In the aftermath of an auto accident, the steps you take can significantly impact your recovery process, both physically and financially.
Selecting a knowledgeable and experienced auto accident attorney in Colorado Springs is crucial in ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.
Our firm stands at the forefront, offering unparalleled legal expertise to navigate the complex landscape of auto accident claims.
Why Experience Matters
Our team brings decades of combined experience in auto accident law, understanding the nuances that can make or break a case. We’ve successfully represented countless clients, securing favorable outcomes that cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Comprehensive Legal Support
From the moment you entrust us with your case, we take a hands-on approach to every aspect of your claim. Our services include:
- In-depth Investigation: We meticulously gather and analyze evidence to build a robust case. This includes accident scene documentation, witness statements, and expert consultations.
- Insurance Negotiation: Our attorneys are adept at negotiating with insurance companies, ensuring you are not undervalued or dismissed.
- Legal Representation: Should your case go to court, our seasoned litigators are prepared to advocate fiercely on your behalf, leveraging their expertise to achieve the best possible outcome.
Personalized Attention for Every Client
Understanding that each auto accident case is unique, we provide personalized attention to every client. Our approach is tailored to meet your specific needs and objectives, ensuring you feel supported and informed throughout the legal process.
Navigating Complex Colorado Auto Accident Laws
Colorado’s auto accident laws can be complex, with nuances that affect your case’s outcome. Our attorneys are deeply familiar with Colorado statutes and how they apply to auto accident claims, including fault determination, statute of limitations, and comparative negligence. We leverage this knowledge to navigate the legal system effectively, protecting your rights and interests.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Our goal is to maximize your compensation, covering all facets of your damages. This includes current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, loss of earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. We work tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of your harm is accounted for and compensated.
A Track Record of Success
Our firm’s track record speaks volumes about our commitment and expertise. We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, testimonials to our dedication and legal acumen. Our success is built on a foundation of thorough preparation, aggressive representation, and compassionate client care.
Choosing Us Means Choosing Peace of Mind
By choosing our auto accident attorneys in Colorado Springs, you’re not just hiring a lawyer; you’re gaining a partner committed to your well-being and financial recovery. We understand the stress and uncertainty that follow an auto accident and strive to provide peace of mind through professional and compassionate legal services.
Free Consultation to Evaluate Your Case
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and evaluate the best path forward. During this consultation, we provide clear, straightforward advice on your legal options and how we can assist in achieving a positive outcome.
Why You Need An Attorney
Many car accidents lead to serious injuries and in some cases can result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. These types of injuries require many different experts to properly assess the actual damage that was done, who was at fault and how much the victim should receive from insurance companies. Most insurance companies are going to look for any way possible to pay you the least amount possible, so it is imperative that you have an experienced car accident attorney represent you so that you can receive fair and full compensation.
As a Colorado Springs, CO based law firm, Rector Stuzynski LLC will collect the facts & preserve evidence to support your case and bring in industry professionals such as financial experts, medical experts, accident investigators and accident reconstruction experts to ensure that we have the best chance possible at winning your case. It is essential not to miss any detail in these auto accident cases, as even the slightest detail could get missed and ruin your case so don’t risk it, call our office today for expert motor vehicle collision attorney services.
Common Causes Of Auto Accidents
After record breaking amounts of traffic accidents and death, it is clear that our roads are becoming increasingly dangerous to be traveling on. From drunk drivers to running red lights, there are many different types of reckless driving that cause car accidents across the front range everyday, but below you can find a list of some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents:
Distracted Driving – Drivers that pay little attention to the road because they are talking to a passenger, changing the music, eating, putting on makeup, etc are a major liability to themselves as well as drivers around them especially with the recent rise in mobile device usage.
Texting While Driving – Texting and driving has become a very common occurrence among Colorado drivers and has led to many serious injuries from the auto accidents it causes. Texting or even reading text messages while driving takes you attention off the road and should be avoided at all times.
Reckless Driving – Reckless driving is very dangerous to yourself and other drivers around you. Driver negligence such as speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and other forms of negligent driving are not tolerated in Colorado and the offender or negligent driver could face charges for reckless driving as well as being deemed at fault for the car crash or any motor vehicle accident they may have caused.
Driving While Intoxicated – Drunk driving or even driving while high on marijuana or other drugs is a major problem and leads to thousands of drunk driving accident cases every year and thousands of arrests. Your altered perception when intoxicated can lead to driving errors and even reckless driving behavior.
Speeding – Driving at excessive speeds or over the posted speed limits are the cause of many car accidents and the driver who was speeding will usually be the one to blame in the event of an accident.
Improper Use Of Intersections – Intersections are a very common area for car accidents to happen. Usually this stems from improper turning, turning left in front of oncoming traffic, striking pedestrians in crosswalks, running red lights or stop signs & more. Roundabouts have also led to many car accidents recently as many drivers are still not familiar with their proper use yet.
Drowsy Driving – Driving while you are tired from lack of sleep or even just exhausted from a long day of work is extremely dangerous and has been the cause of many fatal accidents over the years. Pull over right away and get some sleep if you are feeling drowsy while driving.
Defective Auto Parts – Sometimes accidents are caused by faulty parts on your vehicle such as the brakes, tires, electrical problems, motor issues or even transmission failures. These cases can often lead to the mechanic or car manufacturer being at fault in the accident claim.
Bad Road Design – Poor road design, bad signage, dangerous intersections or poor road markings can cause accidents and usually the municipality will be the at fault party in these cases, especially when there have been numerous other recorded accidents in that same area from similar issues.
Road Conditions – There are a lot of dangerous roads winding through the Colorado mountains, but when you add rain, snow and sleet to the mix, it can give even the best drivers a scare. Snow causes excessively dangerous driving conditions and the number of car accidents goes up dramatically on days with snow packed roads here in Colorado Springs. Rain also makes it very hard to see which is a very common auto accident cause when driving in heavy rain.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Injuries?
Auto accidents can cause a variety of different injuries to the car accident victims, some of them being very serious, some being minor and in some cases the injuries can be fatal Below you can find a list of some of the most common types of injuries from car accidents:
- Head injuries, concussions and brain injuries
- Spine, neck or back injuries
- Whiplash
- Knee, leg, foot and ankle injuries
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of limbs
- Permanent disfigurement & scarring
- Catastrophic injuries
- Death
What To Do After A Car Crash
For most minor car accident cases, where it is only damaging to vehicles, you can simply go through your insurance company to get compensation for the damages to your vehicle. However, when persons involved in the wreck were injured, there are some important steps to take right away to ensure you are able to receive a full compensation package from the liable party.
- Ask all passengers if they have been injured at all
- Call 911 for fast medical assistance
- Take pictures of the entire accident scene including the intersection, vehicle damages, skid marks, etc.
- DO NOT admit fault when speaking to the police, insurance adjusters, other drivers or their auto accident lawyers
- Get personal information and insurance information of the other drivers
- Write down the badge numbers of the police officers investigating the accident
- Get the addresses, names and phone numbers of any eyewitnesses
- See a doctor after the accident for medical treatment and a full medical evaluation of any unseen injuries
- Obtain a copy of the police report of the accident as soon as it is available
- Contact our professional car accident attorneys at Rector Stuzynski LLC
For a detailed breakdown of how to handle these situations, check out our article on what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault.
How To Know If You Have A Valid Case
For your car accident
claim to be successful, there are a few key ingredients that need to be there. The first is called a Duty Of Care which means the defendant had a duty to act in a safe manner in order to protect the safety of other people around you. This means driving in accordance with local laws and not driving recklessly or impaired.
The second part is showing their Breach Of The Duty which means the defendant willingly acting against their best judgment or against the law which ended up causing the accident. Speeding, running red lights, drunk driving, not checking mirrors before changing lanes and many other events are very common situations that cause accidents and the driver who committed these unlawful acts is responsible for the damages
as long as you can prove that they breached their duty of care.
Causation is next in line and it means proving that the breach of duty actually led to the accident happening. So to clarify, let’s say the driver ran a red light and t-boned your car. Had the defendant obeyed the laws and stopped at the red light, there would not have been an accident at all. This is causation because no accident would have happened if the other person would have just followed the rules of the road and kept everyone safe.
Lastly is damages
. There needs to be damage done to your property, person or quality of life after the accident or there is nothing to compensate for. For example if a driver accidentally bumped into you in a drive thru and no damage was done nor were there any injuries, then there is no claim because no damage was done. However, if there was a major accident that totaled your car, caused property damage to nearby buildings, caused multiple injuries to the driver and passengers or similar situations, then there is a valid claim for compensation.
How Long Will It Take To Get My Settlement?
When speaking about timelines for resolving your claim, the answer can vary by quite a bit. There are many different factors involved that can make the process longer or shorter, so let’s take a look at some of them.
One of the biggest things to consider is whether you are fully recovered from your injuries or not. If you are still undergoing medical treatment and therapy for your injuries, then the cost to complete these treatments over the long term is still variable, so it’s best to wait until you are fully recovered to get an accurate accounting of your total medical bills. If these treatments will last for years, then we will work on a fair valuation of future treatments to be included, but when possible we like to wait to settle until we know exact dollar figures to make sure you aren’t left with unpaid medical bills.
The other major factor is whether the case is being settled without a fight or if the case goes to trial
. Trial
can take a long time just to even start the hearings and can take months of back and forth before ever finalizing. Most accident claims are settled outside of court fairly quickly if all the evidence
is there to support the claim, but if it goes to trial
you can expect it to take a much longer timeframe.
The other factors involved are minor compared to the ones we just listed. These variables are response times from the defendant and their representation or insurance company, how long it takes to acquire the evidence
needed, the insurance company delaying the claim for some reason, time it takes to get witness testimonies, unforeseen events that change the details of the case and other factors. These factors won’t affect the timeline as much as the major factors spoken about earlier, but can still add weeks to your settlement
in some cases so it’s best to expect a longer timeline and then be grateful if it is closed out before then.
How Long Do I Have To File A Claim After The Accident?
In Colorado Springs, you have 3 years to file your injury claim after the date of the accident. If you don’t notice your injuries until a later date, you can sometimes get an exception where you will then have 3 years to file from when you first noticed the injury.
Even though you have 3 years to file, we don’t recommend waiting that long unless there is a good reason to do so, such as waiting to complete medical treatment for the injuries. The longer you wait to file your claim, the bigger the chance of losing key pieces of evidence
. What we mean by that is witness testimony might not be as easy to acquire after three years because they may not remember the accident as clearly as they did right after it happened.
There could also be evidence
lost during that time such as pictures or video if you lose your phone. So for the most part it is a good idea to start gathering evidence
to present your case as soon as possible, even if you do not plan to file a claim or lawsuit
right away. Make sure to speak with your attorney
to determine the best time to file your case as they may have some insight on whether to wait or not once they evaluate the circumstances surrounding your claim.
Who Is Liable?
Who is at fault in an auto accident depends on many different factors and we are known as an “at-fault” state. To file a lawsuit you must be less than 50% responsible for the accident and any compensation you receive will be reflected based on how much of the accident was actually your fault. Some of the factors for determining the fault of the accident are as follows:
- The police report of the investigation of the motor vehicle collision
- Photos of the involved vehicles, the accident scene, skid marks and other details
- Eyewitness testimonies of what occurred during the accident
When fault is unclear or uncertain, accident reconstruction specialists are brought in to virtually recreate the collision and determine who was at fault.
In situations where a vehicle had passengers in the car and the driver of that car was partially or fully at fault, then the passengers may end up suing the driver of the car they were in. That is, if they were injured and suffered damages due to the drivers negligence.
Protect Yourself From Uninsured Drivers
It’s a sad fact of life, but car accidents with uninsured drivers happen every day. Insurance rates can be expensive, and when times are tough, some drivers will make the wrong decision, counting on their assumed driving skills and/or luck to keep them out of harm’s way.
Being involved in an accident with one of these drivers can be very scary. Many questions may be running through your head like: Who will pay my medical bills? Who will pay for my car? I can’t work – will pay my lost wages?
Colorado does not require that drivers carry ‘uninsured motorist’ coverage; however, this coverage is a must. People drive irresponsibly and without insurance every day which can cause problems for the accident victim.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you and your passengers in a situation where an uninsured driver is involved in an accident with you; essentially, your insurance company “steps in the shoes” of the driver that was at-fault and evaluates your claim for the same kind of damages you would have recovered from the at-fault party’s insurance, had they been insured.
This coverage gives you peace of mind that you and your family members and passengers are protected. This coverage will help cover your losses, and help you get your life back on track.
What Type Of Damages Can You Claim?
We take our auto accident cases very seriously at Rector Stuzynski LLC and provide every client with a thorough investigation of their case and a professionally put together lawsuit that is backed by hard evidence. In some cases, we are able to settle without a lawsuit, but in other cases, our experienced trial attorneys will go to court and fight the liable party and insurance company to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries and financial issues sustained from the accident.
You are entitled to a few different types of damage compensation when involved in an accident, such as economic damages, non-economic damages and punitive damages(sometimes).
Economic damages account for expenses with an actual number like medical bills, lost income from work, property damage repairs, lost earning capacity and more.
Non-economic damages may include personal losses such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, mental anguish, emotional stress and more.
Punitive damages are available in certain cases where the liable party acted willfully and wantonly and is administered as a punishment for their actions that caused harm to another person.
How Should I Handle A Rear End Accident?
A rear-end accident is one in which a driver hits another person from behind. Typically these types of accidents occur because people do not leave enough distance from the car in front of them, and they are distracted by something, or someone in the vehicle, or even by texting on their phones.
When a rear-end accident occurs, the driver of the rear vehicle is considered negligent in most cases. While it may seem like a fairly minor type of accident, rear-end collisions can result in serious spine injuries , with long term consequences. That’s why it’s important to call a Colorado Springs rear-end accident lawyer immediately after contacting the police and your insurance company.
These accidents can be extremely dangerous because in most rear-end accidents, the driver of the vehicle is unaware the accident is going to occur and it comes as a complete surprise. These types of accidents can lead to serious neck injuries, whiplash injuries , head injuries and even concussions because the driver’s head can be snapped back and forth, and if the driver’s head is turned when impact occurs this can be even more significant. Symptoms can occur immediately or sometimes take several days. Never under estimate your condition – even low speed accidents can result in serious injuries. Adrenaline can mask pain so that you are not aware of pain and injuries for some time following an auto accident.
If you or a loved one have had the unfortunate situation of being in a rear-end accident be sure to seek medical care, especially if you are experiencing headaches or pain in your neck or back. These types of injuries have the potential to be serious and can be permanent if not properly treated.
What To Do After A Hit And Run?
Victims of hit and run accidents face a complex hurdle, especially if the accident is severe in nature. When a person who is responsible for causing an accident fleas the scene insurance companies can be disinclined to pay for injuries and damages until a determination that the responsible party cannot be located. In such a case, it is important to contact an experienced Colorado Springs hit and run accident lawyer.
A person who leaves the scene of an accident does so for a reason. Typically we see that these types of irresponsible individuals leave the scene because they are intoxicated, uninsured or possibly have a warrant out for their arrest in another matter.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident the first thing you should do is call the police so that a proper investigation can be done and properly documented. Take notes regarding as much information as you can remember from the other driver including the vehicle color, make and model, along with any other characteristics you can identify from the driver. Make sure you identify any witnesses as they may have more information regarding the hit and run driver. The second important thing you should do is get evaluated by a doctor.
You should notify your insurance carrier of the accident. Uninsured motorist coverage on your policy will cover you for injuries suffered as a result of a hit and run accident. Third, you should contact an attorney who can help you through this process, and who will fight to maximize the recovery you are entitled to.
Chain Reaction Accidents
Chain reaction accidents are unfortunately common, especially during inclement weather. When one accident causes multiple accidents, however, it can be difficult to determine who was to blame for the accident and subsequent injuries. Further complicating things, in chain-reaction accidents, there are often multiple parties responsible for various aspects of the accident The rules of the road come into play when figuring out fault. All drivers are required to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them. This means they are responsible for being able to stop in time, even if the roads are icy. A driver who rear-ends another vehicle will likely be responsible for that damage. Unless, however, a driver is pushed into another vehicle. This is where liability gets complicated.
Establishing fault is tricky in chain-reaction accidents and often requires a thorough investigation. Complicating the situation even more is that you may bear some responsibility for the accident as well. An experienced car accident lawyer can review all aspects of the accident to determine exactly who is to blame for the crash and for your injuries. To do this your lawyer will need review evidence, such as skid marks, eyewitness accounts, police reports, and vehicle damage. If necessary, an accident reconstructionist may be employed.
What Is Your Claim Worth?
Every car or auto accident case is different so we can’t put a number on it without digging deep into the details, but most minor accident settlement are around $15,000 when there aren’t major injuries. When there are injuries involved with extensive medical bills, lifelong injuries or catastrophic injuries, the dollar amount go up quite a bit. Let’s say your car was totalled because of another negligent driver and you have some back and neck injuries. The cost to replace the car could be tens of thousands of dollars, but the medical bills for current treatment and any treatment after the fact will also need to be covered in the settlement.
Also, remember that lost wages, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries that will last your entire life as well as pain and suffering need to also be included when asking for a settlement amount. Most of the time a settlement will not be reached until all medical costs have been accrued so there can be an accurate amount of funds to cover all costs associated with the injuries. To get a better idea of what your claim might be worth, check out our article on the typical car accident settlement amounts.
Can I File An Insurance Claim Without A Police Report?
Yes you can! Policyholders have the right to compensation even if you didn’t file a police report. In most situations though, you will want to get a police report done so you have a non-biased third party account of what happened at the scene. The police report will also help the insurance company determine who was at fault so that you can get compensation for your injuries.
It is also very common for people to be in shock after an accident and not realize they are injured right away. Things like whiplash, neck and back pain are very common in car accidents and sometimes take days or weeks for the injured party to notice. When you do notice an injury, it is best to get medically checked right away so that the liable party cannot blame those injuries on some other event. The sooner you have documentation of your injuries, the better, so make sure to contact an attorney if you have any questions about what to do as soon as possible.
How Can I Pay For Medical Bills?
Since most cases can’t be settled until all medical treatments have been performed for accurate settlement payments, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for your medical bills before you get your settlement. In most cases, we will look to your car insurance policy to see if it covers medical costs for yourself, as many policies do have this type of coverage. In some situations, you may not have this coverage so we then look at your health insurance coverage to see if you are eligible to have the bills paid for by that.
If none of your insurance covers the costs of treatment from your accident, then we will speak to your medical professionals and try to work out a pay later type of deal with them that is called a medical lien. This means that they will agree to perform treatment for you without upfront payment and will allow payment once the settlement funds have been disbursed. At the end of the day, you can be sure that our attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and help you every step of the way so you can get back to life as usual as quickly as possible.
How Much Do Lawyers Charge?
Here at Rector Stuzynski LLC, our car accident clients only pay us when we win your case or reach a settlement. So if we don’t win, you don’t pay. Our law firm is confident in our work because we know our team of car accident lawyers will file a solid case based on hard evidence that we can use to get a fair settlement for our client. Our fees that come out of the final settlement are paid out based on an agreed upon percentage of the financial compensation we get for you, so nothing ever comes out of your pocket when you choose to work with us on your car accident claim.
Contact Our Law Firm For Help
When you choose to work with Rector Stuzynski LLC, you are choosing to work with knowledgeable and highly experienced car & truck accident attorneys with decades of experience in personal injury law as well as traffic laws. We handle every detail of the case with precision, from gathering evidence to interviewing witnesses and hiring accident recreation teams so that we can build a strong case backed by hard evidence and get you a fair settlement. Our attorneys have won hundreds of car crash lawsuits throughout this beautiful state with a focus on Colorado Springs and nearby areas. We would be happy to give you the legal representation you deserve, so call us today for a free consultation.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident in Colorado Springs, don’t navigate the legal challenges alone. Contact us today to learn how our experienced auto accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
