Despite driving with care and following all traffic rules, car accidents can happen. In fact, such crashes and accidents are on the rise in Colorado. When you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may want to seek compensation for your damages. Filing a personal injury lawsuit and eventually winning the claim can be tough, given that car accidents are often complex. In your best interests, you may want to contact a Colorado car crash lawyer. A skilled personal injury attorney can explain your rights, legal options, and offer a true assessment of your case. Here are some important facts that you need to know.
You have limited time
As per the Colorado Statute of Limitations, you have three years, from the date of accident, to file a lawsuit related to “personal injury involving a motor vehicle”. For simple personal injury lawsuits, the deadline is two years. If the accident resulted in someone’s death, the family can file a wrongful death claim within two years, from the date of death.
Your share of fault is important
Colorado follows the modified comparative negligence rule. If someone was injured in a car accident, but also had a role in causing the accident, they can still file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if the share of fault is more than 50%, the person cannot recover anything at all. In Colorado, you can recover damages from someone who was more at fault than you. Your eventual compensation, however, will be reduced by your share of fault in percentage.
Most car crashes are complicated
Like we mentioned before, car crashes are complicated in the truest sense. What happens if there was a commercial truck involved in the accident? What if there were multiple parties and drivers at fault? How would you establish fault? How should you proceed with the case? Talk to an attorney, so that you know the exact way in which the car crash case may shape up. They can also offer a realistic overview of the compensation, damages you can recover, and other factors that can influence the case.
Find the right lawyer
There are many law firms in Colorado that handle car crash cases on a regular basis. Make sure that you contact an attorney before you deal with the claims adjuster. The good part is most injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, and you do not need to pay the lawyer right away.