For people in Chicago, heading out to restaurants and bars with friends can be a great way to unwind and have a good time. Many bars and restaurants offer drink specials and happy hours to entice people to begin drinking in the afternoon or early evening. The Chicago culture primes the area for law enforcement’s intense focus on catching supposed drunk drivers.
A 29-year-old is facing criminal charges for a collision last spring that resulted in the death of a cyclist. Before driving, the man had allegedly been drinking at bars in the River North area. His case is getting a high level of attention because the defendant worked for a business that promotes drinking deals in the area.
The rider of the bike in the accident sustained fatal injuries, escalating the severity of the criminal charges against the DUI homicide defendant. According to authorities, the defendant’s blood alcohol level test came in at 0.127 after the accident, which is above Illinois’ legal limit of 0.08. Courts depend heavily on the results of chemical tests, even though they are not always accurate.
The driver in this Illinois case faces charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide. He has a lot at stake, as does every suspect in a drunk driving case, especially cases involving death or injury.
Getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated can bring about DUI charges and other serious repercussions. So can unethical police practices and false allegations, however. Drivers who face criminal charges for drunk driving, no matter the reason, need to be prepared for the legal process in order to protect their future. A criminal defense lawyer is the best preparation and guidance in regards to fighting a DUI charge in Illinois.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, “Family of dead cyclist sues alleged drunken motorist,” Jon Seidel, March 26, 2014