You can file a lawsuit for a car accident, even if you weren’t injured. In many instances, a lawsuit may not be necessary, as an auto accident case could be resolved through an insurance claim. If you file a car accident lawsuit, you could recover compensation for damage to your vehicle and other losses.
Talk with a Boulder car accident attorney if you have been involved in an auto crash and someone else may be liable. Depending on the circumstances, your attorney may advise you to file a lawsuit. In your lawsuit, you can seek compensation for your auto repair costs and other damages, which may be limited to financial losses in cases without physical injury.
When Can I File a Lawsuit for a Car Accident If I Wasn’t Injured?
According to Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) § 13-80-101(1)(n), in most cases, you may have up to three years from the date of your motor vehicle accident to file a lawsuit. This applies regardless of whether you were injured during the incident. Beyond the statute of limitations, you may lose the right to recover compensation for your non-injury-related losses.
Let a Boulder car accident lawyer examine your auto collision case. If you were not injured in an auto accident and want to pursue compensation from anyone who may be liable, your lawyer may advise you to proceed with an insurance claim before you file a lawsuit. This may allow you to resolve your case without a lawsuit or trial.
What to Expect If You File an Insurance Claim for a Car Accident If I Was Not Injured
Colorado has auto insurance requirements for motorists. Per state law, you’re required to purchase car insurance if you reside in Colorado and drive. Colorado follows an at-fault system, which means the driver responsible for an accident may be liable for damages.
Following an auto accident, you can contact your insurance company, which can launch an investigation. Your insurer can connect with the insurance companies of other parties involved in your accident. The insurance companies can review the accident and determine liability.
If someone else may be liable for your auto accident losses, their insurer may provide you with compensation via a settlement.
Unfortunately, insurance companies may dispute liability or the value of a claim, even if their client may be at fault. As such, in your auto accident case, a liable party’s insurance company may argue that you are responsible for the incident. Or, the business may offer a settlement that only accounts for a portion of your losses.
Having a car accident lawyer with a track record of success in cases similar to yours may help you during insurance settlement negotiations. Your attorney wants you to get a reasonable settlement. To achieve this goal, they may go back and forth with a liable party’s insurance company in the hopes of securing a settlement that you feel compensates you fairly.
If insurance settlement negotiations do not result in an offer that meets your requirements, your lawyer may encourage you to sue. At this point, your attorney can help you file a lawsuit against a motorist or other potentially responsible parties. They can engage in settlement negotiations with the defendant until your trial gets underway. If a trial is necessary, your lawyer can present your case in front of a judge or jury.