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Drunk Driving in Denver

Despite years of education and campaigns to warn the public about the dangers of drunk driving in the United States, it continues to be a serious problem here in Colorado, especially in the Denver area with its dense population. When someone is impaired—either from alcohol or marijuana—and behind the wheel of a vehicle, it can lead to devastating results such as serious injury or death.

Drunk and/or "high" drivers are an extreme danger on Colorado highways and roads. When an accident is caused by an impaired driver, leaving you or your loved ones with injuries, a personal injury lawsuit can compensate you for your injuries.

If you know how to protect yourself and your finances after an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you will ensure that your future will be taken care of. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com, you can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

When you are involved in a driving under the influence (DUI) auto accident with a vehicle in the greater Denver, Colorado area, you need an experienced legal team to fight for you. Injuries sustained from a drunk driving accident can negatively affect your life in both the short term and long term. If you suffered as a result of another person's negligence, you are entitled to financial compensation.

Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients. 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.

Accidentdenver.com takes cases on a contingency basis. This 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 for the Denver Area

As of the end of September 2019, there have been 401 DUIs in the greater Denver area, which averages to 44.8 per month or 1.5 per day. If you look at DUI data from 2018 and 2017, it would seem that DUIs are dropping because in 2018 Denver averaged 56.3 DUIs per month and in 2017 the monthly average was 51.3 per month.

Even if the numbers seem to indicate that DUIs in the greater Denver area might be dropping, the fact is that they are still happening, and when they do, innocent people can be hurt or even killed. Interestingly enough, data that tally the number of DUIs that happen in Denver neighborhoods  show that the following neighborhoods have had the most incidents of DUIs in the last four years:

  • Stapleton
  • Lincoln Park
  • Baker
  • Five Points

Data also shows that most DUIs tend to occur between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, presumably when more people are out socializing at bars and restaurants.

Drunk Driving Laws

Under Colorado law, someone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is considered to be over the "legal limit." This results in a charge of DUI and can be the basis for a personal injury claim. If a drunk driver caused an auto accident and you were injured, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your damages, according to Colorado law.

If a driver's BAC is established to be 0.05% to under 0.08%, he or she is considered to have been driving while ability impaired (DWAI). While a DWAI charge is less serious than DUI, it can still be the basis for a personal injury claim.

Negligence

Most personal injury cases are tried based on a "negligence" standard. Negligence occurs when:

  • the person being sued (the defendant) owed a duty of care to the person who brought the lawsuit (the plaintiff),
  • the defendant breached a duty of care,
  • the defendant's breach led to an injury, and/or
  • the plaintiff suffered monetary damages as a result of their injuries.

Negligence is a legal standard that requires proof through evidence. With the help of your attorney at accidentdenver.com, you will have to provide evidence that proves the defendant was intoxicated, and that it was a breach of the duty of care by the defendant that caused your injuries.

Negligence per se

Negligence per se is a different type of negligence standard that comes into play in many personal injury cases. Negligence per se occurs when a person violates a regulation, driving law, or ordinance in the state. When this occurs, that person is presumed to have been negligent.

To prove a negligence per se action, the plaintiff must prove that:

  • the defendant violated a regulation, safety law, or ordinance;
  • the law had been designed to prevent the type of injury that the plaintiff suffered;
  • the plaintiff is part of the "class" of individuals the law was meant to protect; and/or
  • the defendant's violation of the safety law proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries.

Almost every time, a person driving under the influence of alcohol (or marijuana) will be considered negligent per se. When you can establish the negligence aspect of your case, you can then quickly and effectively prove your damages.

You should not be expected to know the law and be able to prove negligence on your own. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer from accidentdenver.com, you can prove negligence and win the compensation you deserve.

Marijuana and Driving

In November 2012, Colorado voters approved an amendment to allow for the recreational use of marijuana. But it does not mean that people can be intoxicated by marijuana and drive. Marijuana and alcohol are both legal to consume, but it does not mean that a person can become impaired by either substance and get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Any amount of marijuana consumption puts a driver at risk of driving impaired.

The number of marijuana-related DUI accidents has increased significantly in the Denver area since recreational marijuana became legal. Although there is not a breathalyzer to test a person's breath for marijuana usage, police officers are trained to look for signs of impairment. Once someone is arrested for a suspected marijuana DUI, they will likely be tested for the presence of drugs in their system. Under Colorado law, five nanograms or more of active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered to be over the legal limit. If the person who caused your auto accident was under the influence of marijuana, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them.

Marijuana can cause:

  • inattention to the road
  • slow reaction time
  • inability to focus
  • poor decision-making
  • confusion

No one should drive if they're suffering from these effects. These side effects pose a danger and anyone who is under the influence of marijuana and causes an auto accident should be held accountable for their actions. If you have been hurt as the result of a marijuana-intoxicated driver, there are steps you can take. An experienced personal injury lawyer from accidentdenver.com will help you file a lawsuit to get the financial compensation you deserve.

Resources for Victims of Drunk Drivers in Colorado

After a drunk driving accident that was no fault of your own, you will face significant challenges in your life as you recover from your injuries and figure out how to cover the financial aspects of the accident (repairing or replacing your own vehicle, etc.). Your medical bills may be piling up, you may be off work while you are healing, and anyone who was in the car with you may have injuries to recover from. In Colorado, there are several resources that can help you cope during this difficult time.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) This organization has been around since the early 1980s. It works not only to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving, but it supports victims of drunk driving accidents at no cost. The group also advocates for stronger DUI laws. MADD can be incredibly helpful during this tough time and can offer victim-advocate services, grief counseling, and other resources.

Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance

The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance assists individuals and families after they have been the victim of a crime, including drunk driving accident victims. They can provide an advocate to help you navigate your way after a drunk driving accident. In some cases, emergency financial assistance might be available to cover medical bills. They might also be able to testify on your behalf in a criminal trial or help you find an attorney to represent you.

National Center for Victims of Crimes

The National Center for Victims of Crimes is a leading national resource for crime victims of all kinds, including those who were in an accident due to drunk driving. They have a helpline at 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) and an online chat feature that can provide additional information on services, advocates, and financial assistance.

When you have all the resources available to support you after a drunk driving accident, you will be able to focus on recovering. A personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can help to connect you with all the available resources to help you and your family. You shouldn't have to worry about anything during your personal injury lawsuit.

Consult an Experienced Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

The injuries you suffer from a drunk driving accident can change your life forever. You should not have to be responsible for the incredible costs that will add up after the accident. Instead, the burden of paying for your injuries should be on the responsible party.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any sort of drunk driving vehicle 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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