Drunk driving accidents are devastating and entirely preventable. Colorado, like all states, outlaws driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, some drivers choose to break the rules, and victims pay the price.
Ridder Law is here for victims of DUI accidents. Our Aurora legal team for accident victims have extensive experience representing those harmed by drunk drivers. We provide personalized advice and compassionate representation during these difficult times to help you get the money you deserve.
To find out more about the assistance our firm can offer, give us a call today at (720) 812-1047 to schedule your free consultation.
A drunk driving accident in Aurora happens when a person operating a vehicle is under the influence of alcohol and causes a crash. In most cases, this means the driver’s blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit or they show signs of being impaired by alcohol while behind the wheel. These crashes are often serious because alcohol slows reaction times, affects judgment, and makes drivers less able to handle sudden changes on the road. Victims of these accidents can be other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, or even people sitting in parked cars.
Common Causes of Drunk Driving Accidents in Aurora
Alcohol can lead to dangerous driving choices, even for people who don’t think they’re that drunk. In Aurora, drunk driving accidents often happen due to certain risky behaviors that pop up again and again.
Lost Focus Behind the Wheel
Intoxicated drivers are prone to zoning out, running stoplights, or drifting out of their lanes, which puts others in harm’s way.
Overestimating Driving Skills
When someone is buzzed or drunk, they often think they’re still capable of safe driving. This overconfidence leads to taking unsafe chances, such as speeding or tailgating.
Reaction Time Slowed by Alcohol
Alcohol makes it harder to swerve, brake, or make snap decisions in traffic. The slightest delay can turn a near-miss into a full-blown crash.
Staying mindful of these typical scenarios may help you spot danger when sharing Aurora’s roads.
Common Injuries From Aurora Drunk Driving Accidents
People involved in drunk driving crashes in Aurora can get hurt in many different ways. The effects of a collision with an impaired driver are often severe and sometimes permanent.
Typical injuries seen after these accidents can include:
- Broken bones
- Head trauma or concussion
- Cuts and deep lacerations
- Rib and chest injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal bleeding
- Knee or leg injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Burns
- Psychological distress
No matter how you feel immediately after a crash, see a doctor and keep track of your injuries.
Compensation Available After a Drunk Driving Accident in Aurora
Being the victim of a drunk driver can throw your life completely off course, but financial compensation may help you get back on your feet. After an Aurora drunk driving crash, injured individuals often qualify for payment that helps cover both the short- and long-term impacts. Damages you might recover include:
- Costs for medical treatment
- Past and future lost earnings
- Property and vehicle repairs or replacements
- Counseling or therapy expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced enjoyment of life or hobbies
- Punitive damages
The amount of compensation depends on many factors, but an experienced attorney can help assess your claim and help you get the maximum amount possible.
How an Aurora Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover
After a devastating drunk driving crash in Aurora, it’s not always clear where to turn next. A dedicated legal advocate makes it their mission to fight for justice and relieve as much of your burden as possible. Here’s what they can do for you:
Protect Your Rights
Your attorney handles all communications with insurance adjusters, making sure you aren’t taken advantage of by someone with more experience handling these cases.
Build a Strong Case
They gather evidence such as police reports, sobriety test results, witness statements, and recordings to show who was at fault and the extent of your suffering.
Secure Full Compensation
A good attorney fights to get you reimbursed for your lost income, treatments, out-of-pocket expenses, and ongoing pain.
With professional support, you’re no longer navigating a confusing claims process on your own. Instead, you’ll have someone experienced on your side so you can focus on your health and your family.
Who is Responsible for DUI Accidents in Aurora?
Drunk driving accidents are almost always 100% the fault of the drunk driver.
According to the Colorado Department of Safety, a driver who has a BAC of .05% may be guilty of driving while ability impaired in the state, while a driver with a BAC of .08% is considered to be driving while under the influence. Teen drivers and commercial drivers also have a lower legal BAC limit.
Because drunk driving is illegal, a drunk driver is presumed to be negligent, which makes it easier to prove your personal injury claim and recover compensation. You don’t need to go through additional steps to prove the driver behaved less safely than a reasonable motorist would — just pointing to the impairment is enough.
Still, there could be others who share the blame, including the employer of the impaired driver if the person was drunk at work (such as a commercial driver or trucker). In these cases, our Aurora truck accident attorneys can help pursue claims against the trucking company under vicarious liability laws. Likewise, a bar or restaurant owner could be held responsible Colorado’s dram shop law.
Our DUI Accident Lawyers at Ridder Law will help you understand who is to blame and identify all defendants so you can maximize the compensation you collect in your injury claim.
What Can an Aurora DUI Accident Attorney Do To Help?
An Aurora car accident lawyer at Ridder Law will be there for you at every step of your case. Our firm is local to Aurora, so we are here and ready to meet with you in person, to discuss your case, and to put together a strong claim.
Some of the ways our legal team can help you include:
- Gathering evidence, including police reports, arrest records for impaired driving, toxicology reports, and witness statements
- Consulting with experts who can help demonstrate how impaired the other driver was and how that impairment led to your harm.
- Identifying all defendants, including the drunk driver and others who may share responsibility for the crash, and who may have more money or larger insurance policies to cover damages.
- Negotiating a settlement with the insurer of the responsible parties to try to avoid court proceedings when possible
- Representing you in court to get you the money that you deserve.
Ridder Law has a long and successful history of fighting for Aurora residents after a DUI, and our compassionate and caring legal team has been trusted by many members of the community harmed by an impaired driver.
Let us help with your claim so you can get the justice you deserve.
Contact Our DUI Accident Lawyers In Aurora Today
At Ridder Law, our Aurora DUI accident attorneys are always here to answer questions. We aim to make the process simple, keeping you informed throughout your case and fighting for full and fair compensation for all the damage you endured. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more. Give us a call today at (720) 812-1047.