Injured in a Drunk Driving Car Accident in Colorado?

Any car accident is a serious matter, but we see every day the devastation drunk driving accidents can cause in the lives of Colorado victims and their families.

Your drunk driver accident attorney at The Babcock Law Firm is committed to aggressive representation to secure fair and equitable retribution for victims enduring the pain and suffering caused by drunk driving accidents in Colorado. If you’ve lost a loved one to a drunk driver, see our page on wrongful death.

According to figures from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, there was an average of just over 31,000 arrests for driving under the influence each year from 2005 to 2007. Incredibly, over a third of these arrests were for second-time offenders.

Colorado is 1 of only 4 states where multiple DUI charges don’t necessarily translate into a felony. By comparison, other states impose a felony conviction and prison term after the third DUI conviction. Unfortunately, many DUI-related accidents that occur are caused by drivers with a prior record of drunk driving. But regardless of how many arrests a driver has, you do have rights as a victim of another driver’s carelessness.

Tips for spotting a drunk driver

Drunk driving is the cause of almost 1 out of every 3 traffic deaths. Americans take an estimated 233 billion vehicle excursions and trips each year, and one in every 2,000 of these trips is being taken by a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to MADD.

If you find yourself in a position where you or your driver is intoxicated, make other arrangements to get home. Doing so may turn what could have been one of the worst decisions of your life into one of the best choices you’ve ever made.

While you can choose to be responsible, there’s nothing you can do about another person choosing to drink and drive other than trying to stay out of their way and reporting them to the local authorities.

Below are 9 things to watch out for that may help you identify a possible drunk driver:

What to do (and what not to do) if you spot a drunk driver

If you notice another driver behaving erratically and you suspect they’re intoxicated, contact the local police or the Colorado State Patrol immediately. You could very well be saving a life, including the offending driver’s.

• Call 911 immediately and give the exact information about your location, the type of car the person is driving and their tag number (if you can get it).
• Pull over or stay far enough away from the driver that you have time to respond if they do something erratic.
• If there’s a way to wave down other drivers and warn them about the danger ahead without putting yourself in harm’s way, do it.
• Never try to pass a suspected drunk driver.
• Never approach the driver or try to talk to them—let the police handle that part.

Startling drunk driving statistics (MADD)

• The rate of drunk drivers who continue to drive on a suspended license is 50 to 75%.
• On average, a drunk driver has driven while intoxicated 80 times before they’re arrested.
• More than 20% of drunk drivers are between the ages of 26 and 29 years olds.
• Men are almost twice as likely to drive drunk compared to women (15.1% vs.7.9%).
• In the year 2012, 29.1 million people admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol. This number is more than the amount of people that live in the state of Texas.
• On nights and weekends, the roads are crowded with more drunk drivers than during the week. (However, this doesn’t mean roads are 100% safe—even at 8 o’clock on a Monday morning.)

A fatal drunk driving accident is especially tragic because the death could have been avoided had the driver made a better decision. Never let a friend convince you that they’re okay to drive because they drank a lot of coffee or took a cold shower. Only time can help a person sober up.

In 2019, Colorado lost 163 people due to senseless drunk driving accidents. This number represents an almost 6% decrease over the past decade. No one is exempt from the possibility of becoming a victim of an intoxicated driver. Drive defensively and be aware at all times, especially when commuting late at night. And remember, reporting a drunk driver could save someone’s life.

Why hire a Colorado DUI accident lawyer?

Colorado drunk driving accident attorneys at The Babcock Law Firm are knowledgeable and experienced in the complex intricacies of DUI and drunk driving cases. In addition to medical costs, there are usually issues of punitive and exemplary damages that you need to be aware of.

Many drunk drivers are uninsured or carry only minimal insurance coverage. Your Colorado drunk driving accident attorney can navigate the complex waters of insurance as they relate to your DUI/drunk driver case, working to find the additional proof that may be needed to win your case.

Consulting with a DUI accident attorney as early as possible in the process also helps ensure you receive the settlement you truly need.

In many cases, the insurance company will try and settle a case early in the process in an attempt to avoid future expenses that are likely to come up.

It’s certainly possible, and quite common in fact, that symptoms caused by the accident can take years to appear. It’s also common for physical therapy, rehabilitation and lost wage costs to persist for years after a DUI accident as well.

In addition to recouping these costs through a settlement, you may be awarded punitive damages for pain and suffering in DUI accident cases by the courts. Punitive damages are imposed separately and are intended to deter future drunk driving on the part of the defendant.

The offending driver will most likely need to answer for criminal charges as well, especially if their actions led to a fatality. In the civil proceedings, the case becomes a wrongful death suit if there is a fatality.

How to choose the best Colorado DUI attorney

For almost every drunk driving accident, there’s a criminal and a civil case. It’s important to work with an experienced car accident attorney who’s familiar with the interplay between the criminal case and the civil case of a drunk driving accident. The Babcock Law Firm will make sure the issues of the criminal case work to your advantage in your civil trial.

Our Colorado drunk driver accident lawyers are aggressive in claims against drunk drivers. We pursue claims based on both the negligence of drunk drivers and also punitive damages, which are designed to punish the drunk driver for their willful, wanton and reckless conduct. You need a Colorado accident lawyer with specialized knowledge to handle complicated drunk driving accidents to protect your rights and make sure you receive the benefits you’re entitled to.

The Babcock Law Firm is in your corner.

Discuss your case with a Colorado drunk driver/DUI accident attorney today – a free, no-risk consultation

We invite you to discuss the details of your Colorado drunk driver accident with an experienced DUI accident lawyer at The Babcock Law Firm. We proudly serve Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Broomfield, Louisville, Lafayette, Golden, Thornton, Westminster and other Colorado communities. If your case falls within our practice area and we feel our representation can benefit you, a drunk driving accident lawyer will meet with you for an in-depth consultation at no charge.

We’re here to help you win your drunk driving accident case.

Continue reading these related articles for more information…

• Can a Bar be Held Liable for a DUI Accident?
• What damages can I recover if I file a DUI injury claim?
• What’s considered drunk driving under Colorado law?