Each year, hundreds of Colorado residents suffer serious injuries in car accidents, leading to significant physical, emotional, and financial hardship. Since Colorado is a fault insurance state, accident victims have the right to pursue legal action against the driver responsible for their collisions.
Since 1985, our law firm has helped hold negligent or careless drivers accountable for their actions. We will fight tenaciously to secure the compensation you deserve, advocating for your rights during each stage of the litigation and insurance processes. Contact our Boulder car accident lawyers at Purvis Thomson, LLP to represent your claim.
The compassionate Boulder car crash lawyers at Purvis | Thomson, LLP understand the significant effect that a car crash can have on the lives of victims and their families. Some car crashes can cause serious brain injuries and spinal injuries that lead to chronic pain and cause significant time off work. They can also cause significant medical expenses and financial losses. Additionally, car accident victims may suffer psychological trauma because of the incident.
Under Colorado personal injury law, you may be able to seek compensation for the various damages you suffered in the accident. Our team is ready to fight to protect your rights and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for:
Successfully recovering these damages requires convincing an insurance adjuster or jury of the losses you suffered because of the negligence of another driver. Our team will gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case on your behalf and fight for the maximum compensation available for your claim.
If you are in an accident with an at-fault driver, you have the right to pursue legal action against him or her. You generally have two pathways to compensation: You can file an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company, or you can file a personal injury lawsuit against him or her in civil court.
During the insurance process in Colorado, the company will assign an adjuster to your case who will conduct an investigation and determine who was responsible for the accident. To prove your right to compensation during the lawsuit process, you will need to gather sufficient evidence that establishes the following four elements.
Most car accident cases begin in the insurance stage before proceeding to a lawsuit, if necessary; however, there are certain situations where filing a lawsuit from the beginning is in your best interest. For example, if you sustain serious damages that exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, the insurance company is not likely to provide you with maximum compensation. In this situation, you will need to file a lawsuit to recover the full extent of your damages. If your loved one has passed away due to an auto accident speak with our wrongful death lawyers to effectively negotiate with insurance companies to secure a fair settlement.
The moments after a car accident can be painful and disorienting. However, these moments are the most crucial for your future claim, and the actions you take will impact your ability to recover compensation. To preserve evidence and protect your rights, take the following steps immediately after the collision.
If you are in a Boulder car accident, you need an attorney on your side. These cases can be complex and difficult to prove without the resources, experience, and skills of a Boulder car accident attorney. Hiring a lawyer can provide several benefits to your case, including the following.
One of the most frequent questions our lawyers receive is, “What is my case worth?” However, it is also one of the most difficult questions to answer because every case is different. The potential value of your case can depend on various factors, such as:
An experienced car accident lawyer can help determine the value of your case after conducting a thorough investigation and reviewing the damages you have incurred.
The statute of limitations is the time limit you have to take certain legal action to preserve your right to do so. In Colorado, the statute of limitations for auto accidents is generally three years. This means you generally have three years to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
There are certain exceptions to the rule that may shorten or lengthen the time limit. For example, in some cases, you may not be aware that the injury you suffered was due to a defect in the vehicle. In such cases, you may have three years from the date you discovered the connection. But in other situations, such as if you are suing a government entity, you may have less time to file a claim.
If the statute of limitations passes and you have not filed a lawsuit, the court will likely deny your claim automatically. You will lose your right to seek compensation for the damages you have suffered.
This deadline applies to filing a lawsuit. Your insurance policy may require you to file an insurance claim well before this point. And, you’ll want to hire a lawyer much earlier in the process, if possible, before witnesses disappear, memories fade, and evidence is destroyed. Please give us a call so we can review your circumstances and inform you of the time limit for your specific situation.
Because Colorado is an at-fault state for car insurance, you will need to be able to prove the other driver was at fault for the accident to recover compensation for your car accident claim. Because you and the other driver may have contradictory accounts of how the crash occurred, you will want strong evidence to prove fault, such as:
An experienced car accident lawyer will know the type of evidence that can establish your claim and work to secure it.
In many cases, the negligence of more than one party contributes to an accident. The person making the insurance claim may be partially at fault for the accident. For example, one driver may have failed to yield the right-of-way while the other was speeding.
If you were partially at fault for the car accident, don’t despair because of Colorado’s modified comparative fault law. You may still be able to pursue a car accident claim – as long as you were not 50% or more at fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you are found 10% at fault for the accident and suffered $100,000 in damages, your recovery is reduced by 10% or $10,000 in this example.
Like most states, Colorado follows a fault-based system when it comes to car accidents. Drivers who are responsible for car accidents must pay for the damages that any victims, such as other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, sustain during the collision. To uphold this financial responsibility, all Colorado drivers must carry the following minimum amounts of liability insurance.
You can choose to purchase higher amounts of liability coverage if you choose to do so. Colorado also requires insurance companies to include $5,000 in medical payments coverage in their policies, which you can use to pay for your medical expenses immediately after the accident regardless of fault. You can also choose to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which pays for your damages in case you are in a collision with an uninsured driver.
While most accident claims are ultimately resolved through a settlement with the insurance company, this is not always the best option. Whether or not you should accept a settlement from the insurance company depends on your specific situation. We can discuss your case with you during a confidential evaluation. If you have already received a settlement offer, we can evaluate it to determine whether it is fair, based on your specific circumstances.
Generally, we will not recommend you accept a settlement offer that is:
Often, our experienced team can negotiate a better settlement than what the insurance company offers when you do not have legal counsel. We can also advise you when accepting a settlement is not in your best interest and when we recommend you pursue litigation or other legal avenues to obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free case review where we can explain more about our process.
Car accidents in Colorado can occur due to many factors. In some cases, poor weather conditions such as snow or heavy rain can lead to collisions. In others, a government agency may fail to adequately maintain a road or city architects can design a dangerous street from the beginning, leading to serious accidents. However, some of the most common causes of Colorado car accidents include negligent driving behaviors, including the following.
If you are injured in a Boulder car accident, the attorneys at Purvis Thomson, LLP can help. For decades, we have represented Colorado residents in their claims against negligent drivers, and we will advocate aggressively to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with a Boulder car accident attorney.
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