Underage drinking and drug use are a factor in many Illinois car collisions. A new state law aims to reduce drunk driving crashes and hold those who enable underage drinking and drug use responsible for their actions. Here’s a closer look at this new law and what it means for those injured in impaired driving collisions.
What is the new law?
The formal name for the new law is the Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act. The law allows anyone injured in a collision involving an impaired underage driver to take legal action against the parties who gave the driver alcohol or drugs. Victims (or their surviving family members in cases involving a wrongful death) can claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including money for property damage, pain and suffering, and attorney fees.
Who Can Be Sued After an Impaired Minor Causes a Crash?
The Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act allows victims of drunk driving crashes to sue certain parties if an impaired minor causes a collision. The first group is adults who willfully provide alcohol or drugs to minors. The second group is adults who allow minors to consume alcohol or drugs on their property.
The idea of the law is that by making adults who enable impaired driving collisions legally liable for the harm these crashes cause, they’ll think twice about their actions. Given the immense costs of impaired driving crashes every year, potentially bearing these costs might cause some adults to rethink the idea of supplying minors with alcohol or drugs.
What Damages Are Available to Families Under the New Law?
The new law gives victims of impaired driving crashes and surviving family members the right to seek compensation for a broad range of losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of educational or economic potential
- Lost income
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Attorneys’ fees and other expenses related to filing a lawsuit
The full amount of compensation available will depend on the circumstances of each specific case. An experienced attorney can help you seek the justice you deserve.
Contact Our Chicago Car Crash Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Many Illinois communities have seen how impaired driving collisions involving underage drivers affect victims, families, and loved ones. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we stand by those affected by drunk driving crashes and aggressively defend their right to fair compensation. We’ve recovered over $2.5 billion for our clients, including more than 350 verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million. We’re committed to using our knowledge, resources, and experiences to fight for justice and accountability on your behalf.
If an impaired underage driver injured you or someone in your family, we’ll handle the legal work and let you focus on healing. Call us today or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Chicago car crash lawyer.
