An Important Word in Personal Injury Law: Negligence
The average person can do a fairly decent job of describing what a personal injury case involves. Someone committed an act (or, alternatively, failed to act) and another person was harmed. Far less people will be able to define a key word that is central to many personal injury cases: negligence. Any Colorado personal injury […]
Statements Made Without Miranda – Admissible or Not?
Society generally knows about Miranda¹ warnings. Within Miranda is the right not to make statements against one’s self-interest. Under the United States Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, a person generally has the right to not make statements to police: “…nor shall [any person] be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself…” The Colorado Constitution […]
Search Warrants and DUI
In a previous blog entry we covered the topic of Colorado’s Express Consent – basically, a driver’s already-stated approval to submit to a chemical test if an officer has probable cause to believe the vehicle operator is driving under the influence (DUI). Refusal to submit to testing can severely and adversely impact one’s ability to […]
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests in Colorado
If a driver is pulled over in Colorado and police suspect he or she is impaired, the officer will request the individual to perform some tests by the roadside to determine if the operator is drunk or high. The tests, called standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) or roadside tests are used by police to determine […]
How Much Does a DUI Attorney Cost?
Ever heard the expression “You get what you pay for”? This same axiom applies to legal fees charged by attorneys who represent clients in driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while ability impaired (DWAI) cases. If you are seeking a potentially good resolution of the criminal charges against you, be prepared to spend the […]
Mandatory Protection Orders and Domestic Violence
A person charged with domestic violence in Colorado faces short-term, life-changing consequences when accused of this offense. To summarize, the persons, places and things he or she engaged with prior to arrest and accusation must be altered after receiving notice of the domestic violence charge. When a person is accused of domestic violence, the court […]
Immigration Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction
In the United States, there are approximately 50.2 million people who are foreign-born, which represents about one-seventh (1/7) of the country’s entire population¹. Today’s highly charged climate on the topic of immigration requires these people to know what events can bring an individual to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of the […]
When a Cop Wants to Know if You Are Sober
A police officer has pulled over your vehicle to the side of the road. Earlier you went out with friends and had a couple drinks. Or you attended happy hour with co-workers and tossed back a couple of beverages. Now the cop wants to know if you are sober? Do your recreational activities dictate that […]
What to Do When You’ve Been Pulled Over by the Police
You’ve been pulled over … now what? You are traveling along a Colorado street or highway and, looking in your rear view mirror, you instantly lock your eyes onto a police car’s activated emergency lights. And the officer is right behind you. Expecting your emotional state to go from whatever-it-is-at-that-moment to worse, your next thought […]