Injuries are common in many types of accidents. You may have been injured while you were at work, or playing a sport, or even just walking down the street. After an injury, there are many things to consider. You may need medical care, and you may have lost wages or become unable to work. One of the most important decisions that you can make is whether or not to hire a Denver personal injury lawyer.
Here at our injury law firm, we handle all types of cases related to injuries including car accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, product liability claims for defective products like dangerous pharmaceuticals, and unsafe consumer products such as faulty tires on vehicles. If you have been injured due to someone else's negligence you have the legal right to recover compensation. Call us today at 720-770-5454 to schedule a free initial consultation and learn how we can help.
What Should You do After Being Injured?
Taking the necessary steps after an injury is one of the most important aspects of a claim. If you are injured by another person's negligence you need to do the following:
Reporting the injury is a crucial step in ensuring your rights are protected and that you receive appropriate medical care. The first thing you should do is contact the relevant authorities to report the accident. This could be a store manager if injured by a slip and fall or the police after a car accident. When answering questions and reporting the incident be as detailed as possible and only report facts. It’s okay if there are gaps in your memory because accidents happen unexpectedly and within seconds. You deserve compensation for any injuries sustained during an accident, but this can only happen with proper documentation of what happened.
Seek medical care. The next thing you should do after being injured is to seek medical care for your injury as soon as possible, even if it seems minor. You want to ensure you heal properly without injuries worsening over time or causing more damage than necessary. Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions carefully and document any visits to their office, medication, or physical therapy you are using, maintain a detailed recovery log, and save all copies of medical records and receipts.
How Do You Determine Fault For Injury Claims in Colorado?
It's important to know how fault is determined in Colorado injury claims. There are many cases where the person who is believed to be at fault turns around and tries to blame the other party for the accident. Even if he or she accepts some responsibility, he or she may claim that the other party's actions helped lead to the accident.
Colorado uses what is knows as the comparative negligence model if both parties' negligence contributed to the accident. Colorado law allows a victim to recover some of the damages that he or she sustained even if they were partially at fault. In order to recover financial compensation, however, you must be less than 50 percent responsible for contributing to the accident.
Fault can be a complicated concept. It's important to understand how it affects your case and the amount of damages you may receive. In order to determine fault, a judge or jury must decide on the amount of damages sustained, then apportion those damages between each party based on their degree of responsibility for what happened. If the case does not go to trial, an insurance adjuster will try to reduce the settlement offer by any degree of fault they allege that you were responsible for.
Why Should I Hire an Injury Attorney For My Case?
You may not realize how complicated injury claims can be. A personal injury attorney with extensive experience knows all of the ins and outs of the claims process, including how to navigate pursuing compensation through a lawsuit or settlement negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf. This is especially important if you are dealing with an uninsured driver who was responsible for causing your accident.
You may not know what type of compensation you can recover through an injury claim. A Denver personal injury attorney has knowledge when it comes to different types of damages that are available in a Colorado lawsuit, including lost wages, medical bills, and pain & suffering. If you have been injured because someone else caused your accident then the responsible if obligated to cover damages you incurred.
There are time limits on how long you have to file a personal injury claim in Colorado. If you don't know what the statute of limitations is, an experienced lawyer should be able to advise your case and tell you that it's not too late for compensation.
They know how to negotiate a correct settlement. The insurance company is not on your side – they are only interested in paying out as little as possible while still getting away with it legally. They have teams of lawyers who specialize in fighting claims, which means that even if they lose their case against us, they win because it costs them less than the claim is worth to them. So why take any chances? Let our experienced team fight for your rights today!
How Much Does a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
If you’ve been injured, it can be difficult to know where to turn. We understand that the last thing on your mind is legal fees and we want to help. Our lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs for our services.
A contingency fee arrangement means that attorney fees are only collected when there’s a recovery – meaning that even if we lose, you won’t have to pay any legal fees. We work hard to get our clients what they deserve and will never charge them unless we win their case.
It doesn't matter how much money you have or don't have - our attorneys will work with you every step of the way and make sure that everything is taken care of so that you can focus on healing from your injury instead of worrying about finances.
What Damages do Personal Injury Claims Cover?
You may be entitled to recover compensation for personal injuries and losses, including:
Medical Bills
Medical treatment after an injury is a common occurrence and oftentimes the cost of these treatments are not covered by insurance or other sources. A personal injury award for damages will almost always include damages for medical care associated with the accident. That will include payment for bills already incurred as well as payments made based on estimated future medical costs.
Lost Wages
One of the main forms of damages that personal injury attorneys try to recover for their clients is the loss of wages. Lost wages cover financial losses by looking at what your average wage would have been had you not suffered an injury, taking into account any time when you were unable to work and any period during which it may be difficult or impossible to return to work.
Property Damage
Property damage is a common occurrence in the aftermath of an auto accident. If your property was damaged, then you may be entitled to reimbursement for economic losses related to repairs or compensation. We can help you recover the value of what was lost and get back on track with your life.
Pain and Suffering
You may also be entitled to fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Pain and suffering cover non-economic damages are available if the injury is serious enough to cause significant ongoing discomfort. Other damages may also be available for emotional distress if the accident caused a significant psychological impact (such as fear or anxiety) that can be proven to affect you physically.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded to the plaintiff in order to punish the defendant for his or her conduct – essentially to hurt them financially in order to serve as a deterrent for any future similar conduct. This is not something that will happen every time, but it does happen. It can be used when the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious and they deserve punishment beyond just compensatory damages. In Colorado, unless specific criteria are met, punitive damages can not exceed the total value of damages awarded. If those criteria are met they can not exceed three times the value of the other damages.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Colorado?
Typically, you have two to three years from the date of an injury to file a personal injury claim in Colorado. So if you were in a car accident and suffered injuries on August 15th, 2021, then your deadline for filing would be by August 15th, 2024. But if you were hurt on August 15, 2021, in a slip and fall you have to file it by August 15, 2023.
But there are exceptions to this rule that could increase the time limitations on your case. For example, if defendants have hidden information or are given misleading testimony, courts may grant extensions on the statute of limitations clock. Or if an injured person was under 18 at the time of their accident and doesn't have a legal representative (such as parents), then they may be able to wait until they turn 18 or regain mental competence before filing suit.
What is the Injury Claims Process?
If you are undergoing treatment for an injury and planning on filing a claim you should know how this process will play out. The process for an injury claim follows these steps:
Your Attorney Investigates Your Claim and Reviews Medical Records
An experienced lawyer will make sure that every detail is covered during the investigation and review process - including interviewing witnesses, obtaining police reports, locating surveillance video footage, etc., as well as gathering all relevant documents such as medical expenses and insurance statements related to your injury.
Demands and Negotiations
Personal injury cases are often settled before they ever go to trial. If the lawyer thinks that the case can be settled, they will make a demand to the other attorney or the other side's insurance company. The settlement negotiation process is different for every case and depends on many factors including how serious your injuries were, whether there was any property damage, and what type of insurance coverage applies.
A good lawyer will not make a demand until the plaintiff has reached a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is when the plaintiff has ended all medical treatment and is as recovered as possible. This is because, until the plaintiff has reached MMI, the lawyer does not know how much the case is worth. If settlement talks stall or the two sides are too far apart, then litigation begins.
An Injury Lawsuit is Filed and Goes to Court
The litigation phase starts when you and your lawyer file a personal injury lawsuit. Your case can be settled through mandatory arbitration or by a trial in court. Mandatory arbitration is a process that requires the parties to resolve their dispute through an arbitrator, rather than in court. The decision of the arbitrator is final and binding on both parties.
At trial, a jury of your peers will listen to your story and the evidence presented and based thereon decide how much to award you in the form of financial damages. A court case can be settled at any stage by the voluntary agreement of the parties. If no fair settlement is reached, the case will ultimately be decided by way of a trial and issuance of a jury verdict and judgment.
Types of Claims Our Attorneys Handle
When you or a loved one has been injured, it is important to have an attorney who understands Colorado's personal injury laws and can navigate your accident claim. Our lawyers have a proven track record of handling all types of personal injury claims and are standing by ready to help you through this difficult time.
Car Accidents
After you've been in a car accident, it can be difficult to know what steps to take. You're probably feeling unhappy and overwhelmed by the emotional upheaval of dealing with this event and trying to heal physically. It's important that you not only focus on your own recovery but also take the time to figure out what legal battles lie ahead for you. Our Denver car accident lawyers help injury victims like you who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. You'll receive guidance about how much compensation may be available for damages as well as any additional expenses incurred because of the crash such as medical bills.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents happen all the time and are often more serious than other car collisions because motorcycles do not have the same safety features as cars. Even if you do not have severe injuries, there could be long-term consequences that may require medical attention. Our motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help ensure you recover adequate compensation.
Wrongful Death
If you've lost a family member due to the negligence of another person and are seeking justice, it's important that you get help from a Denver wrongful death lawyer. The legal process can be complicated and emotional for those who have experienced such an enormous loss. You need someone on your side that understands not only the intricacies of the law but also what it feels like to lose someone close.
Pedestrian Accidents
If you have been in a pedestrian accident, it is important to know that the law can help. A lawyer can take care of the legal aspects for you so you don't have to worry about them. It may be hard and confusing if this has never happened before, but with a pedestrian accident attorney's guidance, things will become much clearer as they work on your behalf.
Bus Accidents
A bus accident can be a terrifying experience that causes catastrophic injury and thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Accident victims may be entitled to compensation if they were injured because of someone else's negligence. Our Denver bus accident lawyers will review the details of your case with no obligation on your part and provide advice so that you can make informed decisions about what steps to take next.
Work Injuries
Insurance companies and employers do not always make it easy to repay your medical expenses after a workplace injury. Workers' Compensation is one way of getting the money you need for those bills, but Colorado has a "no-fault" system so many insurance companies are stingy with compensation or don't care about what happens in any case! Luckily our workers' compensation lawyers in Denver are here to help.
Rideshare Accidents
Our Uber accident lawyers at DCAL are dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured rideshare passengers. Don't hesitate, call us now and we will make sure that you're compensated! These cases can be quite complex dealing with both the driver's personal insurance company as well as the coverage provided by Uber and Lyft.
Truck Accidents
The average commercial truck weighs about 26,000 pounds and can have a gross vehicle weight of up to 80,000 pounds. This is equivalent in size to around six or seven small sedans! Regardless of how careful a commercial truck driver may be they could easily get into an accident with other vehicles. These accidents ultimately depend on whether traffic laws were violated by any drivers involved regardless if you're driving one-way down I-95 or two miles from home your chances of being injured significantly increase when coming across a large truck like this. Our Denver truck accident lawyers can review your case and help you determine the liable party if you have been in an accident with a commercial vehicle.
Schedule a Free Consultation at Our Law Firm Today
If you need help with an insurance claim against a negligent party it's time to call us. Our lawyers are always on standby and we're ready to answer your questions about any personal injury matters in Colorado or any other state. Have you been injured? Call our injury law firm for a free initial consultation today so that we can start working towards getting you the maximum compensation you deserve. Our Denver personal injury lawyers handle all types of injuries and don’t charge upfront fees so there are no surprises when you receive services or pay us at the end of the case. Call our law office now at 720-770-5454 for a free consultation!