Chicago DUI Crash

The State of Illinois drunk driving laws start with the .08 percentage blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit. Like all states across the U.S.A., Illinois prohibits driving with a .08 percent BAC or above. If you are under 21 years of age in the state of Illinois there is a “Zero” tolerance for alcohol and driving. The only exceptions are for individuals who consume alcohol as part of a religious ceremony or in prescribed medicine containing alcohol. Even with those exceptions, driving with a BAC of .08 is the limit.

Here are some statistics

Every day in the United States, approximately 28 individuals lose their lives to auto accidents that involve a driver who is impaired by alcohol. This equals one DUI-related death roughly every 53 minutes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• In the US in 2014, more than 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Nearly one-third of all traffic deaths in 2014 (9,967) were alcohol-related.

• Almost 20% (209) of the 1,070 children (ages 14 and under) who lost their lives in traffic crashes were associated with an alcohol-impaired driver.

The Effects of BAC

In the United States, it is not uncommon for adults to enjoy a couple of drinks with dinner or to stop for a drink or two after a long day’s work. While just a few relaxing drinks might seem innocent enough, they can rapidly affect an individual’s driving ability. According to the CDC:

After just 2 alcoholic drinks (0.02% BAC), a person can typically expect to experience a slight loss of judgement, a decline in visual functioning, and difficulty in performing two tasks at once.

After consuming 3 alcoholic beverages (0.05% BAC), the individual may begin having difficulty with coordnation, trouble steering, reduced ability to track moving objects, and impaired response to emergency situations while driving.

Consuming about 4 alcoholic drinks can bring an individual’s BAC over the legal limit (0.08%). Typical effects include impaired perception, difficulty with concentration and coordination, and impaired ability to recognize danger or process information. Speed control can also be difficult.

When 7 or more alcoholic beverages have been consumed, significant reaction time impairment, information processing and the ability to control a vehicle may take place.

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Getting charged with a DUI is not a light matter — it is a serious crime that can severely impact your life and others as well. Most drivers who are arrested in Illinois for a DUI not only face the loss of driving privileges but also fines and possible jail time.

Being convicted of driving under the influence can also impact your life in ways you may not be aware of, including loss of employment, higher insurance rates, prevention of employment in certain jobs, severe financial setbacks, personal and family embarrassment, and having that conviction on your driving records for years―perhaps even forever.

When you are charged with a DUI, you are dealing with high stakes. If you have been involved in a Chicago DUI crash, is important that you contact a Chicago DUI defense lawyer today. Don’t flounder alone. We understand it can be tricky to navigate the legal system. Contact us today.