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Denver Car Accident Lawyer

Auto Accident Lawyer Denver

If you’ve sustained injuries in a Denver car crash, you understand how quickly medical costs, lost wages, and property damage expenses accumulate. At McCormick & Murphy, our auto collision attorneys work diligently to help accident victims secure fair compensation for their injuries and losses. A Denver auto accident lawyer from our law firm can represent you throughout the legal process, collecting necessary evidence to build a strong case while allowing you to focus on recovery.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Denver

Auto accidents don’t simply happen randomly; they typically result from someone’s negligence. This might include the driver of the vehicle involved, a party responsible for road maintenance, another driver, or even vehicle manufacturers.

Common causes of car accidents in Denver, Colorado include

Speeding or Driving too Fast for Conditions

When vehicles travel at excessive speeds, drivers have less control and reduced reaction time. According to safety statistics, over one-third of fatal rollover crashes involve excessive speeding. Speed-related accidents are particularly dangerous when taking turns faster than posted limits.

Drinking and Driving

Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol is both illegal and extremely dangerous. Approximately 50 percent of all rollover crashes involve alcohol or intoxicated driving, demonstrating how significantly impairment affects driving ability.

Vehicle Defect

Though less common than driver negligence, vehicle defects or mechanical failures frequently lead to accidents. Brake failures may force drivers to crash to stop their vehicle, while tire blowouts can cause swerving, collisions with objects, and in severe cases, vehicle rollovers.

Unsafe Road Conditions

Hazardous road conditions include potholes, road defects, debris, animals crossing, inadequate signage (especially for sharp turns), and improperly placed construction barriers. While less common causes, these infrastructure issues can lead to serious accidents.

Other Drivers’ Negligence

The negligence of nearby drivers—including erratic lane changes, unexpected turns, failure to yield, and other traffic violations—can force even careful drivers to make sudden maneuvers resulting in single-vehicle collisions as they attempt to avoid a crash.

Common Denver Auto Accident Injuries

Auto accident victims in Denver frequently suffer these injuries:

  • Burns and lacerations
  • Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
  • Neck injuries and whiplash
  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Spinal cord injuries and back damage
  • Chest injuries and internal organ damage
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Shoulder and joint injuries
  • Disfigurement and scarring

Following an auto accident, consulting with a Denver auto accident lawyer promptly helps establish liability and ensures your rights are protected. Our attorneys have the expertise and resources to thoroughly investigate your claim and document all damages.

Under Colorado state law, you’re entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical expenses (both immediate and long-term care)
  • Vehicle repair or replacement costs
  • Personal property damage
  • Lost income during recovery
  • Future earning capacity reduction
  • Pain and suffering
  • Legal costs associated with your case

What to Do After a Car Collision in Denver

A car collision can instantly alter your life. Following these steps after an accident will significantly impact your ability to make a successful claim:

1. Document and Collect General Details of the Car Crash

Call 911 immediately if you’re physically able. Police will gather essential information including the other driver’s license number, vehicle license plate, insurance details, and contact information. Record the date and time of the accident—this information is crucial when filing an insurance claim.

2. Document the Scene of the Crash

Take photographs of all vehicle damage, property damage, the intersection, traffic signals, skid marks, and other accident scene details that can help establish negligence. Document:

  • How the crash occurred
  • Exact location of the collision
  • Events before and after the crash
  • Statements made by the other driver

3. Seek Medical Assistance

Visit a healthcare professional immediately after your accident, even if you feel fine initially. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries, and prompt medical attention creates documentation essential for your claim. Follow all medical advice and attend recommended follow-up appointments—failure to do so could give insurance companies reason to question the severity of your injuries.

4. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Even if you weren’t at fault, contact your insurer promptly. This allows them to evaluate damage and injuries and provides coverage options if the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance or is uninsured.

Should I Be Speaking with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

Although you should always advise your insurance carrier when you are involved in an accident, you have no obligation to speak to the other driver’s insurance company.

After a motor vehicle collision, you will likely receive a call from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. They will request a recorded or written statement. They may even go so far as to suggest that giving such a statement is required. But it is important that you do not provide any statement until you talk to an attorney.

Insurers can use any part of your statement against you. They will look for reasons to deny your claim or to minimize its value. In fact, that is the exact reason that they are asking you for a statement. The best way to avoid giving them any ammunition to use against you is to not speak to them until you consult with your attorney.

Should you find yourself on the phone with the insurance company, say nothing beyond providing them with the name and contact details for your car accident attorney in Denver.

In some cases, your own insurance carrier might request a formal statement. Although it isn’t common, an accident victim must occasionally pursue an insurance claim against their own insurer. For this reason, you should probably also avoid giving a formal statement to your own carrier until you clear it with your attorney, and have he or she present for the interview.

A quick call to McCormick & Murphy P.C. can get you the answers you need, when you need them.

Auto Accident Liability in Colorado

Colorado operates under a fault-based system for auto accidents. To hold another driver liable, you must prove they caused the crash through negligent conduct. According to the Colorado Civil Jury Instructions, negligence is “the failure to do an act which a reasonably careful person would do, or the doing of an act which a reasonably careful person would not do, under the same or similar circumstances.”

Common forms of driver negligence include:

  • Speeding and reckless driving
  • Following too closely
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Failure to yield right-of-way
  • Unsafe lane changes or merges
  • Distracted driving (texting, phone use)
  • Intoxicated driving

Required Auto Insurance in Colorado

The first thing that you should know about driving in Colorado is that carrying auto insurance is required under the law. 

It is mandated that a person carry:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person;
  • $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident; and
  • $15,000 in property damage liability per accident.

Having this insurance is not optional, and can result in penalties for drivers who fail to drive while insured. Despite this, though, there are many drivers who choose to operate their vehicles without insurance. Not only are these drivers breaking the law, but they are also putting themselves at risk of personal liability in the event that they cause an accident.

Legal Options After an Accident With an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver

Being involved in a crash with a driver who doesn’t have insurance can leave you with a sinking feeling, and a lot of anxiety about the future and how you will pay for your losses.

Fortunately, there are usually other options. For example, if you have health insurance coverage, your health insurance provider should pay for your medical bills.

In addition to your health insurance provider, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, property damage costs, and even your lost wages by filing a car accident claim against your own insurance policy if you maintain certain coverage types.

These include:

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Most people in Colorado carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

This type of coverage can pay for some or all of your losses in the event that you’re involved in a crash with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to fully cover the extent of damages you’ve suffered.

Waiving Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

In Colorado, you can waive this coverage in writing, but our Denver auto accident attorneys advise that it never be waived.

Medical Benefits Coverage

This type of coverage is optional in Colorado and offers medical and funeral expenses coverage for you and any of your passengers harmed as a result of an auto accident. This coverage can be waived but we recommend that you do not waive it.

Collision Coverage

Finally, if your vehicle was damaged in the crash and the at-fault driver doesn’t maintain property damage liability coverage, you can file insurance claims against your policy’s collision coverage for the cost of vehicle repairs.

Compensation Available Under Colorado Personal Injury Law

Colorado uses comparative negligence rules (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-111). Under this system, each party will be held responsible for their share of the collective damages. If you were injured in a Denver fender bender and you are found to be partially responsible for the crash, it will reduce your compensation.

As an example, a motorist who is deemed to be 20 percent at fault for their own crash will have their compensation reduced by 20 percent. The effect of Colorado’s comparative fault laws is that unfair blame can easily take thousands of dollars directly out of a settlement. Protect yourself by hiring an experienced car accident attorney in Denver.  

What Do Denver Car Accident Lawyers Charge?

Choosing to have a Denver car accident lawyer handle your case can provide lots of advantages for injury accident victims, but at what cost?

At McCormick & Murphy, P.C., we understand what victims go through after being involved in an accident that someone else caused. You might have no way to pay your medical bills or cover your living expenses while you recuperate—especially if your injuries prevent you from working.

For that reason, most Denver auto accident lawyers will accept your case on a contingency fee basis.

We will handle your case on contingency, which means that you won’t owe any retainer or legal fees upfront. Your lawyer will do all the work and pay all the expenses associated with your case. You will not owe any legal fees at all until and unless your lawyer recovers compensation for your claim.

Upon receiving a settlement or jury award, your attorney will deduct a previously agreed-upon percentage of the total as well as any agreed-upon expenses.

Injured Accident Victims Deserve Full Financial Compensation

Car accidents can result in serious injuries and expensive repair bills. Under the Colorado state laws, you have the right to hold a negligent defendant legally responsible for any injuries and damages you incur from a crash.

While insurance adjusters often fight aggressively to limit settlement offers, you should not accept less than you truly deserve. At McCormick & Murphy, P.C., our Denver car accident attorneys will help you maximize your compensation. Contact us for a free consultation today to learn how we can help you.

We take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis which means you don’t pay us anything unless we win.

You may be able to recover financial compensation for: 

  • Repair or replacement costs for your car;
  • Repair or replacement expenses for any belongings damaged in the wreck;
  • Emergency medical care; 
  • Short or long-term healthcare expenses for all persons that were injured in the crash;
  • Other medical expenses and bills;
  • Physical therapy;
  • Lost wages or income while you’re unable to work because of your injuries;
  • Diminished earning capacity;
  • Legal costs that are associated with the crash’s aftermath;
  • Emotional Distress;
  • Pain and suffering; and
  • Long-term disability. 

When Should I Hire a Denver Auto Accident Attorney?

While Colorado law doesn’t require legal representation for personal injury claims, having an attorney provides several key advantages:

Investigating and Documenting Your Claim

At McCormick & Murphy P.C., our team includes skilled investigators who will gather evidence establishing liability. We’ll advise you on Colorado’s statute of limitations and best practices throughout your case, including avoiding recorded statements to insurance companies without representation and limiting social media use during your claim.

Negotiating with the Insurance Company

After documenting your claim, we’ll submit information and a demand letter to the insurance company. With decades of combined experience, we negotiate effectively to maximize your compensation while protecting your legal rights and ensuring good faith practices.

Handling All Communications

When you work with our firm, you won’t need to deal directly with insurance companies. Your attorney will manage all communications with insurers, their attorneys, and other parties, allowing you to focus on recovery.

Providing Updates

We prioritize exceptional client communication, providing regular case updates and remaining accessible via phone, text, or email for any questions. We recommend contacting an auto accident lawyer immediately after an accident before evidence disappears, witness memories fade, or insurance companies take advantage of your vulnerability.

Contact a Denver Auto Accident Lawyer

For expert legal representation after a car accident in Denver, contact McCormick & Murphy P.C. at 720-782-8595 for a free case evaluation. Our Denver office is located at 1547 N Gaylord St, Unit 303, Denver, Colorado 80206.

Denver Auto Injury Lawyers Q&As

Denver Auto Accident Attorney Q&As

The cost can vary, but many Denver car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.  This means that when your case is settled or if you prevail at trial, the attorney will receive a percentage of the gross amount of the recovery.  The attorney will typically be reimbursed for his out-of-pocket expenses at that time. 

Colorado operates under a tort system.  As it relates to car collisions, the person who is found to be at fault for causing the collision will be responsible for the other person’s injuries and damages.  If the at fault person has automobile insurance, then their insurance will be responsible up to the insurance policy limits of his or her insurance policy.

A lawyer can navigate legal requirements, investigate the crash, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure your rights are protected and you get fair compensation for your injuries and damages.

If the fault of who caused the collision is contested, your attorney can gather evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, and traffic camera footage, to build your case of proving that the other driver was at fault.

They can explore other avenues for compensation, such as your uninsured motorist coverage or filing a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver.

It’s wise to contact one as soon as possible to ensure evidence is preserved and your legal rights are protected, including understanding when your statute of limitations will end.

The timeline can vary based on the complexity of your case, the extent of your injuries, and negotiations with insurance companies.

They can help navigate specific laws and insurance issues related to motorcycle accidents and work to secure compensation for injuries and damages arising from your motorcycle accident. Including investigating any applicable insurance polies that may provide coverage.

You may have claims against multiple parties, including drivers of any involved vehicles, including the one you were a passenger in.  A  qualified Denver accident attorney can help you navigate these claims, including the different insurance coverages that may be applicable.

Denver Auto Accident Attorney Services