Aurora Car Accident Lawyer

Have you or a loved one sustained personal injuries in a car accident? At Bachus & Schanker, we understand how a car accident can impact your life and your loved ones. If you are concerned about lost income, medical bills, and added financial strain, let our Aurora car accident attorneys assist you in obtaining the monetary compensation you deserve.

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When do I need an auto accident lawyer?

After a car accident, you can be left with many questions, such as:

• How do I file a car accident claim?
• Do I need a personal injury attorney?
• Is there a law firm I can trust?
• How much will it cost to retain an attorney?

After you have been injured in a car accident where your injuries were the result of another driver, it is highly recommended to speak to an auto accident lawyer from an Aurora law firm. There are many situations where you can benefit when you have assistance with your injury claim, including:

• You sustained severe or permanent injuries where it will significantly impact your life. 
• You are unable to return to work either short-term or long-term.
• You require ongoing medical care and treatment.
• You do not know how to file a car accident injury claim.
• You are wondering if you are entitled to additional compensation beyond what the insurance company is offering.
• You have questions about your legal rights and how to ensure you are justly compensated.
• You were involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle. 
• You are not sure who was at fault for your injuries. 
• The insurance company is intimidating you to accept their settlement offer.

When your auto accident claim involves more than property damage, even when your injuries seem minor, it never hurts to get a solid legal opinion from one of our experienced car accident attorneys. 

We work on a contingency basis, which means you do not have to pay for your consultation or any legal work we do for you until we reach a reasonable settlement or win your case at trial. 

What steps should I follow after a car accident?

The steps you follow after a car accident can determine the amount of compensation you could receive. It is essential to attempt to remain calm and do the following:

• If possible, move to a safe location. 
• Call 911 when there are injuries.
• Ensure to seek medical treatment, even if you do not feel seriously injured, as an evaluation may uncover internal bleeding or other injuries. 
• Obtain the insurance details, driver’s name, license plate number, and contact details. 
• Obtain the contact details of any witnesses.
• Stick to the facts when speaking to the police and never admit fault for the accident.
• Obtain an accident report case number from the police. 
• Take pictures of the entire accident scene, including all vehicles, the road where the accident occurred, property damage, and injuries. 
• Look around for any video or traffic cameras that may have recorded the accident. 
• Contact an auto accident injury attorney. 

If you decide to retain the services of a lawyer, they will obtain a copy of the accident report. Otherwise, you may need to obtain one yourself by completing Form 2489. 

Most importantly, keep all records of lost wages, medical expenses, and anything else relevant to your injuries. If you are unsure what to keep, it is better to keep everything and let your lawyer determine what is relevant and what is not. 

What compensation can I recover in a car accident case?

The type of compensation you could recover in your car accident case may include the following:

• Property Damage
• Lost Income
• Medical Expenses
• Pain and Suffering
• Physical Therapy Expenses
• Rehabilitation Expenses
• Home Healthcare Expenses
• Emotional Distress
• Loss of Employment
• Mental Health Expenses

In the unfortunate event a loved one dies due to their injuries, you may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible party’s insurance company. 

How do I obtain compensation for my damages?

Monetary compensation for your damages can come from various sources. Colorado law requires all drivers to carry minimum insurance coverage. So, your first source of compensation would be your own insurance coverage. The next source of compensation would be the other driver’s insurance coverage. 

In addition, there could be other sources of compensation from third parties considered at fault, such as a commercial driver’s employer. When you obtain your free consultation with our Aurora car accident attorney, they will evaluate all potential sources to ensure you get all the compensation you are entitled to receive. 

How is fault determined in an Aurora car accident?

Colorado is an at-fault state, meaning fault is assigned based on comparative negligence. This is where a percentage of responsibility can be assigned to each person involved in a car accident.

For example, the other driver could be found to be 100 percent at fault. However, if it is determined you partially contributed to the accident, you will also be assigned a percentage. As long as you are found to be less than 50 percent responsible, you can seek compensation from the other driver. 

The factors that are used to establish fault include:

• The location of the damage to your vehicle.
• The testimony of witnesses.
• The extent of your injuries.
• Video and photographic evidence.
• Accident reconstruction by forensic experts.
• Admission of fault by the other driver.
• Information obtained in the police report.

It is worth noting that the information in the police report may not be entirely relevant in certain car accident cases. Therefore, it is best to let your experienced injury attorneys and legal team conduct a full investigation to determine fault. 

How can comparative negligence affect my compensation?

CRS 13-21-111 is the part of Colorado law that addresses comparative negligence. In general, the law allows you to still file an injury claim even when you are partially responsible for the car accident. The law requires an evaluation to be conducted to determine the negligence of each party. 

This can affect your compensation based on the percentage you are found at fault. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault, then the total amount of your settlement or amount awarded at trial is reduced by 20 percent. 

What are some common causes of car accidents in Aurora?

• Poor driving conditions due to fog, rain, snow, and ice.
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving.
• Drowsy driving or falling asleep while driving.
• Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
• Failure to maintain a safe following distance.
• Failure to yield the right of way, make an improper turn, and run a red light or stop sign. 
• Operating a motor vehicle that has defects or is not considered safe.
• Deliberately causing an accident due to road rage.
• Weaving erratically in and out of traffic when switching lanes.
• Failure to allow sufficient space before changing lanes.
• Not checking one’s blind spot when changing lanes. 

How can our Aurora law firm help you get the compensation you deserve?

At Bachus & Schanker, our law firm has been helping auto accident victims to successfully receive the compensation they are entitled to in Aurora, as well as Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. We deal directly with the insurance companies on your behalf, so you do not have to deal with this added stress while recovering from your injuries.

Part of our car accident claims process is conducting our own detailed investigation before submitting a settlement offer to the responsible party’s insurance company. In most cases, we are able to negotiate a fair settlement without ever having to go to trial.
If the insurance company is holding out, however, we will fight aggressively at trial for your justice. Our Aurora car accident lawyers represent you throughout the entire case with no upfront costs or legal fees. We only collect payment once we secure a settlement or win your case at trial.

sources

Driver Record Requestor Release and Affidavit of Intended Use. (2021).
Mandatory Automobile Insurance in Colorado. (2022). 
C.R.S 13-21-111. (2022).