Drunk driving accidents devastate lives in ways that regular car accidents simply cannot match.
When a drunk driver crashes into your vehicle, you’re not just dealing with another traffic incident – you’re facing the aftermath of someone’s deliberate decision to operate a motor vehicle while impaired.
The injuries from drunk driving crashes are often more severe because impaired drivers cannot react appropriately to avoid collisions or minimize impact.
Victims frequently suffer from broken bones, brain injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and internal injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long recovery periods.
Beyond the physical trauma, drunk driving accident victims experience emotional trauma that can last for years, affecting their ability to drive confidently or trust other motorists on the road.
The financial burden becomes overwhelming as medical expenses accumulate while you’re unable to work due to your injuries.
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize settlements, even in clear-cut drunk driving cases where the at fault party was visibly intoxicated.
Without proper legal representation, accident victims frequently accept far less compensation than they deserve, leaving them struggling to cover ongoing medical care and lost wages.
The legal process becomes even more complex in drunk driving cases because there are often both criminal and civil proceedings happening simultaneously.
Many victims don’t realize they can pursue a civil claim for financial compensation even while the criminal case against the drunk driver proceeds through the courts.
Colorado’s dram shop laws also create additional opportunities for compensation when establishments over served alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons who then caused accidents.
A skilled drunk driving accident attorney understands how to navigate both the legal system and insurance company tactics to secure fair compensation for all your damages.
Common Types of Drunk Driving Accidents
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions represent the most dangerous type of drunk driving crash because impaired drivers often drift into oncoming traffic lanes.
These accidents typically occur when drunk drivers fall asleep at the wheel, become confused about road directions, or simply lose control of their vehicle due to their impaired state.
The force of two vehicles colliding head-on creates catastrophic injuries including brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and often fatal injuries.
Rear-End Crashes
Drunk drivers frequently cause rear-end crashes because alcohol impairs their ability to judge distances and reaction times.
An impaired driver may not notice stopped traffic ahead or may brake too late to avoid collision.
While rear-end accidents might seem less severe, drunk driving rear-end crashes often involve high speeds that can cause serious neck injuries, back injuries, and brain trauma.
Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions happen when drunk drivers run red lights, fail to yield right-of-way, or make improper turns.
These T-bone accidents are particularly dangerous because the side of a vehicle offers less protection than the front or rear.
Passengers on the impact side often suffer the most severe injuries in these types of drunk driving accidents.
Single-Vehicle Crashes Involving Other Property
Drunk drivers may lose control and crash into parked cars, buildings, or pedestrians.
Even though these appear to be single-vehicle accidents, they often involve multiple victims who suffer serious injuries.
Property owners and pedestrians have the right to seek compensation from the impaired driver and their insurance company.
Common Injuries From Drunk Driving Accidents and Their Consequences
Brain Injuries and Cognitive Impairment
Traumatic brain injuries from drunk driving crashes can permanently alter victims’ lives, affecting memory, concentration, and personality.
Even mild concussions can have lasting effects that impact work performance and daily activities.
Severe brain injuries may require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation, creating enormous financial burdens for families.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The violent forces in drunk driving accidents often cause spinal cord damage that results in partial or complete paralysis.
These catastrophic injuries require immediate emergency medical treatment and ongoing specialized care.
Victims may need extensive modifications to their homes, vehicles, and workplaces to accommodate their new disabilities.
Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries
The high-impact nature of drunk driving crashes frequently causes multiple fractures, particularly to arms, legs, ribs, and facial bones.
Complex fractures may require multiple surgeries and extended physical therapy to restore function.
Some victims never regain full use of affected limbs, leading to permanent disabilities and reduced earning capacity.
Internal Injuries and Organ Damage
The force of drunk driving collisions can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and other life-threatening internal injuries.
These injuries may not be immediately apparent at the accident scene, making prompt medical evaluation critical.
Internal injuries often require emergency surgery and can lead to long-term health complications.
Emotional Trauma and PTSD
The psychological impact of being victimized by a drunk driver creates lasting emotional trauma that affects every aspect of life.
Many victims develop anxiety about driving, experience nightmares, and struggle with depression following their accident.
Mental health treatment becomes necessary but is often overlooked when calculating fair compensation for drunk driving accident cases.
Why Many Fort Collins Drunk Driving Accident Victims Don't Get the Compensation They Deserve
Insurance Company Delay Tactics
Insurance companies often delay processing drunk driving accident claims, hoping victims will accept quick, low-ball settlements.
They may request excessive documentation or demand multiple medical examinations to slow down the claims process.
These delay tactics are designed to pressure financially stressed victims into accepting inadequate compensation.
Undervaluing Future Medical Needs
Insurance adjusters frequently fail to account for ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care needs.
They may only consider immediate medical expenses while ignoring the victim’s need for future surgeries, physical therapy, or specialized equipment.
Without proper legal representation, victims don’t understand the full extent of their damages and accept settlements that won’t cover their actual needs.
Minimizing Non-Economic Damages
Insurance companies systematically undervalue pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of life enjoyment.
They use computer programs and formulas that don’t account for the unique impact each drunk driving accident has on individual victims.
The psychological damage from being victimized by someone’s reckless decision to drive drunk deserves significant compensation that insurance companies rarely offer voluntarily.
Exploiting Victims’ Lack of Legal Knowledge
Most accident victims don’t understand their rights under Colorado law or the true value of their personal injury cases.
Insurance companies take advantage of this knowledge gap by presenting lowball offers as “fair” settlements.
They may also pressure victims to give recorded statements or sign releases before they fully understand their injuries or legal options.
Failing to Investigate All Liable Parties
Insurance companies focus only on the drunk driver’s policy limits without investigating other potential sources of compensation.
Colorado’s dram shop laws may make bars, restaurants, or other establishments liable for over serving alcohol to the impaired driver.
Multiple insurance policies or additional liable parties could significantly increase the total compensation available to victims.
How Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorney, Who Has Won Over $15 Million For Injured Victims, Can Help You Get the Compensation You Are Entitled to
Thorough Investigation of Your Drunk Driving Case
Our experienced Fort Collins car accident attorney conducts comprehensive investigations that go beyond basic police reports to uncover all evidence supporting your claim.
We obtain blood alcohol concentration records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert accident reconstruction analysis.
This thorough investigation ensures we identify all liable parties and maximize your potential compensation.
Expert Medical Documentation and Future Care Planning
We work with medical professionals to properly document your injuries and create detailed treatment plans for your ongoing care needs.
Our network of specialists at Allen Accident Law helps establish the full extent of your damages, including future medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.
This comprehensive medical documentation prevents insurance companies from undervaluing your claim.
Strategic Negotiation with Insurance Companies
With over 32 years of experience, including time representing insurance companies, we understand their tactics and know how to counter their strategies effectively.
We never accept their initial offers and instead present compelling evidence that demonstrates the true value of your case.
Our proven track record of securing maximum settlements gives us leverage in negotiations that other attorneys simply don’t have.
Coordination with Criminal Proceedings
We monitor the criminal case against the drunk driver and use evidence from the criminal proceedings to strengthen your civil claim.
Our legal expertise allows us to coordinate timing between criminal and civil cases to maximize the benefit to your personal injury lawsuit.
We ensure that plea agreements or criminal convictions work in your favor rather than limiting your civil recovery.
Dram Shop Law Expertise
We investigate whether the drunk driver was over served alcohol at bars, restaurants, or other establishments before your accident.
Colorado’s dram shop laws allow us to pursue additional compensation from businesses that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons.
This additional avenue for recovery can significantly increase your total compensation beyond the drunk driver’s insurance policy limits.
We Serve All Accident Victims In Fort Collins
Testimonials
Trusted Accident Injury Attorney in Colorado
See How Doug Allen Has Delivered Life-Changing Results for Clients in Colorado.
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A lot of experience and knowledge.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Doug Allen is a highly dedicated attorney who personally manages each case with attention to detail and integrity—never passing the buck or relying on paralegals. We've had the privilege of helping his clients get the treatment they need, and it's clear he always puts their well-being first.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Doug helped greatly in my motorcycle crashTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Allen helped me when a car turned left in front of my motorcycle. I broke my femur and Doug settled my case for $300,000. That was the at-fault drivers insurance policy limits. I can’t be more happy with Mr. Allen’s hard work and incredible recovery in my case. And I never had to go to CourtTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Douglas did a wonderful job on my truck accident case. He’s the best!!! Get him if you canTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Douglas Allen helped me out in my car accident case while I was in Colorado. A lady on her cell phone slammed into the back of my car and I suffered various injuries. Mr. Allen was on top of everything from the very beginning. He got me a great settlement and I was very happy. I highly recommend him if you are in a car accident.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was riding my motorcycle and a car crashed into me and caused serious injuries. Doug got me a very high settlement for my motorcycle crash. Much more than I expected. He also came to my house a few times to see how I was doing. I do not know many personal injury attorneys that would go above and beyond like Doug.
FAQs About Drunk Driving Accident Injury Claims
Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured.
Stay at the accident scene and wait for police to arrive and complete their investigation, as they will likely conduct field sobriety tests on the other driver.
Avoid discussing fault or accepting any blame, and seek medical treatment promptly even if you feel fine initially.
Colorado law generally allows three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver.
However, it’s important to contact an attorney immediately to preserve evidence and begin the claims process with insurance companies.
Waiting too long can result in lost evidence and weakened negotiating positions with insurance companies.
Yes, you may still have options for recovery through your own uninsured motorist coverage or by pursuing claims against other liable parties.
Colorado’s dram shop laws may allow you to seek compensation from establishments that over served alcohol to the impaired driver.
Our attorneys will explore all potential sources of compensation to ensure you receive fair payment for your injuries.
You can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, and property damage to your vehicle.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of life enjoyment, and permanent disability or disfigurement.
In some cases, punitive damages may be available due to the reckless nature of drunk driving.
The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, extent of medical treatment required, impact on your ability to work, and degree of emotional trauma.
Cases involving severe injuries like brain trauma, spinal cord damage, or permanent disabilities typically result in higher settlements.
We provide free consultations to evaluate your specific case and explain the potential value based on our experience with similar drunk driving accidents.
Most drunk driving accident cases settle without going to trial, as the evidence of the driver’s impairment usually makes liability clear.
However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial to ensure we have maximum leverage in settlement negotiations.
Our willingness to take cases to court when necessary helps us secure higher settlements than attorneys who avoid trial preparation.
Colorado’s dram shop laws allow you to pursue compensation from bars, restaurants, or other establishments that served alcohol to the impaired driver.
These laws apply when businesses serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons who then cause accidents.
Dram shop claims can provide additional compensation beyond the drunk driver’s insurance policy limits.
Criminal charges against the drunk driver actually strengthen your civil case by providing additional evidence of their impairment and negligence.
The criminal case and your civil claim are separate proceedings, so you can pursue financial compensation regardless of the criminal case outcome.
We coordinate with prosecutors when beneficial and use evidence from the criminal case to support your civil claim.
Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries may resolve in a few months, while complex cases involving severe injuries can take a year or more.
We work efficiently to resolve cases as quickly as possible while ensuring you receive maximum compensation for all your damages.
The timeline often depends on the extent of your medical treatment and recovery, as we don’t want to settle before understanding the full impact of your injuries.
Contact Us Today For a Free Consultation and Get the Maximum Compensation You Are Entitled to
Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you during this difficult time.
Time is critical in drunk driving accident cases, as evidence can disappear and witness memories fade quickly.
The sooner you contact our drunk driving attorney in Fort Collins, the better we can protect your rights and build a strong case for maximum compensation.
Doug Allen has over 32 years of experience and has personally settled more than 10,000 car accident cases, including numerous drunk driving accidents throughout Northern Colorado.
His background representing insurance companies gives him unique insight into their tactics and strategies for minimizing settlements.
Call Doug Allen on (970) 232-0774 now for your free consultation to discuss your legal options and learn how we can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.