Car accidents are unpredictable and can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Even if you are a careful driver, you can still become a victim of a car accident due to the negligence of others. If you have been in a car accident in Colorado, it is important to take certain steps to protect yourself and your legal rights. In this article, we will walk you through the seven essential steps you need to follow after a car accident in Colorado.
If you sustained injuries in an accident in Colorado, contact the personal injury lawyers at Front Range Injury Attorneys today to schedule your free consultation. Our experienced legal team are knowledgeable and zealous advocates for our clients and their cases. We treat our clients as people, not case files. Learn more about how we can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and damages. Contact our Denver law firm to learn more.
Step 1: Check for Injuries
The first thing you should do after a car accident is to check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If you or anyone else has been injured, call 911 immediately. Even if the injuries seem minor, it is still important to seek medical attention as some injuries may not be apparent immediately.
Move to a Safe Area
If the accident is minor and there are no injuries, move your vehicle to a safe area to avoid further accidents. If the accident is major and the vehicles cannot be moved, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.
Step 2: Call the Police
After checking for injuries and moving your vehicle to a safe area, the next step is to call the police. The police will come to the scene, take statements from all parties involved, and create a report of the accident. This report will be important for insurance purposes and can also be used as evidence if the accident goes to court. If there is damage to a car or somebody was injured, you have a duty under Colorado law to call the police. If you don’t your mistake may harm your civil case and result in criminal prosecution.
Step 3: Exchange Information
While waiting for the police to arrive, exchange information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident. This includes names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information. Be sure to also take photos of the accident scene, including the damage to both vehicles.
Step 4: Notify Your Insurance Company
After exchanging information with the other driver(s), notify your insurance company of the accident. Your insurance company will ask for details about the accident and may send an adjuster to assess the damage to your vehicle.
Step 5: Seek Medical Attention
If you or anyone else was injured in the accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying medical treatment can lead to complications and may also weaken your personal injury claim.
Step 6: Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in the accident or if the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a car accident lawyer in Colorado to discuss your legal options. At Front Range Injury Attorneys you can speak with an experienced personal injury attorney at no cost during a free consultation.
Step 7: Keep Records and Document Everything
Keep records of all expenses related to the accident, including medical bills, car repair bills, and lost wages. Also, document everything related to the accident, including conversations with insurance companies and police officers, as well as any pain or discomfort you are experiencing as a result of your injuries.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to call the police if the accident was minor?
A: If you or anyone else has been injured in the accident, call 911 immediately. Even if the injuries seem minor, it is still important to seek medical attention as some injuries may not be apparent immediately.
Q: What should I do if the other driver does not have insurance?
A: If the other driver does not have insurance, you may still be able to recover damages through your own insurance company or by filing a lawsuit against the other driver. An accident attorney can add significant value to your case by analyzing the legal and factual issues which may identify other insurance coverage.
Q: How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after a car accident in Colorado?
A: In Colorado, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, it is important to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Conclusion
Getting into a car accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience. However, by following these seven essential steps after a car accident in Colorado, you can ensure your safety, protect your legal rights, and increase your chances of recovering damages for any injuries or damages sustained in the accident. Remember to always stay calm and seek medical attention if necessary. It is also important to contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options and ensure that your rights are protected.
Colorado Car Accident Lawyers
If you suffered injuries in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Our experienced Colorado car accident lawyers help clients across the state pursue full and fair compensation for their accident-related injuries and financial losses. We help clients in Colorado with a wide range of motor vehicle collisions involving different types of vehicles, crashes and severity of impacts. Contact our law firm to discuss:
- Car accidents
- Distracted driver accidents
- Drunk driver collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Hit and run accidents
- Light rail crashes
- Autonomous vehicle collisions
- Limo accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Rideshare collisions
- Road construction accidents
- RTD bus crashes
- School bus accidents
- Scooter accidents
- Taxi crashes
Although most of our motor vehicle collision clients hail from Denver, we also help clients in other parts of Colorado, including:
- Arvada car accidents
- Aurora car accidents
- Boulder car accidents
- Centennial auto crashes
- Colorado Springs auto accidents
- Colorado Springs drunk driving crashes
- Colorado Springs head-on collisions
- Colorado Springs military vehicle accidents
- Colorado Springs rear-end collisions
- Colorado Springs rideshare accidents
- Colorado Springs school bus accidents
- Fort Collins car accidents
- Greeley car accidents
- Highlands Ranch auto crashes
- Lakewood bus accidents
- Lakewood car accidents
- Lakewood distracted driver collisions
- Lakewood drunk driving accidents
- Lakewood hit and run crashes
- Lakewood rideshare collisions
- Littleton motor vehicle collisions
- Longmont car accidents
- Parker car accidents
- Pueblo car accidents
- Thornton car accidents
- Westminster auto collisions
No matter the type of auto accident or location in Colorado, our law firm is ready to talk to you about your case. Front Range Injury Attorneys offers free consultations for car crash cases so you can speak with our experienced personal injury lawyers at no cost and no obligation.