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steps after a car accident in Colorado

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Colorado

Key Takeaway: Knowing what to do after a car accident in Colorado is crucial for ensuring you can receive compensation for damages. Steps to take follow a car accident include:

  1. Contacting the police,
  2. Seeking medical attention,
  3. Creating a safe environment,
  4. Exchanging information with involved parties and witnesses,
  5. Taking scene photos,
  6. Reporting the accident to your insurance company, and
  7. Speak with an experienced lawyer

Time is of the essence, as there are legal deadlines for filing claims, so it’s essential to seek legal assistance promptly to ensure your rights are protected. Contacting experienced attorneys like those at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. can provide valuable support and guidance during this challenging time.

Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident, but the bad news is that they happen every day, and there’s nothing much you can do about it. Even the safest drivers can get involved in an accident because they simply cannot control other drivers. Knowing what to do after a car accident is crucial to ensure you can receive compensation for your damages.

If you were involved in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, our attorneys can help you determine your next steps. Contact us today.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Colorado

Whether you have been involved in a car accident or just want to be  prepared for an unforeseen emergency, the following are some tips for steps to take after a car accident.

Contact a Qualified Attorney After a Car Accident in Colorado

After ensuring everyone is safe after your car accident, you need to speak with a lawyer. Contact Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. to ensure you can receive full compensation for your damages following a car accident.

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Nikki Nicholaou was incredibly helpful and responsive. I felt very comfortable with my case in her hands, which was a great decision because she won me a settlement before we had to go to court
Veronica Blake
Veronica Blake
2023-04-13
Highly recommended.
Andy B
Andy B
2022-11-21
One day in June, 2019, our world was turned upside down. My husband was nearly killed by a motorist while riding his bicycle. He was lucky to come away from the accident with “only” a neck broken in 5 places, facing surgery and a long two-year recovery period. His extreme pain, our anger, and the total shock of the event overwhelmed us. We decided to focus all our energy on his healing. Dealing with the insurance company was more than we could handle. So, a little investigation brought us to Sloat & Nicholson. During the first phone conversation, Randy Nicholson explained that we could not only file a claim against the driver’s insurance, but also against our Underinsured Motorist insurance. Randy also explained that it was likely that he would have to fight Mike’s health insurance which would certainly ask to be totally reimbursed for their expenses. We’d learned that it was a bigger issue than we’d expected, but we knew we had found someone who could help us, and that has a great relief. After that first call, and in the subsequent months of meeting with Randy and his team, we knew we’d made the best possible decision. Randy got the full claim against the driver’s insurance. He convinced our health insurance that they had no standing in filing a claim against us. We didn’t have to pay them anything. And he negotiated with our Underinsured Motorist insurance and got the full claim against them as well. It was not easy, and Randy worked hard. He completely relieved us of a ton of stress. He kept us informed each step of the way. Every time we worked with him and his team, we became more and more convinced that we’d made the right decision. We were so glad we found Sloat and Nicholson. After the accident, we felt like the world was against us. The court system totally dropped the ball, and we constantly had to fight back our anger at the driver and the judge. But we had Randy Nicholson and his team on our side, and we are forever grateful to all of them.
midge castillo
midge castillo
2021-06-13
I was in a car accident and needed legal advice. Robert Hoover was both professional and informative! He was so helpful, and I would recommend him to anyone. I also appreciated his Christian perspective!
colleen G.
colleen G.
2021-03-29
I was a case form many years ago Gerald handled everything completely professionally there is not one thing I would do differently My case was complicated but the end result was everything that I was entitled to! If your case is in his practice area I highly recommend a phone call consultation or visit to his office. You won't be disappointed his years of experience knowledge and fair treatment of his clients would not be more apparent!
Adam Townson
Adam Townson
2021-01-27
Jerry Sloat and his staff treated our family with great respect and helped us to receive compensation for the injuries, pain and suffering we incurred during a car accident. We owe him so much and are truly grateful that we stopped trying to deal with the insurance company and allowed Jerry and his wonderful team of professional to take care of everything for us.
Leonard Romano
Leonard Romano
2019-05-23
Gerry Sloat was amazing, after my car wreck I was at a loss on what was going on. I didn't know the process or what to even expect. I turned to him because he was the only one willing to take the time and speak with me to answer all my questions. My insurance company wouldn't even call me back to answer my question of what was happening. Gerry took quite a bit of time explaining the different aspects of the insurance and the other driver and the county issues that I didn't even know where separate, he really set my mind at ease with my mind running with all of the "what ifs" I now know where I stand and what to expect going further and can now make informed decisions on what I need to be prepared for what lies ahead! Thank you again Mr Sloat!
landa raddon
landa raddon
2016-12-03
Gerry Sloat was a very skilled and helpful attorney when I needed one to negotiate a settlement for many, many medical bills resulting from a head on collision. What impressed me most was his fair handedness in dealing with us, but also with dealing with the other parties involved. Further, since the accident a half dozen years ago, he has been more than helpful in answering questions about all matters of the law, and seems to genuinely enjoy hearing from me when I call. A stellar human and an outstandingly thorough attorney.
Bonnie Carol
Bonnie Carol
2016-12-02
Ever since I started working with with Robert Hoover it's been more like working with family he's taking the time to get to know me and my family on a personal level the office staff know by name and they are the best
Jason Swartz
Jason Swartz
2016-04-21

Contact the Police

What to do after a car accident in Colorado

You should always contact the police following an injury accident. Whether you need an ambulance or just need a police report to be taken, someone needs to contact the police from the accident scene. When the police respond, they will take statements from all involved parties and investigate what caused the accident. This report can help confirm your version of the events when pursuing a claim for damages.

Seek Medical Attention

Whether you have a minor or a serious injury, be sure that you seek medical attention – either at the scene of the accident or shortly thereafter. Serious injuries that require professional medical attention should not be ignored. If you need to go to the hospital, do it.

If you don’t require emergency medical treatment, you should still see a doctor right away. You might have internal injuries that are not immediately visible. Also, waiting to seek medical treatment can impact your future personal injury claim. The defendant’s insurance company will argue that something else caused your injuries rather than the car accident.

Create a Safe Environment

Be sure that nobody else is placed in danger because of your accident. If possible, move the vehicles out of the middle of the road so that nobody else ends up getting hurt. This is something that the local authorities might take care of for you. If you are able to get out of your vehicle do so, and wait for the police or emergency medical services to arrive on the scene.  Move away from the crashed vehicles and don’t stand in the roadway.

Exchange Information with All Involved Parties and Witnesses

The authorities will take down your and the other driver’s information, but be sure that you have a copy of the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, driver’s license number, and also the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved in the accident. Get witness contact information in case they cannot wait until the police arrive. Sometimes, witnesses have to be somewhere and are happy to relay what they saw, but they can’t wait at the scene.

Take Scene Photos

If you can do so safely and not further injure yourself, take photos of the accident scene. You want to get pictures of all vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, and anything else that can be important when determining liability in a car accident. Getting photos can be one of the most important steps after a car accident because this evidence shows what the immediate moments following the accident were like. If you are unable to take photos, you might ask someone else there with you who can help.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance company to advise you were involved in an accident. Depending on your insurance company, the adjuster might initiate a claim with the other driver’s insurance or have you contact them directly. Be cautious what you say to the other driver’s insurance company. The adjuster for the other driver does not have your best interests in mind, no matter what they lead you to believe. Do not agree to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without speaking to a Colorado car accident attorney first.

Contact a Colorado Car Accident Attorney

When you’ve been in a car accident, contact a Colorado car accident attorney. When you don’t know what to do after a car accident, the skilled attorneys at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. are here to help. We have years of experience representing injured parties, including those in Colorado car accidents. Our legal team can help you with your claim and seek reimbursement for your injuries. We will handle all communication and settlement negotiations as well.

Whether you have been in an accident or are just trying to be prepared, contact a car accident lawyer in Colorado so that you have the information on hand when you need it.

Legal Tips After a Car Accident in Colorado

You might be wondering why hiring a personal injury attorney is important following a Colorado car accident. Hiring an attorney is one of the most important tips for after a car accident. Having a legal advocate on your side is crucial when it comes to protecting your rights. Before you can collect any compensation, you must prove liability against the other driver. That can be a complicated process in many instances. Failure to prove liability means you won’t receive any money, regardless of how severe your injuries are.

You only have a limited amount of time to bring a claim for your injuries. In most situations, you have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Some situations could result in less time, such as a claim involving a government vehicle. Should you inadvertently miss the statute of limitations, the court will likely dismiss your case. When you hire Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, you never have to worry about missing a legal deadline. However, that’s why it’s important to hire a lawyer early on in the claims process. If you contact us once the filing deadline has passed, we might not be able to assist you.

Contact Us For A Free Consultation

If you have been injured in any type of motor vehicle accident, and are concerned about how you will cover your medical expenses and pay your household bills during recovery, make sure to discuss your case with experienced Colorado car accident attorneys. Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. offers a free consultation in all types of personal injury cases in Boulder, Erie, Lafayette, Longmont and throughout Colorado. Call 303-447-1144 today or contact us online to discuss your case with one of our personal injury attorneys and learn how we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

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