Fort Collins Car Accident Lawyer

Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal | Fort Collins Car Accident Lawyer

Fort Collins Car Accident Attorney

Getting into a car accident is frightening. Things can happen very suddenly, and there can be a lot of damage. Most people feel rattled after experiencing a collision. A Fort Collins car accident lawyer is an ideal asset to have on your side as you confront the series of legal proceedings that will likely be necessary for you to recover your losses. Recovering from a car accident is often more challenging than many drivers expect.

Fortunately, with the help of a qualified attorney, you can take steps to ensure that you are protected after a car accident. In many situations, having insurance is not enough to cover everything you need. In some situations, insurance will work to avoid paying anything at all. Having an attorney on your side protects you from these situations and gives you the best chance of getting the compensation that you deserve.

Best Fort Collins Car Accident Lawyer

Fort Collins Auto Accident Lawyer: Free Consultation

When it comes to car accidents and personal injury claims in Fort Collins, no firm is more qualified to take your case than our team at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal. For over a decade, we have been providing the people of Colorado with high-quality legal representation in a variety of personal injury areas. We know how difficult these times can be, which is why we strive to give you the best possible advice.

Unlike many other attorneys, we specialize in personal injury law. This means that your car accident claim is our bread and butter, and we have the experience and confidence to support you throughout the process. Because we can focus on this topic, our clients feel confident that we can properly support them in court.

No other firm in the area can give you the all-inclusive legal support that we can. During an initial no-cost consultation with our team, we can listen to your story and provide our first impressions of your legal options. You can ask any questions you need to gauge our suitability for handling your case, and we can provide an estimated timeline for the proceedings ahead. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start building a strategy for your recovery.

Car Accident Claims and Insurance

When you get into a car accident, it’s typical for damage and injuries to occur. Most people have insurance to cover these things, meaning that the money should not come out of your own pocket. However, this isn’t always the case. There is also no guarantee that an at-fault driver in Fort Collins will have insurance at all, and you should not be left to pay out of pocket for the result of their actions.

Insurance companies are always looking out for their own bottom lines and frankly do not care about the well-being of the individuals they serve. Their aim is to settle your claim as quickly and economically as possible, which puts you at a disadvantage. What’s more, insurance companies often engage in predatory tactics when they deal with claims. They do everything in their power to get victims to admit fault or forfeit their rights because that means that the company does not have to pay.

It’s common for an insurance company to harass a victim, even if they’ve done nothing wrong in the situation. They want you to make a statement quickly, so they can be absolved of any responsibility for injuries that may show up later. They make it seem as if you have to speak with them when you are under no obligation to do so. They may even go so far as to have you followed by a private investigator to see if your activities coincide with your injuries.

Why Do I Need a Fort Collins Car Accident Attorney?

It’s essential to protect yourself against these tactics and ensure that you get what you deserve. Without an attorney, insurance companies will take advantage of you. If you have an attorney, on the other hand, you can direct the insurance company to the attorney for any questions or statements. The proper Fort Collins car accident attorney will handle communications with the insurance company, so you can concentrate on your recovery.

The purpose of this process is to get proper compensation for your injuries, which means that you must be in recovery following the collision. A person who is healing from a significant traumatic event should not try to assemble and argue their own legal case. These situations are rife with stress, and adding stress to a fresh injury only results in slower recovery times and improper healing.

Having an attorney allows you the time and space to heal while also giving you the best chance at a proper settlement. Individuals who represent themselves often end up with small settlements, if they earn one at all. Hiring a Fort Collins car accident lawyer to represent you significantly improves your chances of not only succeeding with your recovery efforts but also maximizing the total compensation you secure for your damages.

Colorado Is an At-Fault State

Because Colorado is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents, it’s imperative that you have someone to advocate for you. You may believe you know exactly how your accident occurred, but the reality of proving liability in a legal setting is likely to be far more challenging than you expect. Alternatively, you may have little recollection of the accident due to your injuries and will need an attorney’s help to piece together the truth of the matter.

An at-fault state means that one driver’s insurance pays for the damage to both parties. This is different from a no-fault state, where each driver goes to their own insurance for compensation. In at-fault states, therefore, the guilty party must be determined before settlements can be issued. The at-fault driver faces liability for the damages they caused, and the victim must firmly prove fault before they can recover any compensation.

In some situations, it’s easy to determine who was at fault. However, most of the time, it is hard to determine who the guilty party is. This means that the insurance companies will argue with one another as long as they can, just to avoid having to pay. As the victim, you may not see a settlement for months, meaning that you initially may have to pay your bills out of pocket. This is an expense that few people can afford.

This kind of delay is unacceptable and abusive. When you have an attorney to fight for you, the process usually goes much faster. An attorney can build a case on your behalf and convince the other driver’s insurance to pay for the damage that their client caused.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Fort Collins

The majority of car accidents reported in the Fort Collins area each year happen because of driver negligence. This can take many forms and defines any situation in which a driver fails to exercise reasonable care or uphold a specific duty of care behind the wheel. Some of the most common examples of driver negligence cited in car accident claims include:

  • Distracted driving. Cell phone use while driving or any other distraction has the potential to cause a devastating accident. Every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle attentively at all times, and any type of distracted driving is a clear violation of this duty of care.
  • Speeding. Although it’s common to see drivers slightly exceeding posted speed limits, it is inherently dangerous in many ways. Speeding reduces the time a driver has to react to a change in traffic conditions and increases the chance of an accident resulting in catastrophic injuries or death.
  • Traffic violations. Traffic signals and road signs are placed to help drivers anticipate the actions of others around them and to maintain a safe flow of traffic. When drivers negligently or intentionally disregard these signals and commit moving violations, they can easily cause serious accidents. Running red lights, failing to yield the right-of-way, and performing illegal turns are some of the most common traffic violations.
  • Failure to address mechanical problems. Drivers are expected to keep their vehicles in safe working order and to address any known mechanical issues in a timely manner. Failure to do so can lead to a serious accident.

While negligence is the most common way for car accidents to occur in Fort Collins, some drivers cause crashes through illegal misconduct. Intoxicated driving is the most common example of this, and driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is one of the most commonly prosecuted criminal offenses in Colorado each year.

If a driver breaks the law when they cause an accident, they not only face liability for the damages they inflict on others but also criminal prosecution from the state. Their penalties are likely to increase significantly, and if they cause great bodily harm or death with an illegal act, they could be escalated to a felony charge with severe penalties.

Your Fort Collins car accident lawyer can help gather whatever evidence you need to prove liability for the accident you experienced. This could include traffic camera footage, testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen, and various forms of digital evidence. It is also possible that you will need input from expert witnesses who can explain the most complex details of how your accident happened.

Types of Car Accident Damages in Fort Collins, CO

When you fight for a settlement, there are a few factors that go into the settlement sum. It’s important to know what kind of compensation you may be eligible for. Your settlement sum should include:

  • Medical expenses. You should not have to pay for your own medical attention if you did not cause the accident in the first place. The defendant who caused your injuries is liable for the entire range of medical expenses you incur from the accident, including any projected future medical treatment costs you face if you suffer a serious injury that requires ongoing care.
  • Long-term medical expenses. The settlement should also factor in the fact that you may need medical support in the long term. Follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and mobility aids should all be considered.
  • Lost wages. You should not suffer financially because someone else caused an accident. Your compensation should include an amount that makes up for the time you need to take off work to heal.
  • Diminished earning capacity. If the accident caused permanent or ongoing issues that do not allow you to do your job as you once could, you should get compensation for that. For example, if you are an artist and an accident causes permanent damage to your hand, your settlement should compensate you for the work you can no longer do.

Insurance may not cover all these things without a fight. Even if you manage to succeed with your auto insurance claim with minimal pushback from the insurer, your total economic losses may exceed the extent of the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. With the help of a car accident or personal injury attorney, you can push for everything that you deserve.

Beyond the economic damages you suffered from your accident, you also have the right to claim compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced. It may sound difficult to translate these intangible losses to numerical values, but the right attorney will know how to calculate appropriate pain and suffering compensation for you. Colorado law limits pain and suffering in most civil cases, but your attorney can help maximize this aspect of your recovery.

What to Look For in a Car Accident Attorney in Fort Collins, CO

When you are vetting attorneys after a car accident, it’s important to know what to look for. Expertise is a primary factor, and it’s important to be sure that your attorney has industry-specific experience. Simply working in personal injury law does not make an attorney automatically qualified for a car accident case.

You also need to be able to trust your attorney. You should be able to speak freely with them and trust that they hear you and are considering your feelings and experiences. During an initial consultation, you should ask questions about the attorney’s experience with cases like yours and their first impression of their case. They should be able to identify the greatest challenges and most important opportunities that your unique case in Fort Collins, CO presents.

Fort Collins Car Accident Attorney: Free Consultation

FAQs About Fort Collins, CO Car Accidents

Is It Worth Getting an Accident Lawyer?

It is absolutely worth getting an accident lawyer for both the mental and economic benefits that we provide. Financially, you are much more likely to get the settlement that you deserve when you have an attorney. Mentally, you are able to relax and focus on making a full recovery. Both are beneficial assets and make hiring an attorney well worth it.

When Should You Call a Lawyer After an Accident?

It’s best to call your attorney right after an accident so that we can spring into action right away. We can cover any statements that you need to make to insurance companies, and we can begin to build your case while the evidence is still fresh. The faster we can begin, the more airtight your case is likely to be.

How Long After an Accident Can You Sue in Colorado?

The statute of limitations for car accident claims is three years. However, it’s vital that you begin building your case as soon as you can. If you wait too long, it will be more challenging to assemble evidence and show that your injuries were caused by the accident and not something else.

What Should You Ask When Hiring an Accident Attorney?

Ask potential attorneys about their qualifications and whether they’ve been successful in cases like yours. Ask them to outline what they think your odds may be and how they plan to build your case. This information will give you a comprehensive idea about whether they’re a good fit for you.

You also need to ask about their fee structure and costs, so you can be sure that you can afford them through the entirety of your case.

What Will It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Fort Collins?

You will not need to worry about expensive upfront legal fees when you choose the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal to represent your case. We take all personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning our client only pays our firm a fee after we have won their case. There are no upfront attorney fees, and you owe nothing if our firm cannot obtain a recovery for you. When we win, our fee is a percentage of the client’s final case award.

Contact A Fort Collins Car Accident Lawyer Today

For trusted legal services following a car accident or other personal injury incident, trust the attorneys at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal. We’ve been in this industry for many years, and we’re confident we can help.

You have a relatively short time in which to pursue your recovery after a car accident, so it is crucial that you connect with a Fort Collins car accident lawyer as soon as possible to start your recovery efforts with the legal support you can trust. For more information, please contact us online today and learn how we can help you during our free consultation.

Office Location

  • Denver
  • Arvada
  • Aurora
  • Boulder
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  • Westminster
  • Wheat Ridge

Put my knowledge and expertise to work for you. Contact my office today to discuss your case in a free consultation.