Car Accident Attorneys Serving Denver Metro and All of Colorado
Did you suffer serious injury in a car accident? Was the other driver at fault? A car accident lawyer at Burg Simpson can pursue the compensation you deserve.
Reasons to hire a car accident attorney at Burg Simpson include:
- Years of experience. Burg Simpson was founded in 1976. Our Denver office has over 35 attorneys, many of whom have decades of experience representing clients in car accidents and other personal injury matters.
- $2 billion+ in results. Attorneys at Burg Simpson have recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We are committed to obtaining the maximum compensation in each client’s case.
- Award-winning attorneys. Our lawyers have been recognized repeatedly by numerous legal organizations. These accolades affirm our dedication to quality legal service and adherence to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
In Colorado, you have a limited time to take legal action after a car accident. Talk to a Denver car accident lawyer at Burg Simpson today.
Call 303-792-5595 for a FREE case evaluation. Our car accident attorneys serve clients in Denver and throughout Colorado.
Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
You might not need to hire an attorney if you sustain only minor injuries or the accident only resulted in property damage. However, if you are seriously injured or a loved one was killed in a car accident, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.
Why Do I Need an Attorney After a Car Accident?
A car accident lawyer at Burg Simpson will investigate the crash immediately. This ensures that all evidence is collected promptly and the liable party or parties can be identified.
Our attorneys review all evidence thoroughly to establish how the accident happened and who is at fault. We also pore over your medical bills and medical records so we can understand the severity of your injuries. Expert witnesses can provide additional support for your claim.
Accounting for all of your losses after a car accident is essential for maximizing the value of your case. Burg Simpson evaluates all of the ways the accident has affected your life and seeks recovery of all economic and non-economic damages to which you are entitled.
Getting compensation after a car accident may involve going up against one or more insurance companies. When you hire an attorney, you can feel confident knowing that you will not make a mistake that could cost you money or lead to the denial of your claim.
Hiring a car accident lawyer is essential whether you are negotiating a settlement or filing a lawsuit. Attorneys at Burg Simpson are adept at settlement negotiations as well as trying cases in the courtroom.
What to Do After a Car Accident
There are a number of steps you need to take after a car accident to keep yourself safe and protect your legal rights. After an accident, you should:
- Check yourself and any passengers for injuries.
- If possible, move your vehicle out of the roadway.
- Dial 911 if you or anyone else is hurt.
- Have your injuries evaluated by paramedics on the scene. If you require emergency care, you should be taken to the hospital immediately.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Get the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information, as well as the vehicle’s license plate number.
- Take photos at the scene. Photograph the vehicles involved, the roadway, weather and lighting conditions, any injuries you sustained, etc.
- Speak to any witnesses. Ask them what they saw and get their contact information.
- Provide a statement to the police. Answer the officer’s questions clearly and factually. If law enforcement doesn’t arrive, you will need to report the accident online.
- Seek medical attention. If you were not taken to the emergency room, you should see a doctor on your own as soon as possible.
- Contact a car accident lawyer.
In the aftermath of a car accident, it is important to keep any and all paperwork you receive (such as medical bills, letters from your insurance company, a copy of the police report, etc.). You also need to attend all scheduled appointments with doctors, physical therapists, and other medical professionals.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Car Accident?
Burg Simpson takes a different approach to personal injury law. While many firms chase quick settlements, we put the full weight of our experience and resources behind cases where clients have suffered life-altering injuries and damages in motor vehicle accidents.
You may be entitled to compensation for the following losses in your car accident claim:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
Compensation for non-economic losses (such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.) is capped at $250,000 “unless the court finds justification by clear and convincing evidence” for the award to be increased (see Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-102.5). Even if the court makes an exception, non-economic damages in Colorado are capped at $500,000.
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for damages such as loss of your relative’s income, funeral expenses, medical bills, loss of support and services, and more. Burg Simpson can pursue a wrongful death claim on your behalf.
What If the Driver Is Uninsured?
The percentage of Colorado motorists driving without insurance is alarmingly high. According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, approximately 16.3% of drivers in Colorado do not have car insurance (the national average of uninsured drivers, meanwhile, is 12.6%).
Car insurance is mandatory in Colorado. And yet, nearly one in six drivers do not have the necessary coverage.
If you are in an accident with an uninsured driver, you will not be able to make a claim against the driver’s insurance for payment of your losses. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
UM/UIM coverage is classified as optional insurance in Colorado. However, given the high number of uninsured drivers in the state as well as the significant expenses you could be left paying if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, it is very worthwhile to have this additional coverage.
Many of the states where UM/UIM insurance is mandatory require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage equal to the state’s minimum liability insurance. In Colorado, this would be:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $15,000 property damage coverage per accident
Having adequate UM/UIM insurance protects you if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. It can also help pay for your losses if the damages in your car accident claim exceed the other driver’s insurance coverage.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
Our car accident lawyers have represented clients in cases involving many different types of collisions. Burg Simpson can help if you suffered injury in any of the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Sideswipe crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Overturn and rollover accidents
- Collisions with commercial vehicles
- Uninsured motorist accidents
- Ride-share accidents
Multiple parties may be liable for car accidents. In collisions involving two vehicles, both drivers may be partly responsible. However, do not let the other driver or the insurance company tell you that you are at fault. Burg Simpson can investigate to determine who caused the accident and fight to hold the negligent party or parties accountable.
How Does Comparative Negligence Apply in Colorado?
The comparative negligence standard in Colorado allows claimants to recover compensation so long as their share of fault is less than that of the defendant. If you are less than 50% at fault for a car accident, you can still recover compensation for your injuries.
However, your recovery will be reduced by a percentage corresponding to your degree of fault for the accident. For example, if the other driver was 90% responsible for the accident, 10% of fault is attributed to you, and you are awarded $100,000, you would be entitled to no more than $90,000 in damages.
What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
The seriousness of the injuries in a car accident can vary significantly. Some accidents result in only minor injuries (or no injuries at all), while others can permanently change the course of the victim’s life.
At Burg Simpson, our car accident lawyers have handled claims involving a wide range of injuries. We can help if you or a member of your family suffered the following in a car accident:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to the face and head
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs
- Loss of a limb
- Burn injuries
Whether your injuries are immediately obvious or you feel fine after the accident, it is important to see a doctor or go to the emergency room. Some auto injuries take days or even weeks to show symptoms, and it is important to get an accurate diagnosis before problems arise.
Getting treatment is also important for your car accident claim. Thorough medical documentation helps to establish the nature and severity of your injuries, which limits the insurance company’s ability to dispute liability or argue that your injuries are unrelated to the accident.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Many different issues can lead to motor vehicle accidents. Proving that the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver is key for recovering compensation.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Denver include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Failure to yield at intersections, when changing lanes, and when merging into traffic
- Snow, ice, and other bad weather conditions
- Tailgating
- Obstacles in the roadway
- Reckless and aggressive driving
- Alcohol and drug use
Motorists are typically at fault for auto accidents. However, it is important not to overlook other potential causes.
For example, you might have a viable product liability claim if one of the vehicles experienced an automotive defect that caused the crash. Similarly, government entities can be held liable if negligent roadway design or maintenance was a factor in the car accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Colorado?
Colorado law gives you a maximum of 3 years to make a personal injury claim after a car accident. This is longer than the time allotted for other personal injury actions, which is limited to 2 years.
Nevertheless, you should not wait to speak to a car accident attorney. Evidence needs to be gathered and legal proceedings need to be started promptly to ensure that you exercise your rights before the statute of limitations expires. What’s more, negotiating a car accident settlement takes time. You do not want prolonged settlement negotiations to leave you with no time to file a lawsuit.
At Burg Simpson, our car accident lawyers have an in-depth knowledge of the time limits imposed on auto accident claims. We file your claim promptly, handle negotiations with the insurance company so you can focus on recovery, and (if necessary) file a lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Colorado Car Accident Statistics
According to CDOT, Colorado had 2,800 fatal crashes and 3,030 fatalities in motor vehicle accidents from the years 2017 to 2021. More than 13,000 crashes resulted in serious injuries. In fact, 2021 saw the highest incidence of serious injury collisions within this 5-year period.
The City of Denver had more traffic accidents than any other community in Colorado. In 2021, CDOT recorded the following:
- 15,520 total crashes in Denver
- 67 total fatalities in Denver motor vehicle accidents
- 63 fatal crashes in Denver
- 501 serious injuries in Denver wrecks
- 425 Denver vehicle accidents resulting in serious injury
All told, crashes in Denver accounted for nearly 17% of all motor vehicle accidents in Colorado. Denver County also had the highest number of serious injury and fatal crashes in the state.
Contact a Denver Car Accident Lawyer Today
You should not face the consequences and costs of a car accident on your own. If the negligence of a driver and/or other party caused the crash, you have the right to pursue compensation for the injuries you have suffered and the losses you have incurred.
Burg Simpson has achieved a national reputation for providing high-quality legal counsel. We frequently obtain settlements and verdicts well in excess of our clients’ expectations. Our attorneys have recovered more than $2 billion in a wide range of claims.
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At Burg Simpson Colorado, our main focus is personal injury law. We have the experience, knowledge, and resources to handle complex car accident claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death.
Call Burg Simpson at 303-792-5595 today for a FREE case evaluation. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Denver and all of Colorado.
