Recently, a man was charged with a DUI after his involvement in a fatal three-vehicle crash in Schaumburg. Emergency personnel were called to the scene shortly after the accident, and one of the vehicle drivers passed away from injuries hours after the collision. The 25-year-old man was charged with the DUI, and he was allegedly driving under the influence of illegal drugs when he collided with two different vehicles before driving into a field off of East Schaumburg Avenue.  

The tragedy marks just the latest motor vehicle accident involving drugs or alcohol in the greater Chicago area. If you or your family are impacted by the negligent and reckless actions of a drunk driver, finding proper legal representation can help you obtain the legal guidance and financial compensation you deserve. 

DUI Statistics Throughout Illinois

Holiday festivities are in full force as the New Year approaches. While families and friends come together for the holiday season, alcoholic beverages often accompany the parties. But as you and your loved ones bring in the new year, watch out for impaired drivers on the roads. Additionally, if you or a member of your family are injured in a collision involving negligence or alcohol impairment, contact a Lake County personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case and options available for recovery.

Drinking and Driving Kills

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 29 people die in drunk driving accidents every day throughout the United States. While fatal collisions involving alcohol impairment have steadily decreased over the last three decades, drunk driving accidents still result in more than 10,000 fatalities annually.

Drunk driving is a major, ongoing safety issue on our nation’s roads. Yet while the number of drunk driving accidents and fatalities has been on the decline in recent years, hundreds of people are still killed in these accidents every year in Illinois.

The state’s drunk driving laws aim to address this issue by providing harsh punishments for drunk drivers. One area in which the state hopes to improve safety is in matters involving underage drivers.

Conor’s Law Addresses Underage DUI Arrests

Every year in the U.S. there are approximately 111 million instances in which adults drive after drinking over the legal limit. About 10,265 people die in drunk driving accidents across the country annually. Every two minutes, a person is injured in an alcohol-related traffic accident.

While the statistics do not resemble the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents during the drunk driving epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s, the rate of drunk driving is still a concern among many, and researchers and policymakers are seeking ways to address the issue.

What Can Be Done?

Everyone is aware of the danger that drunk driving poses to people on the road, but many people may not realize that prescription painkillers can be just as dangerous.

As the use and abuse of opioids has increased in recent decades, the number of drivers killed in car accidents while under the influence of these drugs has also seen a major increase.

Study Shows the Impact of Opioids on Car Crashes