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.
One of the primary ways a car accident injury case caused by a drunk driver is different from other motor vehicle wreck claims is that this type of situation can have both a civil and a criminal element to it.
This means that, ultimately, there may be both a civil claim and a criminal case against the defendant for driving while impaired.
A seasoned attorney could help you hold a negligent driver accountable if they caused you to suffer losses because they got behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Generally, accidents due to intoxicated driving in Pueblo tend to occur more often overnight or during later hours when people are trying to get home after drinking instead of during the daytime.
They also are more likely to happen during weekends, holidays, or special occasions.
Additionally, places that have more bars and restaurants in a packed area may be more vulnerable to intoxicated motorists on the road.
In Pueblo, the downtown area is probably more populated with restaurants and bars than the rural areas of the city.
In Pueblo, the economic damages that someone injured in a drunk driving accident may be eligible to recover may include compensation for their property damage, medical bills, and lost wages or missed time from work due to the accident.
Noneconomic damages may include pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of quality of life.
If the injured driver is partially responsible for the accident, this individual could still pursue damages.
However, this person would only recover damages in proportion to the degree of negligence of each party.
Colorado Revised Statute §42-4-1301 states that a person who drives a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or one or more drugs or a combination of both is violating the law.
Driving under the influence is a misdemeanor, but it can become a Class 4 felony if the violation occurred after three or more prior convictions.
The injured driver does not have to press charges against the drunk driver because the police make a report at the scene of the accident.
If there is enough evidence, the district attorney’s office may file charges against the intoxicated driver.
Therefore, the injured party does not need to press charges because the drunk driver broke the law and could be held accountable by the police and then the district attorney’s office.
The injury claim and the DUI case get handled separately.
They are two separate places, as one is a civil matter, and the other one is criminal.
Personal injury lawyers handle the civil claim while the district attorney’s office in El Paso County takes care of the criminal case.
However, even though the cases are handled separately, the civil claims lawyer could talk to the district attorney’s office and work in conjunction with each other.
If you were involved in a Pueblo drunk driving accident, you should contact our office to discuss how to take legal action against the reckless driver.
We could help you build a case for damages, so you do not have to worry about handling the legal process while you recover.
To get help on your case, call today.
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.
