A 36-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle crash that police believe was caused by a drugged driver. The deadly collision took place on Sunday evening when a 2014 BMW SUV tried to pass a 2013 Kia sedan near South Vaughn Way and East Yale Avenue.

As the driver of the SUV tried to pass the Kia, he steered into oncoming traffic and sideswiped the Kia, killing the driver of that car. When police arrived at the scene of the Aurora car accident, they witnessed several occupants of the SUV trying to flee on foot.

After police interviewed the passengers, they determined the driver was likely on drugs. As a result, they'll likely charge him with vehicular homicide.

The Dangers of Drugged Driving in Colorado

This is far from the only tragic Colorado accident caused by a drugged driver. Unfortunately, drugged driving has been on the rise in this state in the last five years or so. In fact, more than 150 people were killed due to drugged drivers in 2015 alone. That's 1 in 5 vehicle fatalities that year, which indicates that drugged driving is a big problem here.

Drugged driving accidents can occur due to everything from prescription or over-the-counter drugs to illegal narcotics. Whether or not someone is legally supposed to be taking a mind-altering drug, they're not supposed to be driving after taking it. That's because many drugs cause side effects like the following:

• Drowsiness
• Anxiety
• Euphoria
• Slow reaction time
• Poor decision making
• Inability to focus
• Irritability
• Aggression
• Impulsiveness
• Hallucinations
• Loss of motor control
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

None of these side effects are safe to experience while driving. After all, someone who has a slowed reaction time won't be able to stop fast enough to avoid rear-ending another car if traffic slows suddenly. And someone who is hallucinating may see road hazards that aren't there, causing them to slam on their brakes or swerve into another lane for no reason.

Hiring a Colorado Car Accident Attorney

If you were hit by a drugged driver in Colorado, you need to talk to a car accident attorney to find out what kind of damages you can get compensation for. Typically, the at-fault driver's auto insurance provider will have to pay for your medical bills, including any future medical care you need due to your injuries. This includes physical therapy, counseling, and any other healthcare expenses you incur due to the auto accident.

In addition, if your car was damaged in the accident, the insurance provider will need to pay to repair or replace it. And if you had to take time off work to recover, your lost wages will likely be covered, as well. These are just the most common types of damages that are covered by insurance, so there may be more in your case.

But you're likely going to need help proving that the other driver was at fault for the accident, which is why you need to contact a Colorado car accident attorney. Call one today to set up an initial consultation to discuss how to go forward with your car accident claim after a devastating accident.