Westminster Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other losses a negligent motorist caused you. The Westminster personal injury lawyers at Daniels & Scriven, P.C. can help with all aspects of your legal claim.
Contact us today at (720) 863-6006 to get started with a free case review.
How Can a Westminster Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Under Colorado law, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for the damages they cause through their negligence. This is typically accomplished by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider. However, insurance companies are notorious for wrongfully denying valid claims or trying to settle cases for much less than they are worth.
An experienced car accident lawyer can help level the playing field, advocate for your interest, and protect your rights. When you hire our lawyers, we help by:
- Explaining your legal rights during a free, no-obligation consultation
- Investigating the accident and obtaining evidence the other driver was at fault
- Compiling information about all the damages you suffered to prepare your case for full and fair compensation
- Keeping you updated about any changes in your case
- Handling communication with insurance companies and other parties
- Filing all your paperwork in a timely manner and assisting throughout the claims process
- Negotiating for maximum compensation
- Advising you whether a settlement offer is fair or if you should proceed to trial
If you would like a caring and compassionate car accident lawyer on your side, contact Daniels & Scriven today.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Many people regret not getting a lawyer after a car accident, while most do not regret getting one. As you can see from above, a car accident lawyer can serve a critical role in your case. They can handle the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on your recovery. Dealing with painful injuries and emotional trauma is already hard enough without adding a complex legal claim or insurance adjusters trying to cheat you out of fair compensation to the mix.
Additionally, our car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge fees upfront to get started on your case. Payment for our services comes out of the award we recover for you. So, if we don’t recover compensation for your claim, you don’t owe for our services. We also provide a free, no-obligation consultation so you can learn more about your legal rights and options with no risk.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Colorado Car Accidents?
Most often, human error causes Colorado car accidents. Some leading causes of motor vehicle accidents based on human factors include the following:
- Speeding: When a vehicle is traveling at higher speeds, it is more likely for a driver to lose control of it. If they need to stop suddenly, it will take more time and space to reach a complete stop than if the driver were traveling at lower speeds.
- Distracted driving: Today’s drivers are often distracted by cell phones, GPS devices, phone calls, emails, text messages, food, drinks, passengers, and more. When a driver is distracted, they will have a delayed response after they recognize a hazard ahead.
- Impaired driving: Drugs and alcohol can impair a person’s ability to drive safely, jeopardize their judgment, diminish their inhibitions, slow their reflexes, and negatively impact their mobility. These issues greatly increase the likelihood of getting in an accident.
- Drowsy driving: Tired, drowsy, or fatigued driving has many of the same effects as alcohol on driving. The less sleep a person has, the more profound the impact.
- Inexperienced driving: New drivers do not have the same reflexes as seasoned drivers. They may not know how to respond to hazards, inclement weather, or other unknowns, contributing to crashes.
- Aggressive driving: Some drivers speed, weave in and out of lanes, curse at other drivers, force others over, and drive in other aggressive ways that endanger the lives and safety of others.
- Failing to follow traffic signs and signals: Drivers may run red lights or stop signs, fail to yield, or ignore posted traffic signs or signals, which can cause them to crash into others.
Besides human error, mechanical failures, product defects, or dangerous road designs can cause car accidents. An experienced Westminster car accident lawyer can investigate your accident to determine the factors that contributed to it and who is at fault.
Common Injuries After a Car Accident in Westminster
Car accidents involve extreme forces and physics that can cause various types of injuries, ranging in severity from minor cuts and bruises to life-altering injuries or even fatalities. The particular injuries a car accident victim suffers depend on various factors, including the direction and speed the vehicle they were in was traveling at, the vehicle’s safety features, the point of impact, their location in the vehicle, and pre-existing health conditions. Due to these factors, some of the car accident injuries people may suffer could include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Internal organ injuries
- Crush injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Severe lacerations
If you suffered any of these injuries, seek medical attention immediately. It’s imperative that your injuries are properly diagnosed and promptly treated. Also, seeking medical care ensures that your injuries are documented and linked to the accident.
Colorado Car Accident Injury Statistics
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 94,000 motor vehicle accidents happened in Colorado, which resulted in 659 fatalities and thousands of injuries. According to the Colorado State Patrol, drunk driving is a leading cause of fatal car accidents in the state, with the following Colorado cities making the list for the 50 top cities in the United States with fatal drunk driving crashes:
- Colorado Springs – 25th
- Aurora – 28th
- Lakewood – 31st
- Thornton – 46th
- Denver – 49th
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Westminster Car Accident?
Car accidents can cause serious injuries that result in exorbitant medical bills. They can also cause temporary or permanent disabilities or impairments that prevent victims from working, leaving them without the income they need to support themselves. They can also cause substantial pain and suffering.
Through a car accident claim, personal injury victims can recover compensation for their accident-related injuries and losses, including the following:
- Medical expenses, including for ambulance rides, hospital stays, emergency medical treatment, doctor visits, specialist visits, in-home nursing care, rehabilitation, and therapy
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your long-term earning capacity
- Property damage, including costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish
- Lost enjoyment of life if your injuries prevent you from enjoying your favorite pastimes, hobbies, or relationships with loved ones
Our legal team can work closely with you to determine all compensable damages available in your case.
Deadline to File a Colorado Car Accident Lawsuit
While Colorado’s statute of limitations generally gives accident victims two years to file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident cases is three years. However, you could have less time in some circumstances, such as if your claim is against a governmental agency.
Even if you have a longer period of time to file your claim, you will want to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so they have adequate time to:
- Investigate the accident scene before it is completely cleaned up
- Request traffic camera footage before it is erased or recorded over
- Interview witnesses before they forget the details surrounding the accidents
- Record the condition of damaged vehicles and parts before they are lost or destroyed
- Compile information about the full extent of your damages
- Attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company before filing a personal injury lawsuit
Take the first step toward protecting your legal rights by contacting an experienced car accident lawyer today.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Westminster
Car accidents can be terrifying experiences, so it can be difficult to keep your wits about you. However, taking certain steps after an accident can help protect your health and your legal rights, including:
- Calling 911 to report the accident to authorities and request emergency medical services, if necessary
- Obtaining a copy of the accident report
- Seeking immediate medical attention
- Exchanging information with the other driver, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information
- Documenting the accident scene with your cellphone
- Not admitting fault and being careful about what you say
- Not talking to insurance companies without legal representation
- Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer
Contact Us Today to Get Started with a Free Case Review
Because Colorado law limits the amount of time you can file a lawsuit after a car accident and valuable evidence could be lost or destroyed if it is not promptly preserved, you should not hesitate to contact a Westminster car accident lawyer. Daniels & Scriven Injury and Accident Lawyers has recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Call us today at (720) 863-6006 or contact us online for a free consultation.