Dealing with an injury from an accident caused by drunk driving can be incredibly difficult.
We understand that you feel frustrated or even angry.
Feelings of anger are completely normal in such a situation, as a drunk driving accident IS one that could have been avoided.
However, stewing in your anger will get you no closer to justice.
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Hold the drunk driver financially responsible for the damages caused by his or her actions. Channel your anger and reach out to our drunk driving accident lawyers at the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers today.
We can help you use your frustration in a constructive manner—to build a solid defense and fight for the financial recovery you need to pick up the pieces of your life and move forward.
What is the Average Drunk Driver Accident Settlement?
Before pursuing a personal injury claim of any kind, most people want to know if doing so is “worth it.”
What they mean is, will the size of the settlement outweigh the legal costs of pursuing one?
The truth is it depends.
Every car accident case is unique. It does not matter if the crash was caused by a drunk driver or a sober one. Each case contains unique factors that ultimately affect the overall outcome of the case.
After suffering injuries in a drunk driving accident, you want to know what size settlement to expect. We likely cannot provide you with an exact answer. We can, however, tell you that drunk driving cases typically yield higher settlements.
That said, there is no average settlement for a drunk driving accident. In Colorado, some drunk driving accidents settle for millions, while others result in drunk driving lawsuit settlements of less than $10,000. The discrepancy occurs for a number of reasons. Some factors that may affect the outcome of a settlement include the following:
- The severity and permanence of an injury;
- The degree of comparative fault; and
- The amount of economic loss suffered.
Legal Representation
Another factor that plays a role in the outcome of a drunk driving case is legal representation.
Those who try to represent themselves typically settle for far less than what they deserve. Those who retain experienced and aggressive counsel should not settle until a fair amount can be negotiated and agreed upon.
Accident victims who hire an experienced drunk driving accident get more out of their case.
Calculating Damages in a Drunk Driving Settlement
One of the first things we do when meeting with accident victims and their families is evaluate the case and provide a fair and honest assessment of its value. Though we do not provide promises to clients about what to expect from their drunk driving lawsuit settlements, we do provide as accurate an estimate as possible. To come up with said estimate, we consider the following:
- Possible Compensatory Damages: Compensatory damages are those intended to compensate the victim for his or her economic and non-economic losses. Such losses include special damages (past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, etc.) and general damages (mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, etc.).
- Possible Punitive Damages: Punitive damages compensate the victim, but also punish the defendant. In many drunk driving cases, Colorado does award punitive damages, as drunk driving is an act of gross negligence and one that demonstrates wanton disregard for the safety of others. While punitive damages are never a guarantee in drunk driving lawsuit settlements, they are common.
Unfortunately, there is no average drunk driver lawsuit settlement to which drunk driving accident victims can refer to decide if pursuing a lawsuit is wise or not. However, know that if a reputable lawyer does agree to take on your case, chances are it is because he or she anticipates your particular case to yield a sizeable award.
Let Our Aggressive Drunk Driving Lawyers Go to Battle for You
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, take the first step to physical, emotional, and financial recovery. Contact the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation, and to learn what you need to do to maximize your recovery. We serve accident victims and their families in Denver, Colorado, Cheyenne, WY, and surrounding areas. Contact our team today to get started.
