If you drive in the Lakewood area, it is important to know the biggest risks you face on the road and the roads and intersections that report the highest accident rates in the area. While you cannot always anticipate how other drivers might behave, knowing the risk factors on your route can potentially help avoid causing an accident. A Colorado car accident lawyer can be an invaluable resource if another driver causes an accident with you in Lakewood.
Most Dangerous Places to Drive in Lakewood, CO
Various government agencies and other organizations gather car accident data each year, and the Lakewood area has several roads and intersections that tend to report high rates of accidents. By far the most notorious road when it comes to dangerous driving in Lakewood is West Colfax Avenue. This road stretches from the center of Denver through the entirety of Lakewood, and many intersections on this road report high accident rates.
West Colfax Avenue and the intersections of Lamar Street, Kendall Street, Kipling Street, Sheridan Boulevard, Teller Street, Quail Street, and Wadsworth Boulevard consistently report high accident rates in the area. The intersections of West Colfax Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, and Wadsworth Boulevard have particularly high accident rates.
There are many intersections along Wadsworth Boulevard that also report very high accident rates. These include the intersections of West 1st Avenue, West 5th Avenue, and West 14th Avenue. It’s important to note that the accident reports for these intersections not only indicate higher than average car accident rates but also bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
A few of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents in Lakewood include distracted driving, speeding, moving violations, and driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and alcohol. You will need to firmly establish fault for the accident before you can recover your damages, and a good car accident lawyer can be vital in this effort.
Recovering From a Car Accident in Lakewood
If you or a loved one recently experienced a car accident in Lakewood, you need an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the difficult legal proceedings ahead of you. Recovering from a car accident in Lakewood typically starts with filing an auto insurance claim against the driver who caused the accident, and if this does not yield full compensation for your damages, you will need to file a personal injury claim against them.
Your Colorado car accident lawyer can streamline these proceedings and potentially help you recover much more compensation than you may have initially expected. Success with your insurance claim and a subsequent personal injury claim will require clear proof of fault for the accident, and you must also prove the full extent of the damages the defendant caused. Finally, you must prove those damages directly resulted from their actions and not any other cause.
After you have established fault for your car accident in Lakewood, you will have the right to claim full repayment of any economic losses you sustained, such as vehicle repair costs, medical expenses for treatment of your injuries, and compensation for lost wages if you are unable to work after the accident. You can also claim pain and suffering compensation in your personal injury case, but Colorado law limits this aspect of a personal injury case award.
FAQs
Q: Is Colorado a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?
A: No, it enforces the fault rule for resolving vehicle accidents, meaning the driver at fault absorbs liability for all resulting damages. Proving fault will be an essential first step for your recovery efforts for both an auto insurance claim and a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. Your car accident lawyer can assist you with gathering the evidence needed to prove fault for your recent accident.
Q: What Happens if an At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
A: If you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage with your own auto insurance policy, you can file a claim through your insurance carrier after an uninsured driver has caused an accident with you. If you do not have this coverage, then you will need to proceed directly to filing a personal injury suit against the other driver to recover your damages.
Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
A: Colorado law allows the victim of another party’s negligence or misconduct to seek full compensation for any economic damages they suffered, as well as limited pain and suffering compensation. On average, car accident victims are able to recover about 1.5 times the total of their economic damages, reflecting pain and suffering compensation obtained from the defendants responsible for causing their accidents.
Q: How Do I Prove Fault for an Accident?
A: Proving fault for your recent car accident is likely to require multiple forms of evidence, such as footage from traffic cameras near the scene of the crash, testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen, and driver cell phone records. When a car accident involves complex technical details, a Colorado car accident lawyer may consult expert witnesses to assist their client in building their case against an at-fault driver.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Lakewood?
A: Your recovery from a car accident is likely to begin with an auto insurance claim, and you must file this claim as soon as possible after your accident to have the greatest chance of success. The time limit for a car insurance claim may only be a few days, but the statute of limitations for a subsequent personal injury suit will be two years from the date the accident occurred.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has years of professional experience helping car accident victims recover in Lakewood and surrounding communities. If you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent accident, we can help hold them accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Colorado car accident lawyer and learn how we can assist you with your recovery efforts.
