Denver Car Crash Lawyer Blog

Car accidents are on the rise in Colorado with over 10,000 car accidents each year. If you happen to be involved in a car accident, there are a few things you should be aware of. Educating yourself on what to do and what not to do in the event of a Colorado car accident can be the difference between life or death. If you’ve been in a car crash in Denver, there are a few Colorado car accident laws you should know that may help win your case. Liability in Denver, Colorado Car AccidentsOne thing you should know about a car accident in the state of Colorado is that Colorado is an at-fault state. This means that after you get in an accident, you are allowed to legally file a claim with the other party’s insurance company. The difference between an at-fault state and a no-fault state is that in a no-fault state the victim is required to file a claim through their own insurance company. In Colorado that is not the case, the at-fault driver’s insurance is liable for the damages of the accident. How to Prove Fault in a Denver Car CrashThere are a few main ways to prove a car accident in Denver. In some situations, there will be an obvious fault, such as with a rear-end collision. In these car accidents, there is almost no question as to who caused it. Second, there are left-turn accidents. Most often, when a car going straight, and another turning left, that person will be considered at fault. In the event it is not apparent who is at fault, it is by using police reports. Usually, when the accident is somewhat serious, a police officer will give their opinion on the situation. This can work in your favor if the police officer saw the other person cause the accident. You can also ask for witness testimony from bystanders to strengthen your case and prove fault or name specific laws that the other party broke. While you do have up to 3 years to file a car accident claim, it’s best to do it as soon as possible while the details are fresh. If you wait too long, it can be difficult to track down a witness who’ll recall the details accurately. How Insurance Works in a Car AccidentVehicles are required to have liability insurance in Colorado. Liability covers the other driver’s car in the result of an accident. A victim of a car accident can file a claim with the other driver’s insurance or go through your own insurance and have them reimburse you after the fact. You can choose which is easier for you. The insurance company you choose will provide an adjuster to assess the reports of the accident and determine the compensation. They will take a look at the damage and determine who is at fault with all of the evidence at hand. Insurance companies will pay out damages to fix your property, and to the other party if you are determined to be at fault. However, insurance companies might not have your best interest in mind. They want to pay as little as possible and will nickel and dime you every chance they get. An experienced car crash lawyer in Denver can negotiate with the insurance in your favor to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. How to Properly Report an AccidentIf you were involved in a serious accident, you should contact the police after you’d made sure everyone is okay. The police will create an official report for the accident documenting details, statements of all parties involved, and their insurance information. A police report is a key piece of evidence in car accident lawsuits. If you don’t call the police, you will have to file an accident report on your own. However, accident reports made by civilians are not considered in court. A police report is the official report for an accident. Once you’ve contacted the police and everyone is okay you should let your insurance know of the situation. Your insurance company will want you to provide certain information, such as:  Names and contact information Insurance company and policy numbers Driver’s license and license plate numbers Type, color, and model of vehicle Location of where the accident took place Do not admit fault for the accident. This is extremely important. You also shouldn’t call the other insurance company. They might call you, but you should direct them to your own representative. If the other insurance offers you a settlement, speak with a car crash lawyer before accepting. As mentioned above, they will try to pay as little as possible for your medical expenses and vehicle repairs. How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for a Car Accident in Colorado?The statute of limitations is a set of rules that govern how long someone has to file a lawsuit for a car accident. In the state of Colorado, the law allows for three years to file a lawsuit or take other legal action in Colorado. However, Denver car crash laws have a modified comparative fault rule. This only allows for financial recovery if the person filing the lawsuit is less responsible than the other people involved. How Much Can Someone Sue for a Car Accident in Colorado?Colorado Car Crash Laws are somewhat specific when it comes to suing for a car accident. When it comes to suing for "pain and suffering" damages, the limit is anywhere from $613,760 to $1,227,520. However, there must be clear evidence that it is the person’s fault. If the person who is suing is also injured permanently, then there is no limit.  Other Helpful Resources for Car Crashes in Denver, ColoradoHere are a few resources that may be helpful if you’ve been involved in a car crash in Denver, Colorado.  To report a car accident: Report traffic incidents on this website. Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): Process your driver’s licenses and permits, register your vehicles, and more. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDoT) : Forms, publications, and manuals to stay safe on the road. U.S Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Crash: Statistics regarding car accidents that occur each year. Get a Free Consultation for Car Crash Lawyer in DenverCar accidents in Colorado happen all too often. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident in the state of Colorado it is not something to take lightly. Car accidents can seriously injure everyone involved and are sometimes fatal. If you have been injured at no fault of your own, you shouldn’t be responsible for medical expenses and vehicle repairs. Our car crash lawyers can get you the compensation you deserve! Getting restitution is important. Contact a car crash lawyer Denver today. 

There are hundreds of thousands of accidents that happen in Colorado each year. The severity ranges from parking lot fender benders to head on highway collisions. The severity of your car crash claim will affect how much your claim is worth. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Denver, Colorado contact an experienced car crash lawyer. They will be able to tell you how much you can expect from the lawsuit and if you should accept the insurance company’s settlement offer or not. If you are unsure whether you have a claim or if a lawsuit is worth it, then keep reading to learn more about settlement payouts and factors that determine the value of your car accident claim in Denver, Colorado. What is the Average Settlement in a Car Crash Denver, COThe average car accident settlement is roughly $20,235 for bodily injuries. Property damage claims are much lower at an average of $4,711 per car crash claim. Denver, Colorado car accident claims are typically worth 1.5 times the total financial loss. Medical expenses and vehicle repairs are a couple of examples of financial loss from an accident. The reason it’s 1.5 times the total financial loss is to accommodate for the pain and suffering of the accident. Accidents are never easy to recover from especially if you or a loved one was injured. If you’ve been involved in an accident, you should maximize the settlement in your case by working with a car crash lawyer in Denver. Factors That Determine the Value of Your Car Accident Claim in Denver, ColoradoThere are several factors that are considered when calculating the value of a car crash lawsuit. Driving laws vary from state-to-state, here are the factors that determine the value of your car accident claim in Denver, Colorado.  Insurance CoverageColorado law requires that drivers carry liability insurance on their vehicles. Liability insurance covers injuries and damages to another person or their property that you are responsible for. The amount of liability coverage the at fault driver has may affect the value of your car crash claim. To protect their citizens Colorado set the following minimum coverage options:  $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident $15,000 for property damage in any one accident. These are minimums required by law, coverages can be higher. Once the at fault’s insurance coverage max is met, the insurance will no longer pay for your medical expenses.  LiabilityLiability is a major factor in determining the value of your case. Whoever is liable for the accident is “at-fault.” If it is clear who is at-fault, it will be much easier to win your case. However, if it is NOT clear who was at fault in the accident, compensation may be more difficult to receive. Severity of InjuriesIf you are involved in an accident and severely injured you are entitled to compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering. The more severe the injury the more compensation you should receive. If you suffered a broken arm in the accident and needed surgery, your medical bills should be covered. But what if you are a surgeon and now you can’t work because of the accident? You will be compensated for the medical bills and the additional income losses.  Financial lossFinancial loss is heavily weighed when calculating your case's value. Financial loss refers to damages to your vehicle or expenses incurred as result of the accident. Vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and wages lost due to missing work are examples of financial loss. As we mentioned above, the average car accident settlement is 1.5 times the total financial loss. To estimate how much your car accident claim is worth, add up your total financial loss due to the accident. How to Determine Fault in Denver a Car CrashColorado is an “at-fault state” which means the at fault driver is liable for the damages. Determining who’s at fault for an accident is not so easy. Especially when you’re dealing with pesky insurance companies. In Colorado, fault consists of two components:  A negligent act Causation You can determine fault by asking one simple question. Would the accident have happened if it wasn’t for a given negative action? For example, if someone slams on their brakes and you rear-end them, you're likely at fault because the accident wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t so close to them. The same could be said for someone pulling out into oncoming traffic and getting side swiped. In theory it should be easy to determine fault but with so much at stake between insurance and medical expenses some people can be reluctant to admit it. A Denver car crash lawyer can help prove fault and get you the compensation you deserve. What Type of Compensation Can I Receive for My Injuries in a Car Accident?If you’ve been involved in an accident in Colorado, you can receive compensation for the damages. Compensation is the monetary value of those damages. In Denver, Colorado, there are two types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages refers to compensation for objectively verifiable monetary losses such as past and future medical expenses, loss of past and future earnings, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, the economic value of domestic services, and loss of employment or business opportunities. Economic damages are objective losses that can be verified. Here are a few examples of economics damages:  Medical expenses Vehicle repairs or replacement Loss of wages Property damage Rental car cost Non-economic damages are subjective losses that don’t have a fixed monetary value. Here are a few examples of non-economic examples:  Pain and suffering Loss of quality of life Mental anguish You can’t put a price on certain things, like the price of losing a loved one. Non-economic damages are there to help compensate for the mental toll car accident injuries can take. How Insurance Affects How Much You May Get From Your Car Crash ClaimPer Colorado law you must have insurance. Each insurance policy has a certain dollar amount they will cover you up to. For some it’s $25,000, others are higher. If you’re the one who got injured in the car crash, the insurance of person who hit you will cover up to $25,000 worth of medical expenses. That may seem like a lot but medical expenses can add up quickly. What happens if that’s not enough to cover medical expenses, not to mention loss of income for taking time off work? Then you will need to file a lawsuit against the person responsible for the car accident and your injuries to get the compensation you deserve. How a Car Crash Lawyer Can Help Maximize Your ClaimBy taking on a car accident claim without a car crash lawyer, you won’t be able to maximize compensation. We specialize in these types of lawsuits. Our car crash lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance companies and how to get the most value out of your case. There’s a lot of documentation and time that goes into these claims. You don’t have to do it alone. You’ve been through enough. Get a free consultation by contacting our office today! 

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 639 people died in Colorado car accidents last year. This is the highest rate of car accident deaths in the previous 20 years. There are a variety of reasons for Colorado reaching this all time high. These accidents may be a result of impaired driving, speeding, and being distracted while driving. You may think that Denver’s increase in population is the cause of the inflated number of car crash fatalities, but the entire nation has dealt with more accidents in recent years. In fact, there were 38,824 car crash fatalities nationwide in 2020, the highest number since 2007. In Denver, Colorado specifically 69 people died in car accidents in 2021. 24 of those deaths were a result of impaired driving. If you have been involved in an accident you may have a claim. I’m a car crash lawyer in Denver who knows the different types of car accidents claims and can get you the compensation you deserve. Most Common Types of Car Crash in DenverThere are many different types of accidents. Some are more severe than others. For example, head-on collisions are much more dangerous than a rear-end at a stop light. As a car crash lawyer in Denver, I have handled hundreds of car accident claims. Here are the most common types of car crashes in Denver, Colorado.  Distracted DrivingDistracted driving is a form of negligence and is one of the most common reasons for car accidents. When people take their eyes and focus away from the road, they make mistakes. Distracted driving can be eating a sandwich, putting on makeup, texting, and much more. In 2020, text and drive accidents accounted for 10,166 car crashes which resulted in 1,476 injuries. By now, everyone knows the risks of texting and driving and yet people still do it. In a Colorado Department of Transportation survey  91% of participants reported driving distractedly in the past week and 54% admitted to reading a message.  Drunk or Drugged DrivingDrunk driving is a severe offense, especially if there are fatalities as a result. This is one of the most fatal accidents. In fact, impaired driving caused 34% of the traffic deaths in Denver, Colorado in 2021. Drunk driving increases the risk of a car crash by 4 times. Drunk drivers often lose control of the vehicle, swerve into different lanes, and disregard traffic laws, all while speeding. If you or a loved one has been killed by a drunk driver, you should contact a car crash lawyer right away. You can not put a price on a loved one's life but you should be compensated for expenses as well as pain and suffering.  Reckless DrivingReckless driving is very common and can be a variety of things. Driving at high speeds, swerving in and out of lanes, disregarding stop signs and traffic signals, and road rage are all examples of reckless driving. Drivers can lose their license for months for driving recklessly. If you were injured in an accident caused by reckless driving you may have a car crash claim.  SpeedingSpeeding was a factor in 29% of car crash fatalities in 2020 nationwide. When you drive too fast, you have less time to react and make decisions.  In Colorado, speeding was a factor in 40% of the car accident deaths. The higher the speed of a collision the more likely the people involved are injured. If you were hit at high speeds, make sure everyone isn’t severely injured.  Rear-End CollisionsRear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents. 1 in every three traffic crashes in Colorado is a rear-end collision. Fortunately rear-end collisions are the clearest accidents to determine who’s at fault, or liable, for the accident. If you were severely injured during a rear-end collision you should be able to get compensation. If you aren’t injured but need your car repaired, the at-fault’s insurance should cover your auto repair expenses.  Head-On Collisions1 in every five traffic-related deaths in the U.S. is due to a head-on collision. Head-on collisions are unfortunately very common. They happen from drivers trying to pass other vehicles on the left, swerving into oncoming traffic, and many more. Head-on collisions are often fatal due to the heavy impact. These accidents can be gruesome destroying the front end of cars. If you were involved in a high speed head on collision and have been injured. Go to the hospital and get the medical attention you need. Even if you don’t feel injured right away, it’s in your best interest to go to the hospital to get checked out. Some injuries don’t appear right away.  T-Bone AccidentsT-Bone accidents get their name from the shape the cars make when colliding. They are also known as side-impact or sideswiping accidents. These types of accidents often occur in parking lots, or when a car is pulling out across oncoming traffic. What makes these accidents so dangerous is that they can cause the vehicle to roll over if there’s enough impact. Most cars don’t have airbags in the doors, so if you are hit on your doors, you are much more likely to get injured. Construction Zone AccidentsConstruction zone accidents are any accidents that occur in a construction zone. Unfortunately these are more common than you’d think. In 2020 there were 12 fatalities in Denver construction zones. There is a lot going on in construction zones that can distract and confuse drivers. When you add reckless drivers into the mix, it’s a recipe for disaster. Changing traffic patterns, unpainted roads, and stop and go traffic are a few causes of construction zone accidents. Injuries to Look For After a Car Crash in DenverThe first thing you should do after being involved in a car accident is check for injuries. Once you have established that you are unharmed, make sure everyone else involved is okay. If someone needs medical attention, call the ambulance and get it right away. Common injuries car accident victims should look for:  Whiplash Chest pain Head injuries Seatbelt burns Knee & leg injuries Foot & ankle injuries Hand & wrist injuries Shoulder & Arm injuries Surface scrapes and cuts Post traumatic stress Internal bleeding Broken bones Lost limbs Bruises Some injuries, such as whiplash, internal bleeding, or head injuries, may not be noticeable right away. These can be due to the accident's impact but also to pieces of glass or other debris flying around. Going to the doctor’s office after a car accident is very important if you have any pain because it might take days or even months to see symptoms. Seeking treatment right away with any pain is the best way to go. How to Prevent Car AccidentsThere are a few main ways that you can prevent car accidents. First off, have a good attitude about driving. Stay focused, and ensure you have enough practice before going on the road. You should also always wear your seatbelt to ensure your own safety. Avoiding drinking and drug use while driving can help prevent intoxication accidents. Additionally, if you avoid spending or distracted driving, you will have more focus to react safely. What Type of Compensation Are You Entitled to After a Car Crash?If you have been injured in a car accident and your vehicle needs repairs, you should be compensated. Here are a few examples of compensation we have gotten our clients after a car crash in Denver.  Vehicle repairs Pain and suffering Loss of a loved one Medical expenses Property damage Loss of wages The at fault driver’s insurance will reach out to you and offer you a settlement for the crash. If your injuries are minor and you feel the other side is offering a fair settlement, then you can accept. However, the insurance company has their own best interest in mind and will try to pay you as little as possible. Working with a car crash lawyer in Denver can negotiate with the insurance and get you the compensation you deserve. How a Car Crash Lawyer in Denver can HelpHave you been in an accident in the Denver, Colorado, area? Don’t face it alone. You may be entitled to compensation. Especially if you were injured at no fault of your own. Our Denver car crash lawyers can get you the money you deserve following an accident. Schedule a free consultation today to find out how much your Denver car crash claim is worth.