Colorado Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
Colorado auto accident victims and their families have the opportunity to seek compensation for their injuries or the loss of a loved one, but you have a limited amount of time to take legal action and you need the help of an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney.
If You Use Marijuana
If you use marijuana, you need the help of a Colorado motor vehicle accident lawyer, even if you were not intoxicated at the time of your accident. The defendant will try to use your marijuana use against you, and it is much more complicate than alcohol use in an auto accident.
The tests used to determine if you have marijuana in your system are not able to detect whether you were impaired at the time of the crash. Regular users can test over the legal driving limit days or weeks after the last time they used the drug. It is a very controversial and constantly evolving area of law. You need the help of an experienced personal injury accident lawyer who stays current on new developments in litigation involving marijuana users, and understands the type of evidence and expert testimony that is needed to win your case.
Time Limits
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident lawsuits is three years. That means you have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. If you were a minor at the time of the accident, the clock does not start running until your 18th birthday.
If you must sue a government entity, however, you only have six months to take legal action by filing written notice of your intent to sue. There are many types of accidents that could lead you to sue a government entity such as those involving defective roadways, snowplows, and city buses.
If You Were Partly to Blame
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence to determine if accident victims who were partly at-fault for their accidents or injuries can recover compensation. If you were less than 50% to blame, you can still recover damages, but your compensation will be reduced by your portion of fault. For instance, if your damage were $100,000 and you are found to be 25% to blame for you accident or injuries, your compensation can be reduced by $25,000.
Helmet and Seat Belt Non-Use
Contrary to popular belief, and what the insurance company may say, you can collect substantial compensation for your accident injuries even if you were not wearing a seat belt or helmet at the time of your accident. In some cases involving seat belt non-use, your non-economic damages may be reduced.
If you have been injured in a traffic accident in Colorado, please browse our directory to speak to one of the experienced Colorado motor vehicle accident lawyers profiled on this website.