Car accidents happen every day in Boulder and surrounding areas of Colorado, and the right attorney on your side can make a significant difference in the final outcome of all the recovery efforts you make after your accident. A Boulder, CO, car accident lawyer can provide comprehensive guidance and ongoing support through every phase of recovery, from gathering the proof you need to establish liability to filing an auto insurance claim for you and then building a personal injury suit.
It’s crucial to know how to find the right attorney to handle your case. The following questions are essential to ask during an initial consultation so you can approach your case with peace of mind:
- “How much experience do you have with car accident cases?” It’s essential to ensure your attorney not only has substantial professional experience but also specific experience handling your type of case.
- “Do you think I can win this case?” Ask the potential attorney for an honest opinion of your chances of success with the case. No attorney can ever promise a specific outcome to a client, but a good attorney will be honest and clear about their initial interpretation of the client’s situation.
- “How much compensation can I win?” A good attorney should be able to identify your claimable damages and provide a ballpark estimate of your case’s total potential value if you win.
- “Do you notice any unique problems with my case?” Your attorney should be able to identify issues like shared liability or comparative fault that may complicate your recovery efforts.
- “How long will my case take to conclude?” An attorney should be able to estimate how long it will take to settle your claim if settlement is possible, or they may explain why you should be prepared for litigation.
- “How will you seek to resolve my case?” The majority of attorneys handling civil cases will aim for settlement to resolve their clients’ cases quickly, but a good attorney should be prepared for litigation if courtroom proceedings are essential for ensuring an appropriate result.
- “What type of communication can I expect with your team?” There are sometimes long gaps between proceedings, and a good attorney should not only provide consistent updates but also multiple methods of getting in touch with them with concerns that arise throughout your proceedings.
- “What is your success rate with cases similar to mine?” Ask the attorney about the other cases they have handled that were similar to yours. While the attorney may not be able to provide specifics about other clients’ recovery efforts, they can demonstrate their experience with cases like yours, assuring you that they have the appropriate experience level to handle the unique details of your case.
- “How will you help me win my case?” The attorney should provide a general overview of the strategy they will employ to help you recover as fully as possible from your accident.
- “How much do you charge in legal fees?” Make sure you clarify any concerns you have about your attorneys’ billing policy before agreeing to their representation.
Seeking legal counsel as soon as possible after a car accident significantly improves your chances of recovery, but it is important that you do not rush your decision when it comes to choosing the right attorney. Take time to review your local options and take advantage of consultations to ensure you have the right representative for your case.
FAQs
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim for a Car Accident?
A: Colorado enforces a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, and this time limit starts on the date an injury occurs. However, your recovery from a car accident is likely to begin with a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, and you have a much shorter time limit for filing this claim. It’s generally advisable to consult a car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash to have the greatest chance of success with your case.
Q: What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement?
A: A successful car accident claim can yield compensation for all the financial losses you experienced, plus pain and suffering compensation. On average, car accident victims in the state are typically able to recover about 150% of their total economic losses when they have experienced legal counsel on their side. This accounts for the pain and suffering compensation they receive along with the repayment of their direct financial losses.
Q: How Long Do Most Car Accident Settlements Take?
A: What is the average car accident settlement? The time a car accident case could take to complete depends largely on whether liability is clear. If another driver is clearly to blame for your accident, it behooves them to seek a swift settlement. Settling any personal injury case takes much less time than litigation typically requires, and it should only take a few weeks to receive an insurance claim payout when you file your claim as soon as possible after the accident and have an attorney assisting you.
Q: How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated?
A: You have the right to recover full repayment of all the financial losses you suffered from your recent car accident, but when it comes to pain and suffering compensation, state law limits how much you can claim. There is a cap on the total amount of non-economic damages a plaintiff can recover, but a good attorney can help you get as close to this cap as possible. Pain and suffering compensation is typically calculated based on the overall severity of the plaintiff’s damages, whether they suffered long-term or permanent harm, and how long it will take for them to reach maximum medical improvement from their injuries.
Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
A: A car accident victim can be understandably concerned about the potential cost of hiring legal representation for their claim when they are already struggling with the economic impact of their accident. The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can represent your case on contingency, meaning there are no upfront legal costs for securing the representation you need to approach your case with confidence. We will only take a fee once we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the total recovered from the defendant. There is no fee at all if we cannot obtain a case award for you.
The right attorney can make a tremendous positive difference in the outcome of any car accident case in Colorado. If you are ready to learn what a seasoned legal team can do for you in your recovery efforts, contact the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal today and schedule a consultation to start working toward your recovery.
