In Schaumburg and across Illinois, drunk driving remains one of the most devastating causes of serious car accidents. Whether you’re driving home from Woodfield Mall, taking Golf Road through Arlington Heights, or heading toward Palatine on Route 53, impaired drivers can change your life in an instant. These cases often result in catastrophic injuries, lost wages, and permanent life disruptions that go far beyond the scene of the crash.
At SJ Injury Law, we’ve represented victims of DUI crashes in Schaumburg and the surrounding communities. We know how these cases unfold, and more importantly, we understand how to build claims that hold the drunk driver and every responsible party accountable.
When someone chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking, they are making a reckless and illegal decision. But drunk driving accidents are rarely simple. In many cases, more than one person or business may be legally responsible.
For example, if a Schaumburg-area bar over-served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated customer who then caused a crash, the business may also be held liable under Illinois dram shop laws. If a commercial driver was intoxicated on the job, the employer might share liability as well. Our job is to uncover all potential sources of compensation so that you are not left covering the financial burden alone.
Impaired drivers often lose control at high speeds, run red lights, or swerve into oncoming traffic. These collisions cause some of the most serious injuries we see, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, shattered bones, and internal trauma. Victims often face months or years of recovery, and some never return to the life they had before.
We’ve helped families in Schaumburg, Des Plaines, and Mount Prospect who suddenly found themselves dealing with surgeries, lost income, and overwhelming medical bills because of someone else’s selfish choice to drink and drive. These aren’t just legal cases. These are life-altering situations that demand immediate and aggressive action.
Even in drunk driving cases where fault seems obvious, insurance companies are still focused on protecting their bottom line. They may try to downplay the extent of your injuries, question your medical treatment, or delay the claims process to wear you down.
We don’t let them. We document your injuries, gather evidence of intoxication, work with medical professionals, and present your case in a way that demands full compensation. That includes damages for your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, ongoing medical needs, and long-term disability.
Many people believe that if the drunk driver is arrested or charged with a DUI, they will automatically be entitled to compensation. That’s not how it works. The criminal process focuses on punishing the offender, not compensating the victim. You need a civil claim to recover money for your injuries.
We work independently from the criminal court system to build a personal injury claim that holds the drunk driver financially responsible. Whether the driver pleads guilty, is convicted, or even avoids jail time, we fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
There are strict deadlines for filing drunk driving injury claims in Illinois. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, but certain claims, such as those involving government employees or agencies, may require even faster action.
We recommend calling our office as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and gathering police reports. In many cases, we also obtain video footage, blood alcohol test results, and witness statements that make the difference in your case. The sooner we get involved, the better prepared we are to fight for your rights.
Drunk driving injury claims are about more than hospital costs. If your injuries affect your ability to work, care for your children, or live independently, you may be entitled to significant damages. We build each claim to reflect your full story, including lost income, diminished future earnings, emotional trauma, and the impact on your daily life.
You are not just a name on a file to us. You are someone whose life was disrupted by another person’s reckless decision. We take that seriously and work to make sure your voice is heard.
Yes. A criminal DUI charge does not prevent you from filing a civil personal injury claim. In fact, the criminal case may provide important evidence that supports your injury case, such as breathalyzer results or admissions of guilt. However, the criminal court is focused on punishment, not paying for your injuries. A separate civil case is required to recover money for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. You do not have to wait for the criminal case to finish before starting your civil claim.
Yes. You do not need a criminal conviction to win a civil injury claim. The legal standard is different in civil court. We only need to prove that it is more likely than not that the driver was at fault and caused your injuries. That is a lower standard than what prosecutors must prove in criminal court. Even if the drunk driver avoids criminal penalties, they can still be held financially liable in a civil case.
If the drunk driver fled the scene or was uninsured, you may still have options. Many Illinois auto insurance policies include uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. These policies can help pay for your injuries even if the at-fault driver cannot. In hit-and-run cases, it is especially important to act quickly to file a police report and notify your insurance provider. We also look at whether other parties, such as bars or employers, may share responsibility under Illinois law.
Illinois allows victims of drunk driving accidents to sue the bar, restaurant, or establishment that served the alcohol—if certain conditions are met. This is known as a dram shop claim. To succeed, we must show that the establishment served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated or underage, and that this directly caused the crash. These cases have strict deadlines and specific legal requirements. If we believe a dram shop claim applies, we act quickly to gather witness statements, receipts, and surveillance footage.
You may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of damages. These include current and future medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, and disfigurement. In some cases, you may also pursue punitive damages, which are intended to punish especially reckless behavior. We evaluate every aspect of your situation to determine the full value of your claim. The goal is to make sure you are not left struggling financially because of someone else’s irresponsible decision to drink and drive.
At SJ Injury Law, we represent victims of drunk driving crashes in Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, and surrounding areas. We understand the physical and financial toll these crashes can take and we’re here to help you fight back.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, contact our Schaumburg car accident attorney at SJ INJURY LAW by calling (847) 434-3555 to receive your free consultation. We proudly serve clients in Schaumburg, Chicago, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Rosemont, and Glenview. Let us stand by your side and pursue the compensation you deserve.
At SJ Injury Law, we’re ready to help you Claim Your Justice™.
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We are highly experienced personal injury lawyers. We know how to help accident victims receive the full financial compensation they deserve. Our Winning Team is focused, dedicated, and sensitive to each of our client's needs. We are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.