5 Tips From Colorado Car Accident Lawyers

Colorado is a unique state when it comes to your statute of limitations and a concept known as comparative fault. Colorado car accident lawyers will tell you that a statute of limitations is the timeframe within which you can bring a legal action against someone. In contrast, comparative fault relates to your compensation.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN COLORADO

If you’ve suffered an auto or motorcycle accident in Colorado you should know that you have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. If you are also seeking damages for a vehicle or home that was hit in the accident, you also have three years to receive compensation in court should you win your lawsuit with the help of experienced Colorado car accident lawyers.

There are a few exceptions and caveats to this three-year timeline you should be aware of if you’ve recently been in an accident. The three-year statute of limitations applies to the amount of time from the date of your accident in which you have to file a accident claim against another individual.

There is a much smaller timeframe to file a lawsuit if you have had an accident with a municipal vehicle like a city bus or police vehicle. For these kinds of accidents you may need to contact the state of Colorado and/or your municipal government to get an administrative claim going. Of course, Colorado car accident lawyers can walk you through that process.

FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT AND CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT

In Colorado, you must immediately report all traffic accidents to law enforcement. If, for whatever reason, an officer is not involved in the process you must file an online accident report.

FILE YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM EARLY ON

Remember that the three-year statute of limitations applies to your timeframe in which to file a lawsuit and ultimately receive compensation rather than the amount of time you have to file a claim with your insurance company.

Make sure to take pictures of your vehicle soon after the accident, visit a doctor to check for signs of injuries, and file an insurance claim as early as possible to expedite the investigation. Filing early gives you the most legal rights.

COLORADO IS A COMPARATIVE-FAULT STATE

Because Colorado is a comparative-fault state when it comes to car accidents, you could be entitled to a different level of compensation than you originally thought. Comparative fault is also known as comparative negligence in the field of personal injury law. So, what does comparative negligence mean for you?

Comparative negligence means that a plaintiff may recover less compensation if the judge determines that your actions made you partially at fault on the day of the accident. If the jury determines you violated a traffic rule that contributed to the accident and you are considered 20% at fault, in the situation where you win, only 80% of your medical bills, lost wages, etc. would be covered by the Defendant.

CONSULT LEGAL HELP TO WORK OUT NEGLIGENCE, PREMISES LIABILITY, AND COMPARATIVE FAULT

It’s important that you work with experienced Colorado car accident lawyers who can help you throughout your case. Sloat & Nicholson is one of the most trusted personal injury law firms helping clients in Boulder, Colorado.

Whether you’ve been in a slip-and-fall accident or car accident, the experienced attorneys at Sloat & Nicholson can work with you to enable you to better understand your legal options. Because Colorado is a comparative negligence state you may find yourself entitled to more compensation than you initially thought.

The amount of negligence involved, how much that negligence affected your personal injury, and the degree to which the owner of the property failed to fulfill his duty of maintaining a safe environment largely determines the amount of compensation you can expect.

Contact Sloat & Nicholson if you think your personal injury is the result of a property owner’s negligence or the negligence of another driver.