Denver Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Denver or the surrounding areas, the Denver personal injury lawyers at Matlin Injury Law are here to help. We draw on 50+ years of combined experience to provide guidance, clear communication, personalized legal plans, and daily updates through our client app to ensure you always know the status of your case.

Getting hurt in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. In a situation like this, the responsible party may be liable for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages you’ve suffered.

A Denver car accident lawyer from our firm will work closely with you to gather evidence, hold the responsible party accountable, and pursue the compensation you deserve. We’ll handle all the legal work, so you can focus on your recovery.

How We Can Help After Your Car Accident in Denver

After an accident, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You are likely dealing with injuries, financial stress from missing work and incoming medical bills, and the emotional trauma of it all.

Having legal assistance means having someone in your corner who can deal with aggressive insurance companies, complicated paperwork, and anything else that comes your way, including:

• Communicating with all other parties, including insurers and the at-fault party’s legal representatives
• Collecting evidence to prove all aspects of your case
• Presenting your case to the insurer and/or before a judge and jury in court
• Hammering out a settlement agreement, if possible, and reviewing it with you before you sign anything
• Keeping you updated daily through an app and encouraging you to reach out with questions at any time through whichever means you are most comfortable with

If you were in a car accident and believe someone else was at fault, we can provide the assistance you deserve. Our Denver car injury attorneys can discuss your legal options and how we can protect your rights.

What Damages Can You Claim After a Car Accident?

In personal injury law, compensation is categorized into economic and non-economic damages. These are key in determining compensation for an injured party. Our team has won over $25 million in damages for injury victims, so you can be confident that we have what it takes to get a fair settlement.

A car accident lawyer near Denver, CO, will work hard to get the following damages for you:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are awarded to compensate an accident victim for the measurable monetary losses incurred due to an accident. They are based on bills, receipts, and evidence of financial loss.

Economic damages may include:

• Medical expenses: Costs for emergency services, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and ongoing treatments
• Lost wages: Income lost due to the present or future inability to work post-accident
• Property damage: Expenses for repairing or replacing damaged property, especially your vehicle
• Other financial losses: Additional out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the injury, such as travel for medical appointments

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are awarded for non-monetary losses that address the broader impact of an injury. They are subjective and may vary depending on injury severity, quality of life impact, and individual factors.

These can include:

• Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical discomfort and pain due to injuries
• Emotional distress: Covers psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, and trauma
• Loss of quality of life: Compensation for the inability to enjoy daily activities and hobbies

Our Denver car accident lawyers carefully listen to your story and examine your losses to fight for the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

In some cases, we may also consult with medical professionals and financial experts about the long-term impacts of your injuries. We use this information to build a case for maximizing your settlement.

What Types of Accidents Are Common in Colorado?

A report from the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) states that there were 3,809 crashes with injuries or fatalities in Colorado in 2024. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that Denver County accidents in 2024 often involved:

• Failing to observe surroundings and stay alert
• Following other vehicles too closely and other aggressive behaviors
• Failing to yield
• Distractions from inside or outside the vehicle

When Can I File a Car Accident Claim?

You have the right to file a claim when the following three criteria are met: someone else was negligent, their negligence caused an accident, and you suffered losses because of the accident.

Let’s take a closer look at these important elements of a car accident case.

Determining Liability in Colorado

The amount of liability placed on an individual after an accident is determined by comparing each driver’s level of carelessness. The percentage of liability will determine the percentage of any resulting damages the at-fault driver must pay to the victim. This rule is often referred to as modified comparative negligence.

Under modified comparative negligence, if you are less than 50% at fault, you are still able to recover compensation. However, your compensation is proportionately reduced.

Unfortunately, some insurers may attempt to place blame on victims to lower or deny a settlement, and determining liability can be complex. 

This is why you should take pictures of the accident scene whenever possible and speak with our car accident lawyers in Denver so we can protect your rights.

How a Denver Car Accident Lawyer Will Investigate to Prove Negligence

Determining liability in a car accident comes down to establishing who was at fault for causing the crash. Our Denver car accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to prove that negligence occurred.

Our legal team may use evidence like:

• Police reports, which include officer observations, citations, and initial fault assessments
• Witness statements from bystanders or other drivers
• Physical evidence, such as vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and road conditions
• Dashcam or surveillance footage, if available
• Driver statements and admissions made at the scene or to insurers

We analyze these sources to reconstruct what happened and determine who breached their duty of care on the road. Sometimes, multiple drivers share fault, in which case Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rules apply.

In complicated auto crash cases, accident reconstruction experts may also be brought in to provide technical analysis and clarify the sequence of events.

What Are Some of the Most Common Injuries Sustained in an Auto Accident?

Our Denver auto accident lawyers have helped crash victims recuperate from a variety of different conditions. Injuries from automobile accidents vary in severity and affect various parts of the body, making it essential to hire an attorney with extensive experience handling a wide range of injury claims.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common types of car crash injuries:

• Whiplash: Often occurring in rear-end collisions, whiplash is a neck injury caused by a rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip.
• Neck injuries: Apart from whiplash, other neck injuries can include strains, sprains, and more severe cervical spine injuries.
• Head Injuries: These can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), often resulting from the head striking an object like the steering wheel or window.
• Soft tissue injuries: Injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments often manifest as sprains, strains, or contusions.
• Lacerations: Cuts or tears in the skin may be caused by shattered glass or metal in the aftermath of a collision.
• Broken bones: Common in severe accidents, broken bones can occur in any part of the body but are particularly common in the arms and legs.
• Bruised ribs: Bruised ribs are caused by strong impacts, such as from seat belts or steering wheels, leading to painful but typically non-life-threatening injuries.
• Injuries to the back and spine: These can range from herniated discs and lower back strains to more serious spinal cord injuries that can lead to paralysis.

How Do Catastrophic Injuries Change Your Car Accident Case?

While any injury can be catastrophic when severe enough, the most common ones that occur in car accidents are often those to the head or spinal cord. These types of injuries may result in permanent disabilities, such as paralysis or cognitive impairment.

Burns and lacerations can cause intense physical pain. They may also lead to scarring and disfigurement, which can affect you mentally as well. Additionally, serious burns can be life-threatening and cause neurological damage. 

Catastrophic injuries often result in higher settlements because of the need for more intensive medical care and long-term life impacts. Our Denver auto accident attorneys can help you maximize recovery by proving the extent of your injuries.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Car Accident in Denver

When a loved one is killed in a car accident, the emotional toll is devastating. In Colorado, the law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim to seek justice and financial compensation for their loss. 

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Colorado limits who may file a fatal car accident claim based on your relationship to the deceased. Our empathetic and caring team of lawyers can assist the following parties in pursuing wrongful death damages:

• Year 1 (0–12 Months): The surviving spouse has the exclusive right to file a claim.
  • Exception: The spouse may grant written permission for the deceased’s children to file or join the claim during this time.
  • If there is NO spouse or children, the parents or a designated beneficiary have the right to file immediately in the first year.
• Year 2 (12–24 Months): The right expands, allowing the spouse, the deceased’s children, or a designated beneficiary to bring the claim independently. If there is NO spouse, children, or designated beneficiary at this time, the parents may file the claim.

The right to file a claim ultimately falls to the highest-priority party alive at the time of death (spouse, then children, then parents) who are not excluded by a specific timeline rule or designated beneficiary agreement.

Fatal Car Accident Damages

While compensation won’t replace the tragic loss your family has suffered, damages can support you through this painful time and provide the funds you need to plan a proper funeral and burial for your loved one. Wrongful death damages can include economic damages, like:

• Loss of the deceased’s income and financial support
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills related to final care

You could also qualify for non-economic damages, such as:

• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Grief and emotional suffering

Our Denver car crash lawyers will guide you through the legal process with patience. We’ll calculate how much compensation you should receive from a claim and work toward a settlement that helps you and your family heal from this painful loss. 

We Offer Compassionate Support After a Fatal Crash

If you’re searching “car accident lawyer near me” after a fatal crash, look no further. Our compassionate Denver wrongful death lawyers can help your family meet deadlines, gather critical evidence, and pursue full and fair compensation while honoring your loved one’s memory.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Denver

The steps you take after an accident can significantly impact your health. Some actions can also preserve your right to compensation. The most important thing is to assess your situation so you can reach safety and receive appropriate medical care. If you have serious injuries, prioritize emergency medical treatment.

Our Denver car accident attorneys highly recommend taking the following actions after a crash:

After a Collision, Put Safety First

Ensure that you are safe where you are. If your vehicle is in the path of oncoming traffic, move it if it is safe for you to do so. Check the safety of the others involved in the accident as well, when possible.

If you hurt your head, neck, or spine, try to move as little as possible. In some cases, spinal cord injuries can be worsened when a victim tries to move.

Call 911 for Help After a Crash

Next, call 911. The Denver Police Department officers and medical staff who arrive on the scene are equipped to handle emergencies. They will ensure everyone’s safety. After an accident, it’s imperative to get medical attention. Many injuries will worsen without proper treatment. 

Some, like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately apparent. Time is often critical in these cases. The earlier you see a doctor, the greater your chances of making a full recovery.

If you do not receive emergency medical care, follow up with your doctor as soon as possible.

Document the Accident to the Best of Your Abilities

Exchange insurance information with the other driver. However, if the other driver seems aggressive or inebriated, wait and have the police gather this information for you.

Document the accident by taking photos or videos of the accident scene, if you can. Some important elements to include are: vehicle damage, debris, environmental damage (such as skid marks or cracked safety barriers), and your visible injuries.

If the other driver flees the scene, try to remember as many details as possible, including the make, model, and color of their vehicle, and any numbers from their license plate. Our car accident lawyers in Denver can use these forms of evidence to strengthen your case and get a fair outcome.

Call a Denver Auto Accident Lawyer

Hiring a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident ensures that your legal rights are protected. Our highly skilled firm can handle communication with the at-fault driver and their legal or insurance team.

Your lawyer is there to serve your best interests during a challenging time. Call now for a free consultation.

FAQs: Colorado’s Auto Accident Reporting and Other Legal Requirements

Pursuing compensation after an auto accident in Colorado requires you to understand a range of legal rules and procedures. This FAQ section is designed to clarify key points, such as accident reporting and filing deadlines.

These frequently asked questions provide essential but general insights into Colorado’s legal landscape for auto accident cases. Our car accident lawyers in Denver can provide information and advice specific to your situation when you reach out to us.

What Are the Colorado Accident Reporting Requirements?

The law requires you to report any accident that causes injury, death, or property damage. Failing to report an accident could make it much harder for you to recover compensation.

If you have been taken to the hospital, police officers or insurance adjusters may question you while you are still recovering. If you apologize for the accident, even out of habit, it can be seen as an admission of fault for the crash.

If your lawyer is unable to be there with you, answer questions briefly and factually. Do not hypothesize about your actions, and if you don’t remember something, say you are unsure.

What Is the Colorado Statute of Limitations for an Accident?

For personal injury cases where a motor vehicle is involved, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101(1)(n) gives you three years from the date of the collision to file a claim. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Colorado is generally only two years from the date of your loved one’s passing.

However, specific circumstances can affect this timeframe. Understanding these exceptions can be difficult, so if you are worried about the legal timeline, it’s best to consult with our Denver car accident law firm. We can answer your questions and create a legal strategy to meet the deadline for your case.

Who Can Be Held Liable for an Automobile Accident?

Often, another driver is the liable party in a car accident. However, any party that displayed negligence when they should have been acting cautiously can be held liable. For example, if your accident involved a commercial vehicle, both the driver and their employer may be liable.

For this reason, it’s helpful to contact an automobile accident attorney as soon as possible. We can investigate to determine all liable parties.

What Are Common Types of Claims in Denver, CO?

Our team has investigated countless crashes for accident victims like you. We know how to conduct thorough investigations and work with accident reconstructionists to uncover key details for your claim.

We can file a well-supported claim for damages after any of the following:

• Drunk driving accidents
• Accidents involving commercial vehicles, such as trucking or rideshare vehicles
• Accidents where a passenger was injured or killed
• Accidents where the liable party was an uninsured or underinsured motorist
• Rear-end crashes
• Front impact collisions
• Side-impact collisions
• Hit and runs
• Accidents in parking lots
• Texting while driving accidents

What Are the Colorado Auto Accident and Insurance Laws?

Colorado has mandatory automobile insurance laws and minimum coverage requirements. Keep the following minimum requirements in mind when insuring your vehicle and pursuing compensation after a collision:

• $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any person in an accident is required
• For crashes where more than one person is injured, there is also a minimum requirement of $50,000 for bodily injury or death
• Finally, you must have a minimum of $15,000 coverage for property damage

Will My Insurance Rates Increase After an Accident?

Possibly. Your insurance rates may depend on whether or not you were at fault in the accident, although some insurers will raise rates regardless of fault. It all depends on the specifics of your accident.

Does My Personal Injury Case Have to Go to Trial?

Not necessarily. In most cases, vehicle accident claims are settled out of court. However, our Denver auto accident attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary to recover compensation.

We offer free initial consultations to car accident victims throughout Denver. We can talk through your legal options, including whether a trial is the best strategy for your case.

Should You Accept the Insurance Company’s First Offer?

Generally, no. Insurance companies know that accident victims are often financially stressed and may be desperate to regain their economic stability. Because of this, they may offer a lowball settlement and hope you will accept it.

Our car accident law firm in Denver can advise you on any offers you receive, and if a settlement does not meet your needs, we can continue to fight for fair compensation.

Our goal is to get you compensated for your current needs as well as those you can expect in the future, such as for long-term medical care or reduced earning capacity.

What if My Accident Claim Is Denied by the Insurance Company?

It can be frustrating and stressful to receive a denial from the insurance company, but do not panic. A denial is simply one step in the process. The insurance company must give you a reason for denying your claim, and we can appeal the denial based on that reason.

For example, if they state that there is insufficient evidence for your claim, our car accident lawyer near Denver, CO, will conduct further investigations to gather more evidence. If we believe an insurance company denied your claim in bad faith, we will fight it.

Choose Our Denver Auto Accident Lawyer for Your Case

At Matlin Injury Law, we recognize the profound impact that a motor vehicle accident can have on your life. Our goal is to alleviate the stress and financial burden that often accompany automobile accidents, especially when dealing with uncooperative insurance companies.

Our Denver car accident lawyer is committed to representing you with compassion and strength. We offer free consultations and personalized case reviews, available by phone or at your hospital bedside if needed.

With our legal team, you can trust that you’re getting the representation you deserve as you navigate your case and start rebuilding your life post-accident. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get the help you deserve.