High Speed Impact Accident
A high speed impact accident in Colorado can occur when one or more drivers are operating their vehicle while speeding or at excessive speeds for the conditions, which may or may not be above the posted speed limit. If you have been injured in a high speed crash, it is very important to immediately contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who will make every effort to help you obtain fair and just compensation for your injuries.
According to the Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-80-101, an individual injured in a high speed impact crash may not be permitted to file a lawsuit for their injuries and other losses sustained as a result of the crash after a certain period of time has passed. This period is known as a statute of limitations, or SOL, and prevents the injured party from filing a lawsuit for any damages caused by another person's negligence outside of a specified time period. Since the SOL for most car accident injuries in Colorado is only three years, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you have been involved in a high speed impact crash in order to ensure your claim is not barred by the statute of limitations.
Denver High Speed Impact Accident Lawyer
Contact the Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson today at (303) 458-5000 for a consultation about your high speed impact crash throughout Denver and the surrounding areas of Boulder, Longmont, Lakewood, Arvada, Aurora, Thornton, Westminster, Centennial and Littleton. Attorney Jennifer L. Donaldson is knowledgeable in all areas of Colorado's car accident laws, and will make every effort to make sure you receive full and fair compensation for the losses you sustained due to another driver's negligence. Call the Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson for a consultation today about you high speed impact accident.
What to Do After a Denver High Speed Car Accident
Following a high speed impact car accident, you should take the following steps to ensure your safety, protect your rights, begin your heal process, and help regain what you have lost due to another driver's negligence:
- First - Stay safe and do not get out of the vehicle unless you are in a secure location. Also, it is important not to move the car unless you are physically capable of doing so, and it is necessary to protect your safety and the safety of people around you.
- Second - Call the police or 911 if you or anyone else involved in the accident has sustained injuries. Also, exchange contact information with other drivers and witnesses and be helpful to police officers investigating the accident.
- Third - Seek medical attention if you are injured. Most likely, an ambulance will be called to take you to the emergency room. However, if you were not taken to the hospital or you did not go to the hospital, but you continue to experience pain or develop new or worsening symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention. A complete diagnosis and treatment of your injuries is essential to your physical recovery, in addition to your ability to obtain full and fair compensation from the negligent party.
- Fourth - Contact an attorney to protect your interests, as the negligent driver probably has an insurance company protecting his or her interests. Additionally, it is important not to give a statement to the insurance company, sign any documents or accept a settlement offer until you have consulted with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who will represent your interests.
Denver Lawsuits for High Speed Impact Accidents
If your claim for injuries has been denied by an insurance provider, or any at-fault party has refused to pay for your damages, medical bills or any other expenses related to the car accident, your attorney may file a lawsuit on your behalf. In addition to making a demand for payment for your actual injuries, your attorney will seek compensation for any non-economic damages, physical impairment and disfigurement against the negligent party.
When filing a negligence lawsuit in Colorado, your attorney must prove the other driver was negligent by a preponderance of the evidence when causing your injuries. A “preponderance of the evidence” is a burden of proof that your attorney must satisfy in order for you to receive compensation from the at-fault party. In order to meet this burden of proof, the evidence must weigh slightly more in your favor than it does not, or by 51% as opposed to 49%.
Denver Damages for High Speed Impact Crashes
If you have been injured in a Colorado high speed car accident, you are legally entitled to seek reimbursement for your expenses and injuries from the negligent party, as they are financially responsible for all of your accident-related injuries, damages and losses.
You will likely have to pay for your medical treatment up front, but will eventually be reimbursed for these damages. Additionally, your automobile insurance may have medical payment coverage, which will cover medical treatment, including the cost of the emergency room and ambulance costs. After this medical payment limit on your car insurance has been exhausted, you should submit your medical bills to your health insurer. Your health insurance company may or may not be permitted to seek reimbursement for any payments they made once you settle your claim. If you do not have health insurance, the Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson is experienced contacting physicians who may provide care on a lien basis, which means the medical bills will be held by the physician and then paid out of the settlement proceeds you receive.
According to Colorado law, the following forms of damages may be recoverable after a high speed impact crash:
- Economic Damages – These damages compensate the injured party for any financial losses they have incurred or will incur in the future as a result of the accident, which can include loss of income, medical and rehabilitation expenses, diminished earning capacity, and any other expenses paid out of pocket.
- Noneconomic Damages – These damages compensate the injured party for damages and losses they have sustained as a result of the accident, including loss of enjoyment of life, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional stress, inconvenience, and/or impairment of a normal lifestyle. The amount of noneconomic damages permitted in Colorado is limited to a maximum of $500,000.
- Physical Impairment and Disfigurement – These damages compensate the injured party for permanent physical injuries, scars or disfigurement they may have suffered from the high speed impact crash. These damages are limited by the same monetary cap on noneconomic damages.
Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson | High Speed Impact Crash Attorney in Denver
Contact the Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson today for a consultation about your high speed accident claim in Denver County and the surrounding areas of Boulder County, Jefferson County, Adams County and Arapahoe County. Jennifer Donaldson is an experienced car accident lawyer in Denver who will make every effort to help you obtain full compensation for the injuries you sustained in a high speed impact accident. Contact the Law Office of Jennifer L. Donaldson at (303) 458-5000 for a consultation about your high speed impact crash in Denver today.