What Do I Do After a Car Accident in Falcon, Colorado?

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

January 11, 2023

Top Rated Falcon, Colorado Car Accident Attorneys

In Falcon, Colorado, car accidents are all too common. Every year, more than 330 people are killed in road accidents in this city.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU’RE IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN FALCON, COLORADO?

This is an essential topic because what you do right after an accident might influence your capacity to recover financially and receive the money you need to deal with the injuries and life changes that occur.

Additionally, you must abide by the law, and Colorado, like many other states, has certain legal standards that must be fulfilled in the case of a car accident.

Third, if someone else’s negligence caused the accident, you may be able to claim for damages. However, many car accident victims have never considered filing a lawsuit and are unsure where to begin.

Fourth, if you decide to take legal action against an at-fault person for damages, you’ll need proof of the accident’s causes. You know what to look for immediately after an accident or as soon as feasible after that might be the difference between a strong and poor case.

Fifth, many people suffer from debilitating damage or discomfort when they are involved in an accident. At the very least, you may feel bewildered and compelled to flee the area as quickly as possible. You could miss a chance to gather evidence right away, but you can get a lot of it later if you hunt for it in the correct places.

To that end, here’s a checklist of things to do following a car accident in Falcon, Colorado.

STAY AT THE SCENE OF A FALCON, COLORADO CAR ACCIDENT UNLESS YOU NEED EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

Stay at the site of a Falcon, Colorado car accident if you do not need emergency medical assistance. You might face criminal prosecution if you leave the scene. Drivers in Falcon, Colorado who are involved in an accident are obliged by law to come to a complete stop and identify themselves. 

You may relocate to a safer position nearby if you or your car are at risk of  additional injuries, such as being hit by oncoming traffic. Just be sure to return and alert other drivers and law enforcement.

POLICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED.

Call 911 if you or anybody else is hurt in a car accident in Falcon, Colorado. Whether there are any other people involved, inquire if they need assistance. Call 911 if they don’t or can’t reply.

People involved in an car accident that injures or kills someone, or causes more than

$1,000 in property damage, are required by law to report the accident. You’ll have to submit a police report. If you’re unsure if property damage surpasses $1,000, go with the higher amount. Even seemingly modest injury might add up to more than that.

Law enforcement personnel will release a crash report after assessing the site and speaking with all parties involved, including witnesses to the accident. You should make every effort to get a copy of the accident report as quickly as feasible.

If you are handicapped for whatever reason after an accident, have a family member or close friend pick up the accident report on your behalf. The crash report is a piece of crucial information that is often utilized to determine who is to blame for the accident. It’s a highly essential source of the first proof, even if the reasons are subsequently challenged.

DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO OTHER DRIVERS

All drivers involved in an car collision in Falcon, Colorado should share information, including insurance coverage information, if at all feasible.

As most Falcon, Colorado locals are aware, Colorado has a no-fault insurance system. Because all registered drivers are obliged to have medical payments coverage MedPay insurance, the blame for causing the accident is irrelevant to injured parties under a no-fault insurance plan. PIP coverage pays for medical expenditures up to a specified amount, as well as 75 per cent of lost income for you or anybody else driving your car.

So, why would you need the insurance details of all drivers? There are two explanations for this. First, if your property was damaged and another motorist was at fault, you may sue the at-fault driver’s insurance company for property damages. PIP insurance does not cover property damage.

Second, in certain cases, wounded persons might seek damages that are not covered by PIP insurance. If another party is to blame for your injuries and you have at least $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses and/or your injuries include at least one broken bone, significant loss of hearing or sight, or permanent and serious disfigurement, you can sue the at-fault party and their insurance company in civil court for damages.

MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS

If you have a smartphone and are able, photograph the following in the case of an car accident in Falcon, Colorado. Photographs might be useful proof of what happened and the extent of the damage.

THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT

Photograph the cars from various perspectives and orientations. Take photographs of the accident site, including everything that may explain how and why the accident happened. Skid marks, broken streetlights—all of this information is valuable. Take photographs of the sign if there is a stated speed limit and you feel a car has broken it severely.

INJURIES TO YOU

Everyone who has been hurt should photograph their injuries as soon as possible. If you can’t do it alone, enlist the help of a friend or family member. These images may be used to prove the severity of the injuries.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, SPEAK WITH EYEWITNESSES.

If feasible, speak with any eyewitnesses to your Falcon, Colorado accident. Eyewitness testimony, particularly if obtained soon after the event, may give persuasive evidence of how and why an accident occurred.

If eyewitnesses are willing, get their contact information. Additional testimony may be required if you seek damages.

SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE

Once law enforcement has permitted you to depart and you have a copy of the accident report, get medical help as soon as possible. Either go to the emergency room or consult a doctor.

Whether or whether you feel wounded or have obvious injuries, it’s critical to get medical help. People often skip this stage or self-diagnose it at home. However, many significant and even deadly injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), may cause no pain. After an accident, you can only be diagnosed by a doctor.

Furthermore, many disorders do not manifest until after some time has passed. Having a doctor treat you is the wisest line of action.

If you don’t seek medical help, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may attempt to use that information against you later. Insurance companies are in the business of earning money, and they often endeavor to reduce or reject claims against their insureds to do so. They’re well aware that failing to seek medical assistance might give the impression to a jury that you weren’t injured or didn’t feel hurt.

They may attempt to exploit your absence of a doctor’s visit to dismiss your claim, claim that your injuries were caused by anything other than the accident, or undervalue your claim.

The most important reason to visit a doctor is to protect your health and safety. Another consideration is the necessity to safeguard oneself from false charges.

COMPLY WITH ALL MEDICAL ADVICE

If you have an injury, your doctor will suggest a treatment plan. This may vary from anything as basic as taking aspirin for moderate discomfort to something more significant, like visiting a specialist or scheduling surgery.

Follow the treatment plan, no matter what it is. You won’t be able to recuperate and get well unless you follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. Make additional appointments if medical experts advise you to do so. If they give you medicine, fill it and take it.

Failure to follow advice may not only injure you but can also be used against you by the at- fault party’s insurance provider.

They will believe us when we say that they will check to see whether you followed the doctor’s instructions. If you don’t, they may argue that you weren’t as badly injured as you say or that any failure to heal or subsequent injury is your responsibility, not theirs.

ALL RECORDS SHOULD BE KEPT

Although your safety and health are the most important considerations, we’re establishing here that you should also consider obtaining and maintaining evidence if you’re in a car accident.

All medical records, including visit dates, diagnosis, and recommendations, should be kept.

It’s also crucial to keep track of any property damage, such as any car repairs you’ve performed. The type and amount of the damage and the cost of repair are recorded in repair records.

The type and amount of injuries may sometimes be used as forensic evidence to determine how an event happened.

CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY

Call your auto insurance provider as soon as possible after the collision. Whether you are at fault or not, do this. If your car is damaged, the adjuster may send a representative out to take photographs of it. They may also collaborate with other insurance companies.

CONSULT A Personal Injury LAWYER

If you or a loved one is hurt in an car accident caused by someone else, you should seek legal advice.

Attorneys for car accidents provide a free first consultation to review your accident. Prepare to talk about who you think caused the accident, what injuries you incurred, and how those injuries have affected your life.

The idea of carelessness is fundamental to obtaining damages compensation for injuries and other injury. Negligence is defined as failing to exercise the amount of caution that a reasonably prudent person would. In other words, a motorist who displayed poor judgement while driving, drove recklessly or in violation of traffic regulations, or was inebriated or preoccupied, is arguably negligent.

Negligent persons are held financially liable for the injuries and damages they cause. That is, in a nutshell, why their insurance company will accept and pay your claim. That is why you may sue them for causing an car accident.

A lawyer can determine if your lawsuit involves someone else’s fault. It might be a person or a company, such as a car maker whose car failed to function properly.

Lawyers may assist if the cause of the accident is unclear or contested. To discover the most probable reasons for an accident, many attorneys collaborate with investigators and forensic experts.

Eyewitnesses may be interviewed; the surveillance video can be obtained if lawyers and detectives can gather accessible and other material.

Lawyers will also explain damage compensation. Injured persons may seek the following compensation:

Medical costs for doctor’s visits, emergency treatment and transportation, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medicine, and more, incurred and projected in the future.

Wages lost from work if injuries or treatment prevent you from working

Earnings over a lifetime if injuries from the accident prevent you from working in a previous career

Agony and suffering for physical, mental, and emotional distress and pain

Lawyers can assist you in gathering evidence in all of these areas. If they anticipate the need for future medical treatment, they confer with professionals to determine the level of care and the potential cost. Both are used to figure out how much damage compensation will be required in the future.

Finally, it is regrettable that insurance companies often dismiss or reduce claims. If this happens, don’t go it alone! Lawyers are competent negotiators who can represent you in negotiations with insurance providers.

Lawyers may take a dispute to civil court if discussions fail. Insurance companies, believe us when we say they don’t want to go to court! They are aware that judges and jurors are often more sympathetic to courtroom victims than they are. They do not want to take that chance. The prospect of going to court may sometimes lead to an out-of-court settlement.

THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS A LEGAL TERM THAT REFERS TO THE PERIOD

The statute of limitations is a legal term that refers to when a lawsuit must be filed. The statute of limitations in Colorado is three years.

If you need to speak with a car accident lawyer, you should do so as quickly as possible. Evidence may be lost or destroyed as memories fade, wounds heal, and evidence is lost or damaged. The earlier a case is pursued, the better the chances of a favorable conclusion.

 

Warrior Car Accident Lawyers

1902 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

719-300-1100

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