Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog

A security video from a bar has emerged in the investigation of Thanksgiving Day fatal car crash in which two people were killed by an off-duty Chicago police officer who was seen speeding shortly before the car wreck. The security video shows the officer drinking and doing shots with the bartender shortly before the accident. The officer was first tested for blood-alcohol content approximately 7 hours after the crash, at which time his level was approximately half the legal limit.

When there is a fatal drunk driving crash, the surviving members of the victim of the wrongful death accident are well-advised to hire competent counsel immediately. In addition to a civil remedy against the drunk driver there may be a basis for pursuing the bar where he got drunk under the Illinois Dram Shop Act. This is an avenue which requires prompt investigation because there is a one year statute of limitations on cases under the Dram Shop Act.

The other reason to hire counsel promptly is to move the investigation forward as quickly as possible, including preserving important evidence such as the videotape described involved in this case. This will be powerful evidence should a civil lawsuit reach a jury.

Labels: Car crashes, dram shop act, drunk driving accidents, wrongful death