Personal Injury Lawyer in Chaffee County, CO

Chaffee County is home to a series of small communities—including Buena Vista, Poncha Springs, Nathrop, and Salida—and endless natural beauty, from hiking and biking trails to ski resorts to whitewater rafting excursions. But with so many ways to explore and enjoy the outdoors – and with the growing influx of tourists and interstate commerce – accidents can happen. Whether you’re a resident or visitor, traveling through Chaffee County can sometimes lead to serious, life-altering injuries. When bad things happen, we can help.

With over 40 years of collective legal experience, the lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, have a powerful track record of working with our clients to get them the financial compensation they deserve. Call (303) 543-1000 today to find out how our Chaffee County personal injury attorneys can help you.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, we are familiar with Chaffee County courts, the geographic area, and the unique cross section of tourists and locals in the area. Quite simply, both Brian Bradford and Jason Levy spend a good portion of their time enjoying what Chaffee County has to offer, and as a result, have gained a familiarity both inside the courtroom and on the streets of the County’s small towns.

As a result of their experience, CBL’s lawyers know that accidents in Chaffee County happen for any number of reasons, including:

• Car accidents and other motor vehicle crashes: Chaffee County saw nearly 400 motor vehicle accidents in 2023, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). We represent clients involved in car accidents, truck accidents, bike accidents and motorcycle accidents.
• Accidents incurred during outdoor activities: We can represent those hurt in bike accidents and ski accidents when those injuries are due to the negligence of another person or entity.
• Premises liability incidents: Every hotel, parking lot, and other location you visit must be kept reasonably safe for visitors, and known hazards must be marked with a warning sign. Otherwise, visitors and employees may slip or trip and fall and end up getting hurt.

The one thing all of these accidents have in common is negligence. For example:

• Drivers may fail to obey traffic signs. This is what happened during a fatal multi-vehicle collision in Nathrop in September 2024, when a car attempted to pass multiple vehicles in a no-passing zone on Highway 285.
• Companies do not properly train their drivers. Sadly, in June of 2024, the driver of a commercial distributor was inexperienced and improperly trained in how to operate a large commercial truck. This led to the tragic death of one person and serious injuries to his passenger.
• Property owners may ignore hazards. Once a property owner or manager knows (or should have known) about a dangerous condition, it is their duty to address the issue as soon as possible. Resorts like Monarch Mountain ski resort, for example, should take reasonable steps to prevent snow and ice from creating slippery conditions.
• Companies might ignore safety. Even when the activity they offer is inherently risky, such as whitewater rafting or snowboarding, the company that offers the activity or builds the equipment needed for that activity must take all reasonable measures to reduce the chance of an accident. Manufacturers must also recall products that they know to be dangerous.

Do you believe negligence played a role in your injuries, or are you still unsure of how who may be at fault for your injury or accident? Call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, so we can learn more about what happened to you and take actions such as:

• Coming to visit you or meeting via Zoom or video. If you are unable to travel to our office, we will come to see you or arrange for a video meeting. This allows seriously injured clients confined to their home or a hospital to begin their cases without delay.
• Negotiating for a fair settlement. When presented with a strong case of liability and your injuries, many insurance companies will agree to settle your claim out of court. We will negotiate with insurers to reach a payout that meets all of your past, present, and future needs.
• Taking your case to court. Chaffee County is part of the 11th Judicial District. Depending on the negligent parties, your case might end up being filed in Chaffee Combined Court in Salida. Whether it’s Chaffee County, another county, or even Federal court, we can tell you which court has jurisdiction over your case and represent you at all hearings, meetings, and trial dates.

In Colorado, you are entitled to recover for all physical, psychological, and financial losses connected with the accident. Damages that we commonly seek for clients include:

• Past and future pain and suffering, for the physical and mental symptoms you experienced (or will likely experience in the future)
• Medical bills, for the cost of any and all reasonable treatments, including emergency care at a facility like Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida
• Reduced quality of life, if your injuries prevent you from performing all of the tasks and enjoying all of the activities you did before
• Loss of wages and lost earning capacity, for the money you should have been able to earn at work but are now unable to (or will be unable to in the future)

To prove you are entitled to the above damages, we collect evidence, such as photos of the scene, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s report (or other law enforcement report), eyewitness testimony, letters from your employer, and any other avenue of providing relevant and credible evidence of what you have experienced.

You can also recover damages after the wrongful death of a loved one. However, your ability to sue may be restricted under laws like CO. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-201. At such a difficult and sensitive time, it is a good idea to seek advice before you start a legal action. And that is what we are here for: let our office provide the expert legal guidance you deserve.

To us, it does not matter who caused your accident or even if there are multiple liable parties. The only thing we care about is the fact that you have suffered unnecessarily because of someone else’s careless or negligent actions.

Our lawyers investigate your accident and determine which party or parties should pay for your damages. These parties could include:

• A driver. Drivers unfamiliar with Chaffee County, such as those traveling to the area for rafting or other outdoor activities, or who are in a hurry might drive at unsafe speeds or swerve quickly when they realize they missed a turn or exit.
• A corporation. While we support small businesses and well-run companies, some companies can operate carelessly in many important ways that impact the public. When this happens, we are not afraid to stand up to these entities and hold them accountable, if appropriate.
• A maintenance team. While vehicle and property owners are responsible for keeping their vehicle or property in good condition, there are cases where they hire a maintenance crew in good faith and the crew fails in its duties. If this is what happened in your case, we can sue a mechanic, contractor, or other party.

Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, is here to protect your rights, answer all of your questions, and provide the legal guidance you deserve after an accident.

Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, is proud to represent injured people like you and not the big insurance companies. Call (303) 543-1000 to learn more about your rights at no cost or obligation to you. Our lawyers can investigate your accident and negotiate a settlement without charging upfront attorney fees.