Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Seeking Justice After a Denver Drunk Driving Accident in Denver, CO

Despite strict laws and enforcement efforts, drunk drivers continue to pose a significant threat to public safety in Denver. When a drunk driving accident hurts you or a close family member, you need to understand your rights and the steps you can take to seek justice and fair compensation for your injuries and damages.

At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we understand the devastating impact a drunk driving accident can have on your life. You may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and the immense pain and suffering that comes with a serious injury or loss of a loved one. An experienced Denver drunk driving accident lawyer at our firm is here to provide the compassionate support and aggressive legal representation you need to seek justice and obtain the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you hold the drunk driver accountable and maximize your financial recovery.

Denver Drunk Driving Accident Guide

• Why Choose Our Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Claim?
• The Process of Filing a Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident in Denver
  • Drunk Driving Accident Statistics in Denver and Colorado
• How Colorado’s Drunk Driving Laws Affect Your Injury Claim
  • Colorado’s “Dram Shop” Law
  • Colorado’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
  • Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Claims in CO
• Why Drunk Driving Causes Such Severe Injuries
• Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Drunk Driving Accident?
• Do You Have a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me?
• Denver Drunk Driving Accidents FAQs

Why Choose Our Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Claim?

Since 1987, Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers has been a trusted name in Denver personal injury law. We’ve recovered over $2 billion for our clients throughout Colorado and built a reputation for aggressive, results-driven representation – especially in drunk driving accident cases.

Here’s why more than 50,000 injured Coloradans have turned to us for help:

• We have more than 30 years of experience handling personal injury claims, including drunk driving accidents. Our attorneys understand how these cases work — from the police reports and toxicology results to the insurance company’s attempts to limit what they pay.
• We’ve secured strong results for thousands of clients. While every case is different and past results can’t guarantee future outcomes, we know how to build a case and pursue the compensation you deserve.
• We have the staff, tools, and expert relationships to thoroughly investigate your case. That includes gathering medical records, working with accident reconstruction professionals, and preparing solid evidence for settlement or trial.
• We take care of our clients. A drunk driving crash can leave you dealing with serious injuries, financial stress, and uncertainty about what happens next. Our team keeps you informed, answers your questions, and makes sure you never feel like you’re going through this alone.
• We don’t get paid unless you do. You won’t owe us anything unless we recover money for you – and that includes upfront legal fees.

We understand Colorado’s how insurance companies “think.” Even in drunk driving cases, insurance companies may try to shift part of the blame onto you to reduce what they pay. We push back with the evidence needed to keep the focus where it belongs: on the drunk driver.

The Process of Filing a Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident in Denver?

When a drunk driver causes a crash, they should be held accountable – and our team knows exactly how to make that happen. Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers has handled drunk driving accident claims in Colorado for decades. Here’s how we can help:

1. We file the claim. This initial claim doesn’t list any damages; it notifies the at-fault driver’s insurance company that an incident occurred and that you intend to seek compensation. It ensures that your right to recovery is preserved.
2. We calculate your damages. We gather and review evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and witness statements, to support your claim. Using this, we calculate the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation.
3. We start negotiations with a demand letter. Once your claim can be supported with evidence, we send a demand letter to the insurance company and open negotiations. If they make a fair offer, your case may be resolved without going to court.
4. We file a lawsuit. If the insurance company denies your claim or offers an unfair settlement, your attorney may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver. During the litigation process, your lawyer will continue to negotiate with the insurance company and the at-fault party’s legal team to reach a fair settlement.
5. We take your story to a jury. If the other party won’t negotiate a fair settlement, your case may go to trial, where a judge or jury will determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.

Throughout the process, your Denver drunk driving accident lawyer will keep you informed, answer your questions, and fight for the best possible result. We’ve handled thousands of cases like yours, and we know how to get results when it counts.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics in Denver and Colorado

According to crash data from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), in the first six months of 2025, there have been:

• 2300 people charged with DUI (approximately)
• 2,865 alcohol suspected crashes
• 453 marijuana suspected crashes
• 499 drug-suspected crashes (non-marijuana) 

The age group with the highest number of drunk driving accidents in Colorado is 25-34 years old, followed by 35-44 years old.

How Colorado’s Drunk Driving Laws Affect Your Injury Claim

Colorado has strict laws against drunk driving. Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal for adult drivers, and drivers under 21 are subject to a zero-tolerance policy, meaning any detectable amount of alcohol can lead to a DUI charge.

Criminal penalties for drunk driving may include fines, jail time, license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education. However, these criminal consequences do not compensate victims. If you were injured by a drunk driver, you must file a separate civil claim to seek financial recovery.

In a civil personal injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages, income, and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Out-of-pocket costs

In some drunk driving accident cases, Colorado law also allows punitive damages. A high BAC, repeated DUI offenses, or other facts which come to light may allow us to amend our initial complaint and seek punitive damages on your behalf.

Colorado’s “Dram Shop” Law

You may also have a case against third parties, depending on how the driver obtained alcohol. Colorado law allows injury victims to hold both individuals (social hosts) and businesses (bars, restaurants, and other establishments which sell or provide alcohol) liable if:

• They over-served a visibly intoxicated person who later caused a crash, or
• They served alcohol to a person under 21, the legal drinking age.

Damages for dram shop claims are capped at $150,000, which is why we would name the drunk driver as well as the host or business in your claim or lawsuit.

Colorado’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule

Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state, which means you can still recover compensation for your injuries even if you are up to 49% at fault for the accident. However, the court will reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault.

This can affect your civil claim because even though a drunk driving accident seems like it would be a “slam dunk” for an injury victim, insurance companies will still attempt to lower your total award by claiming you share a portion of the blame. For example, if you are speeding on I-25 and you were hit by a drunk driver entering the road at Speer Blvd, the insurance company may try to claim that had you not been speeding, you would not have been there for the driver to hit.

Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Claims in CO

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a drunk driver is generally three years from the date of the accident.

However, some exceptions may apply. For example, if your claim involves a government employee or vehicle, or if the crash occurred on public property, you may have as little as 180 days to file a formal notice under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. In other cases, such as a dram shop claim against a bar or restaurant, the timeline may be shorter than three years.

Because deadlines vary depending on the details of your case, you should speak with a Denver drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible. We will need time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and assess all potential avenues for compensation.

Why Drunk Driving Causes Such Severe Injuries

Drunk driving isn’t just dangerous – it’s deadly. When a driver is under the influence of alcohol, their ability to control a vehicle drops sharply. Reaction time slows. Judgment disappears. That combination often leads to high-speed, head-on, or T-bone collisions: the kinds of crashes most likely to cause serious injury or death.

• Drunk drivers are more likely to:
• Speed or fail to brake
• Ignore red lights or stop signs
• Drive the wrong way on highways or one-way streets
• Lose control of the vehicle entirely

These reckless actions can leave victims with catastrophic injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord damage or paralysis
• Multiple fractures
• Severe burns or internal injuries
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Many victims require emergency surgery, long-term rehab, or adaptive care. In the worst cases, families are left grieving the sudden and preventable loss of a loved one.

If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, you may have a right to hold that driver fully accountable in a civil claim. Our team is here to fight for the compensation you need to recover and rebuild.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Drunk Driving Accident?

If your loved one died in a drunk driving accident, under Colorado law, wrongful death claims must follow specific eligibility rules, depending on who the surviving family members are and how much time has passed since the person’s death.

First Year After Death

During the first 12 months following a person’s death, the surviving spouse has the exclusive right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

However, there are exceptions:

• The spouse can choose to share that right by giving written consent for the deceased’s children to file the claim or join in the lawsuit.
• If the deceased was not married, then the right to sue may pass to their children, parents, or a designated beneficiary.
• As of January 1, 2025, if the deceased left no spouse, heirs, or designated beneficiary, their siblings (or the siblings’ heirs) may also pursue a wrongful death action.

Second Year After Death

Once the first year has passed, the right to file opens up to more individuals. In the second year after death, the following parties may bring a wrongful death claim:

• The surviving spouse
• The deceased’s children
• The spouse and children together
• The designated beneficiary in combination with the children

The law also sets clear rules for how parties can join a claim:

• If the spouse files during the first year, the children may join that claim in the second year.
• If the children file first, the spouse or designated beneficiary has 90 days to join the case if they wish to participate.

The new 2025 rule about siblings and their heirs also applies during this second-year window, but only if there is no surviving spouse, legal heir, or designated beneficiary. Our Denver drunk driving attorneys can explain more during the free consultation.

Do You Have a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me?

Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers has two convenient Denver office locations to serve you. Visit us at 1245 Colfax Avenue, Suite 302, right on the corner of Colfax and Lafayette — there’s plenty of parking and a bus stop directly across the street. Or stop by our north Denver office at 4704 N. Harlan Street, Suite 205, near W. 48th and N. Harlan. This location also offers onsite parking, public transit access, and a view overlooking Lake Rhoda. Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Greeley, Grand Junction, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton.

Denver Drunk Driving Accidents FAQs

Contact a Denver Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today

A drunk driving accident in Denver can leave you feeling overwhelmed as you deal with your physical, emotional, and financial hardships. You likely also feel a strong sense of injustice knowing someone else’s deplorable decision to drive drunk caused you and your family so much pain and sorrow.

At Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., we’re prepared to do all we can to help you through this difficult and uncertain time. You can count on us to thoroughly investigate your case and hold the at-fault party accountable as we fight tenaciously to help you recover every penny you deserve.

Contact us today at (303) 529-2104 for your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help you move forward after a tragic drunk driving accident.

Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers – Denver Office

4704 N Harlan St Suite 205
Denver, CO 80212
P: (303) 529-2104