How Many 2024 Traffic Deaths Were Caused by Drunk Drivers?

 Posted on January 14, 2025 in Car Accident

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, preliminary 2024 data reports 203 motor vehicle accident deaths involving an impaired driver. This figure is the lowest since 2019, representing 30 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state and an 11 percent decrease from 2023 totals. However, even one death is too many.

If an impaired driver injured me, can I sue? What if my family member was killed in a drunk driving crash? Working with a knowledgeable Larimer County, CO personal injury lawyer is important if you want to get as much compensation as you deserve.

Why Is Impaired Driving Dangerous?

Besides being illegal, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causes various impairments that make safe driving impossible. Along with drugs like cannabis, some prescription and over-the-counter medications cause similar impairments. In fact, driving while fatigued has been compared to drunk driving due to how excessive drowsiness can affect people. Still, there were over 14,000 DUI arrests made in Colorado during 2024, showing that drivers often ignore the laws.

Impaired driving laws were not enacted to restrict people; they are there to protect everyone on Colorado roads. Impairments include:

• Difficulty focusing and concentrating on traffic and the act of driving

• Blurred vision

• Poor motor coordination

• Delayed reaction times

• Poor judgment

• Behavioral changes, such as aggressiveness and lack of inhibitions

As if these impairments are not dangerous enough, drunk or high drivers are often erratic. For example, they may swerve or weave between lanes of traffic, speed up and slow down unpredictably, run red lights, and brake or turn suddenly. Even if the impaired driver is not involved in a collision, his erratic behaviors can cause other motorists to have accidents.

What Damages Can I Collect After an Impaired Driving Collision?

Every impaired driving crash is different, and the damages you could receive are based on factors specific to your case. Personal injury claims might include reimbursement for accident-related expenses, like lost income, medical care costs, and property damage. In addition, you could receive compensation for intangible losses, such as permanent disability or disfigurement, losing the ability to enjoy life, and pain and suffering.

If the crash is fatal, eligible survivors can file survival and wrongful death actions. A survival action pursues the same damages as the deceased could have if she had lived. A wrongful death claim typically seeks compensation for the losses suffered by her immediate family, such as a surviving spouse and children. These losses could include financial support and job-related benefits, guidance, companionship, and inheritance, along with the mental and emotional ways the death affected those who were left behind.

No insurance company will offer you a settlement for as much as it should. Their interests directly oppose yours. If you want to collect maximum compensation, you need an experienced advocate to fight aggressively on your behalf.

Contact a Skilled Fort Collins, CO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

When an impaired driver causes a traffic accident, those affected deserve compensation. A dedicated Larimer County, CO personal injury attorney from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. can handle your case effectively. We offer free consultations, so call us at 970-225-2190 or contact us online today.