You have a legal right to seek compensation after a car accident in Colorado, if that accident was the result of another person’s negligence.
This compensation can be economic, such as medical expenses, or it can be non-economic such as pain and suffering.
Of course, the damages you can seek in your personal injury case will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding your car accident, however there are essentially two types of damages:
Damage caps are used in some states to limit the amount of compensation an injured person can receive.
In particular, the amount of non-economic damages (pain and suffering and other negative effects of an injury which can be difficult to quantify) can be limited.
The state of Colorado caps these non-economic damages at $250,000, or $500,000 if there is “clear and convincing” evidence which will justify such an increase.
Because this law was passed in 1986, and allowed inflation adjustments, as of 2014, those numbers were $540,000 and $1,080,000.
The state also places a $300,000 cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice cases, and an overall $1 million cap for medical malpractice total damages.
In order to collect compensation after a car accident in Colorado however, you need to be sure you file your claim before the deadline.
The statutes of limitations limit the time in which a person may bring a personal injury case.
The state of Colorado allows two years from the time the injury occurred to bring a claim for damages.
If the case is not filed within that two-year period, the plaintiff could be barred from bringing a lawsuit at all.
There are certain instances in which an injured person might not be able to tell right away that they suffered an injury.
In such a case, the two-year statute of limitations might begin from the date the injury is discovered, rather than the date of the accident.
Working with an attorney can help ensure that you meet all of your important deadlines, and better position you to receive the appropriate compensation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, it is important to have an experienced law firm on your side from the start.
Contact the experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorneys at the Green Law Firm, P.C. today to schedule a no-obligation consultation and discuss your case.
Call us at 719-694-8515 or fill out the contact form on this page to get experienced, dedicated legal representation.