Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Guide

• Why Choose Our Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers?
• Colorado DUI Laws
• How Much Is My Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?
• How Much Does a Drunk Driving Accident in Colorado Cost?
• How Do Drunk Driving Accidents Happen in Colorado?
• Our Practice Areas
• Colorado Drunk Driving Accident FAQ
• Choose a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer From Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers | Turning Setbacks Into Steps Forward

Why Choose Our Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers?

Our Attorneys Make the Difference in Drunk Driving Cases

Our hard-earned standing as the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado means drunk driving accident victims receive unparalleled legal representation that ensures fair compensation for injuries.

Three decades of handling personal injury cases have allowed our drunk driving accident lawyers to develop a unique understanding of the complexities involved, including the physical, financial, and emotional toll it takes on victims and their families.

We work closely with forensic specialists, accident reconstruction experts, and medical professionals to build a strong case supporting your drunk driving injury claim. They will thoroughly investigate the accident, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Should negotiations fail, our drunk driving accident attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial and fight for you in court.

At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, our top priority is always our clients. We will not rest until justice is served and those responsible for your injuries are held accountable. Get your free case evaluation in English or Spanish at one of our 13 Colorado office locations.

Colorado DUI Laws

Types of DUI

In Colorado, a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) is defined as operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher for adults over the age of 21. The legal limit for drivers operating commercial vehicles is 0.04.

While these are the most common DUI charges, other forms of impaired driving can result in serious drunk driving accidents, including but not limited to:

• Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI): Defined as operating a motor vehicle with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.079 or while under the influence of drugs.
• Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID): Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs that impair driving abilities.
• Persistent Drunk Driver (PDD): Any Colorado motorist with a BAC of .17 or higher is classified as a Persistent Drunk Driver, which carries stricter penalties and mandatory alcohol treatment programs.
• Underage Drinking and Driving (UDD): Colorado drivers under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 or higher can be charged with a UDD, even if they are not technically considered legally intoxicated.

All of these impaired driving offenses can result in catastrophic accidents that leave victims with severe injuries, emotional trauma, and extreme financial burdens.

Liability and Fault

Typically, the drunk driver is liable for any accidents they cause while under the influence. In some cases, Colorado Dram Shop Laws may also hold establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals liable for any accidents they cause.

Unfortunately, Colorado law and insurance companies do not always make it easy for victims to receive fair compensation.

To recover damages, injured parties need a drunk driving accident lawyer who can establish liability by filing a claim for:

• Negligence: Our personal injury attorneys can help you prove the driver breached a duty of care, causing your injuries and losses.
• Negligence per se: If a driver is arrested and convicted of DUI, it can be used as evidence of negligence.
• Wrongful Death: If a loved one was killed in a drunk driving accident, we can help you file a wrongful death claim to seek justice and compensation for your loss.
• Survival Action: This is a claim that can be filed on behalf of the deceased victim’s estate to seek compensation for any pain and suffering they experienced before their death.

Understanding which types of claims to file and how to prove liability can be overwhelming for victims, which is why having an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer from Colorado’s largest personal injury law firm on your side is crucial to your recovery.

How Much Is My Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?

Colorado allows victims of drunk driving accidents to seek compensation for various damages, including but not limited to:

• Medical expenses: This includes any past and future medical bills related to your injuries, such as hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, etc.
• Lost income/earnings: If you are unable to work or earn money due to your injuries from a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages.
• Property damage: If your vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident, you may be able to seek reimbursement for repairs or replacement.
• Pain and suffering: This refers to physical and emotional pain caused by the accident and subsequent injuries.
• Punitive damages: In some cases, victims of drunk driving accidents may also be awarded punitive damages as a form of punishment for the at-fault driver’s reckless and negligent behavior.

The value of your case will depend on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, their impact on your life and finances, and any evidence proving liability.

At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we can help you collect the proof needed to establish the full value of your case and fight for a fair settlement or verdict.

How Much Does a Drunk Driving Accident in Colorado Cost?

It is no secret that medical expenses for any injury can quickly add up, and this is especially true for drunk driving accidents in Colorado.

Victims often have to face not only the immediate costs of emergency medical care but also ongoing treatment for injuries such as:

• Ambulance Ride/Paramedic Treatment: $1,900 to $8,000+
• ER Treatment: $2,886+ per visit
• Overnight Hospital Stay: $3,273 per night
• Traumatic Brain Injury: $401,808 to $3+ million over a lifetime
• Spinal Cord Injury: $500,000 to $4+ million over a lifetime
• Paraplegia: $500,000 upfront + $68,000 year of life
• Quadriplegia: $1 million upfront + $200,000+ per year of life
• Broken Bone Treatment: $2,500 to $25,000+ per bone
• Burn Injury Treatment: $200,000 to $1 million+
• Deep Laceration Treatment: $11,000+ over a lifetime

Ongoing treatment costs for these drunk driving accident injuries in Colorado are as high as $300 per hour, racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in treatment costs over a lifetime.

Add in trauma therapy for PTSD, loss of income, and other expenses, and the costs can quickly highlight the need for full and fair financial compensation.

The short-term stress of these expenses is overwhelming for drunk driving accident victims, and insurance companies often try to take advantage of this by offering low settlement offers.

However, this low payment is usually not enough to cover the full extent of your injuries and damages.

At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, our Colorado drunk driving accident lawyers know how to negotiate and litigate on your behalf to get a full and fair settlement that covers current and future expenses related to your accident.

How Do Drunk Driving Accidents Happen in Colorado?

Reckless Driving

Drunk driving accidents often happen due to reckless and negligent behavior, such as speeding, running red lights or stop signs, tailgating, and swerving in and out of lanes. These actions can cause serious collisions with other vehicles on the road.

Lack of Judgment

Alcohol affects an individual’s judgment, which can lead to risky decisions while behind the wheel. This can include driving the wrong way on a one-way street, weaving in and out of traffic, or making sudden and dangerous turns.

Distracted Driving

Alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to focus and pay attention to the road. This can cause them to become distracted by their phone, radio, or other activities while driving, increasing the risk of accidents.

Distracted driving is illegal in Colorado, and you could be entitled to punitive damages if the at-fault driver is found to be under the influence at the time of the accident.

Poor Vision

Alcohol can also cause blurry or double vision, which can make it difficult for a driver to see and react to potential hazards on the road. This impairment can lead to collisions with other vehicles, objects, or pedestrians.

Negligent Bartenders or Establishments

In some cases, drunk driving accidents are caused by the negligence of bartenders or establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated or underage individuals. Under Colorado’s Dram Shop Law, victims may be able to hold these parties accountable for their injuries and damages.

Reduced Reaction Time

Alcohol slows down a person’s reaction time, making it harder for them to brake or swerve in time to avoid accidents. This can lead to devastating outcomes, especially at high speeds.

Driver Fatigue

Drinking also causes fatigue and drowsiness, which can cause drivers to fall asleep behind the wheel or make poor decisions that cause accidents.

Our Practice Areas

Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers has a team of experienced and dedicated attorneys capable of assisting injury victims in the following practice areas:

• Drunk Driving Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Rideshare Accidents
• Big Truck Accidents
• Premise Liability
• Product Liability
• Workers Compensation
• Class Action Lawsuits
• Bad Faith Claims

Your injuries and damages deserve proper compensation, and our personal injury lawyers are here to help every step of the way. Schedule your free consultation in English or Spanish online or at (303) 757-3300.

Colorado Drunk Driving Accident FAQ

Choose a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer From Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers | Turning Setbacks Into Steps Forward

Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Attorney, Franklin D. Azar

Nothing can erase the pain and suffering caused by a Colorado drunk driving accident, but the personal injury attorneys at Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers are dedicated to helping you seek justice and obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

Our experienced attorneys have a track record of successfully handling drunk driving accident cases and will fight tirelessly on your behalf. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these accidents can take and are committed to helping you obtain the maximum compensation possible.

Don’t wait to seek the legal help you need. Get your free consultation with a Colorado drunk driving accident attorney and start taking the necessary steps toward recovery and justice by calling (303) 757-3300 today.