Car accidents, including fatal crashes, are reported in Colorado Springs every year. If you end up in such an accident, you need to take the appropriate steps, no matter whether you were at fault or not. Colorado is a fault state. If the other driver was negligent, you can pursue a personal injury lawsuit and seek compensation for your damages. So, what happens when you also have a share of fault? Do you need to hire a car accident lawyer Colorado Springs? What is your case worth? Here are some important details worth knowing.
The statute of limitations
You have limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident. Colorado, like other states, has its own statute of limitations, which allows three years to file such lawsuits, counting from accident date. If the accident resulted in someone’s death, the statute of limitations allows two years to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
The modified comparative negligence rule
Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state. If you had a share of fault, you can still seek compensation and file a personal injury lawsuit, but your compensation will be reduced by your fault in percentage. If your share of blame is more than 50%, you cannot recover anything.
Do you need an attorney?
There is no law in Colorado that makes it mandatory to hire a car accident lawyer. However, there are many laws in which an attorney can help. Your lawyer will help with –
- Knowing the worth of your claim
- Determining who is at fault
- Investigating the car accident
- Negotiating with the insurance company
- Taking the matter to trial, if needed
So, how much is your car accident lawsuit worth? There is no one answer for that, because every case is unique and has its own circumstances. Find an attorney in Colorado, who can help in knowing the basic aspects.
Finding the right car accident lawyer
Make sure that you select a car accident lawyer with experience. You can ask questions like –
- How long have you been practicing as a car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs?
- Have you worked on comparable cases? If yes, what were the outcomes of those cases?
- Who will work on my case? How can we maintain communication?
If a lawyer agrees to take your case, they will typically work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t have to pay an upfront fee. Consult a car accident lawyer at the earliest after your accident.
