Car Accident Lawyers in Commerce City CO

What You Should Do Immediately After a Crash

The moments after a crash are often stressful and confusing, but having a clear plan helps you act confidently. Here’s a step-by-step guide for what to do if you’re ever in a collision:

• Check for injuries and call emergency services if needed. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, some symptoms may develop later, so prompt medical evaluation is crucial.
• Move vehicles to safety. If the vehicles involved are operational and it’s safe to do so, move them out of traffic to prevent further accidents. Commerce City roads such as Vasquez Boulevard and Chambers Road can be especially hazardous with ongoing traffic.
• Exchange information with other drivers. Gather names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license details, license plate numbers, and insurance information from everyone involved. Get contact info from any witnesses nearby as well.
• Document the accident scene. Take clear photos and videos of the vehicles, damage, skid marks, road conditions, and traffic signals. Detailed documentation can be critical evidence.
• File a police report. Request that law enforcement respond and file an official accident report. This documentation provides an unbiased account that insurers and lawyers use.
• Avoid admitting fault. Stay courteous but don’t apologize or accept blame at the scene. Admissions of fault can be used against you later in negotiations or court.
• Seek medical care promptly. Even if you feel fine initially, visit a healthcare provider soon after the crash. Injuries like whiplash or internal trauma may not show symptoms right away.
• Check your insurance documents. Find out how much time you have to report the accident and what is and is not covered. If you were driving as part of your work duties, you may qualify for workers’ compensation. You may want to check your workers’ compensation policy to find out how you can apply.
• Notify your insurance company. Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. Provide facts but avoid detailed statements until you’ve consulted an attorney.
• Contact a Commerce City car accident lawyer. Speaking with an experienced attorney early ensures your rights are protected. Your attorney can help with insurance claims, preserve important evidence, and fight for fair compensation.

Taking the right actions immediately after a crash can make a real difference in your case. If you’re not sure what to do, contact Flaxman Law Group. We have helped many injured drivers and passengers and we can explain what you will want to do next to protect yourself.

How Colorado’s Car Accident Laws Affect Your Rights

Colorado’s car accident laws shape what you can claim, how fault is determined, and how long you have to seek justice. Colorado’s personal injury laws dictate that if you have been injured due to someone’s negligence or due to an intent to harm, you have the right to file a legal claim to seek compensation. A legal claim can involve negotiating with defendants and their insurance companies to reach a settlement that covers your losses. If no settlement can be reached, you may have the right to take your case to the courts.

Colorado uses a comparative negligence system to evaluate fault. This means your compensation could be reduced if you are partially responsible for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 25% at fault and you receive a settlement of $400,000 your settlement would be reduced by that percentage. You would receive $300,000. It is important to work with a legal team to ensure your share of fault is accurately represented and minimized where possible.

The state also mandates minimum insurance coverage for all drivers, including Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP coverage pays for some immediate medical expenses, no matter who caused the crash, which can be a critical lifeline after a collision on busy Commerce City routes like E-72nd Avenue or the intersection of Tower Road and 56th Avenue. However, PIP limits are often insufficient to cover all damages, so pursuing claims against the at-fault driver becomes necessary for compensation beyond basic medical bills.

In addition, if the other driver left the scene or had insufficient or no insurance, you may be able to secure coverage through your own car insurance policy.

Additionally, Colorado enforces a statute of limitations that generally gives you two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Waiting too long can prevent you from recovering any compensation, making timely legal action vital.

In addition to Colorado laws, your car accident claim may involve federal laws. For example, if you are in a truck accident, your lawyer will determine whether the truck driver or trucking company violated federal laws.

Determining Fault and Responsibility in a Commerce City Crash

Fault determines who pays for damages, and often, responsibility isn’t clear-cut, especially in crashes involving multiple vehicles or conflicting stories.

Colorado’s comparative negligence law means fault can be divided among parties, and your settlement might be reduced by your percentage of fault. Because of this, pinpointing accurate responsibility is very important. If you are assigned more fault than is actually fair, you will get less compensation than you deserve.

At Flaxman Law Group, we carefully investigate every accident by examining:

• Police reports. Typically, law enforcement will document the scene and offer an initial opinion on fault, considering traffic violations or witness statements. However, these reports are not always definitive and should be reviewed carefully. We have found errors in these reports that have harmed a client’s attempts to file an insurance claim.
• Eyewitness accounts. Third-party witnesses can provide crucial perspectives that support or challenge fault claims. On the other hand, witness memory is not always reliable, especially if it has been a while since the accident. We have decades of experience working with witnesses, so we can work to get an accurate account of what happened.
• Traffic violations. Evidence of running red lights, speeding, failing to yield, or distracted driving can strongly influence fault decisions. These are common causes of collisions on Commerce City’s busy roads like I-270 or near the industrial corridors.
• Physical evidence. Photographs of vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions are important to reconstruct how the crash happened and who was responsible. We gather this evidence, as well as information from speed cameras or local security cameras.
• Driver behavior. Factors such as impairment, cellphone use, or reckless maneuvers play a role in establishing fault. We can secure blood tests, cell phone usage records, and other evidence to show any signs of negligent driving.

Fault may be shared or contested when multiple drivers are involved, or when insurance companies seek to minimize their liability. For example, if you were rear-ended while stopped at a red light on Quebec Street but the driver behind claims you braked suddenly, determining fault can become complicated.

We know how to gather the right evidence, work with experts, and present a strong case to insurance companies and courts. Our familiarity with Commerce City’s traffic patterns and typical accident sites allows us to anticipate challenges, so we can pursue compensation for you.

Types of Compensation Available to Car Accident Victims

If your car accident was caused by someone’s negligence or by someone intentionally causing your accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. You can seek compensation for all relevant losses and damages related to your injuries, including:

• Medical expenses. You can seek compensation for all treatment related to your injuries, which includes emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation therapies, prescription medications, and any future medical needs linked to the accident.
• Lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, you can seek compensation for income lost during your recovery period. This also includes lost benefits, bonuses, and overtime pay you would have earned. For those whose injuries impact their ability to work long-term, compensation may cover future wage losses as well. If your injuries have lasting effects that reduce your ability to earn a living in the future, you can pursue damages that address this impact on your career and financial stability.
• Property damage. Damage to your vehicle or personal belongings in the accident is recoverable, whether you can repair your property or need it completely replaced.
• Pain and suffering: Beyond tangible costs, the physical pain, emotional trauma, and reduced enjoyment of life caused by the accident can be compensated. These non-economic damages reflect the personal hardship you endure.
• Punitive damages: In rare circumstances where the at-fault party acted with gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing, courts may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish egregious behavior.

In addition to the above categories, if you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through a wrongful death claim. In a wrongful death claim, you can seek compensation for final medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and the contributions your family member made to your life.

No matter what losses you have suffered, it is very important to seek the fullest compensation possible. If you run out of money before you heal, you will likely not have an additional avenue for seeking additional compensation. It is not uncommon for people to have to file for bankruptcy after a serious car accident, motorcycle crash, or bicycle accident. Seeking fair compensation now can reduce your risk of financial hardship later on.