Lakewood Hit and Run Accident Lawyer
Our Lakewood hit and run accident attorneys help clients recover compensation for injuries resulting from car accidents caused by fleeing drivers. Call today for a free case review. Car accidents can result in significant injuries and medical expenses. Resolving an injury claim after a driver flees the scene can be more difficult, especially without a lawyer. At Front Range Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to helping our clients get the compensation they deserve. We will investigate your case and pursue compensation aggressively. Contact our Lakewood hit and run accident attorney today.
Front Range Injury Attorneys is here to help
At Front Range Injury Attorneys we care about helping our clients throughout their cases. We believe clients are best served when our Lakewood hit and run accident attorneys participate in their cases from start to finish. We help our clients get the best treatment for their injuries. By building up your case from the beginning, we build a strong case to get the best results.
No Fee Unless You Win
Our law firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis. That means you don't pay us until we recover on your case.
Expertise with car accident claims
Our Lakewood hit and run accident attorneys understand your injuries and how to tell your story to the insurance company or a jury. We get proven results with a 98% success rate.
Communication is important to us
We maintain communication with you through your case. We want you to know what's going on with your case and the work we're doing for you.
How a Lakewood hit and run accident attorney could help
The benefits of hiring a lawyer to defend you in a hit-and-run accident lawsuit can be felt both during and after the court proceedings. A lawyer can do the legal groundwork for you during a car accident claim, including crash investigation, speaking with police, acquiring accident reports and other sources of evidence, assessing your damages, and negotiating for the highest amount of compensation. A Lakewood hit-and-run accident attorney at Front Range Injury Attorneys can help you and your family achieve the settlement you need to go on by enhancing the outcome of your injury claim.
What is a hit and run accident?
A hit-and-run accident is a collision involving a motor vehicle in which one or more of the drivers involved flees the scene without stopping. In other words, a driver leaves a car accident scene in violation of the law. According to state legislation, all drivers engaged in collisions must come to a complete stop as soon as it is safe to do so, or they must immediately go back to the scene of the collision.
In Colorado, failing to stop at a crash scene, exchange information, or provide aid is a criminal that, depending on the extent of the damage, may result in jail time. Due to the other driver’s failure to call an ambulance, hit-and-run accidents are among the most hazardous kinds of collisions. As a result, a hurt accident victim may have to wait for hours to receive the necessary medical attention.
What damages can I recover for the accident?
After a hit-and-run collision, you might not be required to pay for your own vehicle repairs and medical bills. You might be eligible to financial compensation from your own insurance company or a different entity, such the state or local government for a hazardous roadway, even if you can’t pinpoint the at-fault motorist. If the driver who struck you is apprehended by the police, you may be able to file a case with the aid of a Lakewood personal injury attorney.
In Colorado, damages, or monetary compensation, may be awarded in a hit-and-run accident case or successful insurance claim for the following:
- Medical costs for past injury treatment
- Healthcare expenses for future medical needs due to your injuries
- Costs to repair or replace a damaged vehicle
- Lost wages for time missed at work
- Future lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Psychological trauma including PTSD
- Out of pocket expenses and travel costs
- Possible punitive damages
See a Lakewood accident lawyer at Front Range Injury Attorneys for a case evaluation if you’re unsure of the value of your claim. The severity of your injuries, whether you have a lasting impairment, if the police are able to track down the motorist, and the insurance coverage available will all affect how much your personal injury claim is worth. Punitive damages may be recoverable in some personal injury instances.
How long do I have to file a hit and run claim?
While you are still at the scene of the collision, you should dial 911 to report a hit-and-run accident to the authorities. Following that, you have 60 days to report the collision to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. This can be done in person or online. You should get in touch with the appropriate insurance provider as soon as possible to submit an automobile insurance claim. Although the majority of auto insurance companies demand “rapid” reporting, others have strict filing deadlines.
In Colorado, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for injuries sustained in a car accident. Colorado’s statute of limitations for all personal injury cases is two years, while it is three years for car accidents. Both personal injury and property damage claims resulting from an auto accident in Colorado are subject to the three-year time limit.
Colorado hit and run laws
Not stopping at the accident scene is against the law. All drivers in Colorado are required by law to stop, provide aid to those who are hurt, exchange information, and report the accident to the authorities, as stated in Colorado Revised Code Section 42-4-1603. According to this law, the driver of any vehicle directly engaged in an accident is required to stop the vehicle as soon as feasible at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible, or to promptly return to the accident site.
Drivers are required to stay on the scene until all legal procedures have been met. All drivers engaged in an accident must stop at the scene and assess everyone involved for injuries, even if the collision is not serious enough to require a police report. Moreover, contact and insurance details must be shared. Drivers are required to leave a note with their contact information and a brief description of the incident if they hit an unattended parked car. The notice needs to be prominently fastened to the abandoned car.
According to Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1601, it is illegal to leave the scene of a car collision while still driving. But, if the driver must leave the area to report the collision, it is not a hit-and-run. Depending on the extent of the accident and the injuries sustained, a hit-and-run can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony offense. These laws carry fines and jail time as possible consequences for breaching them. Additionally, the driver may incur points on their record, have their license revoked, and be held legally liable for the damages of the victim.
Who will pay for my injuries and damages?
A tort-based auto insurance law is in use in Colorado. According to this law, the driver who caused the collision—the driver who engaged in a tort, or wrongdoing—is liable for the ensuing losses. Colorado requires all drivers to be financially responsible, which means they must have auto insurance. If the policyholder causes an accident, this insurance will cover the other driver’s medical costs and property damage repairs.
A hit-and-run accident occurs when the at-fault driver flees the scene without stopping to help injured victims or accept responsibility for the collision. Although there is a possibility that the police would track down the motorist, you might not be able to seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Receiving compensation for your damages and injuries may be challenging if you don’t know who hit you and fled the scene.
You might need to rely on your own auto insurance for coverage because you can’t hold the other motorist accountable. A hit-and-run incident will be covered if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your policy. Your insurance provider will handle your claim as if the negligent party stayed on the scene but lacked insurance. Comprehensive and collision insurance are additional first-party policies that can cover your collision.
A hit and run accident attorney can look into the possibilities of blaming a third party if you don’t have the right kind of first-party insurance. A third party is a person who was not present at the scene of the accident but who caused your collision or injuries, such as the maker of a faulty auto part or the public body in charge of maintaining the roads. Even if the other driver is never discovered, holding a third party responsible can result in compensation for your damages.
What to do after a hit and run accident
After a hit-and-run accident, it can be challenging to know what to do to defend your rights. Do the following actions, if you can:
- Stop and move to a secure area. It does not follow that you should leave the scene just because the other driver does. Do not try to chase or confront the motorist.
- Look for any injuries. Examine any passengers and other accident participants for injuries as well.
- Report the car accident to 911. Report the collision to the authorities, regardless of how minor it was, because a hit-and-run crime was committed.
- If you suspect a back injury, stay still until paramedics come. The wrong movement could aggravate a small injury and make it worse.
- Speak with witnesses and make a note of their contact details. Eyewitness accounts and information might be crucial to resolving a hit-and-run case.
- Keep a record of everything you can, even partial plate numbers. For a crash investigation, the more details you can recall right after the accident, the better.
- While you’re still at the accident scene, take photos and videos. The authorities can be assisted by taking pictures of whatever the other motorist left behind, such as car parts.
- See a doctor right away. Obtain the expert medical attention you require if you sustain any severe injuries.
- Get copies of your medical records and accident report. To support your hit-and-run claim, gather pertinent records and documents and present them to a lawyer.
- Speak with a Lakewood hit-and-run accident lawyer. Before to accepting an insurance settlement, consult with an attorney about your legal options.
After a hit-and-run accident, taking these steps can help you get the just financial compensation you deserve for your expenses and vehicle repairs. You can rebuild your life with the assistance of a lawyer at each stage.
Injuries sustained in a hit and run accident
If you or a loved one was hurt severely or catastrophically in the collision, you could need the services of a hit-and-run accident lawyer. A catastrophic injury is one that will have long-term or permanent effects on you, such losing a physiological function or suffering brain damage. A lawyer can assist you in making the strongest claim possible for a serious injury. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical costs and other damages even with a minor to severe injury. The following injuries are frequently linked to hit-and-run incidents in Lakewood:
- Fractured bones
- Head trauma and skull fractures
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Muscle, ligament and other soft tissue injury
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Lacerations
- Lower extremity injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Burn injuries
- Broken ribs and lung injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
- Permanent disability
The fact that the injured person does not receive quick medical attention is one of the reasons hit-and-run tragedies are so tragic. The negligent driver flees the scene without asking for assistance or an ambulance, leaving the victim unattended. This may make injuries worse and cause wrongful death. Regardless of the type of your injury, our Lakewood personal injury attorneys can assist you in filing a claim. We can also assist with a Lakewood hit-and-run wrongful death case.
Contact a Lakewood hit and run accident lawyer today
After being hurt in a hit-and-run accident, you don’t have to manage the legal process on your own. After a damaging automobile incident, our Lakewood hit-and-run accident attorneys at Front Range Injury Attorneys can assist you in understanding your legal options and in picking up the pieces. Please call us at 720.826.4399 to schedule a free case consultation if you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a recent hit-and-run collision. Our attorneys are committed to assisting accident victims in obtaining compensation for their severe injuries and work on a contingency fee basis.
