Criminal Charges for Driver Responsible in Drunk Driving Accident

In most cases, a DUI arrest in Illinois is considered a misdemeanor for the first two convictions. In the case of your drunk driving accident, however, the driver who caused the crash as a result of their intoxication is now guilty of a felony. Any DUI arrest in connection with a car accident that caused personal injury or death results automatically in felony charges.

A 3^rd conviction DUI or one that causes a crash resulting in serious bodily injury to anyone involved will be tried in a criminal case for a Class 4 felony. This comes with a minimum loss of license for 10 years, a possible 1 to 12 years of jail time, and fines up to $25,000.

If the drunk driving accident resulted in a death, the DUI driver's conviction moves to a Class 2 felony. They now face 3 to 14 years for a single death, 6 to 28 years for multiple deaths, and fines up to $25,000. In most cases, drivers convicted of DUI-related-deaths lose their license for life.

Our article about Illinois DUI laws explains how these laws may impact the proceedings of your Illinois personal injury lawsuit. Remember that criminal charges may send the drunk driver to prison but they won't help with your medical bills.  If you want to seek compensation for your accident injuries and property damage, you need to talk to a Chicago personal injury lawyer. 

An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. is available to help you file your personal injury claim in a timely manner, contact us today for a free case evaluation. (312) 263-1080