Drivers in Chicago need to be constantly aware of the possibility of a drunk driver on the road. With the amount of damage that can occur as a result of a drunk driving accident, it’s imperative that drivers keep a close watch for drivers who are operating their vehicles erratically or are ignoring traffic laws. All motor vehicle accidents have the potential to cause significant injuries and even death, but one precipitated by a drunk driver is even more deadly due to the lack of judgment and reflexes the driver is likely to have.
A three-vehicle accident was allegedly caused by a drunk driver heading the wrong way on the road. A 24-year-old woman drove her Ford Explorer south in the lanes heading north on the interstate. She subsequently crashed into a Toyota Sienna and a Chevy Avalanche.
A 60-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were hurt in the car accident.
Witnesses assisted the injured man from the Avalanche. He was bleeding from his head and other areas of his body. He and the other two drivers were taken to the hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Any car accident can have terrible consequences whether it’s because of a drunk driver or for simply due to carelessness. Injuries can lead to an extended hospital stay, massive costs and possibly the inability to return to a normal life. In a worst-case scenario, there will be a fatality with a family deprived of a loved one and perhaps the breadwinner in the household.
Insurance companies are mainly focused on controlling costs. That’s why it is imperative that an accident be investigated fully to determine what caused it. Those who have been hurt or suffered a loss have a right to be compensated.
Source: ABC7Chicago.com, “Wrong-Way Driver Yarelie Melgarejo charged with DUI in 3-vehicle crash on I-55,” June 27, 2014
