Are you wondering about the best way to deal with a car settlement in Denver?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should receive the full compensation you deserve. However, various factors influence the duration of your car accident settlement process. Being aware of these factors can help you make the best decision for your case.

If you’re in Colorado, one way to ensure your case doesn’t get bogged down is by hiring a car accident attorney. These attorneys help you negotiate your settlement and avoid delays from being inexperienced in law.

Denver, Colorado’s roads are no stranger to car accidents. The Colorado Department of Transportation reported a staggering 120,932 traffic crashes in the state in 2019, resulting in 27,452 injuries and 569 deaths. The aftermath of a car accident can be life-altering, causing serious injuries, financial loss, and emotional distress. Thus, it is crucial to be well-informed about the car accident laws in Denver, Colorado.

Types of Car Accidents

There are various types of car accidents that can occur on Denver’s roads, each with its own set of risks and outcomes. These include rear-ending collisions, side-impact collisions (also known as T-bone collisions), head-on collisions, rollover accidents, and multi-vehicle accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in Denver.

Statute of Limitations

If you are involved in a car accident in Denver, it is essential to understand the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations determines the time limit within which you must file a lawsuit after an accident. In Colorado, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim arising from car accidents. Failing to file a lawsuit within this time frame may result in losing your right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Determining Fault

To determine fault in car accidents in Denver, Colorado, the state uses a “modified comparative negligence” system. This means that the court will assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in the accident based on their degree of negligence. If you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you are 20% at fault for an accident and your damages total $10,000, your compensation will be reduced by $2,000 (20% of $10,000), and you will receive $8,000 in total compensation.

Insurance Requirements

All drivers in Colorado are required to carry liability insurance to cover damages resulting from car accidents. The minimum liability coverage required in Colorado is $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 per accident for property damage. However, it is recommended to carry higher limits of insurance to protect yourself in the event of a serious accident. You may also opt to carry collision and comprehensive coverage to cover the cost of repairs to your own vehicle in case of an accident.

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be a terrifying experience. It is crucial to know what to do in such situations to ensure that you protect your rights and receive the compensation you deserve. 

Car accidents can have severe consequences and are a common occurrence on Denver’s roads. Understanding the car accident laws in Denver, Colorado, can help you protect your rights and receive the compensation you deserve. By knowing the types of car accidents, the statute of limitations, determining fault, and insurance requirements, you can ensure that you are well-informed and prepared in the event of a car accident.

What Factors Increase the Amount of Time It Takes a Car Accident Case to Settle?

Contributing factors in car accident cases can delay settlement, such as the duration of medical care and the extent of treatment the plaintiff receives. The responsiveness and fairness of the opposing insurance company or defence attorney can also affect the time of a car accident settlement.

Duration of Medical Care and the Last Treatment Date

You should wait to settle until you have all the information from your medical bills, treatment, and lost wages. Insurance companies or defence attorneys will often issue a low-figure settlement to try and get you to settle for less than your case is worth.

You don’t want to settle for less than what would make you whole. Hiring a car accident attorney will guide you through the legal process and be able to decipher whether the offer is a complete offer or the defence attorney is lowballing you.

A Car Settlement In Denver and The Amount of Available Car Insurance

Your case might take longer to settle if you have larger coverage amounts than medical bills. Remember, most car accident settlements aim to make the affected party whole again
(unless there is negligence involved, in which case, the at-fault party might have to pay punitive damages.)

In these cases, insurance companies might try to issue a lower settlement than the jury would. Your attorney should instruct you to wait for a larger payment issued by the jury.

The Insurance Company or Defense Attorney

Insurance companies have resources individuals don’t, such as attorneys on retainer. Because they have these resources, they won’t feel as much pressure to give you your settlement. Since they don’t have as much pressure to issue a payment and don’t have to pay lawyers hourly, they can get away with lowballing you on your settlement.

Large insurance companies can also afford to dispute every claim you make, bogging down the settlement process.

Cases Against the Local, State, or Federal Government

If a government agency was at fault in your case, you have to follow specific filing procedures, such as filing particular notices. These processes make it more likely that your claim will get rejected. To avoid delays caused by dealing with government agencies, you should hire a car accident attorney.

Car accident attorneys are familiar with the various filing procedures and can ensure your claim gets through unfettered.

Cases involving Medicare or Medicaid might require paying back some of the settlement because of liens. You can often negotiate liens, but having a car accident attorney will help you avoid incurring expenses that otherwise would diminish your settlement.

What Causes Car Accidents to Settle Faster?

Other factors can help you expedite your settlement, such as quick evidence presentation, thorough documentation, the insurance company having enough information to set a reserve, and dealing with a responsive insurance company.

Having readily available evidence to present to a jury can expedite your case settlement. Collecting the police report and obtaining eyewitness statements and photographs of the scene ensures a quick settlement process. The more evidence you compile, the more likely the insurance company will issue a fair, speedy settlement.

Thorough Documentation

Most insurance companies won’t issue a settlement until they’re sure they have all the necessary documentation. Maintaining thorough documentation, including medical records and proof of lost wages, ensures the opposing side can’t finagle a lower settlement based on technicalities.

Case reserves are the cash insurance companies set aside to pay for your claim. If the insurance adjuster handling your case sets the case reserve too low, it can take some time to issue payment for the settlement. The sooner you notify the adjuster of your injuries, the more adequately and expediently they can set aside the reserve. The amount on the insurance policy may also limit the reserve.

Car Settlement In Denver and a Responsive Insurance Company

Reputable, responsive insurance companies issue prompt settlements and don’t fight tooth and nail on every minute detail. However, even the best insurance companies will wait until they have all the case details to issue settlements. Low-budget insurance companies will try to skimp every way they can, which can delay the settlement process even longer.

Phases of a Car Accident Lawsuit In Denver

If you take your car accident case to civil court, you will have to progress through several phases. Each of these phases requires careful deliberation and preparation. The car accident lawsuit process separates into five stages:

1. Pleading

2. Discovery

3. Pre-trial

4. Trial

5. Post-trial

The lawsuit process can take months or years to complete. Having a car accident attorney by your side to consult you throughout the process will put you in the best position to get the compensation you deserve.

Conclusion- How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take In Denver?

Your car accident settlement process will depend on various factors. How well you respond to these factors will determine how long it takes and whether you get the compensation you deserve.

Hiring a car accident attorney will help you avoid potential legal obstacles during the car accident settlement process. These legal professionals have experience in the various tactics insurance companies, and defence attorneys use to get the settlement as low as possible.

When wondering about how long a car settlement will take in Denver, speak to a law firm.