Member of the Colorado Bar Association since 2014. Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in Colorado car accidents, other auto accidents, and Colorado personal injury incidents.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Springs Law Group and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, Christopher Nicolaysen, you can do so here.
Springs Law Group does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
Every intoxicated driver puts the public at risk when they decide to get behind the wheel.
If you have suffered an injury in a collision with a drunk driver, an experienced car wreck attorney could help you pursue financial compensation against the impaired motorist.
However, the damages you are entitled to may not come easy.
In many cases, obtaining compensation is only possible when you fill a civil lawsuit, and it can be challenging to navigate the legal system on your own.
Fortunately, a Monument drunk driver accident lawyer could guide you through the process.
Because of the risks involved with intoxicated driving, state laws carefully regulate the amount of alcohol a driver may have in their system.
Should a person drink too much, they face significant criminal charges.
Under current law, it is illegal for an adult to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.08 percent.
For minors below the age of 21, a BAC of .02 or more is illegal.
Violating these laws carries the potential for fines, jail time, and other criminal penalties.
When an intoxicated driver causes an accident, they could also face civil liability.
A Monument car accident attorney could hold a drunk driver accountable for a crash by filing a civil action.
A defendant who causes a drunk driving auto accident may automatically be liable to injured parties for violating state law.
This is because Colorado Revised Statute §42-4-1301 prohibits anyone from operating a motor vehicle accident under the influence of alcohol.
An individual who has a BAC above .08 is found to automatically be driving while intoxicated, known as DWI per se.
An individual with a BAC below .08 may still be driving with ability impaired if a law enforcement officer finds the driver’s mental or physical ability lacks clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the operation of a motor vehicle.
Therefore, anyone who violates this law may be found to be automatically liable to his or her personal injury victims.
In addition, an injured party may assert a cause of action for negligence which is when a motorist recklessly and unnecessarily exposes another person to avoidable harm.
Therefore, when a motorist fails to use reasonable care while driving the motor vehicle due to being intoxicated, it is likely that an injured party may also have a cause of action for negligence.
A local attorney could help someone establish negligence after being involved in an accident with an impaired driver.
Any motorist struck by a drunk driver is at risk of serious injury.
Due to their slow reaction time and impaired judgment, impaired drivers commonly cause vehicle collisions at high speeds.
These crashes could involve the drunk motorist failing to notice a stop sign or weaving into oncoming traffic.
Some injuries that may occur in a drunk driving accident include:
In addition to the long-term injuries that come in these accidents, a drunk driving crash also could prove to be fatal.
For those that survive such a car accident, a Monument lawyer could provide the support necessary to pursue monetary compensation from the intoxicated driver.
It is possible to seek damages from a drunk driver regardless of the status of their criminal case.
In fact, a plaintiff could bring a negligence claim against a person who has been acquitted of a criminal offense or never faced trial at all.
If the civil claim is successful, a person injured by a drunken driver could recover money for their losses.
This damage award could provide compensation for:
Additionally, an injured claimant may be eligible to receive punitive damages.
Typically, a court may only award additional damages if the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious.
This is the case in some drunk driving accident cases.
A seasoned lawyer from Monument could assess a drunk driver car wreck case and determine what an individual’s case may be worth.
If you are the victim of a drunk driver, you have the right to demand compensation in civil court, which could provide you with the best opportunity to obtain justice.
A successful lawsuit may not only provide you with an award for your damages, but it also sends a message to the responsible driver that they will be held accountable for their poor judgment.
To discuss your claim in detail, call a Monument drunk driver accident lawyer immediately.
Partner
Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
The personal injury matters include auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and trucking accidents.
Chris truly enjoys helping clients through a difficult time and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
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I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
