What to do After a Car Accident in Colorado

Accidents happen quickly and often leave individuals feeling disoriented and stressed. Knowing the steps to take after a car accident can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety and protecting your rights.

It’s also wise to consult with a Fort Collins car accident lawyer, who can help navigate the complexities of Colorado’s legal system, ensuring you receive the compensation and support you deserve during this challenging time.

Below are some of the most important steps you can take if you’re involved in an accident in Colorado.

Make Sure You’re Safe 

Before you do anything else, check yourself and others for injuries. If needed, call 911 immediately and let them know that you or someone else needs medical assistance. If your vehicle is operable, move it to the side of the road or a safer location to prevent additional accidents.

Call the Police Even if Not Injured

Even if you aren’t injured, it’s still a good idea to call police so they can arrive and make a police report, which is helpful for insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits going forward. Additionally, it is mandatory to report accidents in Colorado if they involve injury, death, or significant property damage.

When discussing the accident with law enforcement, provide facts without admitting fault. Make sure to obtain a copy of the police report for your records.

Gather Information at the Scene

After ensuring your safety and contacting the police, it’s important to exchange information with the other driver. Get their contact details, driver’s license numbers, and insurance info. Use your phone to document the scene by taking photos of all vehicles involved, visible damage, and the general surroundings. Capture any injuries too. If there are witnesses, speak with them to gather their names and contact information for future reference. 

Immediate Medical Care

It’s crucial to see a healthcare professional right away, even if you’re feeling okay after the accident. Some injuries might not show symptoms immediately, but getting a check-up can prevent further complications. Make sure to document every medical visit, treatment, and any symptoms that develop over time. This documentation helps in your recovery and can also be essential for any future claims related to the accident.

Understand Colorado’s Car Accident Laws

In Colorado, you have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim for personal injury or property damage. This is known as the statute of limitations.

(1) The following civil actions, regardless of the theory upon which suit is brought, or against whom suit is brought, shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not thereafter…. 

(n)

(I) All tort actions for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle including all actions pursuant to paragraph (j) of this subsection (1)

It’s important to keep this timeline in mind to ensure your legal rights are protected. 

Understand Comparative Negligence

Colorado also adheres to a rule called comparative negligence, which is important to understand. This means your compensation could be adjusted if you’re found partly responsible for the accident. 

• Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in any action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if such negligence was not as great as the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person for whose injury, damage, or death recovery is made.

For example, you’re involved in an accident with Driver A. Driver A runs a red light while speeding, and you were making a legal left turn so Driver A crashes into you. In this case, Driver A might be found to be 60% at fault due to running the red light and speeding, while you’re determined to be 40% at fault for making an unlawful turn. Under Colorado’s comparative negligence rules, you can only recover 60% of any awarded damages.

So, if your damages totaled $10,000, your compensation would be reduced by 40%, allowing you to recover $6,000.

This system is intended to make sure everyone’s actions are accounted for, ensuring that you receive a fair outcome based on the specifics of your case.

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’re dealing with severe injuries after an accident, facing disputes about who’s at fault, or having trouble with insurance companies, it’s a smart move to reach out to a personal injury lawyer. They can help you gather essential evidence and work directly with insurance providers to make sure you receive fair compensation for your losses. Their support can make a significant difference, providing peace of mind and allowing you to focus on recovery while they handle the legal process.

Being informed and organized in the aftermath of an accident will help streamline the process of recovering physically, mentally, and financially. If you were involved in an accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Collins personal injury lawyer.