Will I Lose My CDL If I Cause an Accident Resulting in Injuries?

 Posted on May 04, 2021 in CDL Violations

In Illinois, commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders are held to high standards in order to protect the safety of everyone on the road. A variety of violations can disqualify a person from obtaining a CDL, or result in the temporary or permanent revocation of a CDL. Given the importance of a CDL for a person’s livelihood, it is understandable that you would be concerned about the possibility of losing your license, especially if you are involved in an accident in which someone is injured.

What Happens When a CDL Holder Causes an Injury?

Getting in an accident is never a good situation. Setting aside the risk of serious injury to yourself,  you could also face serious consequences if you are found to be at fault for the crash. Depending on the circumstances leading to the collision, you and your employer could be liable for property damage and damages related to another person’s injuries. Your employer could also view an accident as grounds for termination if the crash was caused by your unsafe driving behavior.

That said, causing an accident and injuries is not itself grounds for disqualification of your commercial driver’s license. This means that in many cases, you could continue to drive for either your current employer or another employer even if you are found to be liable for a crash.

When Does an Accident Result in CDL Disqualification?

However, certain factors involved in the accident could lead to the loss of your license. Under Illinois law, all of the following are grounds for disqualification of a CDL for one year:

• Driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.04
• Leaving the scene of an accident without stopping to provide information and assistance
• Causing an accident resulting in another person’s death

Your license will also be disqualified for one year if you are convicted of a felony offense in connection with the accident. Additionally, if you have a prior conviction for a serious traffic offense within three years of the accident, and the accident results in another conviction, your CDL could be disqualified for a shorter period of time.

Contact a Chicago CDL Defense Attorney

If you are involved in an accident resulting in injury while driving a commercial motor vehicle, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Moretti Law, P.C., we can defend you against liability claims and CDL violation charges filed against you, and we will do everything in our power to help you maintain your CDL driving privileges. Contact our Cook County CDL violation lawyer at 312-861-1084 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K6-514