Experienced Car Accident Lawyers | Boulder, CO
An Approach You Can Trust
At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. we use our experience in handling accident cases to investigate every possible contributing cause of an accident to ensure that you will receive full compensation for your injuries. Evaluating all of the facts involved in the cause of a motor vehicle accident requires skill and experience. Our Boulder car accident Attorney will take over the investigation of your case so that you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
We can assist you in finding an appropriate medical specialist to treat you and your bodily injury claim; and we can make arrangements with your medical care providers to wait for payment until your case is resolved through settlement or trial.
What Can a Boulder Car Accident Lawyer Do for You?Injured In A Car Accident?
You deserve to receive compensation for your damages. Contact the Boulder car accident lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover today.
Schedule A Free Consultation
Contacting a knowledgeable attorney immediately after your Boulder car crash is the best way to protect your rights. At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we begin strategizing with you right away. We will also:
- Advise you of all of your rights and options;
- Explain the relevant laws applicable to your case;
- Start investigating your claim right away by collecting police reports, preserving evidence from the scene, taking witness statements, and obtaining medical records;
- Assess the need to hire expert witnesses to reconstruct your accident for the jury or to provide critical medical testimony;
- Negotiate aggressively for a full settlement with insurance companies;
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement amount.
It is our duty to ensure you understand every step of your car accident claims process and to put you in the best position to receive proper compensation.
Steps After a Car Accident
Knowing what to do immediately following a car accident can protect your health and your legal rights. Here are the steps to take:
- Check for Injuries: Assess yourself and others for injuries and call 911 if needed.
- Move to Safety: If possible, move vehicles to the side of the road to avoid further collisions.
- Call the Police: A police report provides an official record of the accident.
- Exchange Information: Collect contact and insurance information from the other driver(s).
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the vehicles, license plates, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Speak to Witnesses: Gather contact information from witnesses who can provide statements later.
- Seek Medical Attention: Visit a doctor promptly to address any injuries.
- Contact an Attorney: A car accident lawyer can help protect your rights and guide you through the claims process.
Why Choose Us
- We have decades of combined experience
- We provide personalized attention
- We offer free initial consultations
- We hold insurance companies accountable
- We have recovered over $230 Million for our clients
Common Causes of Accidents
Car wrecks happen for numerous reasons. Sometimes car accidents occur because more than one driver acted negligently. We have handled car accident cases involving:
- Distracted Driving: Activities like texting, talking on the phone, eating, or using navigation systems can divert attention from the road.
- Speeding: Driving above the speed limit reduces reaction time and increases the severity of collisions.
- Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, coordination, and reaction times.
- Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, and fog can make roads slippery and decrease visibility, leading to accidents.
- Reckless Driving: Tailgating, weaving through traffic, and road rage contribute significantly to crashes.
- Running Red Lights or Stop Signs: Failing to adhere to traffic signals often results in severe accidents at intersections.
- Vehicle Defects: Malfunctions like brake failure or tire blowouts can cause drivers to lose control.
Also, it’s possible that more than one party is liable for your injuries. Pursuing all responsible parties responsible gives you the best chance to receive a complete settlement. Even if your accident involved only your vehicle, your Boulder car accident attorney could explore various avenues of recovery if someone caused you to crash without ever hitting your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends upon a number of factors including: who was at fault in the accident, the extent of your injuries, medical expenses and lost income.
You should consult an experienced attorney for an answer to this question because the answer will vary from case to case. Claims are limited by the Colorado Statute of Limitations, which is usually three years for automobile accidents and two years for other injuries. There are however, situations where shorter time limits apply including a requirement of notice to governmental entities within 180 days.
Most personal injury attorneys are willing to work on a contingency basis and are paid a percentage of the amount that is collected for the client. Clients are, however, responsible for certain costs, but these costs are usually advanced by the attorney and paid from the recovery.
This depends upon the type of injury, when the accident occurred, and whether there was insurance in force at the time of injury. In many cases, insurance is available to pay medical expenses, but in other cases payment would have to wait until the claim is resolved.
If another party is at fault and they are insured, most insurance companies will provide a rental car for a reasonable period of time.
We generally recommend that you do not give a recorded statement and you do not sign the release forms sent to you by the other person’s insurance company. Although you are required to cooperate with your insurance company, you should limit communication with the other person’s insurance company.
It is best to consult an experienced attorney immediately after the accident. The attorney may want to see you right away, may advise you to wait until you know the extent of injuries or may be unwilling to represent you, but because there is no cost or obligation involved, it is always a good idea to contact an attorney sooner than later.
In some cases we advise our potential clients to negotiate themselves, but in most cases the client is better served by having an attorney handle the negotiation. Insurance adjusters are experienced professionals working for the insurance company’s best interest and not yours.
As a general rule, attorneys who are compassionate and who have experience in particular areas of the law are well qualified to represent their clients. In addition, a successful record handling your type of case is also something that should be considered.
Types of Car Accident Claims
- Rear-End Collisions: Often caused by tailgating or sudden stops, these are among the most frequent accident types.
- Head-On Collisions: These serious accidents often result from distracted or impaired driving.
- T-Bone Accidents: Common at intersections, these occur when one vehicle hits the side of another.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents: When the at-fault driver flees the scene, it complicates the claims process.
- Multi-Vehicle Pileups: Determining fault in these accidents can be challenging due to the involvement of multiple drivers.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Drivers striking pedestrians often lead to severe injuries and complex legal claims.
A Boulder car accident lawyer can help determine the type of claim you’re pursuing and the best approach for obtaining compensation.
Common Injuries in Boulder Car Accidents
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Strains, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Traumatic or surgical amputation
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Vascular injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Wrongful death
Given our vast experience, the chances are good that we have handled a case similar to yours.
Importance of Medical Treatment After a Car Accident
Seeking medical treatment after a car accident is critical, even if you don’t feel immediate pain or injuries. Here’s why:
- Hidden Injuries: Some injuries, such as whiplash, internal bleeding, or concussions, may not show symptoms right away.
- Preventing Complications: Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent injuries from worsening over time.
- Creating a Medical Record: Medical documentation is essential for any personal injury claim, as it provides evidence linking injuries to the accident.
- Insurance Claims: Insurance companies may dispute claims if there’s no immediate medical treatment documented.
- Peace of Mind: A thorough check-up ensures you haven’t overlooked any serious injuries.
Always visit a doctor or emergency room as soon as possible after an accident, even if you feel fine.
Damages You Could Recover
Damage awards vary because each situation is as unique as the people involved. Typically, our firm seeks compensation for damages such as:
- Wrongful death
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost income or wages
- Loss of future income, wages, or earning capacity
- Property repairs
- Permanent injuries or scarring
- Pain and suffering
You could also seek punitive damages in rare cases where the defendant acted in a particularly egregious manner or with malicious intent. We want to do everything we can to maximize your financial recovery.
That’s why we closely examine your case and explore all possible options. We can also investigate claims that your spouse and children might have, such as loss of consortium and companionship.
Remember that you have the burden to prove damages in your case. Our Boulder car accident attorney know how to calculate your losses and prove how severely your accident disrupted your life and your family’s lives.
Injured In A Car Accident?
You deserve to receive compensation for your damages. Contact the Boulder car accident lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover today.
Schedule A Free Consultation
Proving Fault in Car Accidents
Proving fault is crucial in car accident claims. Here are key factors involved:
- Police Reports: Official reports often include preliminary assessments of fault based on evidence and witness statements.
- Eyewitness Testimonies: Statements from those who saw the accident can support your version of events.
- Traffic Laws: Demonstrating that the other driver violated traffic laws strengthens your claim.
- Accident Scene Evidence: Skid marks, debris, and vehicle damage can help reconstruct how the accident occurred.
- Surveillance Footage: Cameras from nearby businesses or traffic signals may capture the incident.
- Expert Testimony: Accident reconstruction specialists can provide professional opinions on fault.
A skilled Boulder car accident attorney can gather and present the necessary evidence to establish fault and maximize your compensation.
Limitations on Damages: Comparative Negligence
Insurance companies often try to limit their liability by arguing that you—as the victim—were at least partially responsible for the crash. Despite insurance companies’ best efforts, you can recover damages even if you might have made a mistake that contributed to the accident.
In Colorado, sharing fault does not entirely bar recovery. Under common law, a person who was 1% negligent would lose their case even though the other party was 99% at fault. The good news is that Colorado law is not as strict as common law.
Instead, Colorado law uses a modified comparative negligence scheme that allows you to recover damages if you are less at fault than the defendant. If so, you will receive an award reduced by your percentage of fault.
Colorado Comparative Negligence Example
Here’s a real-life example. Suppose a jury found the defendant to be 75% at fault and the plaintiff to be 25% at fault for the car accident. Further, suppose that the jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $100,000 in damages. Under Colorado’s comparative negligence law, the plaintiff’s award must be reduced by 25%, so they would receive $75,000 in compensation.
Statute of Limitations
Colorado law also imposes a time limit within which you must file or have your claim forever barred. The statute of limitations for injuries sustained in car accidents is three years. Therefore, you have three years from the date of your accident to file a case in court, or you lose your right to collect damages.
And while three years might seem like a long time, there is a great deal of work that your lawyer must do before filing a case in court—like gathering evidence while it’s still fresh and negotiating a settlement with the defendant’s insurance company.
So don’t wait to contact a reputable Boulder car accident lawyer with extensive experience winning car accident claims. We will protect your rights and ensure that you do not lose out on your chance to recover damages for your auto accident injuries.
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3 Reasons Why You Need a Boulder Car Accident Attorney
While you may feel confident in your ability to handle your case without professional help, you’ll soon realize that presenting an injury claim requires a lot of hard work and legal expertise.
When you should be working your way back from painful disabilities, you’ll have to comply with insurance adjuster requests. Before you see a single dime of settlement money, there is a long list of procedures and issues to follow through. It will be your job to contact doctors for bills and reports.
Taking care of a serious injury case on your own involves focus on investigation, evaluation, and negotiation. Instead of taking on these new challenges, you should be working on your personal recovery.
When you are seriously injured, your financial future depends on obtaining adequate compensation for your injuries. You have a lot at stake. That’s why it’s important to seek help from a Boulder car accident attorney before you make a critical mistake. Here are 3 additional reasons to consider.
Liability Issues
Accidents often involve liability issues that can be difficult to resolve. Colorado’s comparative negligence statute plays a key role in liability assessments. You must determine whether or not you contributed to the circumstances which caused the accident and how it may affect the compensation you receive for your injuries.
Dealing with Insurance Companies and Adjusters
When you have a serious injury claim, the other driver’s insurance company adjuster will call and may want to visit your home. It’s an adjuster’s job to clear up any liability issues, so they must record your statement.
Calculating Damages
When you’re injured, you know the pain, disabilities, and scarring you are forced to endure, but do you know their economic value? Injury claims don’t have one-size-fits-all evaluations. If two different people sustain the same injury, the settlement value will be different due to a wide range of factors. Attorneys research your injuries to understand how they affect you.
Contact Our Trust Boulder Car Accident Lawyers
If you are looking for a car accident lawyer in Boulder, you have many choices. Selecting the right attorney could be a seemingly impossible task. Let us show you why we are the right choice for you.
At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we understand the multiple ways that your accident negatively impacted your life. You might be out of work while unexpected medical bills are piling up. The stress of trying to find a way to pay all of your monthly expenses on top of the medical bills—all while being unable to work—can be overwhelming.
We want you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery while we put our vast experience to work on your behalf. Our Boulder car accident lawyers have decades of combined legal experience winning cases for people like you.
To date, we have won over $100 million for our clients. An award-winning Boulder car accident attorney from our firm will evaluate your claim and vigorously pursue every avenue of recovery to ensure you recover full and fair compensation for your injuries. Contact us today.
ATTORNEY ROBERT S. HOOVER
Robert S. Hoover is a seasoned personal injury trial attorney and managing partner at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. in Boulder, Colorado. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in complex and catastrophic cases, including brain injuries, wrongful death, and serious vehicle accidents. He is known for his compassionate, client-centered approach and meticulous trial preparation. Influenced by personal experiences and mentorship from top litigators, he has secured numerous multimillion-dollar recoveries and remains actively involved in legal organizations and community leadership. [ ATTORNEY BIO ]
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