Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Request Free ConsultationLearning that a loved one was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver can cause the world around you to come to a halt. As you wrestle and cope with the pain, anger, fear, and other emotions you may experience in the aftermath of the accident, consulting a lawyer may not be at the forefront of your thoughts.
When you are ready to seek justice for a family member’s serious or fatal injuries, a Denver drunk driving accident attorney from Fuicelli & Lee is here for you. Our lawyers will compassionately guide you through a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit following a serious or fatal drunk driving accident. Contact us at (303) 444-4444 or through our confidential online form today. We offer a free case evaluation.
Why Choose a Drunk Driving Accidents Lawyer from Fuicelli & Lee?
- Fuicelli & Lee is an accomplished Denver personal injury law firm, representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of someone else’s reckless or careless actions.
- As a boutique law firm, we do not measure our success by the volume of cases we handle, but by the difference we make in our clients’ lives.
- Many firms are intimidated to go to trial and don’t have the experience needed to win in court. Several of our attorneys are former prosecutors with 20+ years of experience.
- We truly care about our clients. We specifically limit our case docket to ensure every client receives our undivided attention.
Drunk Driving Accident Victims
Every year, nearly 10,000 people die in automobile accidents caused by drunk drivers. While most drunk driving accidents happen at night and on weekends, they can occur any time someone makes the dangerous choice to engage in drunk or impaired driving.
In Denver, the problem of drunk driving is especially serious. The Mile-High City ranks among the worst U.S. cities for drunk driving, a troubling trend that becomes even more dangerous during the harsh winter months when icy roads and low visibility demand heightened caution. Impaired drivers are often unable—or unwilling—to adjust their behavior to account for these conditions.
While intoxicated drivers can be held criminally responsible for their wrongdoing, our law firm is committed to holding them financially liable for the damages they inflict on our clients.
Staying Safe Around a Drunk Driver in Denver
You can help keep yourself safe by never driving after drinking. You can also keep yourself safe by learning to recognize intoxicated drivers on the road. Some of the telltale signs of drunk driving include a vehicle:
- Weaving within lanes
- Making erratic changes in speed
- Repeatedly swerving when no obstacles are present
- Failing to turn on headlights or use turn signals
- Having near misses with other vehicles
- Failing to compensate for snow, ice, fog, rain, and other adverse conditions
The Impact of Denver Weather on Drunk Driving Accidents
Denver’s seasonal weather patterns add an extra layer of danger to the already reckless behavior of drunk drivers. The combination of steep inclines, icy roads, sudden snowstorms, torrential spring thunderstorms, and fog demands vigilance and careful driving. Unfortunately, impaired drivers are ill-equipped to respond to these challenges.
Some examples of how Denver’s weather exacerbates drunk driving risks include:
- Black ice on bridges and overpasses: Intoxicated drivers often overcorrect or fail to slow down, resulting in dangerous skids and collisions.
- Reduced visibility from snow or fog: Reaction times are already compromised by alcohol or drugs, making it even harder for drunk drivers to avoid accidents.
- Heavy rainfall: Driving rain can reduce visibility and road traction. A drunk or impaired driver may be completely unable to navigate wet roads and rainy weather without causing an accident.
While Denver’s dynamic weather can may driving risky, it’s a drunk driver’s impaired judgment and failure to adapt to road conditions that truly put lives at risk. By holding these drivers accountable, Fuicelli & Lee’s drunk driving accident attorneys can seek justice for victims and work toward promoting safer roads for everyone.
Accountability for Drunk Driving Accidents in Denver
While prosecutors can bring criminal charges against the drunk driver for causing a DUI accident, our attorneys hold negligent drunk drivers financially responsible for our clients’ losses. Some drivers may successfully beat the criminal charges or receive a minimal sentence from a lenient judge. And even if the drunk driver receives the maximum sentence in their criminal case, you may still want to seek additional justice through a drunk driving accident claim.
Colorado is an at-fault auto insurance state. That means if you’ve been in a car accident with an intoxicated driver, you can seek compensation through the intoxicated driver’s insurance company. Colorado law requires all drivers in the state to carry a minimum of $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance, as well as $15,000 per accident in property damages insurance.
Drunk driving crashes can result in serious injuries, and it is possible that your medical bills and other expenses may exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. In that event, you may be able to get compensated for the excess costs through your uninsured/underinsured motorists policy, if you purchased one.
Colorado law also allows the victim of a drunk driver to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver to recover damages.
What is Colorado’s Drunk Driving Crash Statute of Limitations?
The Colorado statute of limitations allows only three years from the date of the accident to file a drunk driving claim. If your loved one was killed by a drunk driver, you have just two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim.
There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, such as if your loved one was killed in a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident. If you want to pursue taking legal action against the drunk driver who hit you or your loved one, you should talk to a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible so you don’t miss the deadline for filing a claim.
Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuits
Colorado law also allows the drunk driving accident victim or their surviving family members in the case of a fatal accident to pursue third-party liability claims against additional parties who may have been partially responsible for the accident.
Advocating for the rights of Colorado accident victims, our lawyers hold both negligent drunk drivers and other responsible parties accountable. Below are parties, other than the drunk driver, that may be held accountable in a drunk driving collision:
- Dram shop liability: Bars, restaurants, and other liquor-serving establishments can often be held financially responsible where a patron is over-served alcohol and subsequently causes a drunk driving accident that results in serious bodily injury or wrongful death. A vendor can also be held liable if they serve alcohol to a minor under 21 who is then involved in a drunk driving accident.
- Social host: The “social host’ provision of Colorado’s dram shop law provides that people who provide alcohol to underage individuals—whether at a college party or other social gathering—should be held accountable if one of the underage individuals who was served subsequently causes a serious or fatal drunk driving accident.
Wrongful Death Claims from a Drunk Driving Accident
Wrongful death can be claimed when someone’s life has been taken due to the negligent actions of another. Drinking and driving is an illegal and intentional act, and Colorado law allows surviving dependents and spouses to bring a wrongful death action against the drunk driver. Wrongful death claims are civil claims that are intended to provide families with financial compensation after the loss of a loved one.
If you have lost your loved one due to a Denver drunk driving accident, your family has suffered an unimaginable loss that cannot be made whole with any dollar amount. What’s more, losing a loved one can also have a devastating financial impact.
You may have incurred medical costs from the accident or you may be facing a future without the income your loved one would have made—or both. Your future has to be re-envisioned as you find a path forward without the emotional and financial support your loved one brought to your household.
While we know there is no dollar amount that could ever be placed on the loved one who was taken from you, our attorneys fight hard to obtain as much compensation as possible for your pain and suffering—and your future.
A wrongful death lawsuit can act as a secondary form of justice for your family. The Civil Court can rule in your favor, even if prosecutors cannot convict the drunk driver with criminal charges. If you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident and want to pursue compensation through a wrongful death case, don’t put off calling a Denver car accident attorney.
Contact Our Denver Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you need someone on your side to ensure you get the justice you deserve. An experienced Denver car accident attorney can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. If the collision was fatal, our attorneys are here to help guide you through the civil process of a wrongful death claim.
Several of the Denver personal injury lawyers here at Fuicelli & Lee are former District Attorney prosecutors or public defenders. Our extensive trial experience gives us an unparalleled ability to effectively handle drunk driving accident cases and represent our clients both in and out of the courtroom.
Contact the law firm of Fuicelli & Lee for a free case evaluation of your drunk driving accident case. You pay nothing unless you receive a financial settlement or award. Call our office at (303) 444-4444 or contact us online today.
Client Testimonials
“Keith and his team worked tirelessly for three years on my medical needs and fighting the unscrupulous insurance company after a drunk driver hit me “head on” in my Toyota. Fuicelli & Lee took my “Uninsured Motorist” coverage and “bad faith” claim seriously even though the insurance company didn’t, and finally got them to settle for five times more than the original offer. I would highly recommend them to anyone that needs legal support after an accident.” – Scott R. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I had a great experience. First thing I asked when I called “Am I going to win this?” With her voice of absolute bold confidence Krislene replied “Yes”. This was all I needed to hear. In that very moment I knew this was the Dub I had been craving for. This was definitely the win that I needed in my life. Not even trying to get #1 in endless hours of Call Of Duty War Zone could make me feel the thrill rushing in my blood. Krislene gave me consistent updates & consultation I needed which boosted my confidence within the team. With the power of gods grace & our greatest American Justice System they definitely took this heathen down. 10/10 Definitely coming back here next time I get hit by a drunk driver.” – Usman S. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“After getting hit by a drunk driver, my body and property were wrecked. I am so thankful Lori Tolle was there to take on my case when I had no bandwidth left. She cares and listens like a friend you’ve had forever, while vigilantly working for you. I was fully informed, always knew the status of things and what to expect, without feeling hounded. Lori did not budge until the payout was FAR more than I would have settled for. I can’t recommend this lawyer more highly.” – Whittney L. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Fuicelli & Lee, PC – Denver Office
1731 Gilpin Street
Denver, CO 80218
P: (303) 444-4444