Drunk Driving Accident and Injury Statistics

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in the United States. According to figures released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 16,694 people were killed in 2004 in alcohol-related crashes in the United States. This figure represents 39% of all traffic deaths. In fact, more than 500,000 Americans are injured annually in drunk driving accidents. In Colorado alone, 249 people died in 2004 as a result of drinking and driving according to the state's Department of Transportation. What's worse is that injuries and death caused by drunk drivers are entirely preventable. In 2004, the Colorado Legislature lowered the blood alcohol level for driving under the influence from .10 percent to .08 percent to reduce the number of these devastating accidents. Unfortunately, many negligent or careless individuals continue to drink and drive.

At Bachus & Schanker, LLC, we aggressively pursue claims against drunk drivers responsible for...

serious injuries and death. Under Colorado law, drunk driving victims are not limited to pursuing claims arising from the negligence of drunk drivers. They also have a right to sue for punitive damages designed to punish the drunk driver for willful, wanton, and reckless conduct. The experienced team of auto accident attorneys at our law firm in Denver, Colorado will aggressively litigate drunk driving accidents to protect injury victims.

Drunk Driving Victims: Lezli's Story

The experienced team of drunk driving injury lawyers at Bachus & Schanker, LLC help victims in Colorado and throughout the United States. Our team has many years of experience in proving claims against drunk drivers. The following is a recent example of a case Bachus & Schanker, LLC brought against a drunk driver.

On November 17, 2005, Bachus & Schanker, LLC client, Lezli, was awarded $2.1 million in compensation for the injuries she sustained in an accident caused by a drunk driver in Adams County, Colorado.

On the morning of July 29, 2003, Lezli was driving to work headed south on highway 85 during rush hour traffic when a drunk driver, who was driving west on 136th Avenue going about 60 mph, ran a red light at the intersection of 136th Avenue and Highway 85, crashed into Lezli's car, causing devastating injuries to Lezli.

At the time of the collision, Lezli, a 28-year-old mother, had just dropped her 16-month-old daughter off at day care before going to her job as a cleaning person at her church. Lezli's car hit a pole and rolled several times. She suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, the right ankle, a broken leg above her left knee, a broken left arm, a broken elbow and internal injuries. Lezli was hospitalized for eight days at Denver Health and was transferred to Swedish Hospital, where she remained for another 16 days. Lezli was bedridden for over four months after the collision.

Prior to the collision, the at-fault driver, who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, had been drinking at an all-night party after leaving her job as an exotic dancer.

At the trial, Lezli, her family and her doctors testified for two and a half days regarding the severity of her injuries, her ongoing rehabilitation, and the accident's impact on her ability to work in the future. In addition to Lezli's testimony, expert testimony was given by a vocational rehabilitation expert and an economist. The testimony was often emotional and difficult due to the catastrophic nature of Lezli's injuries.

The team of drunk driving injury lawyers and staff at our Colorado firm understand how devastating injuries from motor vehicle collisions can be. The attorneys and staff at Bachus & Schanker, LLC fight every day to level the playing field for our clients and fight for justice after such life-changing events. We are proud to...

have had the opportunity to serve Lezli and her family, as well as other victims of drunk driving accidents in Colorado and across the country. Our drunk driving accident attorneys will work to protect your legal rights and aggressively pursue compensation of your behalf.

In some cases, the people or businesses who served alcoholic beverages to a drunk driver may also be legally responsible for the damages caused by the drunk driver, particularly if alcohol was sold to an underage person or to a person who was obviously intoxicated at the time of sale. Colorado law permits drunk driving accident attorneys to file suit against those parties responsible for contributing to drunk driving accidents.