A car accident lawyer from our team can help you fight for compensation after a collision in Fort Collins. Compensation from a personal injury claim or lawsuit can help you cover medical bills, missed paychecks during recovery, and other damages.
Here at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our lawyers know personal injury law and are ready to help you file your claim. We offer free case reviews and charge nothing unless you win.
What Are Your Legal Options After A Car Accident In Fort Collins?If someone else caused your collision and resulting injuries, that person should be held accountable for the damages, such as your medical bills and lost wages. You have two options available to help you seek compensation after being injured in a car accident: filing an insurance claim and/or filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident.
A car accident lawyer from our firm can aid you in filing both of these processes.
Filing an insurance claim
In the event of a collision in Fort Collins, you can file a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your injuries and other damages. However, in speaking with insurance companies, it is crucial to be mindful of what you say. If the insurer takes something you say out of context, it could hurt your chances of receiving a settlement.
A car accident lawyer from our firm can speak to insurance adjusters on your behalf to help with this process. We can also fill out and submit your claims paperwork, negotiate for a fair settlement, and advise you regarding any offers you receive.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit
There are several reasons you may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver:
There are a few steps to preparing a claim or lawsuit against a liable party. Our team can handle them all for you, but we will also keep you informed along the way. To prepare you for this process, we’ve outlined some of the most critical steps we’ll take for you below.
Gathering evidence
To build a successful injury claim or lawsuit, you must present evidence that demonstrates the following:
Supporting documentation could include the police report from the accident scene, eyewitness statements, medical records, and photographs of the damages and your injuries.
You won’t have to gather all of this evidence alone. A lawyer from our team will accept any relevant items you have, collect additional evidence during an investigation, and decide which forms of evidence will best support your case.
Assessing damages
In legal terms, “damages” refers to the different ways that the car accident and your injuries have affected your life.
After we discuss the collision with you and conduct our investigation, our team will assess all the ways the accident has impacted you. This includes bills you’ve accumulated, lost wages, and pain and suffering you’ve experienced.
We will also consider how your injuries will impact your life in the future. You may face additional medical bills or be unable to return to work. Based on all of the recoverable damages we identify in your case, our team will calculate the level of compensation you qualify to seek.
Recoverable Damages For Car Accident InjuriesThe following are the most common types of damages we may be able to recover for you in your case.
Medical costs
Your recoverable medical expenses may include:
Note that you could recover compensation for bills you have already paid, outstanding expenses, and treatment you will need in the future for your injuries.
Lost wages or benefits
While in recovery from the car accident, you may have to miss a lot of time at work, resulting in missed paychecks. Damages for lost wages could cover:
Pain and suffering
Some damages have no monetary value on their own, such as the emotional and mental anguish that injuries can cause. For example, you may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the collision, affecting your livelihood and well-being long-term.
In this case, our team will help you determine an amount that reflects what you have been through and what you will suffer in the future as a result of the accident.
Wrongful death
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be awarded damages for wrongful death. Examples include burial and funeral expenses and outstanding medical debt.
Colorado Laws And How They May Affect Your CaseOur team will explain how Colorado personal injury laws will affect your case as we move through the process. The following laws commonly affect personal injury cases in Fort Collins.
Comparative negligence
The state of Colorado operates on a principle of comparative negligence, according to CO Rev Stat § 13-21-111.
This means you can still receive compensation if you had partial fault in your accident. However, your settlement or court award may be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
Statute of limitations
You will also need to be aware of Colorado’s statute of limitations for injury lawsuits. This is the time limit you have to file.
In Colorado, if the government is not involved, the deadline is three years from the day your car accident occurred, according to CO Rev Stat § 13-80-101.
Why Work With A Car Accident Lawyer?Being awarded a car accident settlement requires proof that the other driver was negligent at the time of the accident. Negligence makes the driver liable for your injuries, which is why they may owe you compensation. However, proving negligence can be difficult if you are not familiar with the law.
A car accident attorney from our firm will do everything they can to show how the other driver was negligent and support your right to financial recovery.
Get Legal Help After Your Fort Collins Car Accident TodayAllow a car accident lawyer from Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC to fight for a fair car accident settlement or court award on your behalf.
Our case results speak for themselves, with multiple six-figure settlements for victims across Colorado. Call us today at (303) 543-1000 to get a free, no-obligation consultation.