Brighton Car Accident Lawyer

Brighton Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen for various reasons every day in the Brighton area and across the country. Each state upholds unique statutes for resolving these accidents, and Colorado uses a fault-based system. This means that whoever causes a car accident is responsible for the resulting damages. In addition, state law requires drivers to have auto insurance that includes appropriate liability coverage in the event they cause an accident with another driver. Unfortunately, many car accidents result in damages that exceed available insurance coverage, leaving victims wondering how they can recover from these experiences.

Legal Counsel for Brighton Car Accident Victims Seeking Recovery

If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in any motor vehicle accident another party caused, a Brighton car accident attorney is the best resource to consult to determine the best recovery options available to you in this situation. You may have more legal options open than you initially realize, and the right attorney can help you maximize the results of all of them. The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have years of experience helping clients in the Brighton area recover from all types of vehicle accidents, and we’re ready to put this experience to work for you.

Benefits of Hiring Legal Counsel After a Car Accident

There are no strict legal requirements to hire an attorney after a car accident, and it’s technically possible to take charge of your own recovery efforts and attempt to handle them alone to avoid paying an attorney’s fee. However, doing this would be far more challenging than you expect, and you could jeopardize your ability to recover your damages. Furthermore, even if you managed to successfully meet your case’s various procedural demands, you would be unlikely to secure as much compensation as an experienced legal team could have obtained on your behalf.

When you have an experienced Brighton car accident attorney managing your recovery efforts, you can focus on your household, your family, and your medical needs with peace of mind. Your case will be in reliable hands, and you will have readily available legal counsel and answers to your questions when you need them most. Any car accident can cause a host of damages, and any victim can face a range of uncertainties as they pursue compensation for their losses. When you choose Cheney Galluzzi & Howard to represent you in your recovery efforts, we will do everything we can to maximize the compensation you secure for your damages.

Proving Liability for an Automobile Accident

Whether you think you can resolve the aftermath of your recent car accident with just an insurance claim or brace for a more complex series of civil court proceedings, you must be prepared to firmly establish liability for your accident before recovering any compensation. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible after your accident makes it easier to ensure physical evidence can be preserved and that witness testimony is as reliable as possible.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in the Brighton area that lead to civil claims for damages include:

• Distracted driving. Any distraction, even a momentary one, can result in an accident behind the wheel. Across the United States, distracted driving is cited as the most common cause of all the motor vehicle accidents in the country each year.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs. When DUI causes an accident, the responsible driver potentially faces a felony DUI conviction along with civil liability for the victim’s damages.
• Speeding. Whenever a driver exceeds the speed limit, they put themselves and others at risk. Speeding is illegal and increases the chances of an accident occurring. Accidents that happen at higher speeds are also more likely to result in catastrophic injuries and deaths.
• Moving violations. Any failure to navigate an intersection correctly, running a stop sign or red light, performing an illegal turn, or other moving violation can easily result in an accident. Traffic cameras and eyewitness statements are some of the most useful evidence for proving liability for accidents like these.

Once you have determined the cause of your accident, you must work closely with your attorney to identify the best route to securing the compensation you need. Your recovery is likely to begin with an auto insurance claim against the driver at fault, and having an attorney assist you with this will make it much easier to secure a fair settlement as quickly as possible after an accident.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim in Brighton

Every driver must have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements. For example, state law requires that every driver’s insurance policy offers at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person injured in an accident caused by the policyholder. In addition, the policy must allow for at least $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage in the policy total for a single accident. Finally, the auto insurance policy must also provide at least $15,000 in liability coverage for property damage.

A basic coverage policy may be enough to compensate the victim’s losses from a minor accident, but if you suffered any severe injury from your accident, you are likely to face more extensive legal proceedings. However, an initial auto insurance claim can provide some relatively speedy relief from your immediate economic losses. Your Brighton car accident attorney will assist you in filing your Colorado insurance claim, and if any problems arise, they can negotiate with the insurer on your behalf.

Damages and Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim

Once you have secured as much of a recovery as you can through the responsible driver’s auto insurance, any outstanding losses can be recovered through a personal injury claim against that driver. To succeed with this civil claim for damages, the plaintiff must identify the defendant responsible for causing their injury, prove the extent of the economic losses caused by the defendant’s actions, and prove those losses are the direct results of the defendant’s negligence or misconduct.

The economic damages claimable from the defendant depend on the scope and severity of the losses they caused. For example, you can seek money for immediate and future medical expenses, lost income, and lost future earning potential if the accident leaves you with a permanent disability that prevents you from working. In addition, if the defendant damaged or destroyed your personal property, you could also seek repayment for these losses.

Colorado law also allows you to seek pain and suffering compensation in your personal injury claim, but the law limits this form of compensation to $250,000 in most cases and $500,000 in cases with clear evidence of liability. However, if a plaintiff is permanently damaged by the defendant’s actions, there are no limits on the pain and suffering recompense they can seek from the defendant.

FAQs

Q: How Long Do You Have to Settle a Car Accident Claim in Colorado?

A: Resolving a car accident in Colorado could require both an insurance claim and a civil claim against the responsible driver. You have a very limited time in which to file an auto insurance claim after an accident, and Colorado upholds a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases. Therefore, it’s best to find legal counsel you can trust as quickly as possible after a car accident to have the best chance of recovery.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Get Auto Insurance Compensation?

A: When fault for a motor vehicle accident is clear, and the victim files a claim in a timely manner, they can potentially secure a settlement check relatively quickly. However, dealing with insurance companies can be difficult in many ways. Any car accident victim has the best chance of reaching the fullest recovery possible with an experienced attorney.

Q: How Much Is a Personal Injury Claim for a Car Accident Worth?

A: The damages you experienced from your recent accident may exceed the responsible driver’s insurance coverage. You will need to file a civil claim for damages to secure full compensation for your losses. The total potential value of your case depends on how much you obtain through insurance, the total amount of economic losses you sustained, and the severity of any long-term effects the defendant’s actions caused.

Q: How Much Does a Brighton Car Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?

A: The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard accept personal injury clients on a contingency basis. With a contingency agreement, the client pays nothing up front and does not owe any fees at all if the attorney fails to secure compensation on their behalf. If the attorney wins their case, the contingency fee is a percentage of the final case award. This ensures the plaintiff has the legal counsel they need and retains the bulk of the compensation won from the defendant.

Q: What Difference Can a Brighton Car Accident Attorney Make?

A: The right attorney can make a tremendous difference in all the recovery efforts you attempt following a car accident. Your Brighton car accident attorney can streamline the insurance claim process to maximize the initial compensation you obtain. They will then help you build a solid personal injury case against the defendant if necessary to ensure your full recovery.

The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have helped many past clients recover from serious car accidents, some of which involved catastrophic injuries, permanent disabilities, and substantial damages. Whatever your case entails, our team is prepared to provide compassionate and responsive legal counsel through all stages of your case until you reach the best possible outcome. Contact us today and set up your free consultation with a Brighton car accident attorney who can confidently guide you through your case.