Both drivers under the influence in rare accident in Illinois

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Drunk Driving Accidents

With all the public awareness out there about the dangers of driving while impaired, and the serious criminal consequences of a DUI, it&s shocking to discover that people fail to heed these warnings and that drunk driving accidents still occur.

In a recent accident on the Stevenson Expressway, there was not one, but two, drunk drivers. Both of the drivers now face DUI charges following the rare incident.

According to Illinois State Police, the 21-year-old female driver stalled her car in the middle of the expressway. At that point, her car was rear-ended by a 24-year-old male driver. Authorities aren&t quite sure why the first car stalled in the middle of the road in the first place. The accident occurred just after midnight and tied up the expressway for hours while the scene was cleared.

Two people were injured in the crash. The female driver was listed in stable condition and a passenger from the second car was in serious condition. The damage could have been much worse considering there were four passengers in both cars.

In most DUI accidents, an injured party is able to file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver to recover damages. But in this case, the injured female driver was also allegedly under the influence and her shared negligence and recklessness may undermine any personal injury claim.

The injured passenger in the male driver&s vehicle may be able to recover compensation from either driver since both were negligent in the accident by virtue of their impairment. He can seek damages to cover his medical bills, costs of therapy and well as expenses for pain and suffering.

Those affected by a drunk driver should understand their situation entirely and what options they might have. A qualified professional could aid the injured party and guide them through the process to recover compensation for the damages and injury suffered.

Source: CBS Chicago, "Two Drivers Charged With DUI In I-55 Crash," Courtney Gousman, Aug. 3, 2013