If you or a loved one has had a serious injury, a Boulder personal injury attorney will help protect your rights, and provide the guidance and care you need. Schedule a free consultation with our injury lawyers in Boulder county to see how much financial compensation you can get from your case. Find out how much your PI claim is worth today from our personal injury law firm’s super lawyers.
What is personal injury?
Under Colorado law, when a person suffers harm due to the negligence or failure of another person to exercise reasonable care, then it results in a case of personal injury. The harm caused to another person can be physical such as bodily injuries, emotional such as mental suffering or in the form of property damage such as damage to a vehicle or it can also result into the death of a person. In order to have a successful claim, a three step criteria need to be fulfilled:
- Duty of care: The person against whom a personal injury claim in Boulder is to be filed should have a duty of care towards the person who suffered harm or serious injuries.
For example, a car driver has a duty of care to ensure that he drives in a safe manner and follows all traffic rules to ensure the safety of his fellow passengers on road.
- Negligence/ failure to exercise reasonable care: The person against whom a PI case is to be filed should have been negligent or careless in exercising reasonable care while fulfilling his duty of care.
For example, a car driver who exceeds the permissible speed limit or ignores a traffic light and causes an auto accident, is negligent in his duty of care towards other fellow passengers on road.
- Harm resulting from negligence: The person who wants to file a personal injury claim should be able to show that the harm suffered by him was due to negligence of the other person against whom a claim is being made.
For example: When a person suffers bodily injury and damages to his car due to an accident caused by a speeding car, the injured victims can say that the injury was caused due to the negligent behavior of the driver of the speeding car.
Auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog injuries, injuries due to defective products, catastrophic injuries due to unsafe premises of another person such as slip and fall, suffering electric shock due to a faulty product, workplace injuries and professional malpractice are all examples of personal injury cases.
When a delivery person suffers injury due to unmarked broken staircase, the property controller becomes liable.
When a customer slips due to unmarked soapy water at a shop, the shop owner becomes liable for a PI claim.
If you want to increase your chances of getting fair compensation for your medical bills and other losses, it is better to have professional legal representation from a Boulder personal injury lawyer.
What are the different types of personal injury cases in Boulder?
In Boulder Colorado, there are a wide variety of personal injury cases which include:
- Auto accidents: This type of case includes car accidents, truck accidents, drunken driving cases or other motor vehicle accidents such as motorcycle accidents fall under this category.
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents: It includes bicyclists or pedestrians getting hit on the road.
- Product liability: It includes damages caused due to faulty products. For example, a faulty electric device.
- Premises liability: It includes injuries caused due to unsafe premises of another person. For example, injury caused due to an unmarked slippery floor.
- Dog bite/ pet injuries: It includes injuries caused by the pets of another person.
- Construction accidents: It includes accidents that happen at construction sites.
- Nursing home neglect: It includes abuse such as physical or financial abuse at nursing homes or care facilities.
- Workplace injuries: It includes injuries caused to workers/ employees due to unsafe working conditions at a workplace.
- Insurance bad faith: It includes failure of insurance companies to act in good faith or within proper time.
- Catastrophic injury: It includes life changing injuries such as damages to your spinal cord, general back injuries or traumatic brain injury.
- Toxic substance injuries: It includes injuries caused due to the negligent handling of a harmful substance such as Carbon Monoxide.
- Burn injuries: It includes burn injuries such as injuries caused due to a faulty gas stove or fire at workplace.
- Wrongful death: It includes severe physical injuries resulting in death.
What are the different types of damages you can recover in a personal injury case?
In Boulder area and nearby cities, you can claim different types of damages. These include both economic and non-economic damages and include compensation for:
- Medical bills: Doctor visits, pharmacy expenses, therapy costs and other expenses made on medical care are included in this. It includes past, present and future medical care costs associated with the injury.
- Loss of income & wages: Inability to attend work, permanent disability to perform certain kind of work. It includes damages for present and future ‘loss of earning capacity’ (lost wages).
- Property damage: Damages to vehicles (as a result of a car accident, for example), any valuable item inside the vehicle or other losses to a real property.
- Pain and suffering: Extreme discomfort and physical pain, both present and future which is attributable to the accident.
- Emotional distress: Negative impact on mental well being and emotional trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Permanent disability or impairment: Facial disfigurement, paralysis, brain injuries
- Wrongful death: The legal heirs of the deceased are entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their family member.
- Punitive damages: In a few cases, a court may also award punitive damages which act as a deterrent for other people. These are awarded when the negligent behavior is extremely reckless or hazardous or displays willful misconduct or bad faith.
At Burnham Law, our attorneys are experts in dealing with personal injury matters in Boulder and determining the types of damages that can be claimed in a case. If you live in Boulder Colorado and you believe that you or your loved ones have a personal injury claim, but you are not sure of the damages you can claim, contact us by filling our free initial consultation form or calling us directly at 720.845.7001 and our team will guide you in determining what types of damages you can claim. We have the necessary legal experience to represent you in court, and we are proud of building excellent attorney client relationship.
How long will it take to obtain my compensation for my personal injury damage?
‘When will I receive my compensation?’ This is one of the top questions a Boulder personal injury plaintiff will have in his mind. Although, there is no strict timeline for the same and the time may vary from case to case, various factors come into play while determining the time:
- Severity of injuries and recovery: Comprehensive medical reports are important to determine the extent of damage suffered.
- Unclear liability: When there are multiple parties involved or where the victim is partially at fault, then determining the liability takes longer time.
- No cooperation from the Insurance Company: Many times, insurance companies do not process claims fairly in good faith and try to delay and derail the claims.
- Negotiation and settlement: Many times, the parties, including the victim, the at fault person and the insurer is unable to reach a settlement. The claim then has to go through a court process and the lawsuit can prolong the process.
What is the time limit to file a personal injury case?
Under the laws of Colorado, personal injury claims are subject to time limits. While in most cases, the limitation period runs from the date of the accident, in some cases it may also run from the date of treatment or procedure. Usually, a period of two-year or three-year is the applicable time limit in a PI claim depending upon the type of the case.
Even if the limitation period has expired, sometimes an exception may exist under the laws of Colorado for filing a personal injury claim. Thus, it is important that you consult a personal injury lawyer in Boulder as soon as possible to know your legal rights when filing a claim. To see what an outstanding job our lawyers are doing, you can check out our super lawyers’ profiles, our practice areas and our clients’ testimonies available on our website.
How much is your personal injury claim worth?
Although there is no straight jacket formula to determine the worth of a PI claim in Boulder, the following damages will be included (for economic losses and non economic losses):
- Past, present and future medical expenses
- Present and future loss of income and loss of earning capacity
- Damages to Property
- Damages for pain and suffering, mental trauma, permanent disabilities
Determining the value of your case is not an easy task and requires the help of an experienced attorney. Insurance companies will try their best to make sure you receive reduced compensation and will not take into account many relevant factors that increase your claim amount. Therefore, it becomes necessary to consult a personal injury attorney to know the true worth of your claim.
When should I consult a personal injury attorney in Boulder CO?
Were you injured in a car or motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault? It is advisable to consult a personal injury attorney in Boulder, CO as soon as possible to secure your legal rights and get the maximum compensation possible. The sooner you contact our injury attorney, the better the chances are that your case will move in the right direction. Our attorneys will also guide you on how to preserve and keep a record of the important evidence that will be used at later stages of your case.
Sometimes, insurance companies of the at fault parties will try to contact you and ask you to make certain written or recorded statements or even try to contact you while you are at the hospital. In such a scenario you should never answer them or make any statements without first consulting your attorney. These statements can have a huge impact on your personal injury claim. You should also not make any statements to your own insurance company without making a consultation with your attorney first.
Our personal injury lawyers will also guide you in every step and negotiate on your behalf in the settlement process to ensure that you receive full compensation for the injuries suffered by you.
We, at Burnham Law, provide a free consultation to evaluate your claim and therefore, you should contact us as soon as possible after suffering an injury to get professional legal advice and the rightful compensation you deserve.
What to expect during your free consultation with our personal injury attorney?
At Burnham Law, we provide a free consultation to evaluate your claim. After you contact us, a trained paralegal or legal professional from our Boulder Colorado office will contact you and ask you relevant questions to understand your accident and prepare you for the consultation. During your free consultation, our attorney will:
- Evaluate and discuss the facts of your case and inform you about important evidence you should preserve. We will also tell you about how to deal with insurance companies.
- Examine the liability and compensation payable depending upon the merits of your case.
- Guide you through the legal process of dealing with insurance companies, settlement and court case, if required.
- Help you with any other information you would like to receive.
At Burnham Law, we believe in complete transparency and honesty. Thus, at our free consultation we will also inform you if our firm is the right choice for your personal injury claim. But once we decide to take your case, our experienced attorneys will help you in protecting your legal rights and securing the maximum compensation possible.
We also understand that going through an accident can be an emotional and traumatic experience. Thus, our law office serving Boulder is open to any friend or relative accompanying you for your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to the above mentioned information, the following questions can frequently arise in the mind of a victim:
What to do if an insurance company is contacting me regarding my personal injury claim?
Whenever an insurance company contacts you or offers you a settlement, it is in your best interests that you do not engage in any conversation with them directly before consulting your personal injury attorney. This is because insurance companies may undervalue your claim, deny liability or ask you to make certain written or recorded statements which may go against you in a Colorado court case.
What types of insurance are relevant in a personal injury claim?
There are several types of insurances that can be relevant in a personal injury Case. These include automobile insurance, homeowners insurance, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, business owners insurance, workers compensation insurance, commercial liability insurance. The applicable insurance can be best determined after consulting an experienced personal injury lawyer.
At Burnham Law, our lawyers are experts in dealing with PI claims in Boulder and dealing with the insurance companies. If you believe that you or your loved ones have a PI claim, but you are not sure of how to deal with the insurance companies contacting you, contact us by filling our free consultation form or calling us directly at our phone number 720.845.7001 and our team will guide you through the process of determining the time limit and all other legal issues.
Why choose our Boulder personal injury attorneys and how they can help you in securing your legal rights?
If you have suffered serious damages due to the fault of another person, you should contact a local Boulder personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Burnham Law, our attorneys provide legal consultation and guidance for all types of claims involving injuries. Our personal injury law firm has a successful track record of helping injured people in securing their legal rights and obtaining the maximum compensation possible for them.
Our attorneys have years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and negotiating settlements on behalf of the victim. Our attorneys ensure that our clients receive the rightful compensation for the injuries suffered by them taking into account all the facts and circumstances of the case. Our Boulder personal injury lawyers also help our clients in representing them in court and our firm will take care of all the legal filings on your behalf. We understand that experiencing an accident can be an emotional and traumatic experience, so we provide a comfortable consultation environment to the victims of the accident so that they can freely tell us about all the pain and suffering caused to them.
If you believe that you or your family are entitled to a personal injury claim, contact our Colorado personal injury lawyers right away by filling out the free case evaluation form below. Our Boulder law firm is here to provide you the guidance, care and help needed to make your experience easier and stress free. We’re a top law firm with the best trial lawyers, 5-star client reviews, and a stellar success rate. Call us or fill out the contact form today!