You need a drunk driving attorney if you have injuries because of a drunk driving accident. Even if the drunk driver is arrested, criminal charges aren’t meant to compensate you for all of your losses and suffering. You might receive some compensation for short-term medical bills, but there’s no guarantee that the defendant is going to make payment.

Regardless of what happens with the criminal case, you have the right to bring a civil drunk driving case. You can have a drunk driving civil case no matter what happens in the criminal case. Even if the state attorney declines criminal charges, or if they reduce the charges in a plea agreement, you can demand fair compensation through a civil claim. 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.

There are several reasons why it’s necessary and beneficial to bring your own civil claim. First, the purpose of a civil claim is to get you financial compensation. That’s not the purpose of a criminal claim. There are many more categories of compensation that are available to you in a civil suit than in a criminal case. Things like pain and suffering and projected future medical needs are left out of a criminal case. If the defendant doesn’t pay, there’s nothing you can do.

However, in a civil case, you can claim every category of damages, such as physical and emotional suffering, lost income and future medical bills. As the victim, you’re in control of a civil claim. You decide what evidence to present, and you choose when to accept a settlement. Finally, the burden of proof in a civil case is better for the victim than it is in a criminal claim. You need to prove your case by only a preponderance of the evidence.

Our Colorado injury attorneys thoroughly understand how civil cases work. We know how to bring your case to maximize your compensation. With our team, you’ll know you’re claiming all of the categories of losses that you may have sustained because of the accident. We hold drunk drivers accountable as we work to get justice for our clients.

There are multiple parties that you may sue when you’re hurt in a drunk driving accident. Of course, the drivers themselves are undoubtedly responsible for the accident. However, you may also qualify to bring an action against the driver’s insurance company for payment.

If the driver is a commercial driver, their employer may also be responsible for allowing them to be on the roads. A bar or restaurant may be responsible for overserving the driver. Even your own insurance company may be a party if they don’t pay you fairly under the terms of your policy. Our attorneys make sure that you claim compensation from all the appropriate parties.

At Bachus & Schanker, LLC, we believe that drunk drivers should be held accountable. They made a choice that had devastating consequences for you. We believe that the legal system not only makes the driver answer for his or her behavior but also provides a way to get the valuable compensation that you deserve.

The Bachus & Schanker team is more than 100 members strong. We have 26 trained and experienced attorneys and a fully-staffed team of support. We’re dedicated, enthusiastic professionals who devote our entire legal practice to helping accident victims. When you hire us, you’re not just hiring a lawyer. You have a trained, dedicated legal team that doesn’t quit until justice is served.