Drunk driving accidents are far too common. These incidents can result in serious injuries to those involved, including the driver, other motorists, and pedestrians. When an intoxicated person gets on the road after visiting a bar or restaurant, the alcohol merchant may be partially at fault for a crash that ensues.
With the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. on your side, you will have the support of lawyers well-versed in Illinois Dram Shop Laws. This will help you determine who is responsible for your injuries and the best course of action to pursue compensation. When a drunk driver has injured you, you do not have to endure the legal process alone. Give our experienced auto collision attorneys a call today.
Understanding the Liquor Control Act
Depending on the circumstances of your collision, additional parties besides the drunk driver may be responsible for your injuries. According to Illinois Law, alcohol merchants must meet specific requirements to maintain a liquor license. One of those requirements is compliance with Dram shop laws.
In Illinois, dram shop laws allow alcohol merchants to be held accountable for property damage and personal injury to others. This means that if a drunk driver purchased liquor from a merchant before causing you injury, the merchant may be at fault for those injuries.
Limitations of Dram Shop Laws
The Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. is an essential member of your support system after a drunk driving accident. The Illinois Liquor Control Act allows alcohol merchants to be held responsible for accidents caused by drunk drivers.
However, only a licensed Dram shop lawyer in Aurora could tell you if these laws will work in your favor. Just because a drunk driver purchased alcohol before a collision does not mean that the injured party can automatically sue the seller of that alcohol.
Challenges to Causation
To be successful in a claim against a drunk driver and an alcohol-serving establishment, there must be a causal connection between the purchase of liquor and the crash.
Numerous circumstances could occur between the sale and the accident, decreasing the merchant’s responsibility. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney to advise you on the legal process of determining fault may be beneficial.
Why Sue the Alcohol Merchant?
If a merchant can be held partially responsible for your injuries, you may have better options for the amount of compensation you can recover and the timeliness of that recovery. However, Illinois Dram Shop Laws establish a monetary limit to the damages a plaintiff can recover for their injuries from alcohol merchants.
This means that the inclusion of the alcohol merchant as a defendant has its benefits and its drawbacks. The dram shop lawyers at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. in Aurora have the knowledge to advise you on how this law may affect your case.
Call the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. to Speak with an Aurora Dram Shop Attorney
The aftermath of a drunk driving collision goes far beyond the treatment for injuries. The plaintiff can be out of work or incapable of holding a job altogether. In addition, they may be dealing with adverse effects on their mental health.
The lawyers at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. have the experience and skills to hold your wrongdoers responsible. When you have been injured in a drunk driving crash, contact the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. for a free consultation with an Aurora Dram shop lawyer.