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Drunk drivers in Colorado often do these things

On Behalf of | Jun 28, 2019 | Uncategorized |

When you’re behind the wheel or traveling as a passenger in someone’s vehicle, there’s only so much you can do to keep yourself safe. Arriving safely to your destination depends on a lot of external factors, as well, such as whether there happens to be a drunk driver in the vicinity. If so, you and anyone else nearby are a great risk for collision and serious, if not fatal injuries. Colorado police are always on the lookout for suspicious driving behavior.

You can be just as diligent. Driving under the influence of alcohol affects a driver’s brain. Not only is depth perception impaired but other cognitive delays typically show themselves in the way a driver is maneuvering his or her vehicle. If you notice a situation that causes concern, it’s best to try to distance your vehicle from the other. That’s not always possible, which is why it’s also important to know where to seek support if a drunk driver hits you.

Warning signs you should never ignore

In some situations in life, it’s always nice to give another person the benefit of the doubt. However, if you witness suspicious driving behavior, it’s better to assume the worse and do whatever you can you safely remove yourself from the area. The following  list includes types of driving behavior that definitely suggest a driver might be intoxicated:

  • If a red light turns green and a driver fails to accelerate after the average amount of time it would take to make sure it’s safe to do so, he or she might be impaired.
  • You’re traveling at night and there’s a nearby vehicle without headlights on. This is one of the most common errors drunk drivers make.
  • A car that takes a bend far too widely or so tightly that it clips a curb might have a drunk driver at the wheel.
  • Intoxication causes brain impairment, so it’s not uncommon for drunk drivers to have trouble keeping their cars in the center of their traffic lanes. If you see a vehicle veering left or right, drunk driving might be the reason.
  • There’s usually a pattern to traffic flow. If a driver appears to be having trouble keeping with the flow, he or she might be acting under the influence of alcohol.

Erratic lane changes, random braking or acceleration or a driver who is scrunched up to the edge of his or her seat and gripping the wheel tightly are other common signs of driver intoxication. Just because you witness suspicious driving behavior doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to avoid collision. Such accidents often happen quite suddenly, before you’ve had time to safely react to avoid impact.

The aftermath of a drunk driving accident

Colorado drunk driving accidents often result in fatalities. If you are an accident survivor, you might encounter many challenges during recovery. Injuries can be physical, as well as emotional, and there are often serious economic damages because of drunk driving collisions. The state doesn’t expect you to foot the bill if another person’s negligence caused your injuries.

Many accident victims use evidence of criminal charges filed after drunk driving collisions to help them substantiate personal injury claims in civil court. Successful litigation often leads to court-awarded compensation that can help offset medical bills and other expenses associated with a particular incident.

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