If you or a loved one is disabled or elderly, Colorado has many paratransit providers such as InnovAge, Via, Access-a-Ride and others. Because they provide services to a vulnerable population, paratransit companies and their drivers must comply with specific safety standards to keep their passengers safe. Unfortunately, accidents during the transport of elderly and disabled passengers happen in a variety of ways ranging from crashes to a slip and falls while getting on or off a paratransit van or bus. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we are experienced Boulder paratransit accident lawyers who have successfully recovered significant financial compensation for our clients against some of the nation’s largest transportation providers. If your loved one has been seriously injured in a paratransit van accident with InnovAge, Via, Access-a-Ride, or a similar company, we encourage you to call our law firm today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation.
The Nature of Accidents Involving InnovAge, Via, or Access-a-RideCompared to accidents involving the general population, paratransit van accidents are likely to cause more serious and life-threatening injuries to passengers. This is because, by definition, passengers needing paratransit have some level of disability preventing them from traveling independently. Often, these disabilities prevent passengers from protecting themselves in dangerous situations or even recognizing that they have been hurt, as is the case for those with dementia.
An experienced Boulder paratransit accident attorney understands that disabled and elderly passengers are dependent on companies like InnovAge and Via to have well-maintained and well-trained drivers who can address their unique safety needs. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Boulder accident lawyers are sensitive to the physical and mental conditions of our elderly and disabled clients. Accordingly, we work closely with our clients’ families and caretakers to provide a caring and compassionate experience. Our legal team regularly travels to visit clients at their homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and hospitals, and we can even help arrange transportation to our offices in Lafayette or Denver.
Lawyers Helping Injured Clients with Dementia and Physical LimitationsAs paratransit accident lawyers, at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we often find ourselves working at the intersection of personal injury law and elder law. This means we are constantly evaluating whether our client understands what is happening in the legal process.
For example, in a case where a client has a cognitive deficit and has been hurt in an InnovAge, Access-a-Ride, or Via accident we will work closely with the family and the victim’s doctors to determine whether the court should appoint someone to help our client make legal decisions. At a minimum, we will have a trusted confidant or family member accompany our client during all communications, whether they be in person, over email, or over the telephone.
Paratransit Accidents and Potential Governmental InvolvementAs Boulder lawyers helping elderly and disabled accident victims, we know the first step in such a claim is to identify the nature of the negligent party. This is important because there are fundamental differences between a private, quasi-government, and government-controlled paratransit van company.
Sometimes, but not always, Via or InnovAge are operating in a purely private capacity. As such, when Via or InnovAge is negligent, we are often able to treat the claim as we would any other common carrier or private commercial accident. That is to say, we are immediately able to investigate and start evaluating insurance coverage and liability, and there are usually fewer restrictions on the legal process and claim value limits. Importantly, even though companies like Via and InnovAge appear to be private, a good Boulder paratransit accident attorney must be able to evaluate whether the government was involved in some level in operating, or even funding, the particular van involved in the accident.
Alternatively, as lawyers familiar with Access-a-Ride accidents, we understand that when Access-a-Ride has negligently caused an accident, the claim may be subject to requirements of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA). This means that pursuant to the CGIA, certain legal notifications must be presented to RTD and the governmental entity that was responsible for operating the Access-a-Ride van during the accident. Knowing if and when such notifications are required is an important part of any Boulder paratransit van accident attorney’s qualifications to handle the case.
Working Up a Paratransit Van Accident CaseAs with any serious personal injury claim, our Boulder paratransit accident lawyers will work with the injured victim’s medical providers to fully understand and demonstrate to decision-makers the nature and extent of injuries sustained in the accident. Moreover, our attorneys regularly work with liability and safety experts when it is necessary to prove precisely what standard of care was violated. Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, will advance the costs of working with any medical provider and expert so that our clients do not need to tap into their personal financial resources to build their personal injury claim.
If your loved one has been seriously hurt in an accident with Via, InnovAge, or Access-a-ride, we invite you to call our team of experienced Boulder paratransit accident attorneys today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation.