How to Get the Best Settlement from a Car Accident

Colorado car accident settlements can leave injured victims with far less than they truly deserve if the process is not handled carefully. There are several reasons for this, including unnecessarily giving in to insurance companies, not adequately preparing your claim, failing to gather evidence, and more.

Even small, innocent mistakes can harm your claim and make it far more difficult to recover the compensation you deserve than it should have been.

At Burg Simpson, we are here to help. We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the car accident claims process, especially as you try to manage your injuries and the other disruptions to your life. For over 45 years, we have handled Colorado car accident settlements and helped victims pursue and recover the maximum compensation they need and deserve for their damages.

If you have been involved in a car accident, get in touch with the Denver car accident lawyers at Burg Simpson today for a FREE and confidential case evaluation. Call us at 303-792-5595 to get started. Our team serves clients in Denver, Englewood, and throughout Colorado.

How Much Can Someone Sue for a Car Accident in Colorado?

One of the first and most important steps in building a car accident claim is calculating how much compensation you deserve. There is no standard amount you should expect to recover; instead, it depends on the specifics of your economic and non-economic damages.

• Economic damages include direct and indirect costs that result from the accident, including medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses.
• Non-economic damages include the emotional and psychological impact of an accident, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death claims, you may also be eligible for loss of companionship damages, funeral and burial expenses, and more.
• Punitive damages are sometimes awarded when the actions of the defendant are considered to be gross or malicious. These damages are meant to punish the defendant for their misconduct and deter future wrongdoing.

While insurance policy limits may affect how much you are able to recover, it is critical to account for all of your losses and pursue the maximum compensation you need and deserve for your damages.

Once you accept a settlement or are awarded compensation via a court decision, you will generally be unable to recover any additional compensation. Working with a qualified car accident attorney will help prevent you from unintentionally accepting less than you deserve.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Colorado?

As you begin to navigate the claims process, it is natural to wonder how much you should expect to recover. That said, averages are not a helpful data point to give you a sense of what your claim is worth.

Ultimately, it depends entirely on your specific damages. If you are facing $100,000+ in medical bills and lost wages because of a serious injury, such as a spinal cord injury, you should expect to recover at least that much in compensation. If your injuries have also led to a great deal of pain and suffering, you should expect to recover even more.

Our best advice is to speak with an experienced Denver car accident lawyer who can review the details of your claim and help you better understand how much compensation you should pursue.

How to Get the Most Out of Colorado Car Accident Settlements

While fully calculating damages is one of the most important steps in maximizing your settlement, it is far from the only thing that factors into how much you will recover.

Some additional components that can have a significant impact on your settlement include:

• Seeking immediate medical attention: Delaying medical treatment can make it more difficult to prove direct causation between the accident and your injuries, while also making your injuries seem less serious.
• Gathering evidence and establishing clear liability: The clearer the evidence is, the easier it will be to negotiate with the insurance company and reach a fair settlement.
• Not accepting a settlement offer before you know how much your claim is worth: Insurance companies are notorious for providing low-ball settlement offers that are far lower than accident victims deserve.
• Letting your attorney handle all communication with the insurance company: Giving recorded statements or access to your full medical history can jeopardize your claim. Insurers often look for ways to weaken your claim and shift the blame.
• Negotiating effectively with the insurance company: Knowing how to hold insurance companies accountable by staying focused on what you deserve is a critical part of the process.
• Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court, if necessary: While settlements are generally quicker, you must be willing to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial if that is what is necessary to obtain just compensation.

Maximizing your compensation requires that each of these components is handled well, positioning you to have the strongest claim possible.

How Long Do Most Colorado Car Accident Settlements Take?

As with the value of car accident claims, the length of the settlement process can also vary considerably. With simple cases, you may be able to reach a settlement in a matter of a few months. It is simply not worth it for the insurance company to put up a great fight.

On the other hand, if you have a complex case with serious injuries and disputed liability, it could take over a year to settle. Then, if you are unable to agree on an offer, taking your case to court may take even longer.

In some situations, there is a period while you wait to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning the full extent of your injuries and the long-term costs associated with them have become clearer.

You may also have to navigate insurance company delays, though your attorney should hold them accountable if it appears they are negotiating in bad faith. Your attorney should also stay on top of communications to ensure the process moves as quickly as possible.

How Long After a Car Accident Can You Sue in Colorado?

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits is 3 years from the date of the accident, which is longer than the 2 years given for most other personal injury claims. This means that if you try to pursue compensation after 3 years have passed, your case will most likely be dismissed.

There can be exceptions to this timeline, so it would still benefit you to speak with a lawyer, even if three years have passed. No matter which, you should not delay speaking with legal representation. The sooner we can get started investigating and building your claim, the better.

How Can Burg Simpson Help?

At Burg Simpson, we combine local clout with national strength to give our clients the legal support they need and deserve. Some of the most important ways we help our car accident clients include:

• Ensuring you are pursuing the full compensation you deserve
• Completing a thorough investigation, including gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses
• Handling all paperwork and communication with the insurance company and any other entities
• Negotiating with the insurance company to reach a fair settlement agreement
• Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court if a settlement cannot be reached

Ultimately, our goal is to recover the maximum compensation possible for your damages, which is why we have already recovered more than $2 billion for our clients.

Contact the Denver Car Accident Attorneys at Burg Simpson Now

While maximizing compensation is always our number one goal, we also want to make the process easy for you as you focus on getting better. That is why we always offer FREE, confidential consultations and only charge our clients if and when we win compensation for them.

If you are looking for a firm that will stand up for your rights and has a proven track record of negotiating Colorado car accident settlements, Burg Simpson is ready to help. Get in touch with our Denver car accident lawyers today by calling 303-792-5595 or contacting us online.