In 1994, Patricio Martinez was driving drunk when he smashed into a 20-year-old motorcyclist and killed him. That was his fifth DUI. He had a blood alcohol of 2 ½ times the legal limit. Prior to that fatal night, Martinez never went to prison for his prior DUIs. Instead, he was given a plea deal that gave him a chance to have the felony DUI conviction disappear. When he killed the young motorcyclist, however, a judge finally sentenced him to 24 years in prison. He spent more than 18 years behind bars before finally being released in 2013.
Since then, however, he has been arrested for drunk driving multiple times. In April 2018, he was arrested for drunk driving. While the case was still pending, he was arrested again in August for driving under the influence of alcohol. When Martinez went to court, he got a deal often reserved for first-time offenders. It gave him the opportunity to avoid a felony conviction even though he had already been arrested for drunk driving eight separate times and killed someone.
This case is one of many. In fact, 9News found 184 instances in which people convicted of felony DUIs were given deferred sentences. Cases like this are exactly why Colorado’s felony law was put into place. In Colorado, the 4th or subsequent DUI is considered a felony offense and it could come with up to 6 years in prison. However, even with this felony law – a third of all repeat offenders avoid jail and prison time altogether.
Repeat Drunk Drivers are Dangerous
Every single day more than 300,000 people drive drunk; however, only 2,800 are arrested. Repeat drunk drivers cause horrific accidents every single day and kill thousands. In 2017, 10,874 people were killed in DUI accidents. Drunk driving also cost the U.S. $132 billion a year. These drunk drivers are dangerous to everyone on Colorado roads. If you notice a driver behaving oddly, they may be drunk, definitely impaired & could be a danger. Learn what signs to look for to stay safe. If a drunk driver injures you or someone you love, you need a lawyer on your side to help you during this difficult time.
Contact Our Experienced Arvada Car Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured in a drunk driving car accident in Arvada, Northglenn, Thornton, or anywhere in Northern Colorado? If so, it is important to contact our experienced Arvada injury attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our dedicated DUI accident lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. We can help you hold reckless drunk drivers responsible for the harm they’ve caused. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our car accident lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
