The fact that Colorado is one of those US states in which a high number of road accidents take place is not hidden from anyone. It’s not uncommon to find the news of recent car crashes and other road accidents in newspapers and online news websites every day.
More than 100,000 motor vehicle accidents occur in Colorado. The number of deaths taking place due to accidents has increased in the past decade. Since the year 2011, a 50 percent increase has been seen in traffic deaths. Drivers and passengers in all types of vehicles, including but not limited to cars, SUVs, motorcycles, bicycles, and trucks, get into accidents.
Therefore, if you drive a vehicle in Colorado, you must practice all the safety measures. You should drive properly and follow all the traffic rules. You need to avoid getting distracted while driving. The use of mobile phones and other gadgets should be avoided.
However, there is no guarantee that you will not get into an accident even if you follow all the traffic rules and drive safely. The reason behind this is quite simple. Apart from your vehicle, many other vehicles also run on the road. Those vehicles might be run by their owner or chauffeur. You can control your actions while driving but not the actions of others who are running vehicles alongside your vehicle.
Thus, there is a high possibility that you might get into an accident due to the fault of another person. In such a case, you should be equipped with all the essential knowledge related to road accidents, especially car accidents, as cars are driven more than any other vehicle.
Why Is It Necessary to Know About Car Accident Claims?
Table of Contents
It’s not wise on anybody’s part to think that they will surely get into an accident one day, but you cannot ignore the statistical figures. Considering the fact that there is a possibility of you getting involved in an accident due to the mistake of some other person driving a vehicle on the road, you must stay prepared. You need to have a complete idea of what steps to take after being in a car accident in Colorado.
The knowledge you acquire will help both you and your loved ones. If someone from your acquaintances gets into an accident, unfortunately, then you can guide them and help them at every step. If you stay naïve and uninformed, the other party and their insurance adjuster might try to take undue advantage of you.
You need to stay informed about your rights and duties if you have been involved in an accident in which you are not at fault or partially at fault. You might wonder, “If partial fault is mine, how can I have any right after the accident?”. Well, you must know that Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state. In simple words, even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you are still entitled to some rights.
The most important point you should be aware of is that you can demand compensation from the other party whose fault led to the accident. The compensation is given to cover the expenses that you might have to incur as a consequence of the accident.
Various kinds of expenses that usually occur in such circumstances are medical expenses, missed paychecks, and repair costs of the vehicle. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might have to miss work for a few days, weeks, or even months. The income that you lost because of remaining absent from work is covered by the other party in the form of compensation given to you.
Some people sustain severe injuries, such as permanent scars, marks, or disabilities. They might not be able to earn the same level of income as they did before the accident. On top of it, the quality of their life also gets degraded. Such losses are also compensated to the victims of car accidents in Colorado.
Medical bills can include the cost of the appointments in medical facilities, treatment of wounds, surgeries, hospitalization, medical equipment, physical therapy, rehabilitation, nursing services, and so on. Other than physical injuries and vehicle damages, victims also encounter pain and suffering. They experience mental trauma that needs to be healed soon. The cost of counseling services taken for this purpose is also reimbursed.
How Can a Colorado Car Accident Lawyer be of Help to You?
Whether you were not at fault or partially at fault in the accident you got involved in, you should consult a Colorado car accident lawyer. Just like you need a medical professional to get the best treatment, you need a legal professional to get the best possible compensation amount. If the other party is genuine and understands their mistakes, they might willingly offer you compensation.
However, the discussions are conducted by the insurance adjuster of the other party. The adjuster represents the insurance company from which the other party must have bought an insurance policy. Insurance adjusters always try to make the victims settle for as little compensation as possible. In the worst cases, they even try to manipulate victims to reduce the compensation amount they are liable to pay.
Therefore, you must hire an experienced car accident lawyer to represent your case. Your lawyer will work in your best interest throughout the whole claim settlement process. They will hold talks with the other party and their insurance company.
You don’t even need to worry about gathering evidence or performing an investigation as your lawyer will take care of all these aspects. They could help you recover the maximum amount of compensation even if the partial fault in the accident was yours.
Your car accident lawyer is the best person to suggest whether you should settle outside court or take legal action. It’s possible that after studying the case thoroughly and negotiating with the other party, you and your lawyer decide that the best course of action is filing a lawsuit. In such a case, you should remember that a statute of limitations applicable in the US State of Colorado prescribes that you file a lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident.
Final Thoughts
Hiring the services of a law firm makes complete sense because it reduces your stress. Amidst the process of physical and emotional recovery from the accident, you might find it hard to meet various parts in order to claim compensation. When you hire a lawyer, they can act on your behalf and ensure that your mental peace remains intact.