Denver Light Rail Accident Attorney
Thousands of people in the Denver metro area rely on the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) public transportation every day. The light rail offers accessible local transportation, and most people who ride the trains throughout the Denver area experience little to no problems during their rides. However, RTD accidents are possible in many ways. A vehicle could pass in front of an oncoming train at an intersection, resulting in a potentially deadly collision. It’s also possible for an RTD employee’s negligence to cause harm to train passengers.
Experienced Legal Counsel for RTD Train Injury Claims in Denver, CO
If you or a loved one recently experienced an RTD accident, a Denver light rail accident attorney is a vital asset as you seek compensation for your damages. This type of accident claim is very different from filing a civil suit against another private individual because you will be forced to file your claim against a government agency. Most government entities in the state have sovereign immunity from civil claims, but there are exceptions to this rule.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal offers compassionate and meticulous legal counsel for all types of RTD accident claims in Denver. Throughout the years of our firm’s operation, we have helped many clients recover their losses, including those sustained due to the negligence or misconduct of government employees. We can help you deduce your most viable options for recovering your damages and guide you through the process of ensuring accountability from the party responsible for your accident.
How to Prove Liability for an RTD Light Rail Accident in Denver
Before you can recover compensation for the damages you suffered in your Denver, CO, light rail accident, you must be ready to prove exactly how the accident happened. If an RTD employee caused the accident somehow, this would justify a claim against RTD, and you would meet the strict filing requirements that pertain to filing a civil suit against a government entity. However, if another party caused your accident, you would file your claim against them, and RTD would deny liability for your damages. For example, if you were riding a train and a driver hit the train due to distraction or intoxication behind the wheel, that driver would be the target of your legal recourse, not RTD.
Your Denver light rail accident attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your accident and proceed with the filing of your claim. If you do need to file a civil suit against RTD, you must be prepared to show that an RTD employee caused the accident through some type of negligence or misconduct they committed through the scope of their employment. If another party is the target of your civil suit, you must prove their actions directly caused your claimed damages and they did not result from any other cause.
Recovering From Your RTD Light Rail Accident
Success with a civil suit in Denver could mean full recovery of the economic damages you suffered, but you must provide evidence to not only show the true extent of these losses but also that they directly resulted from the incident in question and not any other cause. Under the state’s personal injury statutes, the plaintiff in a personal injury case in Denver, CO has the right to claim:
- Compensation for all medical expenses. When a defendant is responsible for injuring you, they are liable for the cost of any medical care you need to fully recover. A light rail accident could easily cause a host of serious injuries, including bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and more. The defendant is liable for all your immediate treatment costs and the cost of long-term rehabilitative care you need to fully recover.
- Lost income. When you are unable to work due to a defendant’s actions, they face liability for the income you should have been able to earn during this time. Your Denver light rail accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your lost wages, including any vacation time you needed to use in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
- Lost future earnings. If your accident has injured you severely enough that you will be unable to return to work in the future, the defendant faces responsibility for the future income you could have earned if the accident had not occurred. An experienced attorney can be a vital asset for helping you accurately calculate these projected losses based on your life expectancy, cost of living increases in the future, and other variables.
- Damage to personal property. If the defendant is responsible for damaging or destroying any of your personal property, they must compensate you for all associated repair and replacement costs.
Beyond your economic damages, you also have the right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering that the defendant caused. State law limits how much you are allowed to seek from the defendant, but a good attorney will know how to maximize this aspect of your recovery. If you intend to file suit against RTD or any other government entity, you must prepare accordingly and work closely with your attorney to accurately calculate your losses. You must submit a complete explanation of your damages with a Notice of Intent to File Suit to the appropriate agency within 180 days of your accident, otherwise, you lose your chance to recover compensation.
Ultimately, you could face several significant legal challenges in your effort to recover compensation for the damages you suffered. RTD light rail accidents can easily cause harm to multiple victims, and very complex legal questions could arise. You need legal representation you can trust to help you navigate these issues, and the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal is ready to provide the direction and support you need. The sooner you reach out to our team, the sooner we can start developing a legal strategy on your behalf.
FAQs About Denver, CO Light Rail Accidents
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for an RTD Train Accident in Denver?
If you can prove liability for your recent RTD light rail accident, you can potentially recover compensation for the various economic damages you suffered. A personal injury plaintiff has the right to seek full compensation for all economic losses they suffered as well as pain and suffering compensation to a certain limit. However, a claim against RTD is a claim against a government agency, so special rules apply to this type of case. An experienced Denver light rail accident attorney can provide the guidance you need to determine your claim’s potential value.
How Long Do I Have to File an RTD Injury Claim in Denver?
The standard statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Colorado is two years following the date of the injury. This is extended to three years for car accident claims. However, a claim against RTD means filing a civil suit against a government agency, so a much shorter time limit applies. You need to file your claim within 180 days of the date your accident occurred, otherwise, you lose the chance to recover compensation.
What Happens if a Car Is Hit by a Train?
Rail crossings throughout the Denver area are clearly marked and have gates that will close to prevent traffic from passing in front of an oncoming train. If a vehicle moves in front of an oncoming train despite these indicators, the driver could have minimal grounds for legal recourse against RTD. However, if these safety measures malfunctioned or the accident occurred because of the negligence of an RTD employee, these factors would justify a civil suit.
Will I Win a Larger Settlement if I Hire a Denver Light Rail Accident Attorney?
One of the most effective options you have of maximizing your total recovery from a light rail accident in Denver is hiring an experienced attorney familiar with this type of case. Your attorney can help ensure you meet all the procedural requirements of your case and they can also help you maximize your compensation. You are not only more likely to win your case with their help, but you are also more likely to uncover every available avenue of compensation in your claim.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Denver Light Rail Accident Attorney?
Many people are hesitant to hire legal representation when they need it most because they believe that it would be too expensive. The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal makes legal counsel accessible with contingency fee billing. Under a contingency agreement, we only take a percentage of your final award as our fee, and only if we win your case. There are no upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees, and you pay nothing if we cannot secure compensation on your behalf for any reason.
An experienced legal team can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your impending light rail accident claim. If you must file a civil suit against any government agency in the state, time is a crucial consideration because you have a much shorter time limit than you would when filing a civil claim against another private party. The sooner you connect with a Denver light rail accident attorney you can trust, the more likely you are to succeed with your recovery efforts. Contact the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal today to schedule a free consultation with our team and start working toward your recovery.