The moments after a car accident can feel overwhelming. Your heart is racing, you might be injured, and you’re unsure about what steps to take next. Making the wrong decisions in these important first minutes and hours can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and the full compensation you need to recover.
At McCormick & Murphy P.C., we’ve guided Colorado drivers through the aftermath of car accidents for nearly three decades. With over 60 years of combined legal experience and millions of dollars recovered for our clients since 1995, we know precisely what steps you need to take to protect yourself, your family, and your financial future after a collision.
The First Important Steps: Your Safety and Claim Protection
Every car accident is unique, but certain immediate actions can make the difference between a smooth recovery process and months of complications. Here’s what you need to do right now:
Ensure Immediate Safety
Move to safety if possible. If your vehicle is driveable and you’re not seriously injured, move to the shoulder or side of the road. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you cannot move your car, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until help arrives, especially on busy roads like I-25 or Highway 24 here in Colorado Springs.
Check for injuries. Assess yourself and your passengers first, then check on occupants of other vehicles involved. Call 911 immediately if anyone appears injured, even if injuries seem minor. Adrenaline can mask pain and serious injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Call the police. In Colorado, you’re required to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Given today’s vehicle repair costs, virtually every accident meets this threshold. A police report provides an official record that insurance companies and courts rely on.
Document Everything at the Scene
With digital-first claims processes becoming standard in 2025, thorough documentation is more important than ever. Insurance companies increasingly use AI and telematics for automated claims processing, making your initial evidence collection the foundation of your case.
Take detailed photos. Use your smartphone to photograph:
- All vehicles involved from multiple angles
- The accident scene, including traffic signs and road conditions
- License plates of all vehicles
- Damage to all vehicles
- Any visible injuries
- Skid marks or debris
Gather driver information. Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance company names and policy numbers, driver’s license numbers, and vehicle information with all drivers involved. If passengers are present, get their contact information as well.
Identify witnesses. Collect names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the accident. Independent witness testimony can be invaluable if there are disputes about what happened.
Understanding Colorado’s Legal Requirements
Colorado operates under a fault-based insurance system, meaning the at-fault driver’s insurance typically pays for damages. However, Colorado also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you’re found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages, but your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Colorado’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. While this might seem like plenty of time, evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and insurance companies become less cooperative as time passes. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be.
Common Challenges and How We Help
Challenge 1: Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They may contact you within hours of your accident, hoping to get a recorded statement while you’re still shaken up. Remember: you’re not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.
Solution: Be polite but firm. Provide only basic facts about the accident. Avoid admitting fault or speculating about what happened. Never accept the first settlement offer, and consider consulting with an attorney to ensure your rights are protected before agreeing to any settlement.
Challenge 2: Hidden Injuries and Delayed Symptoms
Many car accident injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries like whiplash, don’t show symptoms immediately. You might feel fine at the scene but wake up the next morning in significant pain.
Solution: Seek medical attention within 24-48 hours of your accident, even if you feel fine. This creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident and ensures you receive proper treatment. Keep all medical appointments and follow your doctor’s recommendations completely.
Challenge 3: Complex Modern Vehicle Repairs
Today’s vehicles contain sophisticated electronics and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Even minor accidents can result in expensive repairs that require specialized facilities. Supply chain issues and skilled labor shortages continue to cause delays in 2025, potentially leaving you without transportation for weeks.
Solution: Work with your insurance company to identify certified repair facilities. Ask about rental car coverage and understand your policy limits. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance should cover your rental car expenses during repairs.
When You Need Legal Representation
While not every car accident requires an attorney, certain situations make legal representation essential for protecting your interests:
- You suffered serious injuries requiring ongoing medical treatment or affecting your daily life.
- The at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.
- There’s a disagreement about who caused the accident.
- Multiple vehicles or parties were involved.
- The insurance company denies your claim or offers a settlement that feels too low.
- The accident involved a commercial vehicle (truck, bus, rideshare) or a government vehicle.
At McCormick & Murphy P.C., we handle car accident cases throughout Colorado, with offices serving Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Maximizing Your Recovery: Smart Strategies for 2025
The legal environment continues evolving with new technology and changing regulations. Here are four key strategies that can significantly impact your case outcome:
1. Preserve Digital Evidence Immediately
Modern vehicles generate extensive data through onboard computers, GPS systems, and safety features. This information can prove speed, braking patterns, and impact forces. Request that this data be preserved immediately after your accident, as it may be automatically overwritten after a few weeks.
2. Maintain Detailed Records
Create a dedicated file for all accident-related documents. Include medical records, repair estimates, correspondence with insurance companies, and a daily journal documenting your pain levels, limitations, and how the accident affects your daily life. This documentation becomes invaluable during settlement negotiations.
3. Understand Your Insurance Coverage
Review your policy to understand your coverage limits for medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, and collision coverage. Many Colorado drivers are underinsured, making your own coverage essential for full recovery.
4. Act Quickly on Time-Sensitive Issues
While you have three years to file a lawsuit in Colorado, insurance companies often impose much shorter deadlines for reporting claims and submitting documentation. Missing these deadlines can result in claim denials.
The True Cost of Car Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, the average economic cost of a disabling injury from a motor vehicle accident exceeded $78,000 in 2024. This figure includes medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs, but doesn’t account for pain and suffering or long-term impacts on your quality of life.
For fatal accidents, the average economic cost approaches $1.8 million. These statistics underscore why proper legal representation matters. Insurance companies know these numbers and often try to settle quickly for far less than your claim is worth.
How Market Trends Affect Your Claim
The insurance industry’s shift toward AI-driven claims processing means decisions about your claim may be made by algorithms rather than human adjusters. While this can speed up simple claims, it can also result in unfair denials or undervaluations of complex cases.
Additionally, the rise of rideshare services, delivery drivers, and autonomous vehicle features creates new liability questions that didn’t exist even five years ago. These evolving legal issues require attorneys who stay current with changing laws and technology.
Why Legal Representation Leads to Better Outcomes
Studies consistently show that accident victims who hire attorneys recover significantly more compensation than those who handle claims themselves, even after paying attorney fees. The Insurance Research Council found that claimants with legal representation receive settlements that are, on average, 3.5 times higher than those without representation.
At McCormick & Murphy P.C., our track record speaks for itself. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for Colorado clients, with many cases settling for several times the initial insurance company offers. Our professional credentials and client reviews reflect our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for every client.
Your Immediate Next Steps After a Car Accident
If you’ve been in a car accident, time is working against you. Evidence disappears, witnesses become harder to locate, and insurance companies begin building their defense immediately. Here’s what you should do right now:
Get medical attention. Your health is the top priority. Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 24-48 hours. Some injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, may not show symptoms immediately.
Contact your insurance company. Report the accident promptly, but stick to basic facts. You’re required to cooperate with your own insurance company, but be cautious about detailed recorded statements until you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages.
Consult with an experienced attorney. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations. This gives you the opportunity to understand your rights and options without any financial commitment.
Don’t sign anything or accept settlements quickly. Insurance companies often pressure accident victims to settle quickly, before they understand the full extent of their injuries or damages. Once you sign a release, you typically cannot pursue additional compensation later.
Why Choose McCormick & Murphy P.C.: Your Advocates for Recovery
Car accident cases require specific expertise in personal injury law, insurance regulations, and medical issues. Our attorneys have handled thousands of car accident cases and understand the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts.
We’re located at 929 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905, making us easily accessible to clients throughout the Pikes Peak region. We also serve clients in Denver, Pueblo, and communities across Colorado.
Our approach is straightforward: we handle the legal complexities while you focus on recovery. We deal with insurance companies, gather evidence, consult with medical experts, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Take Action Today: Get Your Free Consultation
Every day you wait makes your case more difficult to prove and potentially reduces your compensation. Insurance companies count on accident victims not knowing their rights or not having the resources to fight for fair compensation.
Don’t let this happen to you. Call McCormick & Murphy P.C. at (719)-389-0400 for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you understand what your claim is really worth. You can also email us at [email protected] or visit our contact page to get started.
Remember: we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This means you can access experienced legal representation without any upfront costs or financial risk.
The decisions you make in the days and weeks after your car accident will affect your recovery and your family’s financial future. Make sure you have experienced advocates on your side who will fight for the compensation you deserve.
