DUI Accident Lawyer Deerfield, IL

Was your life upended by a driver who chose to get behind the wheel drunk?

Plaintiff-focused attorneys standing up for people injured by impaired drivers across Deerfield, IL.

Being hit by a drunk driver is different from an ordinary Deerfield car accident. The harm was entirely preventable, the injuries are often severe, and the person responsible made a choice that put everyone on the road at risk. A DUI accident lawyer in Deerfield, IL, at Jacobson Injury Firm helps injured victims and grieving families hold impaired drivers accountable, dealing with the insurers, building the evidence, and pursuing the full compensation the law allows. This page is written for the people a drunk driver harmed, not for anyone facing a criminal charge. Attorney Adam Jacobson, licensed in Illinois, prepares each claim as though it will be decided by a jury. Contact us for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

DUI Accident Lawyer Deerfield, IL

A DUI accident claim is a civil personal injury case brought by someone injured by an impaired driver, and it runs separately from any criminal DUI case the state may pursue. The criminal case punishes the driver; your civil claim seeks to compensate you for medical bills, lost income, pain, and other losses. A criminal conviction can strengthen the civil claim by helping establish negligence, but you do not have to wait for the criminal case to conclude to protect your own rights. Matters that proceed to litigation are heard in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County.

Why DUI Crash Cases Are Different

Impaired-driving cases carry features that ordinary collision claims do not, and they can meaningfully affect your recovery:

• Clear negligence. A driver who was over the legal limit has usually breached the duty of care by definition, which can simplify proving fault.
• Serious injuries. Impaired drivers often strike at high speed or fail to brake at all, producing catastrophic harm and, tragically, wrongful death.
• Possible dram shop liability. In Illinois, a bar or other alcohol vendor that overserved the driver may share responsibility under the Dram Shop Act.
• Multiple sources of recovery. Beyond the driver’s insurance, your own uninsured or underinsured coverage may apply if the driver was uninsured.

Illinois’s Dram Shop Act: When a Bar May Share Responsibility

Illinois takes a notably broader approach to alcohol-vendor liability than many states. Under the Dram Shop Act, 235 ILCS 5/6-21, a business that sells or serves alcohol can be held liable when it contributes to a person’s intoxication and that person then causes injury, without the narrow “knew they were addicted” requirements some states impose. There is an important limit, however: the Act caps the amount recoverable against a dram shop, and that cap is adjusted every year for inflation. Because these claims have their own rules, deadlines, and caps, it takes a careful investigation to determine whether a dram shop claim is available alongside the case against the driver.

Why Choose Jacobson Injury Firm as Your DUI Accident Lawyer in Deerfield, IL?

Preparation Insurers Respect

DUI claims reward thorough preparation, because the higher potential value draws harder pushback from insurers. Adam Jacobson approaches each case with a litigation-driven mindset and readies every matter as though it will reach a courtroom. He earned his law degree from Florida International University College of Law and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut. His Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with a minor in Immunology proves especially useful when medical records and injury causation become central.

Direct Attorney Access and Real Recoveries

Unlike high-volume firms that pass clients between paralegals, Adam personally handles every case from the first phone call to final resolution. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and knows the Deerfield roads where these crashes happen and the Lake County courts where they are decided.

No Fee Unless We Win

DUI injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no retainer and no hourly billing, and a fee is owed only if we recover for you. For the full range of matters we handle, see our Deerfield personal injury lawyer overview.

Understanding Damages and Fault Under Illinois Law

Liability rests on negligence, and a drunk driver has usually fallen far short of the required standard of care. Once fault is established, compensation is meant to restore what the crash took from you. Depending on the facts, recoverable damages may include medical expenses from emergency care through rehabilitation and future treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket costs. When a crash causes a Deerfield catastrophic injury or a Deerfield wrongful death, the stakes and the potential damages rise accordingly.

Even when a drunk driver is plainly at fault, Illinois’s modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 can still come into play, and insurers sometimes try to shift a share of fault onto the victim. A clear, evidence-backed account of the crash matters.

Important Aspects of a DUI Accident Case

A few factors tend to shape how these claims unfold. Evidence from the criminal investigation, such as breath-test results, police reports, and body-camera footage, can support the civil claim, so preserving and obtaining it early is important. If a dram shop claim may exist, receipts, surveillance footage, and witness accounts from the establishment must be secured quickly. Serious injuries need documented, ongoing medical care that ties the harm to the crash. And prompt legal action protects the evidence and the deadlines that govern the case.

The DUI Accident Case Timeline

Every claim runs on its own schedule, but most follow the same path. We investigate the crash, gather the criminal-case evidence, and identify every liable party, including any dram shop, and every insurance policy. We follow your medical treatment so the claim reflects the full scope of your injuries. We then submit a demand and negotiate toward a fair settlement. If the insurers refuse a reasonable amount, we file suit and move into discovery. Finally, the case resolves through settlement or, when necessary, a jury trial.

Important Illinois Legal Resources

Illinois law sets the framework for these claims. Modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 controls how shared blame affects recovery, the Dram Shop Act at 235 ILCS 5/6-21 governs alcohol-vendor liability and its caps, and the statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 sets the filing deadline. Statewide Illinois traffic-safety data and national NHTSA data on drunk driving show that impaired driving remains a leading cause of preventable roadway deaths.

DUI Accident Lawyer FAQs

Can I sue a drunk driver even if the criminal case is still going on?

Yes. Your civil injury claim is separate from the state’s criminal DUI case and can move forward on its own timeline. A criminal conviction can help prove fault in the civil case, but you do not have to wait for the criminal case to finish to pursue compensation, and acting sooner helps preserve evidence.

Can a bar be held responsible for serving the drunk driver who hit me?

Possibly. Illinois’s Dram Shop Act allows liability against an establishment that contributed to a driver’s intoxication, and Illinois takes a broader approach than many states. However, the Act caps the amount recoverable against a dram shop, and that cap changes each year, so these claims require careful, prompt investigation.

How long do I have to file a DUI accident claim in Illinois?

Most negligence claims must be filed within two years of the injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Dram shop claims can carry their own, shorter deadlines, so it is important to act quickly if a bar may share responsibility.

What if the drunk driver did not have enough insurance?

You may still have options. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply when an at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance, and a dram shop claim may provide an additional source of recovery. An attorney can identify every avenue available for your specific crash.

What does it cost to hire a DUI accident lawyer?

Nothing upfront. Jacobson Injury Firm handles DUI accident cases on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and the initial consultation is free.

Our Deerfield Office

Jacobson Injury Firm serves injured clients throughout Deerfield and Lake County from our office at 570 Lake Cook Road, Suite 300, Deerfield, IL 60015. Our team is available 24 hours a day, and you can reach us at (773) 888-7192 to arrange a free consultation.

Contact Jacobson Injury Firm to Schedule a Consultation

If a drunk driver injured you or took someone you love, you do not have to face the insurance company alone. A Deerfield DUI accident lawyer at our firm can review what happened, pursue every responsible party, and seek the full compensation the law allows. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to speak directly with Adam Jacobson.