Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts in Colorado - All You Need to Know
- Colorado's fault rule means the driver who causes a crash is liable for all resulting damages, including property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Most car accident victims secure roughly 1.5 times their economic damages, with the excess typically accounting for pain and suffering compensation.
- Colorado law caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering in most personal injury claims, with the applicable cap depending on when the claim accrued.
Car accidents are common throughout Colorado, and some of these incidents result in devastating injuries and expensive economic damages. If you believe another party is responsible for a car accident you recently experienced, it is understandable to have lots of pressing legal questions about how you might hold them accountable and what type of compensation you may be able to recover. An experienced attorney will be an invaluable asset for all the recovery efforts you pursue after a serious car accident.
One of the most pressing questions a car accident victim is likely to have is how much compensation they may be able to secure for their losses. If you find yourself in this situation and must take legal action against a driver who hurt you or a family member, it is essential to know the car accident laws of Colorado, what to expect from the recovery efforts you pursue, and how much compensation you can reasonably expect for your damages.
Assessing Economic Losses From a Car Accident
The initial aftermath of any car accident can be difficult to navigate, especially if you have suffered severe injuries. If you are injured in an accident, call 911 for help if you are able to do so and wait for first responders to arrive. If you are able to move around safely after the crash, do so carefully, report the accident, and check on your passengers and the others involved in the collision.
State law requires drivers to report all accidents resulting in significant property damage, injury, or death. Failure to do so could lead to criminal charges and severe penalties. If you are unsure whether you need to report a minor crash, it is typically best to be safe and report. This will ensure you are not punished for failing to report an accident, and there will be a formal police report on file to which you can refer later in your recovery efforts.
The total economic losses from any motor vehicle accident can be more severe than they seem at first. Property damage is typically the easiest to calculate and will include the cost of repairing the plaintiff's vehicle. This could also include the vehicle's actual cash value if it is damaged beyond repair and cannot be fixed. The plaintiff can also recover the cost of any other personal property lost in the crash.
Colorado's fault rule for car accidents means that any driver who causes a car accident is liable for all resulting damages, and property damage is likely to be only a fraction of the victim's total claimable economic losses. They are also responsible for the plaintiff's medical expenses and any long-term treatment costs they face for severe injuries. In addition, if the plaintiff cannot work, the defendant is liable for their lost wages as well, and they could face even more extensive liability for the plaintiff's lost future earnings if they left the plaintiff permanently disabled.
For a broader overview of your rights, see CGH's guide to Colorado car accident injury claims and what the law requires.
How an Attorney Can Help You
The right car accident attorney can make a tremendous difference in your recovery. First, they can ensure your case meets all applicable court filing deadlines and procedural requirements, so your claim can proceed without administrative red tape. You can then rely on your legal team to guide you through the auto insurance claim process and then the civil claim process to maximize your recovery as state law allows.
Ultimately, every car accident victim faces unique challenges in their recovery efforts, and there are no effective one-size-fits-all strategies for maximizing recovery from damages. However, every plaintiff benefits from having legal counsel they can trust. If you are unsure how to recover from a car accident someone else caused in Colorado, it is vital to reach out and secure legal counsel from a trustworthy attorney as quickly as possible.
Filing deadlines matter. Colorado gives most car accident victims three years to file suit (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)); government-vehicle crashes may require written notice within 182 days. See CGH's Colorado car accident statute of limitations guide for details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts in Colorado
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Colorado?
When assessing the potential value of your car accident claim, it may be difficult to calculate immediate and future damages resulting from the incident. Most car accident victims in Colorado manage to secure about 1.5 times the amount of economic damages they sustained. The excess in repayment is typically accounted for by their pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can estimate how much you could potentially secure from a successful personal injury claim.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in Colorado Car Accident Claims?
Colorado law caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering compensation in most personal injury claims. The cap that applies depends on when the claim accrued. For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2022 and before January 1, 2024, the cap is $642,180, increasable to $1,284,370 on clear and convincing evidence (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5). For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2024 and before January 1, 2025, the cap is $729,790, increasable to $1,459,600 on clear and convincing evidence. For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, the cap is $1,500,000 with no increase mechanism. Importantly, compensatory damages for permanent physical impairment or disfigurement are not capped at all under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). An experienced lawyer can help determine a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation based on the severity of injuries, recovery difficulties, and whether permanent disability or medical complications are likely.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
The total potential value of your car accident claim hinges on the total amount of economic losses you suffered and the severity of your injuries. A typical plaintiff seeking compensation for civil damages can usually expect full repayment for all their economic losses and a reasonable amount of pain and suffering compensation. Having experienced legal counsel assisting them improves the quality of the plaintiff's final results.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Most personal injury car accident attorneys accept clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no ongoing legal fees for the client during the case, and they only pay a fee once their attorney has won their case. The contingency fee is a previously agreed-upon percentage of the client's final compensation.
The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have years of professional experience handling civil claims throughout Colorado. Contact our team today to schedule your consultation with a car accident attorney you can trust.
This article is general information for Colorado injury readers. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not promise that any settlement amount, damage cap, or deadline applies to your case. Non-economic damages cap figures depend on the date a claim accrued and require case-specific legal review under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Statute-of-limitations questions require case-specific legal review.
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
You were injured. We handle everything else.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Denver office serves all of Colorado.