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What is the statute of limitations for cases involving drunk drivers who are being sued for causing injuries an/or death?

 

A: One of the key distinctions between car accident lawsuits involving drivers who have been drinking and those who were just negligent is that cases involving intoxicated drivers have another class of defendants: dram shops.

A dram shop is a licensed seller of alcoholic beverages such as a bar, restaurant, or liquor store.  The Illinois Dram Shop Act provides for civil liability for injuries caused by persons who become intoxicated by alcoholic beverages provided by the dram shop.

The statute of limitations against a dram shop is only one year from the date of accident.  Because drunk drivers will frequently refuse to provide this information to their victims while criminal charges are pending involving a drunk driving arrest, this is a good reason to hire an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer early on in the case.  This will allow your lawyer to properlty identify any dram shops which are potentially liable for your injuries under the Illinois Dram Shop Act.

While the statute of limitations against the dram shops in Illinois is only one year, the statute of limitations is 2 years aganist the drunk driver.

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