likely to:

• Drive at excessive speeds
• Run red lights or stop signs
• Drift into other lanes or oncoming traffic
• Follow other vehicles too closely
• Drive the wrong way
• Fail to yield the right-of-way
• Miss traffic signals or road hazards

Because impaired drivers often fail to brake or take evasive action before impact, drunk driving accidents frequently occur at higher speeds and with greater force than other collisions. These crashes are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries, permanent disabilities, and fatal outcomes.

Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving collisions often involve significant force, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic injuries.

Common injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries that affect memory, speech, concentration, and overall quality of life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spine may lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, or permanent paralysis requiring lifelong medical care.

Broken Bones

Victims frequently suffer fractures involving the arms, legs, ribs, hips, pelvis, or collarbone. Serious fractures may require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Internal Injuries

Blunt-force trauma can damage internal organs or cause internal bleeding. These injuries may not be immediately apparent but can quickly become life-threatening without prompt treatment.

Burns and Lacerations

Vehicle fires, shattered glass, and twisted metal can cause severe burns, deep cuts, permanent scarring, and disfigurement.

Wrongful Death

Sadly, drunk driving accidents claim thousands of lives each year. Families who lose a loved one may have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim under Illinois law.

What Evidence Can Help Prove a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?

Strong evidence is essential to establishing liability and demonstrating the full extent of your damages. A thorough investigation often begins immediately after the crash to preserve evidence before it is lost.

Helpful evidence may include:

• Police crash reports
• DUI arrest records
• Breathalyzer or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
• Field sobriety test results
• Dashcam or surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Photographs and videos of the accident scene
• Medical records
• Accident reconstruction reports

Even if the impaired driver is convicted of DUI, additional evidence is often necessary to prove liability and recover compensation in a civil injury claim.

Who May Be Liable?

Although the impaired driver is often responsible for causing the crash, other individuals or entities may also share liability depending on the circumstances.

The Drunk Driver

Drivers who choose to operate a vehicle while impaired may be held liable for the injuries and damages they cause.

An Employer

If the impaired driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident, their employer may also bear responsibility under certain circumstances.

The Vehicle Owner

If someone knowingly entrusted their vehicle to an impaired or unfit driver, they may share liability depending on the facts of the case.

Third Parties

In some situations, Illinois law may allow claims against licensed establishments that unlawfully contributed to a person's intoxication. An experienced attorney can determine whether additional parties may be held responsible based on the circumstances of your accident.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Drunk Driving Accident?

If a drunk driver's negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact the accident has had on your life. The value of your claim depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, and how the accident has affected your ability to work and enjoy daily activities.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages, when applicable

An experienced attorney can evaluate your damages and pursue compensation that reflects both your current and future losses.

What Should You Do After a Drunk Driving Accident?

The steps you take after a drunk driving accident can affect both your health and your ability to recover compensation. While the criminal investigation focuses on whether the other driver violated Illinois DUI laws, your civil claim depends on preserving evidence that proves how the crash occurred and the damages you suffered.

Call 911 and Report the Accident

Contact law enforcement immediately, especially if you suspect the other driver is impaired. Officers can investigate the scene, document their observations, administer field sobriety or chemical tests when appropriate, and prepare a police report that may become important evidence in your injury claim.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if you feel well, seek medical evaluation as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, or soft tissue damage, may not produce symptoms right away. Prompt medical treatment also creates records that connect your injuries to the accident.

Preserve as Much Evidence as Possible

If it is safe to do so, gather evidence before leaving the scene. Helpful evidence includes:

• Photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and visible injuries
• Contact information for witnesses
• The other driver's insurance and vehicle information
• Dashcam footage, if available
• The name and badge number of the responding police officers

The more evidence you preserve, the easier it may be to establish liability later.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters may contact you shortly after the accident and ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement. Avoid discussing fault, speculating about your injuries, or accepting an offer before you understand the full extent of your damages. 

Contact an Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk driving accident claims often involve evidence that should be preserved quickly, including police reports, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results, surveillance footage, and witness statements. An experienced attorney can begin investigating immediately, protect your rights throughout the claims process, and pursue the full compensation available under Illinois law.

Illinois Laws That May Affect Your Claim

Several Illinois laws may affect your ability to recover compensation after a drunk driving accident.

Modified Comparative Negligence

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system. If you are 50% or less at fault, you may still recover compensation, although your recovery will generally be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% responsible, you generally cannot recover damages from another at-fault party.

Statute of Limitations

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents must generally be filed within two years of the date of the accident. Missing this deadline may prevent you from pursuing compensation.

Illinois Dram Shop Act

Under the Illinois Dram Shop Act (235 ILCS 5/6-21), an injured person may, in certain circumstances, pursue a claim against a licensed establishment that sold or provided alcohol to an intoxicated individual who later caused injuries. These claims are subject to specific legal requirements and limitations, making it important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contact Our Aurora Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Being injured by a drunk driver can leave you facing serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges. You should not have to bear those burdens because of someone else's reckless decision to drive while impaired. An experienced attorney can investigate the crash, preserve critical evidence, and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.

If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Aurora, Conboy Law is here to help. Our experienced legal team will fight to protect your rights and hold every responsible party accountable.

Call Conboy Law today at (312) 726-9000 for a free consultation with an experienced Aurora drunk driving accident lawyer.