There are approximately 50,000 injury lawyers active in the USA in 2023, with more firms opening every year, such as the Toronto breach of contract law firm. That’s because tort law is a big business in the United States.
Tort law serves to redress damages caused to an individual by the malicious or substandard conduct of another. The civil courts decide on these standards, and lawyers help bring any infringements to light.
So, if you’ve suffered harm at the hands of another person or institution, you might be eligible for compensation. A personal injury attorney can help you achieve this.
These are the things you need to know when searching for the best injury lawyer in Colorado to help you with your case.
Do You Have a Case?
Personal injuries include every kind of injury to a person, including those involving their body, reputation, and emotions. They may occur as a result of several courses of action, namely:
- Automobile accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Assault
- Medical malpractice
- Abuse in nursing homes or other institutions
- Injuries caused by toxins
- Product defects
- Defamation
- Intentionally causing emotional distress
- Invasion of privacy
- Malicious prosecution
- False detention, arrest, or imprisonment
If you experience any of these injuries, you can receive damages to compensate you for your loss, depending on certain circumstances related to personal injury claims.
These are:
- Negligence
Negligence implies that an individual did not behave with an appropriate level of care in line with accepted norms. This is the most common basis for personal injury claims and includes things like driving without a driver’s license.
- Intentional Wrongs
While negligence is sometimes linked to accidental harm, some types of injuries result from an intention to cause harm to another person. These include battery, assault, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
- Strict Liability
Strict liability holds a person responsible for their harmful actions, regardless of the circumstances. For example, manufacturers are liable for injuries caused by defects in their products, regardless of negligence or intention.
In 2020, the costs associated with these types of general liabilities amounted to $443 billion.
If your injuries fall in line with the above criteria, you could work with a personal injury lawyer to claim damages from the responsible entity. These compensations include:
- Loss of earnings
- Medical expenses
- Mental or emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Travel expenses
- Household assistance
If you suffer a personal injury, you’re entitled to be ‘made whole’ under U.S. law. That means you can claim damages to help put you back in the position you were in before the incident occurred.
Most personal injury claims never see the inside of a courtroom. They’re resolved via settlement agreements between the plaintiff and the defendant’s insurer.
Settlements usually result in you receiving damages faster, but you might receive more compensation if you go to court.
Most states, including Colorado, place limitations on how much you can claim for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
In some cases, the plaintiff can also seek punitive damages against the defendant. These damages serve to punish the defendant for their actions.
That’s why it’s important to find a personal injury attorney who specializes in the type of case you’re dealing with. They will help you understand any limits on damages and help you determine the maximum compensation for your suffering or losses.
Choosing the Right Personal Injury Attorney for Your Case
Due to the diversity of situations covered under tort law, several areas of specialization fall within the ambit of personal injury law. All these lawyers are equally qualified on paper, but almost all lawyers choose to focus their attention on particular types of cases.
The different areas of specialization include non-intentional injuries like:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Recreational accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Nursing home neglect
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
Sexual abuse and defamation lawyers handle cases involving intentional injuries.
Large law firms often employ a range of lawyers in each category to ensure they provide a complete service to their clients.
The type of lawyer you need depends on whether:
You Suffered Permanently Disabling or Long-Term Injuries
These types of injuries will change your life and, potentially, your ability to earn an income. They may result in ongoing medical costs, inconvenience, and suffering.
There’s no way you can anticipate how much you’ll lose if you suffer a long-term injury, but an experienced lawyer can help you calculate a substantial settlement to help ease the hardship.
They’re well-versed in the ongoing costs of life-changing injuries and how they impact your ability to earn a living. You can count on them to pursue every avenue of compensation to help you cope going forward.
You Suffered Severe Injuries
When you pursue personal injury litigation, the amount of compensation you receive often depends on the severity of your injuries.
In most cases, the defendant’s insurer will calculate your compensation based on:
- The type of injury sustained
- The value of your medical bills
- The anticipated or actual recovery time
The trouble is, most insurance policies have limits concerning this type of compensation, and they won’t pay more than that amount. This means you could end up with only a fraction of the money you deserve.
In these cases, personal injury lawyers help their clients receive the total amount of compensation due to them.
Liability Is Not Clear
In cases where there are multiple individuals involved in the accident, or multiple parties may have caused your injury, insurance payouts can get extremely complicated.
Sometimes, one or more of the parties might make a claim against you if they feel you’re partially at fault. When this happens, you could end up getting a settlement that’s far below what you anticipated or needed.
Personal injury attorneys help fill in the gray areas in these cases and can institute claims against multiple insurers and protect you against counterclaims and cross-claims.
An Insurer Refuses to Pay
The bottom line is that insurers exist to make money like any other business, so they often play hardball when it comes to parting with money. They may refuse to make a settlement offer or offer to pay much less than you request.
If you can’t get a reasonable settlement offer from the at-fault party’s insurer, a Colorado injury lawyer can intervene on your behalf to get the settlement increased.
In some cases, the insurance company could engage in bad-faith insurance tactics to avoid paying claims. These include:
- misrepresenting contract terms and language
- nondisclosure of policy provisions, terms, and exclusions
A lawyer with experience identifying these tactics will help you get the compensation you’re owed.
How to Find a Great Personal Injury Lawyer in Colorado
Choosing a good lawyer involves more than finding one that specializes in your exact needs. You should also consider the following aspects while searching for a Colorado injury lawyer:
References and Reviews
One of the best ways to find a good lawyer is to ask family, friends, or colleagues for references. It’s easier to trust information when it comes from a trusted source, and you can also discuss the lawyer’s performance freely with them.
Don’t let your initial investigations stop there, though. Go online and read reviews from previous clients to help you find a lawyer who’s good at their job while providing excellent service.
Professional Standing
Once you’ve compiled a shortlist of likely candidates, dig a little deeper. Check state and local licensing boards to see if they’re in good standing and whether you can pick up any red flags involving complaints or poor conduct.
Qualifications and Experience
Most lawyers will offer you a free consultation to help you decide if they’re a good fit for you. During this interaction, you can find out a lot of information about them and whether they’re able to assist you.
Ask about their qualifications and training. Find out where they went to college and whether they’re committed to ongoing education surrounding personal injury law.
All Colorado lawyers must complete at least 45 credit hours of continuing legal education every year to maintain their license.
While qualifications are an excellent start when choosing a lawyer, there’s no substitute for time on the ground when it comes to getting compensation for their clients.
Be sure to ask about the lawyer’s experience during your initial consultation. The more cases they’ve handled, the more insight they’ll have about the intricacies of personal injury cases.
Experienced lawyers use the knowledge gained in this way to the benefit of their clients.
Local Offices
When you work with a lawyer located close to you, they’re more easily accessible when you have questions or experience difficulties.
Personal injury attorneys who live and work in Colorado are familiar with local court proceedings, judges, and statewide limitations on claims.
Find out if they’re actively involved in the local bar association and contribute to its campaigns.
Insurance Insights
If you can find an attorney who’s worked for an insurance company before, you’ve struck gold. These professionals have insider information on all the tactics insurers use to avoid or reduce insurance payouts.
They know how these companies view claims and the evidence they need to settle claims quickly.
Fee Structure
When you’re struggling with injuries caused by another person’s actions, the last thing you want is to worry about extra expenses, especially unexpected ones.
Ask about the costs involved in pursuing your case during your free consultation. Many lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they don’t charge any fees unless you win your case.
If there are expenses involved, the lawyer should be willing to discuss any costs openly and in plain language.
Track Record
A lawyer with excellent negotiating skills can help you avoid the stress of a court appearance and mastermind a fast, satisfactory settlement. However, you must choose a lawyer who’s prepared to state your case in front of a judge if necessary.
Ask them about their history of cases and how many times they’ve won cases for their clients.
Accessibility
Most lawyers have less experienced associates or legal staff working on certain aspects of a case. In some cases, they may even pass smaller cases on to fledgling associates.
While this is usual practice, it’s best if your lawyer is wholly involved in your case. This prevents unnecessary back and forth and ensures they’re fully aware of every detail if you go to court.
Ask them how many other cases they’re dealing with at the time and whether this will affect how long it takes to resolve your issue.
Personality
Do you feel comfortable speaking to the lawyer during your interview? You’ll likely need to share highly personal information with your lawyer, so it’s important that you feel at ease.
Does it seem like they care about you, and do they come across as honest? If you get the feeling that they’re disinterested or simply trying to settle your case as quickly as possible with the least effort, you should continue your search elsewhere.
Your case will probably last several months, so it’s vital to work with someone you feel personally connected to. You’ll need to have many, sometimes difficult conversations with your lawyer regarding your expectations, so you must choose someone who’s realistic and honest about your claim.
You should also clarify how much involvement they expect you to have in the case.
Take Care of Yourself
Following these tips for hiring an injury lawyer in Colorado can make all the difference between success and failure when you go to court or negotiate a settlement.
It’s your right to live a free life unharmed by the intentional or negligent actions of other people, and you deserve compensation if you suffer due to these actions. A Colorado injury attorney can help ensure this is the case.
Browse our blog for more information on a wide range of topics related to your well-being.