How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
The easiest way to find out if you have a strong personal injury claim is to schedule an initial consultation with our team. We can assess the details of how you were injured, advise whether we believe you have a case, and walk you through your options for recovering compensation, including what to expect throughout the legal process.
Whether you have a claim frequently comes down to whether you can demonstrate someone else’s negligence led to your injuries. A person or entity typically becomes liable for any injuries their negligence causes. We understand how to establish negligence and take the appropriate legal action.
Our team at Justice Now Injury Lawyers can take on many types of personal injury claims, including those involving:
Time Limits for Filing Personal Injury Lawsuits in Colorado
In Colorado, a strict deadline known as the statute of limitations governs the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline means the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, regardless of how strong your evidence is.
For cases involving motor vehicles, the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is usually three years from the date of the collision. For personal injury cases that do not involve motor vehicles, you generally only have two years from the date you were injured to bring a claim.
If you lost a loved one due to someone else's negligence, the deadline to file a wrongful death lawsuit is typically two years from the date of their passing. If their death was the result of a hit-and-run accident, the statute of limitations extends to four years from the date of the collision.
While you may technically have years to start the legal process, we urge you to reach out for legal advice immediately after your accident for the following reasons:
- We need to protect crucial evidence. Witnesses’ memories fade, surveillance videos are recorded over, and physical evidence at the accident scene is often quickly cleaned up or lost. We can deploy investigators to secure evidence, document the scene, and get detailed statements from key witnesses while their memories are fresh.
- The insurance company is already working against you. The opposing insurance company tends to start building its defense against you the moment the accident is reported. Adjusters will likely work to minimize your claim, often pressuring you for a recorded statement or a quick, lowball settlement before you grasp the full extent of your injuries and long-term costs. We can immediately step in to handle all communications, protecting you from tactics that could inadvertently weaken your claim.
- Accurately valuing your claim takes time. The true value of a personal injury claim includes future medical expenses, projected lost income, and intangible losses like pain and suffering. We have the experience and resources to consult with medical and economic experts so that we can build a comprehensive damage model that compels the negligent party to pay what your case is truly worth.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
In a personal injury case, the compensation you can recover is generally divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages represent your tangible, calculable financial losses. These are the losses that come with a fixed price tag and can be objectively proven with documents like bills, receipts, and wage statements.
Economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective, intangible consequences of your injury. These losses do not have a direct monetary cost but significantly impact your life and well-being.
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Colorado law places a statutory limit on the amount of non-economic damages a person can recover in most personal injury cases. Our personal injury attorney can work relentlessly to build a strong case that maximizes your recovery within the limits the law sets and explores every avenue to prove that the full extent of your non-economic loss warrants the highest possible award.
Additionally, punitive damages are only awarded in rare and exceptional cases. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, which aim to compensate you for your losses, punitive damages serve two specific purposes: to punish the defendant for egregious misconduct and to deter similar conduct by others in the future.
What to Expect When You Hire a Westminster Personal Injury Lawyer
After an accident, most people aren’t just looking for a lawyer—they’re looking for clarity. If you’re in Westminster or the Denver area (including 80210), our team helps you understand the process from day one, so you can make confident decisions while you focus on healing.
Our Step-by-Step Approach
- Free case evaluation: We listen to what happened, identify liable parties, and explain your options in plain language.
- Evidence and investigation: We gather crash reports, photos, witness statements, surveillance footage, and medical documentation to build a strong claim.
- Handling insurance communications: We deal with adjusters and paperwork, protecting you from tactics that can reduce the value of your case.
- Documenting your damages: We calculate both current and future losses, including treatment costs, missed work, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
- Negotiation first, trial-ready always: We pursue a fair settlement, and if the other side won’t act reasonably, we prepare to present your case in court.
Common Mistakes We Help You Avoid
- Giving a recorded statement without legal guidance
- Accepting a quick settlement before the full medical picture is clear
- Gaps in treatment that insurers use to argue you “weren’t really hurt”
- Posting on social media in ways that can be taken out of context
If you’re unsure what to do next, we can review your situation and outline a clear plan—so you know where you stand and what it may take to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait to explore your options for recovering compensation when you have suffered serious injuries in an accident caused by negligence. Call (720) 802-1466 or contact us online today.
