If an impaired driver harmed you or a loved one, seek the help of an experienced Colorado drunk driving accident lawyer from Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these accidents can take and are committed to helping you obtain the maximum compensation possible. Our law firm will aggressively fight for your rights and seek maximum compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering.
Why Choose Our Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers?
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. Our experienced attorneys have a track record of successfully handling drunk driving accident cases and will fight tirelessly on your behalf.
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.
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. Our Colorado drunk driving lawyers are here to help.
How Much Does a Drunk Driving Injury Cost in Colorado?
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.
Can I Sue the Drunk Driver for My Injuries from the Crash?
If you were hit by a drunk driver, you can sue them for damages. However, multiple parties can be found at fault for a drunk driving accident in Colorado. While the driver under the influence may bear the majority of liability, other factors such as road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, or third-party negligence could also contribute to the accident.
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 Colorado drunk driving attorney 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 Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Colorado?
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including drunk driving accidents, is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, this timeline may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case.
Filing a Civil Claim During a Criminal DUI Case
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. Drivers operating under the influence of drugs (DUID) can also be charged criminally. Note that a driver does not have to be “over the limit” to face a criminal charge; the driver simply has to be impaired in some way.
This means that your drunk driving crash claim is likely to be filed in tandem (or potentially right after) a criminal investigation takes place. While a criminal conviction can certainly help your claim, it is not necessary; the drunk driver who hurt you can still be held liable for your injuries even if they do not get convicted of a crime.
Our ultimate goal is to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible to cover your losses and get your life back on track. Since there’s no obligation to work with us and no cost for a case review, you have nothing to lose. Reach out today and start your journey toward a better future.
Do You Have a Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me?
Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers is the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado. We maintain offices in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Greeley, Grand Junction, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton for your convenience. We invite you to contact whichever office suits your needs, so that we can get started on your case today.
Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accident Claims in Colorado
When you’ve been injured in an accident, the statute of limitations sets the time limit for filing a lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries. Missing this deadline could result in losing your right to pursue legal action and recover damages.
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims for all tort actions for bodily injury or property damage arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle is typically three years from the date of the accident or injury. This means you generally have three years to file a lawsuit in civil court after the incident that caused your injury.
Keep this timeframe in mind, as filing your claim after the statute of limitations has expired can bar you from obtaining compensation. If you don’t know the specifics of your situation or the applicable deadlines, consult a drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible.
At Franklin D. Azar & Associates, our experienced attorneys can explain the relevant statutes and file your claim within the necessary timeframe.
We work tirelessly to ensure that you receive comprehensive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages resulting from the accident.
How Our Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help
While the fundamental principles of liability and compensation remain the same as in standard personal injury cases, several factors can complicate drunk driving cases:
Evidence of Intoxication
- Proof of Drunkenness: Establishing that the other driver was intoxicated can involve analyzing additional layers of evidence, such as blood alcohol content (BAC) tests, field sobriety tests, or witness statements. The complexity of gathering and presenting this evidence can affect the case’s progress.
- Criminal Proceedings: The DUI charge adds another legal layer with its own set of procedures and evidence requirements. The outcome of the criminal case can affect the civil case, but the criminal and civil processes run concurrently, each with its own complexities.
Legal Proceedings
- Separate Legal Systems: Drunk driving cases involve both criminal and civil legal systems. While the criminal case focuses on penalizing the offender, the civil case seeks compensation for damages. Criminal proceedings may delay or affect the civil case.
- Potential for Increased Damages: The criminal nature of the offense can sometimes lead to punitive and compensatory damages. Proving the driver’s particularly reckless or egregious actions may result in higher compensation.
Insurance Adjustments
- Insurance Claims: Insurance companies might view drunk driving cases differently. They may settle quickly due to the clear liability but could also contest the claim based on the specifics of the DUI. Criminal charges can influence the insurance company’s approach, making negotiations more complex.
- Policy Limits: The drunk driver’s insurance policy might have limits that are quickly reached due to the severity of the case, potentially requiring additional claims or legal actions to recover full compensation.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
- Trauma and Stress: The involvement of a drunk driver can heighten the emotional and psychological impact of the accident. This added layer of distress can affect the overall handling of the case, including the claimant’s ability to focus on legal proceedings and recovery.
- Public Perception: High-profile or particularly egregious drunk driving cases may attract public attention, potentially affecting how various parties, including insurance companies and courts, perceive and handle the case.
Legal Strategy and Evidence
- Burden of Proof: While establishing liability in a standard personal injury case requires proving negligence, drunk driving cases provide a clear indication of fault due to the criminal charge. However, proving the full extent of damages and linking them directly to the drunk driving incident can still be intricate.
- Witness Testimonies: Gathering reliable witness testimonies and evidence to support the claim can be more challenging in drunk driving cases, especially if the driver disputes the level of intoxication or the circumstances of the accident.
Having an experienced attorney who understands these nuances can be crucial in navigating these complexities and ensuring that you receive the compensation and justice you deserve. At Franklin D. Azar & Associates, we understand the complexities of dealing with a drunk driving accident and the interplay between criminal and civil legal matters.
Our team is here to guide you through every step of the process, from leveraging the criminal case to bolster your personal injury claim to managing the intricacies of insurance negotiations and courtroom proceedings. We work diligently to ensure your rights are protected.
By handling the legal complexities, we allow you to focus on your recovery and well-being. If a drunk driver has injured you, contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your personal injury case and ensure that justice is served.
Contact Us Today for Help with a Drunk Driving Accident Case
After a drunk driving accident disrupts your life, you deserve justice and compensation, and you don’t have to face the process alone. At Franklin D. Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping you pursue maximum compensation so you can move on from this tragic event.
Let a Colorado drunk driving accident lawyer from our team guide you through the legal process with compassion and determination. Contact us today at (719) 299-3889 for a free consultation to begin your path toward justice.
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