Where Are Most Illinois Drunk Driving Lawsuits Filed?

Here are some of the most popular counties for drunk driving litigation in Illinois:

• Cook County
• Madison County
• Kane County
• Winnebago County
• DuPage County
• St. Clair County
• Will County
• McHenry County
• Champaign County

• 41% of all drunk driving cases.
• 10% of all drunk driving cases.
• 7% of all drunk driving cases.
• 7% of all drunk driving cases.
• 6% of all drunk driving cases.
• 5% of all drunk driving cases.
• 4% of all drunk driving cases.
• 2% of all drunk driving cases.
• 2% of all drunk driving cases.

Cook County is host to many of the lawsuits involving drunk driving incidents in Illinois. For context though, Cook County is the leading venue for all other kinds of personal injury cases in the state. So why Cook County? The short answer is that’s where most of the personnel and facilities are but there’s a longer answer as well. Over time, Cook County’s legal institutions have evolved more than those in other counties and that breeds a sense of predictability in lawyers. Attorneys feel like they know how judges will rule on certain issues, what courts will allow in various situations, and what verdicts to expect in typical accidents. Therefore, they are comfortable filing and pursuing relief for their clients there. However, in some situations, you might need to file in another county and it will be imperative to learn about the courts in that jurisdiction.

If you choose to seek compensation through the legal system after a drunk driving accident, then one of the first questions you’ll have to answer is where you will file. So what’s the difference between filing DUI actions in different counties? Well, first of all, different locales have different judges with their own predispositions so that can shade what is and what is not possible for your suit. Some are more liberal or conservative than others and it’s important to figure out their various tendencies. Also, and maybe more importantly, each county courthouse will have various rules affecting the substantive and procedural aspects of your case. Learning about each of these is critical because they can determine whether you win or lose. The decision of where you will file your DUI case has a tremendous impact on your future recovery and it should only be made after a thorough study of each potential venue with your attorney.