Your friend was supposed to be the designated driver. You trusted them to take you home safely at the end of the night. However, they had a few drinks and caused a serious car accident, one that left you with injuries and a growing stack of medical bills.
Your legal rights may seem uncertain if you were a passenger at the time of a drunk driving accident. However, the law is quite clear. Anyone who gets injured by an intoxicated driver can file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
Some people are strongly opposed to the idea of suing a friend. It may not come down to that if you can file a claim against their insurance company and get the compensation you need. However, if your claim gets denied, you may be forced to file a lawsuit.
The insurance company could deny your claim for any number of reasons. For example, they may argue that you assumed the risk by getting into the vehicle with your intoxicated friend. Or there may not be enough coverage to pay your claim.
If something like that happens, you can’t be expected to pay for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages on your own. A lawsuit may be your only recourse.
Passengers in other vehicles can also sue the drunk driver for compensation. Inured passengers must prove that the at-fault driver failed to exercise a reasonable level of caution and directly caused their back and neck injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injury, or other types of injuries. That is the basis for all successful drunk driving lawsuits.
Get Help with Your Accident Claim for Free
Boulder auto accident lawyer Christopher Jeffress is proud to fight for the victims of drunk driving accidents. He has obtained six-figure settlements and verdicts on their behalf. You can trust that he has the skill and experience needed to handle your case.
Call 303-993-8685 today to schedule your free case evaluation at Jeffress Law. We serve clients from Boulder, Longmont, Broomfield, and nearby areas of Colorado.
