If you’ve been injured in a accident or otherwise suffered an injury, chances are that you’re stressed out, struggling with bills and insurance, and dealing with all kinds of medical issues as well. In such a situation, one of the first things you should do is talk to a personal injury lawyer in Boulder, who can talk you through your options. Having legal services on your side can make all the difference to receiving a fair settlement for your injuries.
What is a personal injury claim?
Personal injury claims can arise in a number of different ways. Injuries in car accidents, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation cases, bicycle accidents and wrongful death can be classified as personal injury if someone else was at fault, such as a drunk driver. By far the largest number, about 52% of the total cases, of personal injuries are due to vehicular accidents.
A personal injury claim is valid if someone else was responsible for the accident or conditions that caused the injury. In the case of traffic accidents, drunk and distracted driving play a big role. In fact, along with speeding, they are the leading causes of traffic accidents. Aggressive driving is responsible for two thirds or 66% of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
What damages are you entitled to?
Under the law, damages for personal injury can cover a number of expenses. These include medical bills, lost wages in the past and future, property damages, punitive damages, pain and suffering, and more. Even though the law offers such damages to the victim in a personal injury case, actually securing a fair settlement is not an easy matter.
That’s why it’s best to engage a personal injury lawyer in boulder to pursue the case on your behalf. About 95% to 96%, or nearly all cases of personal injury claims actually never go to trial. Instead, they are settled pretrial through negotiations between the parties involved. This is why having an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you can make all the difference to the outcome.
Can you leave it to the insurance companies?
It may be tempting to think that a personal injury claim is an open and shut case, and that you can handle all the paperwork yourself. Nothing could be farther from the truth. To begin with, like all states, Colorado has a statute of limitations. Personal injury claims must be filed within three years in most cases.
Insurance companies have only one interest, and that is to minimize their payouts. That’s why it’s recommended that you contact legal services for advice before speaking with any insurance companies, your own or the other party’s. A personal injury lawyer in boulder will be able to help you secure all the damages to which you are entitled. These could include medical costs including out of pocket expenses, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer in boulder will improve your chances of receiving a favorable settlement. When you’re dealing with so much else due to your accident or injury, it’s good to know that there’s one thing you can rely on.