If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident in Illinois, the Illinois Dram Shop Act may allow you to take legal action against the following parties:
- the intoxicated motorist;
- the person/business who sold the alcohol to the intoxicated person; and
- the owner of the property where the person became drunk (if the business sells liquor for a profit).
The Illinois Dram Shop Act is also called the Illinois Liquor Control Act, which basically reprimands any primary party (the intoxicated person) and secondary party (business) if they illegally contributed to the intoxication of the drunk driver. However, you are required to file an Illinois dram shop claim within 1 year of the date of the accident, for your claim to be considered.There are also statutory limitations on the amount of money an injured individual can receive, which are determined annually by the Comptroller. Throughout the years, the amount of liability limits for the Illinois Dram Shop Act has been rising steadily. In 2009 the Dram Shop liability limit for actions that resulted in personal injury, death or property damage was almost $60,000 for each person.Additionally, families who have claims regarding any loss of financial support or loss of society due to the death of a family member were able to recover up to $72,000 in 2009.
Contacting a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve sustained serious injuries due to another motorist’s negligence in a drunk-driving accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation based on the provisions in the Illinois Dram Shop Act. An experienced Chicago personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle can review your personal injury case and determine if you are eligible to file an Illinois dram shop claim. Contact us today for a no cost case evaluation – (312) 263-1080.
