Operating a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility. SUVs, cars, and trucks weigh thousands of pounds, and when they crash into a motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, or automobile, the results are often devastating.
When a driver is impaired by alcohol, their vehicle becomes a deadly weapon. Intoxicated drivers are physically and cognitively incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle and making the best decisions.
If you or a loved one was harmed by a DUI driver in Colorado Springs, you have the right to seek damages to cover the costs of your medical treatment and other expenses caused by the accident such as time missed from work.
The Physical and Cognitive Effects of Drinking
Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege in Colorado, and that’s why all drivers must successfully complete a driving test and pass a written examination before receiving their license. Driver awareness instruction that includes valuable information about the dangers of drunk driving is legally required for teens under 16 years old seeking a learner’s permit, and it’s strongly encouraged for all new drivers.
In Colorado, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Drivers of commercial vehicles are held to an even higher standard. A Colorado commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be suspended or revoked if a driver exhibits a BAC of 0.04 percent or higher.
Alcohol damages a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle in the following ways:
- Coordination. Your feet, legs, eyes, arms, and hands must all be working in unison to safely operate a motor vehicle. The loss of muscle control and overall coordination that results from alcohol consumption renders the driver incapable of safely controlling a large piece of heavy machinery.
- It’s crucial for a driver to make safe decisions. By choosing to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking too much, the inebriated driver has already demonstrated they aren’t fit to be driving. Intoxicated drivers go too fast, are easily distracted, and take unnecessary risks.
- Visual acuity. Alcohol impairs your visual perception in several ways, damaging depth perception and limiting the ability to follow moving objects. Drunk drivers have difficulty determining how far an object is away from them, and blurred or double vison often results from alcohol intoxication.
- Reaction time. By interfering with the body’s ability to process and relay information, alcohol makes it much more difficult to react to constantly changing road conditions and situations that may arise.
- Drowsiness. Alcohol is a depressant that has a sedative effect on users. Drunk drivers often become drowsy without even realizing it, and this can even cause them to fall asleep while driving.
How Your Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After an Accident
Every citizen has a duty of care that legally obligates them to avoid careless behavior that could reasonably be expected to harm others. An intoxicated driver is violating the duty of care and putting you and your loved ones at risk.
To determine liability, your Colorado Springs personal injury attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. This will include the following types of evidence:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Physical evidence
- Accident scene photos
- Surveillance video
- The driver’s BAC results
- Witness interviews
You Have the Right to Seek Damages for Your Injuries
A drunk driver who crashes a vehicle may be held liable for the injuries they cause. The driver’s insurance company will probably offer you a lowball settlement, but you have the right to seek a settlement that covers the true cost of your injuries.
Your personal injury attorney will file a claim on your behalf. If the insurance company isn’t willing to make a reasonable offer, the experienced trial attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. are always prepared to take them to court.
A claim for injuries caused by a drunk driving accident includes the following types of damages:
- All medical expenses
- Ambulance transport
- Pain and suffering
- Medications
- Lost wages
- Disfigurement
- Occupational therapy
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver?
The person who carelessly harmed you should have to pay for it. At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., we’ve been fighting to protect the people of Colorado for over 25 years. Our Colorado Springs attorneys will fight tirelessly for the justice you deserve.
Regarding his outstanding legal service, head attorney Timothy Bussey was selected as a Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America. He received the Gold Client Champion Award from Martindale-Hubbell and was featured in Super Lawyers Magazine.
Call (719) 475-2555 to schedule a FREE consultation today.