Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Boulder, Colorado

Types of Drunk Driving Accidents

Consuming alcohol before operating a car can yield devastating consequences.  Intoxicated drivers are often at fault for the following types of accidents:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Wrong-way wrecks
• Pedestrian impacts
• Bicycle impacts
• Truck accidents

Drinking and driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do, and most of these accidents are preventable.  Do not drink and drive.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents occur every day for many reasons.  Some of the most common causes of car accidents are distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving.  Each of these causes is more often than not the sole responsibility of the distracted, speeding, or drunk driver.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is the most common cause of accidents in the United States.  Distractions happen for a variety of reasons.  However, cell phones, eating while operating a vehicle, and doing other tasks such as applying make-up or changing the radio station are common causes of distracted driving accidents.

Speeding

Speeding is another major cause of car accidents.  Unfortunately, speeding is a common practice for most motorists.  Even the slightest deviation from the legal speed limit can cause devastating injuries.  Always pay attention to the speed limit and follow it accordingly.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is a guaranteed way to put yourself and others in danger.  Alcohol significantly impairs a driver’s response time and ability to focus on the road.  If you hit another vehicle and/or person while driving under the influence of alcohol, you can be held fully responsible for the consequences.

Common Injuries

The injuries caused by drunk driving accidents can range from mild to catastrophic to fatal.  Some of the injuries reported by victims of a drunk driver include:

• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Brain injuries
• Bone fractures
• Bruises
• Cuts
• Scrapes
• Death
• Emotional trauma

What to do if a Drunk Driver hits you

If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident, here are four steps you can take:

1. Seek Medical Attention

The first and most important step following an accident is to seek medical attention.  A medical professional can help identify and treat any injuries, as well as create an official record.  Your well-being is always the main priority, but having an official medical record of your injuries is a helpful resource for insurance and legal purposes.

2. Call the Police

If you have been involved in an accident, it is crucial that you call the police if you are able.  The police serve an important role in documenting the accident by filling out a crash report.  An official account of what happened is a valuable tool for your case.

3. Document

Make sure the accident scene has been fully investigated and documented to the best of your ability.  Well-documented official reports, photographs, and anything else relating to the accident are absolutely essential.  This can be one of the most important steps you take to ensure the success of your claim. 

4. Call an Attorney

Before speaking with the liable party or their insurance company, speak to a personal injury attorney. Having an experienced attorney looking out for your best interests may make a huge difference when seeking compensation for your claim. Our attorneys at Zinda Law Group may fight tirelessly to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Determining Liability

Drunk driving is a criminal offense, but it often lends itself to civil liability as well.  A driver is guilty of driving under the influence in Colorado if they have a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .08%.  Even if your BAC is less than .08%, you can still be arrested for driving with impaired ability if your BAC is .05% or even lower if there are significant signs of impairment.

The only way to ensure you are shielded from liability is to make sure you never get behind the wheel of a car unless your BAC is at zero.

Common Factors that may Affect Impairment

As mentioned above, under Colorado law, you can pretty much be arrested with any level of alcohol in your system if you are showing significant signs of impairment.  The following are a few factors that may lend to either increasing or decreasing your level of impairment:

• Number of drinks you have had
• How quickly those drinks were consumed
• Your body weight
• How much food you have eaten
• Your body type
• Exhaustion
• How much water you have had

Filing an Injury Claim Against a Drunk Driver

With the help of an experienced attorney, filing an injury claim against a drunk driver can be a lot less burdensome.

Start by Calling a DUI Accident Lawyer

Drunk driving claims can be complex, but an attorney can give you the advice you need to help ensure the likelihood of a successful claim.  An attorney may help you preserve evidence, determine fault, and calculate the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries and property damage.

Investigation

The second step in filing an injury claim against a drunk driver is starting an investigation.  This is also known as the discovery phase.  This is where you and your attorney request documents, ask questions, and gather any information necessary to support your claim.

Settlement or Trial

Most cases end with a settlement offer.  A settlement may allow you to avoid the risk of taking your case to trial and receiving an unfavorable jury verdict.  An attorney may help make sure you receive a settlement that is fair and appropriate to compensate you for your injuries.  The amount of time needed to settle a drunk driving injury claim varies with each case. First offers and smaller settlements by an insurance company can resolve your case more quickly, but this may not always be in your best interest.  Securing a qualified attorney may help make the negotiation process efficient, while also helping you seek the compensation you deserve.

Compensation

You may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages for your drunk driving injury claim.  Economic damages compensate you for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other financial injuries.  Non-economic damages are more commonly referred to as damages for pain and suffering.  Calculating pain and suffering is not an exact science, but attorneys often multiply your economic damages by a number that represents the severity of your suffering.

Colorado law also allows for an award of punitive damages in some cases, but you cannot ask for them up front.  Punitive damages are appropriate in extreme cases to punish and deter future similar conduct and may only be awarded once the injured party can show fraud, malice, or willful or wanton conduct. 

Read More: How to Calculate the Value of a Personal Injury Claim

Statute of Limitations

Time is of the essence in every lawsuit.  Each state places a time limit on your ability to file a claim for compensation after being involved in an accident.  This is known as the statute of limitations.  It may vary depending on where you live and what type of claim you have.  Personal injury claims resulting from a drunk driving accident in Colorado have a two-year statute of limitations.  This means that you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim, or else you may be barred from recovery altogether.

TRUST THE BOULDER DRUNK DRIVING LAWYERS AT ZINDA LAW GROUP

At Zinda Law Group, our Boulder personal injury attorneys handle accident cases of all types, no matter how big or small.  We have the experience and resources necessary to help you seek the maximum compensation available under the law.  Contact us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation about your case.  We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not owe us anything unless we win your case.

Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.