Can I Sue If the Driver Who Hit Me Was High, Not Drunk? | CO

 Posted on September 23, 2024 in Car Accident

Colorado was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults 21 or over, whether state residents or visitors. Colorado has laws that govern who can buy and sell marijuana, where it can be used, and other regulations about the substance. While using THC products in some situations is legal, driving is not one of them.

You probably know that drinking and driving is illegal, but did you realize that driving while high is also prohibited? Like a high blood alcohol concentration, the impairments caused by marijuana increase the likelihood of car accidents. If you were injured in a crash caused by an impaired driver, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced lawyer from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. can work to ensure you get as much as you deserve.

What Do Colorado Laws Say About Driving While High?

If drivers have five nanograms of delta-9 THC per milliliter of whole blood in their system, they are considered to be under the influence. However, some users are impaired with a lower concentration of THC. Drivers who use marijuana for medical reasons are not exempt from these laws because the effects on driving ability do not depend on a prescription.

High drivers can face DUI criminal charges. Those charges are a separate matter from your potential personal injury claim. Law enforcement and the Colorado court system may prosecute for the criminal charge, but you can also pursue a car accident claim simultaneously.

How Does THC Impair Drivers?

Many people think that driving under the influence of marijuana is safe, but the fact is that users experience various impairments that make it unsafe to drive. Although regular users may not experience these effects as intensely as occasional consumers, cannabis can cause multiple impairments, such as:

• Dissociation

• Delayed reaction times

• Blurred vision

• Inability to accurately judge speed and distance

• Difficulty concentrating

• Mood swings

• Decreased coordination

Marijuana consumption sometimes makes drivers take longer to realize that emerging traffic conditions require evasive actions. Stoned drivers may hit pedestrians, bicyclists, immobile objects, or other cars without slowing. Serious or catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage often result from high-speed collisions. Your lawyer from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. will investigate your accident. If we find evidence that the driver was high during your crash, we can help you obtain a settlement for your damages.

What Damages Are Available in Marijuana-Related Collisions?

All accidents are different. Your injuries and related losses are unique to your situation, as are your eligible damages. Like any crash, you might experience broken bones, organ damage, airbag or seat belt injuries, whiplash, or bruising. Your financial losses likely include medical costs, property damage, and lost wages. Your collision probably also adversely affected your life, such as pain and suffering.

You may qualify to receive reimbursement and compensation for these and other accident-related losses. Your attorney from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. will calculate your losses and pursue the highest available amount.

Call Our Skilled Larimer County, CO Car Accident Lawyer Today

Driving while impaired is dangerous. Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. can provide effective legal representation to help you hold the at-fault driver accountable for their negligence. Call us at 970-225-2190 for your free consultation with our dedicated Fort Collins, CO motor vehicle collision attorney.