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$1 Million
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If you have been involved in a car accident in Colorado Springs, don’t wait until it’s too late to file a claim. You have up to 3 years to start your case so make sure to contact us ahead of time to get the best possible case built for you. Our decorated lawyers assist car accident victims in filing insurance claims and pursuing damages from the negligent parties through litigation. We take our cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we win your case or reach a settlement.
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in Colorado Springs, especially along the I-25 corridor, on Powers as well as Academy. These car crash injuries, especially spinal cord, brain and neck injuries, can leave you or your family members with a long list of future medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress and more. Our Colorado Springs car accident attorneys at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm are here to help you get full compensation for your physical injury claims. Our personal injury attorneys have gone head to head with insurance companies before and know exactly how to get you fair compensation and the results you deserve. Call us today for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
Many car accidents lead to serious injuries and in some cases can result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. These types of injuries require many different experts to properly assess the actual damage that was done, who was at fault and how much the victim should receive from insurance companies. Most insurance companies are going to look for any way possible to pay you the least amount possible, so it is imperative that you have an experienced car accident attorney represent you so that you can receive fair and full compensation.
As a Colorado Springs, CO based law firm, Rector Stuzynski Law Firm will collect the facts & preserve evidence to support your case and bring in industry professionals such as financial experts, medical experts, accident investigators and accident reconstruction experts to ensure that we have the best chance possible at winning your case. It is essential not to miss any detail in these auto accident cases, as even the slightest detail could get missed and ruin your case so don’t risk it, call our office today for expert motor vehicle collision attorney services.
After record breaking amounts of traffic accidents and deaths in 2022, it is clear that our roads are becoming increasingly dangerous to be traveling on. From drunk drivers to running red lights, there are many different types of reckless driving that cause car accidents across the front range everyday, but below you can find a list of some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents:
Distracted Driving – Distracted driving means drivers that pay little attention to the road because they are talking to a passenger, changing the music, eating, putting on makeup, etc are a major liability to themselves as well as drivers around them especially with the recent rise in mobile device usage.
Texting While Driving – Texting and driving has become a very common occurrence among Colorado drivers and has led to many serious injuries from the auto accidents it causes. Texting or even reading text messages while driving takes your attention off the road and should be avoided at all times.
Reckless Driving – Reckless driving is very dangerous to yourself and other drivers around you. Driver negligence such as speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and other forms of negligent driving are not tolerated in Colorado and the offender or negligent driver could face charges for reckless driving as well as being deemed at fault for the car crash or any motor vehicle accident they may have caused.
Driving While Intoxicated – Drunk driving or even driving while high on marijuana or other drugs is a major problem and leads to thousands of drunk driving accident cases every year and thousands of arrests. Your altered perception when intoxicated can lead to driving errors and even reckless driving behavior.
Speeding – Driving at excessive speeds or over the posted speed limits are the cause of many car accidents and the driver who was speeding will usually be the one to blame in the event of an accident. Many times drivers that are driving at very high speeds and get into an accident flee the scene and it becomes a hit and run situation.
Improper Use Of Intersections – Intersections are a very common area for car accidents to happen. Usually this stems from improper turning, turning left in front of oncoming traffic, striking pedestrians in crosswalks, running red lights or stop signs, head-on collisions & more. Roundabouts have also led to many car accidents recently as many drivers are still not familiar with their proper use yet.
Drowsy Driving – Driving while you are tired from lack of sleep or even just exhausted from a long day of work is extremely dangerous and has been the cause of many fatal accidents over the years. Pull over right away and get some sleep if you are feeling drowsy while driving.
Defective Auto Parts – Sometimes accidents are caused by faulty parts on your vehicle such as the brakes, tires, electrical problems, motor issues or even transmission failures. These cases can often lead to the mechanic or car manufacturer being at fault in the accident claim.
Bad Road Design – Poor road design, bad signage, dangerous intersections or poor road markings can cause accidents and usually the municipality will be the at fault party in these cases, especially when there have been numerous other recorded accidents in that same area from similar issues.
Road Conditions – There are a lot of dangerous roads winding through the Colorado mountains, but when you add rain, snow and sleet to the mix, it can give even the best drivers a scare. Snow causes excessively dangerous driving conditions and the number of car accidents goes up dramatically on days with snow packed roads here in Colorado Springs. Rain also makes it very hard to see which is a very common auto accident cause when driving in heavy rain.
Illegal Window Tint – Window tint may look cool on your vehicle, but going too dark on your front windows is illegal and a major hazard for yourself and the people around you. Colorado window tint laws are designed to keep you safe, but many people decide to disregard the local laws and end up causing accidents because they can’t see very well, especially when driving at night.
Running Red Lights – If you’ve ever driven late at night, you have probably seen many drunk drivers run red lights and speed right through intersections at dangerous speeds. This is an extremely dangerous situation and causes countless accidents. City officials have had enough of it though and have started giving out red light camera tickets at popular intersections to catch these drivers in the act.
Auto accidents can cause a variety of different injuries to the car accident victims, some of them being very serious, some being minor and in some cases the injuries can be fatal Below you can find a list of some of the most common types of injuries from car accidents:
For most minor car accident cases, where it is only damaging to vehicles, you can simply go through your insurance company to get compensation for the damages to your vehicle. However, when persons involved in the wreck were injured, there are some important steps(like knowing what not to say after an accident) to take right away to ensure you are able to receive a full compensation package from the liable party.
For a detailed breakdown of how to handle these situations, check out our article on what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault.
After an accident in Colorado Springs, it is very important to collect as much evidence as you can about the accident so that your personal injury attorney can use it later to make your case. If you are able to take pictures and videos of the entire scene yourself, do so thoroughly, otherwise ask any passengers or a bystander to do it for you.
Take pictures of the vehicles, roadways leading up to the accident, speed limit signs, traffic signs, traffic lights, skid marks, damages to vehicles, people with injuries, and anything else that could be useful for your attorney.
If you don’t have any evidence to give your lawyer, it can be much harder to make a great case for your personal injury claim and could end up costing you a lot of money in lost compensation. The more evidence you have, the better your defense will be and the better your settlement will be so don’t take this step lightly.
After being injured in an accident, it is extremely important that you get medical treatment right away and complete all treatment plans, physical therapy or rehabilitation on time, every time. If you don’t get medical help or you ignore your doctors plans for treatment, then it gives the other party reasons to lower your settlement, because they can prove that your injuries weren’t as bad as you claim due to the fact that you didn’t perform the recommended treatment plan or refused medical help all together. More importantly, you might make your condition worse by not addressing your physical injuries, which could significantly increase the time it takes for you to get back into pre-accident shape.
Think about it, if you were the at fault party, you would be looking to limit the amount you have to pay out as much as possible. Since the injured party is going to claim that they suffered injuries, pain, and many physical setbacks during their healing process, they are going to ask for compensation for what they went through. But if they regularly missed medical appointments, didn’t follow through with the doctors rehabilitation plan or just didn’t go to the doctor at all for months after the accident, then you would definitely be using that to your advantage to lower the amount you have to pay.
So make sure you get medical treatment right away after the accident, and don’t stop getting treatment until you have reached maximum medical improvement because that is how you maximize your settlement amount and build a solid base of reasoning for why you should be owed that amount of compensation. Also, make sure to keep track of all of your medical expenses as those receipts will help you account for any costs that you can get compensation for.
In Colorado, the statute of limitations for car accidents says you have 3 years to file your injury claim after the date of the accident. If you don’t notice your injuries until a later date, you can sometimes get an exception where you will then have 3 years to file from when you first noticed the injury.
Who is at fault in an auto accident depends on many different factors and we are known as an “at-fault” state. To file a lawsuit you must be less than 50% responsible for the accident and any compensation you receive will be reflected based on how much of the accident was actually your fault. Some of the factors for determining the fault of the accident are as follows:
When fault is unclear or uncertain, accident reconstruction specialists are brought in to virtually recreate the collision and determine who was at fault.
In situations where a vehicle had passengers in the car and the driver of that car was partially or fully at fault, then the passengers may end up suing the driver of the car they were in. That is, if they were injured and suffered damages due to the driver’s negligence.
It’s a sad fact of life, but car accidents with uninsured drivers happen every day. Insurance rates can be expensive, and when times are tough, some drivers will make the wrong decision, counting on their assumed driving skills and/or luck to keep them out of harm’s way.
Being involved in an accident with one of these drivers can be very scary. Many questions may be running through your head like: Who will pay my medical bills? Who will pay for my car? I can’t work – who will pay my lost wages?
Colorado does not require that drivers carry ‘uninsured motorist’ coverage; however, this coverage is a must. People drive irresponsibly and without insurance every day which can cause problems for the accident victim.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you and your passengers in a situation where an uninsured driver is involved in an accident with you; essentially, your insurance company “steps in the shoes” of the driver that was at-fault and evaluates your claim for the same kind of damages you would have recovered from the at-fault party’s insurance, had they been insured.
This coverage gives you peace of mind that you and your family members and passengers are protected. This coverage will help cover your losses, and help you get your life back on track.
We take our auto accident cases very seriously at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm and provide every client with a thorough investigation of their case and a professionally put together lawsuit that is backed by hard evidence. In some cases, we are able to settle without a lawsuit, but in other cases, our experienced trial attorneys will go to court and fight the liable party and insurance company to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries and financial issues sustained from the accident.
You are entitled to a few different types of damage compensation when involved in an accident, such as economic damages, non-economic damages and punitive damages(sometimes).
Economic damages account for expenses with an actual number like medical bills, lost income from work, property damage repairs, lost earning capacity and more.
Non-economic damages may include personal losses such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, mental anguish, emotional stress and more.
Punitive damages are available in certain cases where the liable party acted willfully and wantonly and is administered as a punishment for their actions that caused harm to another person.
A rear-end accident is one in which a driver hits another person from behind. Typically these types of accidents occur because people do not leave enough distance from the car in front of them, and they are distracted by something, or someone in the vehicle, or even by texting on their phones.
When a rear-end accident occurs, the driver of the rear vehicle is considered negligent in most cases. While it may seem like a fairly minor type of accident, rear-end collisions can result in serious spine injuries , with long term consequences. That’s why it’s important to call a Colorado Springs rear-end accident lawyer immediately after contacting the police and your insurance company.
These accidents can be extremely dangerous because in most rear-end accidents, the driver of the vehicle is unaware the accident is going to occur and it comes as a complete surprise. These types of accidents can lead to serious neck injuries, whiplash injuries , head injuries and even concussions because the driver’s head can be snapped back and forth, and if the driver’s head is turned when impact occurs this can be even more significant. Symptoms can occur immediately or sometimes take several days. Never underestimate your condition – even low speed accidents can result in serious injuries. Adrenaline can mask pain so that you are not aware of pain and injuries for some time following an auto accident.
If you or a loved one have had the unfortunate situation of being in a rear-end accident be sure to seek medical care, especially if you are experiencing headaches or pain in your neck or back. These types of injuries have the potential to be serious and can be permanent if not properly treated.
Victims of hit and run accidents face a complex hurdle, especially if the accident is severe in nature. When a person who is responsible for causing an accident flees the scene, insurance companies can be disinclined to pay for injuries and damages until a determination that the responsible party cannot be located. In such a case, it is important to contact an experienced Colorado Springs hit and run accident lawyer.
A person who leaves the scene of an accident does so for a reason. Typically we see that these types of irresponsible individuals leave the scene because they are intoxicated, uninsured or possibly have a warrant out for their arrest in another matter.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident the first thing you should do is call the police so that a proper investigation can be done and properly documented. Take notes regarding as much information as you can remember from the other driver including the vehicle color, make and model, along with any other characteristics you can identify from the driver. Make sure you identify any witnesses as they may have more information regarding the hit and run driver. The second important thing you should do is get evaluated by a doctor.
You should notify your insurance carrier of the accident. Uninsured motorist coverage on your policy will cover you for injuries suffered as a result of a hit and run accident. Third, you should contact an attorney who can help you through this process, and who will fight to maximize the recovery you are entitled to.
Chain reaction accidents are unfortunately common, especially during inclement weather. When one driver error causes multiple accidents, however, it can be difficult to determine who was to blame for the accident and subsequent injuries. Further complicating things, in chain-reaction accidents, there are often multiple parties responsible for various aspects of the accident. The rules of the road come into play when figuring out fault. All drivers are required to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them. This means they are responsible for being able to stop in time, even if the roads are icy. A driver who rear-ends another vehicle will likely be responsible for that damage. Unless, however, a driver is pushed into another vehicle. This is where liability gets complicated.
Establishing fault is tricky in chain-reaction accidents and often requires a thorough investigation. Complicating the situation even more is that you may bear some responsibility for the accident as well. An experienced car accident lawyer can review all aspects of the accident to determine exactly who is to blame for the crash and for your injuries. To do this your lawyer will need to review evidence, such as skid marks, eyewitness accounts, police reports, and vehicle damage. If necessary, an accident reconstructionist may be employed.
With a tremendous amount of legal experience under our belts at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, we know that every Colorado Springs car or auto accident case is different so we can’t put a number on the value of a car accident case without digging deep into the details. Accidents in which no physical injuries are reported will clearly have very low settlement values. On the other end of the spectrum, when there are extensive medical bills, lifelong injuries, or catastrophic injuries, the dollar amount will be higher. Let’s say your car was totaled because of another negligent driver and you have some back and neck injuries. The cost to replace the car could be tens of thousands of dollars, but the medical bills for current treatment and any treatment after the fact will also need to be covered in the settlement.
Also, remember that in personal injury law, lost wages, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries that will last your entire life as well as pain and suffering need to also be included when asking for a settlement amount. Most of the time a settlement will not be reached until all medical costs have been accrued so there can be an accurate amount of funds to cover all costs associated with the injuries.
Aside from the nature of the injuries, the amount of available insurance money is also a significant factor in settlement value discussions. You could be catastrophically injured, but if the other party has minimal insurance, you realistically cannot collect more than the policy premium limit. This is main reason we encourage everyone we speak with about insurance to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on their own auto insurance policy, because that type of insurance coverage can pick up the slack if you are seriously injured by another person who either does not have insurance, or has insufficient insurance to compensate you for your injuries. On the other hand, you could be injured very slightly by a commercial vehicle with a million dollar policy, but that doesn’t mean they will have to pay out seven figures.
To get a better idea of what your claim might be worth, check out our article on the typical car accident settlement amounts and make sure to keep adequate records of all of the pain and suffering you endured during the accident and during the healing process so you can get compensation for that too.
Yes, you can file an insurance claim without a police report. Policyholders have the right to compensation even if you didn’t file a police report. In most situations though, you will want to get a police report done so you have an unbiased third party account of what happened at the scene. The police report will also help the insurance company determine who was at fault so that you can get compensation for your injuries.
It is also very common for people to be in shock after an accident and not realize they are injured right away. Things like whiplash, neck and back pain are very common in car accidents and sometimes take days or weeks for the injured party to notice. When you do notice an injury, it is best to get medically checked right away so that the liable party cannot blame those injuries on some other event. The sooner you have documentation of your injuries, the better, so make sure to contact an attorney if you have any questions about what to do as soon as possible.
Since most cases can’t be settled until all medical treatments have been performed for accurate settlement payments, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for your medical bills before you get your settlement. In most cases, we will look at your car insurance policy to see if it covers medical costs for yourself, as many policies do have this type of coverage. In some situations, you may not have this coverage so we then look at your health insurance coverage to see if you are eligible to have the bills paid for by that.
If none of your insurance covers the costs of treatment from your accident, then we will speak to your medical professionals and try to work out a pay later type of deal with them that is called a medical lien. This means that they will agree to perform treatment for you without upfront payment and will allow payment once the settlement funds have been disbursed. At the end of the day, you can be sure that our attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and help you every step of the way so you can get back to life as usual as quickly as possible.
In Colorado, a personal injury claim can be brought for any type of injury, whether that injury is physical, mental or emotional. If, for example, you were physically injured due to whiplash from the auto accident and you suffered from back pain for 6 months following the accident, you would be able to sue for your pain and suffering throughout the entire accident and healing process.
Since you went through a state of misery and pain for an extended period of time due to the fact that another person’s negligent actions caused you harm, then you are able to sue for compensation.
In many cases, there are plenty of physical and mental injuries that people endure and during that time, they have to endure tremendous amounts of pain and suffering while their body and mind heals. This is not to be overlooked and any good attorney will add detailed records of your pain and suffering to your injury claim in order to get extra compensation for it in your settlement.
To ensure you maximize your settlement, make sure to keep all of your medical records and document how your pain and suffering has negatively affected your life during your recovery time so that you have verifiable proof of your pain and suffering. This will go a long way in helping maximize your compensation package.
Here at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, our car accident clients only pay us when we win your case or reach a settlement. So if we don’t win, you don’t pay. If we do win, we take a small percentage of your settlement in exchange for our services. This way you don’t get charged anything out of pocket and if you don’t get a settlement, you pay absolutely nothing.
Our law firm is confident in our work because we know the combined experience of our team of car accident lawyers will file a solid case based on hard evidence that we can use to get a fair settlement for our client. Our fees that come out of the final settlement are paid out based on an agreed upon percentage of the financial compensation we get for you, so nothing ever comes out of your pocket when you choose to work with us on your car accident claim.
If you’ve been in a car accident and the other party was injured due to your actions, they may have grounds to sue you for compensation. The good thing about having insurance is not having to worry about finding or paying for a lawyer if this ever happens to you. If you were involved in a car accident that was your fault, the first thing to do is report it to your own insurance carrier. If you are ever sued for a car accident, instead of shopping around for a lawyer, you should immediately report that to your insurance. Your insurance company has a duty to defend you in any lawsuit that arises out of an accident that someone else claims that you have caused.
When you choose to work with Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, you are choosing to work with knowledgeable and highly experienced car & truck accident attorneys with decades of extensive experience in personal injury law as well as traffic laws. We handle every detail of the case with precision, from gathering evidence to interviewing witnesses and hiring accident recreation teams so that we can build a strong case backed by hard evidence and get you a fair settlement.
Our attorneys have won hundreds of car crash lawsuits throughout this beautiful state with a focus on Colorado Springs and nearby areas. If you want to work with a law firm with a strong track record of success in accident claims, we would be happy to give you the legal representation you deserve, so call us today for a free confidential consultation with one of our decorated attorneys.
This article was written by Michael Stuzynski of Rector Stuzynski Law Firm. Michael is a decorated personal injury attorney that has been helping Colorado Springs injury victims get compensation since 2019. With hundreds of injury settlements under his belt, he is an expert in all areas of personal injury law and litigation.
We provide legal services for personal injury and accident victims throughout the state of Colorado, but we focus on clients in these areas: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Cimarron Hills, Northeast Colorado Springs, Southeast Colorado Springs, Stratmoor, Fort Carson, Air Force Academy, East Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, Pleasant Valley, Broadmoor, Stratton Meadows, Fountain, Northwest Colorado Springs, Gleneagle, Northgate, Briargate, Monument, Woodmoor, Black Forest, Pueblo, Canon City, Larkspur, Security-Widefield, Peyton, Falcon, Calhan, Castle Rock, Teller County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Park County, Douglas County and nearby cities.
We serve clients injured in the following zip codes: 80907, 80909, 80918, 80917, 80931, 80932, 80933, 80934, 80935, 80936, 80937, 80941, 80942, 80946, 80947, 80949, 80950, 80960, 80962, 80977 ,80995 ,80997 80901, 80912, 80904, 80915, 80905, 80910, 80923, 80922, 80919, 80920, 80916, 80939, 80914, 80951, 80924, 80927, 80938, 80906, 80840, 80829, 80902, 80809, 80841, 80911, 80908, 80929, 80819, 80921, 80925, 80132, 80926, 80913, 80863, 80817, 80831, 80133, 80930, 80860, 80814, 80813, 80118, 80106, 80928, 80866, 80816, 80808, 80104, 80116, 81008, 80864, 80135, 81240, 81007, 80109, 81290, 80107, 80108, 80425, 81215, 81221, 80117, 80827, 81212, 80134, 80835, 81003, 80131, 81226, 81001, 80138, 80125, 81002, 81009, 81010, 81011, 81012, 80124, 81244, 80126, 80820, 80130, 80163, 80433, 80129, 80833, 80112, 80832, 81025, 81005, 81223, 81006, 80470, 80127, 80122 and beyond.
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Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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Rector Stuzynski Law Firm
East Location
6045 Barnes Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
(719) 304-2323
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