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Colorado Intoxicated Driving

Intoxicated driving in Colorado can be caused by any number of sources, including alcohol, over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, and illegal narcotics (controlled substances).

When intoxicated drivers take to Colorado roads, they represent a very significant risk to other drivers, including yourself. Intoxicated drivers are most likely to cause accidents, as their intoxication makes them less able to safely drive and control their motor vehicles.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed as the result of a drunk driving automobile accident in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Intoxicated Driving Car Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

If you were involved in an accident caused by an intoxicated driver, the damages and costs can stack up quickly. You should not be responsible for these costs—the driver who caused the accident should be responsible.

No matter how small or how big your case may be, the accidentdenver.com team will keep you informed every step of the way throughout the process and they will handle every detail seamlessly to put you on the road to recovery. Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients.

Our attorneys at accidentdenver.com take cases on a contingency basis, which means that you pay nothing until your case has reached a favorable resolution. Let us put our years of experience to work for you and your loved ones.

Drunk Driving Statistics in Colorado

Drunk driving occurs when a person becomes intoxicated through the use of alcoholic beverages. A drunk driver is extremely dangerous on the road, as he or she is impaired and unable to drive as safely as a sober driver otherwise could.

Drunk driving claims the lives of over 10,000 people every year in the United States. Driving fatalities related to alcohol consumption caused the death of more than one fourth (27%) of the 605 traffic deaths that occurred in 2016. Deaths related to drunk driving increased by 5.9 percent in 2016 as compared to 2015. This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and demonstrates the danger of drunk driving on Colorado roads.

The Colorado Highway Patrol issued over 4,400 driving citations in 2017 for drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. Highway Patrol Troopers investigated 504 alcohol or drug-related car accidents by December of 2017.

Legal Liability for Drunk Driving

When a driver gets behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, they are committing a crime. More importantly to you, they are liable to you for any damages that they caused as a result of that intoxication.

With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you can pursue a drunk driver for the injuries, pain and suffering, and other costs you incurred because of that driver's choice to engage in drunk driving.

Drugged Driving Statistics in Colorado

Drugged driving occurs when a driver consumes, injects, ingests, or otherwise takes intoxicating drugs and gets behind the wheel. Drugged drivers are very dangerous to others on the road. Common illegal drugs hat cause intoxication include:

  • cocaine
  • heroin
  • LSD
  • methamphetamine
  • Ecstasy
  • PCP

The number of drugged driver fatalities has increased steadily in Colorado over the last decade. In 2012, 89 people were killed as a result of drugged driver accidents. In 2013, 128 people were killed and that number has continued to steadily increase over the last several years where data were available.

Marijuana-Related DUI Statistics

After the state of Colorado legalized the use of medical and recreational marijuana, the number of marijuana intoxication-related accidents increased. When a person is under the influence of marijuana while driving, they tend to have symptoms that include:

  • lethargy
  • slow decision making
  • red and watery eyes
  • poor judgment
  • mild to severe hallucinations (especially when "laced" with other chemicals)
  • slow reaction time

Between 2014, when marijuana was first legalized, to 2016, the number of marijuana intoxication-related deaths nearly doubled. In 2014, 75 people were killed as a result of marijuana intoxication. In 2016, that number increased significantly to 125. In the following year, it increased again to 139 deaths.

This increase in DUI marijuana-related deaths does not take into account the number of injuries that did not result in death. This number is much higher, but can be hard to track for various reasons.

Proving Intoxication Caused Your Accident

When a drunk or drugged driver causes a motor vehicle accident, you can use evidence of the intoxication to prove that the other driver was the cause of the accident. This proof can help you show the court and jury that the other driver should have to pay you for the injuries and costs you incurred as a result of the accident.

You and your attorney can prove that the other driver was intoxicated through:

  • Police Reports: Police make a report following an accident, detailing their observations. Officers will note if they believe a person was intoxicated, failed sobriety tests, and was arrested as a result.
  • Field Sobriety Tests: Field sobriety tests help to determine whether a person was intoxicated and the results of these tests can be used to help prove a person was under the influence at the time of the accident.
  • Blood, Breath, and Urine Tests: Blood, breath, and urine tests used to detriment the presence of drugs or alcohol can be used as proof of intoxication.
  • The DUI Case: If the other driver was convicted of a DUI in connection with your accident, you can use that conviction as conclusive proof that the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Consult an Experienced Denver Intoxicated Driver Auto Accident Lawyer

Intoxicated drivers are a serious danger to those on Colorado roads and when they cause harm, they should be held responsible for the costs of your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an intoxicated driving car accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.

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