Even though nobody expects to be involved in a vehicle accident when they get behind the wheel, the reality is that crashes occur all the time in and around the Denver area. In most cases, vehicle accidents are caused by the careless or negligent actions of one or more drivers. At Manning Law, we are here to help if you need a Denver car accident attorney by your side. We pledge to fully investigate every aspect of your claim so we can recover the compensation you need for your medical bills, property damage expenses, lost wages, and more. Let us get to work on your claim immediately.
Denver Car Accident Resources
Vehicle insurers are notoriously difficult to deal with when it comes to paying out fair compensation after a Denver car accident. The reality is that most crash victims do not have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of their claim. However, a Denver car accident lawyer will be able to conduct a complete investigation into the incident in order to determine liability. They will work directly with insurance carriers, at-fault parties, and law enforcement officials to determine what happened.
While an investigation is ongoing, an accident attorney in Denver will make sure that their client is properly evaluated by trusted medical and economic professionals. Finally, a Denver personal injury lawyer will handle all negotiations with the insurance carriers involved to obtain total compensation on behalf of their client.
If you get involved in a car accident in Denver, Colorado, it is important to remember that there are certain steps you should take right away, while you are still at the scene of the crash. Though it can be difficult to recall what to do in the chaotic aftermath of a car accident, taking these steps can help you build a stronger case against the driver or party at fault. Here’s what to do:
Many claimants do not realize they have the power to negotiate with a car insurance company regarding the value of a car accident settlement. In reality, insurance companies expect claimants to submit counteroffers, so they often lowball the first offer. This is why it is important to speak to an accident attorney in Denver before accepting a car accident settlement. An experienced car accident lawyer in Denver will give you an accurate estimation of the value of your case. Then, your lawyer will negotiate with the insurer on your behalf for maximum financial compensation.
Data from the Colorado Department of Transportation reveals that there were 121,648 total vehicle collisions across the state during the latest reporting year. However, when we look a little bit closer to home, we can see that there were more than 22,000 total collisions in Denver County during that same time frame. Out of these local vehicle collisions, there were 54 fatal crashes and more than 4,600 injury collisions.
Vehicle accidents in Denver often result in severe injuries for those involved. At Manning Law, our attorneys regularly help clients who have sustained the following injuries as a result of vehicle accidents in the Denver area:
We also want to point out that even relatively minor vehicle accident injuries can result in major medical expenses. A simple X-ray and minimal pain treatment can lead to thousands of dollars worth of medical bills for a victim.
Colorado is a fault-based car insurance state. Under this law, the driver or party at fault for a vehicle collision is who pays for related property damage and medical expenses. Fault for a car accident can take the form of distracted driving, drowsy driving, driving under the influence, speeding, violating traffic laws and other common examples of driver errors. In a no-fault state, on the other hand, all drivers file claims with their own car insurance companies, regardless of fault.
There are pros and cons to both insurance systems. In Colorado, one benefit of the fault system is that victims can generally recover greater compensation from another driver’s insurer. The drawback is that you have to prove fault to qualify for third-party coverage. In a Denver car accident case, the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff, or injured party. This means it is the crash victim’s responsibility to prove that what he or she is claiming is more likely to be true than not true. This burden of proof is known as a preponderance of the evidence.
Proving that another driver is at fault for your car accident requires clear and convincing evidence. Evidence that is often available to support a car accident claim may include a police report, photographs, video footage, eyewitness statements, expert testimony and medical records. An experienced car accident lawyer in Denver can help you prove that the other driver caused your accident by preserving and presenting key evidence on your behalf.
Denver car accident victims may be entitled to various types of compensation for their losses. Attorneys at Manning Law work diligently to recover both economic and non-economic compensation on behalf of every car accident victim that comes through the door. This can include, but is not limited to, the following:
Discuss the value of your car accident case with one of our Denver accident attorneys before accepting a settlement. Every case is unique. Case values are generally based on the specific losses suffered by the victim, such as the severity of the injuries and how much medical care is required. At Manning Law, our experienced team of car accident attorneys in Denver, Colorado will accurately evaluate your case. Then, we will help you negotiate with a car insurance company to achieve just compensation.
Even those partially at fault for a vehicle accident in the Denver area may still be able to recover compensation for their losses. Colorado operates under a “modified comparative negligence” system. This means that crash victims can recover compensation so long as they are less than 50% responsible for the incident. However, the total compensation that they receive will be reduced based on their percentage of fault for the incident. Any person found to be 50% or more responsible for a crash will not be able to recover any compensation at all.
Car accident victims in Denver need to be aware that they have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in these cases. First, we need to point out that insurance carriers have very strict reporting deadlines. Failing to report the crash to an insurance carrier within a day or two after the incident occurs could result in a claim of delay or denial.
Additionally, car crash victims in Denver have an overall two-year timeframe to file a lawsuit against an alleged negligent driver in their case. Failing to abide by the Colorado personal injury statute of limitations will result in the victim being unable to recover the compensation they are entitled to for their losses. It is crucial to involve a skilled Denver personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that all claims can get filed on time.
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a vehicle accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver in the Denver area, reach out to the team at Manning Law for help today. We need to get to work investigating your claim as soon as possible so that we can uncover the evidence necessary to prove liability. Let us negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers so we can recover the compensation you need to make it through this. We will not hesitate to take your case to trial if necessary to ensure that you are properly cared for. When you need a Denver car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (720) 515-3191.