When a stranger decides to get behind the wheel of any vehicle after they’ve been drinking, their decision to drive drunk can impact entire families or households in the blink of an eye. Drunk driving claims the lives of nearly 17,000 Americans every year, with about 500,000 people also being injured in these accidents.
The drunk driving accident lawyers at Schofield & Green Law understand how your life can be instantly transformed as you’re now navigating mountains of medical bills, unable to live life without pain, and trying to cope with the emotional suffering following the trauma you’ve endured.
Our car accident law firm handles drunk driving accidents where you or someone you love was injured or died as a result. We don’t take cases that are simply drunk driving or driving under the influence charges. We side with victims and their families who have been injured following these common types of drunk driving accidents:
In Colorado, like most parts of the United States, drunk driving is typically defined by a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Here’s everything else you need to know:
To get fair compensation for your drunk driving accident claim, a personal injury attorney in Colorado has to establish liability or what party was legally responsible for damages caused by their breach of duty of care to operate a motor vehicle safely. This duty of care in operating a motor vehicle safely is something we all agree to when we sit in the driver’s seat of any automobile, motorcycle, or truck. Here’s what’s likely to occur for you following an incident with a driver who’s intoxicated:
After a drunk driving accident, a thorough accident investigation is crucial to proving liability under Colorado drunk driving laws. A large amount of information must be collected quickly to comply with the Colorado statute of limitations of how long you have to file a claim, which is generally three years.
Typically, proof of negligence is sufficient to hold a driver liable for damages. However, additional evidence is often necessary to file a lawsuit against a drunk driver. Proof that the driver had a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher at the time of the accident is required in Colorado.
First and foremost, Schofield & Green Law wants to extend our deepest apologies for the tragic event you’ve experienced. Drunk driving is far too common in Colorado Springs and is avoidable, detrimental, and can leave you injured, especially if you or a loved one suffers long-lasting effects or worse. Navigating the next detailed steps – police reports, medical bills, insurance adjusters, and complex legal processes can be overwhelming. Follow these critical steps to protect yourself and your right to compensation through a strong personal injury claim.
When you partner with Schofield & Green Law, you gain more than legal counsel—you gain a team committed to your recovery and your rights. We don’t get paid until you do, so all the risk is on us. Let us carry the legal burden while you focus on healing.
Determining liability can hinge on the extent or role Colorado’s Express Consent Law can play in your potential drunk driving accident case. The law requires any driver to consent to a chemical test if a law enforcement officer believes a person is driving under the influence. The police officer can also do the same if they suspect someone‘s ability is impaired because of alcohol, drugs, or both. A drunk driving suspect may have to submit one or all of these that can be used as part of your claim to determine the level of alcohol or drugs in the driver’s system.
Drunk drivers drive recklessly and take unnecessary chances. They may accidentally run a stop sign or drive the wrong way down a one-way street. What happens next can be an accident or incident you and your family never saw coming. DUI car accidents can be extremely
catastrophic, resulting in serious, often life-threatening injuries such as:
These injuries to the brain caused by a blow, jolt, or other traumatic injury to the head. The severity can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage, with symptoms including headaches, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fatigue, behavioral or mood changes, and problems with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking. Severe cases can result in prolonged unconsciousness or amnesia. TBIs can have long-lasting or even permanent effects. If you are suffering from a traumatic brain injury due to a car accident, you deserve to heal and be compensated. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.
Spinal injuries are injuries to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal. The severity of the injury can vary, but in many cases, it causes changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the site of the injury. This can result in full or partial paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia), along with other issues like pain or sensitivity to stimuli, muscle spasms, or problems with bladder or bowel control. Spinal injuries are very serious and require in-depth care.
If you have lost a loved one in a DUI car accident, you might also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Loss of companionship and loss of future earnings are additional potential recoverable damages in this situation.
You could also be eligible to collect punitive damages, which are intended to punish the responsible parties. Typically, the monetary value of punitive damages far exceeds the actual dollar amount lost by a victim. We can also hold bars or restaurants accountable for these damages.
Our settlements and court wins all have special meaning to our personal injury lawyers, who specialize in helping drunk driving accident victims. The amount we win for you isn’t something we take lightly or agree to quickly. You’ll get compensation for your injuries that’s fair and deserved for what you’ve had to endure.
Here are some of the previous results our clients were awarded for their personal injury claims:
Intersection
Collision
$1.1M
Settlement
Bicycle
Accident
$1.3M
Settlement
Head-On
Collision
$1M
Settlement
Pedestrian Vs. Car Accident
$1.2M
Settlement
As part of our mission to guide and inform our clients, we regularly publish blogs that break down key topics related to personal injury law. From understanding your rights after an accident to navigating the claims process, our articles are designed to provide clear, helpful information so you can feel confident and empowered every step of the way.
You can’t wait forever to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim following a drunk driving accident in Colorado. Like any personal injury lawsuit, you must take your matters to court three years from the accident date. This means that if you are injured in a drunk driving accident, you have three years from that fateful day your incident occurred to recover potential damages.
For property damage claims, such as damage to a vehicle, the statute of limitations is three (3) years from the accident date. These time limits can be critical to your case as if you do not file your lawsuit within the appropriate statute of limitations, the state may permanently ban you from seeking compensation for your injuries or property damage.
When you put alcohol or drugs into your body or bloodstream, it can end up having a big effect on your ability to make good judgments. Sometimes, your body can’t function properly, even though you think you feel perfectly fine to drive. These things are essential for good driving and should never be overlooked or passed off as unimportant:
When an impaired or drunk person is behind the wheel of any type of vehicle, it could cause unnecessary swerving, unsafe lane changes, driving down one-way streets, or passing out.
It’s because of this reckless impairment that drunk driving car accidents often result in more damaging and deadly impacts, causing severe injuries and fatalities, including rear-end impacts, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, pedestrian injuries, and multi-vehicle pileups.
Drunk driving accidents are a significant concern in the United States, causing thousands of fatalities and injuries each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
These statistics highlight the prevalence and severity of drunk driving accidents, emphasizing the importance of legal action and support for victims. At Schofield & Green Law, we are dedicated to fighting for justice and ensuring that victims of drunk driving accidents receive the compensation and support they deserve.
Not every DUI case we take at Schofield & Green Law ends before a judge and jury. We like to let our clients know that many drunk driving accident cases are resolved quickly through settlements agreed upon by both parties outside the courtroom.
However, what if a fair settlement cannot be reached? In that case, our personal injury attorneys, who specialize in assisting drunk driving victims, are prepared to take your case to court to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
When a DUI car wreck impacts your personal and professional life, there’s no law saying you have to hire a personal injury lawyer. You can try to settle a case on your own, but we don’t recommend it, and it’s not because we don’t think you can’t win. It has to do with the fact that a DUI case differs significantly from a typical car accident case. Fighting for you in drunk driving accident litigation is much more complicated, with factors that need to be addressed where most people simply don’t know any better.
What’s worse is that without an attorney, insurance companies see this as their opportunity to lowball you with an offer you’ll eventually have to agree to if you want anything. Any average person wouldn’t know what a good amount of money for a settlement would be, allowing insurance companies to take advantage of you and your family during a crisis. Sometimes, insurance companies will misrepresent how much insurance is available, requiring some extra homework only an experienced drunk driving accident attorney can provide you.
Yes, you can still file a claim even if you were partially at fault. Colorado follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning your fault percentage may reduce your compensation. Schofield & Green Law will work to minimize your liability and maximize your compensation.
To make the most of your time with us and get fair compensation, contact one of our personal injury attorneys for a free consultation right away following any drunk driving incident. Working together to have early legal intervention can help preserve critical evidence, ensure timely claims filing, and protect your rights throughout the legal process.
Don’t let the fallout from a drunk driving accident overwhelm you. Our drunk driving accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims like you navigate the legal process, ensuring you obtain the compensation you need and deserve. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these incidents can have and will stand by your side every step of the way. With our experienced legal team, we can turn this challenging situation into a chance for justice and recovery.
Helping injured victims obtain justice after an accident is our only concern. We work tirelessly to hold drunk drivers accountable for their actions. If you or someone you love has been injured in a DUI car accident, we can help because you don’t have to face this alone.
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