After a car accident in Thornton that wasn’t your fault, it’s possible to recover compensation to cover the costs of your injuries and damages. However, this requires you to navigate Colorado’s laws, as well as dealing with insurance companies and legal claims. Here, the importance of having a dedicated personal injury lawyer in Thornton cannot be overstated.
Our skilled team of attorneys at Boesen Law has been helping countless victims recover rightful compensation when pursuing legal action in Colorado. We can provide you with the support and guidance you need to make informed decisions and successfully solve your case.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
How Our Thornton Car Accident Lawyers Can Assist You
Our team of car accident lawyers is equipped to handle all aspects of your case, from initial consultation to final settlement. To support you throughout the legal process, we offer:
- Free in-person consultation: We provide an opportunity to discuss your case, determine your claim’s potential value, and advise you on the best legal strategies to follow for your specific case, without any financial obligation.
- Decades of experience helping the injured: Our extensive experience in personal injury law gives us the necessary knowledge and resources to manage your case and maximize your compensation.
- A boutique firm with big results: We provide the personalized, tailored approach of boutique firms, but our extensive track record makes us capable of achieving multi-million dollar settlements for accident victims.
- Available 24/7 for clients: We’re dedicated to providing round-the-clock support, ensuring we meet your needs and address your concerns, day or night.
- No fee unless we win your case: Our contingency fee structure means you only pay if we secure a favorable settlement. This aligns your interests with ours, as we’re motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Our goal is to make the legal process as smooth and stress-free as possible, allowing you to focus on your recovery while we handle all aspects of your case. From investigating the incident to building strong arguments, negotiating with insurers, and handling all paperwork, our lawyers are here to manage your case from start to finish.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Thornton
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), in 2023 alone, there were 720 fatalities related to motor vehicle accidents. If you were involved in an accident resulting in fatalities, injuries, or property damage in Thornton, you could recover compensation.
To do so, you must determine the accident’s cause and prove the other party holds more than 50% of the fault. In Thornton, some of the most common negligence causes in car accidents include:
- Distracted driving: This is a leading cause of accidents, often due to phone use, eating, or other distractions.
- Drunk driving: Driving under the influence significantly impairs judgment and reaction times, leading to severe accidents.
- Speeding: Excessive speed reduces the driver’s ability to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions.
- Failure to yield: Ignoring right-of-way rules can result in dangerous collisions.
- Poor road conditions: Potholes, ice, and other hazardous road conditions can cause drivers to lose control.
- Mechanical failures: Faulty brakes, tires, and other vehicle defects can also lead to accidents.
Essential Actions to Take After a Car Accident
Immediately following a car accident, take these steps to protect your legal rights and build a strong basis for a compensation claim:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Even if you feel fine, it’s important to seek medical attention as some injuries aren’t immediately apparent.
- Report the accident to the police: It’s required to call the police after a car accident in Colorado. Contact the Thornton Police Department as soon as you can after the accident. They will create an official accident report that you can later use as evidence in your claim.
- Document the scene and gather evidence: Take photos of your injuries, the vehicles involved, road conditions, and property damage, and note any relevant details from the accident scene.
- Obtain contact information from witnesses: Witnesses can provide crucial testimony to support your case, so make sure you ask for their contact information.
- Notify your insurance company: Report the accident promptly to start the claims process. However, avoid giving unnecessary details or admitting fault without speaking with a lawyer first.
Legal guidance from our team at Boesen Law ensures your rights are protected and maximizes your compensation. In a free initial consultation, we can advise you on the next steps and build a strong case on your behalf.
Don’t Delay Your Claim: Colorado’s Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally two years from the date of the accident, as outlined in C.R.S. § 13-80-101. However, exceptions can apply depending on the specifics of your case, so consult with our lawyers promptly to ensure that you file your claim within the required timeframe to avoid losing your right to compensation.
Colorado’s Fault-Based Insurance System
Colorado operates on a fault-based, or “tort,” insurance system, where determining liability is crucial for pursuing compensation after a car accident. In this system, the driver responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for damages incurred by others involved in the crash. As an accident victim, you typically have three main options for pursuing compensation:
- File a claim with your own insurance – This option is commonly used when the responsible party’s insurance coverage is insufficient to cover all damages.
- File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance – If the at-fault driver has sufficient coverage, this is often the most straightforward path to pursue compensation.
- File a personal injury lawsuit – If an insurance settlement doesn’t cover your needs or liability is disputed, a lawsuit may be the best route for full compensation.
Navigating Colorado’s fault-based insurance system means providing substantial evidence of fault and damages, as insurers are incentivized to minimize payouts. Key evidence includes photos from the accident scene, witness statements, police reports, and, in some cases, accident reconstruction reports. At Boesen Law, we assist clients in gathering and presenting these crucial pieces of evidence to strengthen their claims.
Understanding Colorado’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law
In Colorado, determining liability in a car accident claim is shaped by the state’s modified comparative negligence law. This law allows accident victims to seek compensation even if they are partly responsible for the accident—provided their level of fault does not reach 50%. If an injured party is found to be 50% or more responsible, they are prohibited from recovering any damages. However, if their responsibility is less than 50%, their compensation is adjusted by their degree of fault. This system is intended to ensure a fair balance: victims can still recover damages for the portion of the harm they did not cause.
How Modified Comparative Negligence Affects Compensation
For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages but found to be 30% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 30%, leaving you with $70,000. This deduction accounts for your level of responsibility in causing the accident. The modified comparative negligence law impacts every claim, making it essential for accident victims to understand how their actions may influence the outcome of their case.
Importance of Minimizing Fault in Complex Cases
In cases with multiple parties or contributing factors—such as bad weather, road hazards, or unclear signals—accurately determining each party’s fault is crucial. Colorado’s system allows all involved parties to be assigned a percentage of fault, which can result in complex negotiations and investigations. If, for example, you’re injured in a multi-car accident, establishing each driver’s contribution to the crash can impact your compensation amount significantly. Even a minor increase in assigned fault can reduce your potential recovery, which is why an experienced attorney can be invaluable in minimizing your liability percentage.
Building a Strong Case to Minimize Your Fault
An attorney’s role is to gather and present evidence that clearly establishes the other driver’s fault and minimizes any allegations against you. This process may include collecting surveillance footage, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and expert accident reconstruction. The goal is to create a compelling case that limits your percentage of fault as much as possible. By reducing your assigned responsibility, your attorney can maximize your potential compensation under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rules.
How Modified Comparative Negligence Works
To illustrate: imagine you’re involved in a collision where total damages amount to $100,000, and you are found to be 20% at fault. In this scenario, your compensation would be reduced by 20%, meaning you’d receive $80,000 instead of the full $100,000. For accident victims, this rule means that even if you bear some responsibility, you can still recover a significant portion of your losses—as long as your fault remains under 50%.
Proving and Minimizing Fault
Accurately determining and minimizing your fault percentage is critical, especially in more complex cases involving factors like poor road conditions, weather, or multiple vehicles. Boesen Law’s team meticulously gathers evidence to build a strong case for each client. We work closely with accident reconstruction experts, analyze scene evidence, and gather witness statements to clearly illustrate the other driver’s fault. With a strong focus on minimizing our clients’ fault percentages, we maximize their compensation potential and navigate the complexities of modified comparative negligence effectively.
What Damages Can I Recover After Being Injured in a Thornton Car Accident?
Car accident victims in Thornton may be entitled to several types of damages based on the severity and impact of their injuries. Here’s an in-depth look at the damages typically pursued:
- Medical expenses: Medical costs can be overwhelming after a serious accident. Recoverable expenses often include ambulance fees, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor consultations, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity: For victims who are forced to miss work during recovery or cannot return to their previous role due to long-term injuries, compensation may cover both lost wages and any reduction in future earning potential.
- Pain and suffering: These damages help victims recover compensation for how the accident has impacted their daily activities, relationships, and mental well-being.
- Property damage: If the accident damaged your vehicle or other personal property, you can seek recovery for repair or replacement costs
- Rehabilitation and future medical care: Severe injuries, like spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries, often require extensive rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and ongoing care. Compensation for these needs helps ensure long-term medical expenses don’t become an additional burden.
- Punitive damages: When an accident results from particularly reckless or malicious behavior, such as driving under the influence, courts may award punitive damages. These are intended to penalize the at-fault party and deter similar behavior in the future.
Our car accident lawyers at Boesen Law are committed to recovering the full scope of damages our clients are entitled to, building a comprehensive case that reflects each area of loss and impact. Your attorney will evaluate your case individually, accounting for every factor that could affect your claim, and work to maximize your recovery in both settlement negotiations and, if necessary, in court.
Determining Liability in Car Accidents
Determining liability in a car accident case means identifying who is legally responsible for the accident. We assess various factors when determining who was at fault for an accident, including driver negligence, road conditions, vehicle defects, and potential third-party involvement.
Our lawyers do this by thoroughly investigating the accident scene and examining evidence such as photos, videos, and vehicle damage. We also consult with accident reconstruction experts when necessary. With this comprehensive approach, we can accurately identify the at-fault party and strengthen your claim with solid evidence.
Defining Serious Bodily Injury in Car Accident Cases
In Colorado, serious bodily injury is legally defined as any injury that involves a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any body part or organ.
Legal consequences for the at-fault party in cases involving serious bodily injury are more severe, potentially leading to higher compensation claims. These injuries can dramatically impact the victim’s life, affecting their ability to work and their quality of life, so they need to receive a compensation amount that’s equivalent to their amount of suffering.
Securing Fair Compensation for Car Accident Victims
Car accident victims may be entitled to various types of compensation, depending on the specifics of their case. Potential compensation we’ll consider includes:
Medical expenses
Covering all medical costs related to the accident, including emergency care, surgeries, and ongoing treatments.
Lost income
Compensating for wages lost due to the inability to work, both immediately after the accident and for long-term disability.
Pain and suffering
Addressing the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and its aftermath (including anxiety, depression, or PTSD).
Rehabilitation costs
Including physical therapy and other rehabilitation services needed for recovery.
Property damage
Covering the repair or replacement of the victim’s vehicle and other damaged property.
Our lawyers are ready to listen to your story and discuss the potential compensation you may be entitled to. We can meticulously analyze the details of your case to provide an accurate estimate of its value based on experience from past case results.
Contact a Thornton Car Accident Attorney Today – Available 24/7 for Our Clients
Boesen Law has been providing expert legal support to car accident victims in Thornton and all across Colorado for decades. By trusting your case with us, you’ll get comprehensive legal guidance and the confidence of having a team of experts managing all aspects of your case.
To schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with our attorneys, contact us today. Remember, there is no fee unless we win your case.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
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