Car Accident Lawyer in Centennial, CO
Colorado roads are experiencing the same epidemic as those in the rest of the country: increasingly dangerous driving is causing the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities to increase. Not only are more people dying in car accidents, but many more motorists and their passengers are suffering severe injuries.
At the law firm of Varner Faddis Elite Legal, we proudly represent the rights of car accident victims in Centennial and throughout Colorado. We go above and beyond for our clients, obtaining $1,250,000 for a motor vehicle accident victim among other case results that total millions of dollars. Reach out today if you suffered injuries and believe someone else was to blame. Reach out to a Centennial car accident lawyer.
Fighting for the Rights of Accident Victims
We always fight for justice under the law for our clients, but sometimes, the law is inadequate to protect the interests of accident victims. Our firm recently played a role in enacting new Colorado legislation to close a loophole that left many accident victims without protection.
Our client suffered injuries as a Lyft passenger in a hit-and-run, and Lyft had no legal obligation to cover any losses due to third-party liability. Now, due in part to our efforts, Gov. Jared Polis signed a law requiring all rideshare companies to provide uninsured motorist coverage.
We fight for compensation for our clients, as well as laws that provide extended compensation to injured victims.
Dangerous Spots on Centennial Area Roads
In Colorado, 672 people died on the state’s roadways in 2021. Traffic fatalities have risen nearly 50 percent in the last decade.
In Centennial and the Denver area, there are more accidents at dangerous spots like:
- Colorado State Route 470
- I-25 and I-70
- Arapahoe Road
- U.S. Route 85
Centennial drivers have gotten far worse over the past decade, regardless of the type of road. The pandemic took an already worsening situation and made it more dangerous, as drivers picked up even worse habits. Motorists who were already distracted can now add recklessness to their list of poor driving habits. As the roads become more crowded again, drivers carry forward their diminished safety concerns, making roads more dangerous for everyone.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a car accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. The lawyers at Varner Faddis Elite Legal LLC work with injured clients just like you, and we have helped many people like you collect a settlement check after their car accident injuries.
We have obtained six and even seven-figure awards for our clients when someone else has injured them. Call us today to discuss your car accident case.
Negligence Is the Legal Standard in Every Accident Case
You must prove someone else’s negligence to receive financial compensation for your injuries in any car accident case. Negligence is another way of saying that someone else did something wrong, and it caused your accident.
The negligence test is the same in every car accident case, no matter what happened (as it is in any personal injury case). You must prove four elements to get a settlement check or win your case before the jury. If you fail to meet any of them, you will not receive compensation.
The elements of the test are:
- Duty – The other driver owed you a duty of care to act reasonably. Every driver owes this duty to other drivers on the road around them and their passengers. This element is usually the easiest one to meet.
- Breach – The driver must have done something (or did not do something) that departs from the ordinary standard of care that an average driver will have followed. The average driver is attentive behind the wheel and follows traffic laws.
- Injury – You must have suffered some injury, whether it was physical or to your property
- Causation – You must prove that you will not have suffered an injury had it not been for what the other driver did.
Here, the second one is the most critical element of the negligence test. Car accident cases come down to discovering what the other driver did and then comparing it to what they should have done under the circumstances. The law does not expect drivers to be perfect, but it demands that they exercise due care and not injure you.
What May Constitute Negligence in a Car Accident
Here are some examples of negligence in a car accident case:
- Careless driving
- Illegal lane changes
- Speeding
- Following too closely behind another vehicle
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign
- Running a red light
In addition, you can also receive compensation when another driver was reckless or drunk behind the wheel. First, you must prove what the other driver did to show why they have a legal obligation to pay you. Gathering proof of what happened in a car accident can be challenging on your own, especially when you are injured or do not know how the legal process works. In the meantime, it can get more challenging to assemble a case each day after the accident passes.
What You Should Do After a Car Accident
There are two main things that you should do after any car accident:
- See a doctor to have your injuries diagnosed and treated
- Contact an attorney to begin the legal process to receive compensation
Car accident injuries are not always apparent at the scene or on the day of the accident. Some car accident victims do not even know that they are victims of an injury at first. In the days and weeks after the accident, they realize that something is wrong.
Why You Need to See a Doctor Immediately
Prompt medical care after your car accident has these benefits:
- A healthcare professional can diagnose and treat a condition before it gets worse, allowing you to begin your recovery sooner
- It allows you to begin the legal process because you need to know the full extent of your injuries before you seek compensation for them
- It keeps the insurance company from challenging your claim because you did not mitigate your damages or that your injury happened because of something other than the car accident
It does not matter what happened in the car accident – you should always speak with a lawyer. If it turns out that you do not have a compelling case, it will not cost you anything to at least have an initial consultation. However, if you do nothing and do not contact an attorney, you may have left money on the table.
Insurance Companies Try to Trample on Your Legal Rights
When you have a compelling legal case, things may happen before you are ready. The other driver’s insurance company knows that they may owe you a large amount of money, and they go into overdrive to protect themselves.
Their efforts can include:
- Pressuring you to give a statement that can contradict what you submit on paper with your claim
- Trying to rush you into a settlement agreement that pays you far less than you deserve
Accident victims have legal rights that insurance companies are quite willing to trample in the name of their profits. The longer you go without an attorney, the more you might be at risk. Not only will an attorney work to gather the proof that you need on the liability side, but they will also protect you when the insurance company overreaches at your expense.
You Deserve Damages When Someone Else Is at Fault
Once you get to discussing money, things can become a lot more complex. In many cases, the insurance company knows that its driver was responsible for the accident. They focus their efforts on denying you the amount of money you deserve.
You have the legal right to compensation for everything you lost in the accident, whether it is an actual economic loss or damage to your physical or emotional well-being. Even though car accident damages can take on different forms, the compensation rules are the same; the responsible driver must pay for the harm they caused you.
In any car accident, you may receive compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even in a seemingly minor car accident, you can still rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills. Routine trips to the emergency room can lead to significant charges, and you want to make sure that you have money left after your settlement.
Wrongful Death Damages from a Car Accident Fatality
If your loved one died in a car accident, your family might qualify for wrongful death compensation.
Colorado law allows these family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Spouse
- Heirs
- Designated beneficiary
- Parents
Colorado wrongful death laws are complex, so you should consult an attorney for legal advice about whether and when you can file a lawsuit. When you have lost a loved one to someone else’s carelessness, your family wants justice.
Regardless of the type of damages you are claiming, you can expect that the insurance company will not want to pay them in full. They may be happy to throw tens of thousands of dollars your way, knowing that your claim is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The only way to know that the insurance company is trying to take advantage of you is to hire an experienced attorney who knows how much money you deserve.
The Insurance Company Cannot Dictate to You
Many people do not even know that they can negotiate with the insurance company. They think that the insurance company is all-powerful without understanding that they represent the driver who caused your accident. You do not have to take what they are offering if they are denying your claim or trying to give you too little.
You have legal options when dealing with a difficult or unreasonable insurance company:
- Say no to their low offer.
- Negotiate
- Take your case to court and let a jury decide the matter because they are the ones with the real power to determine the fate of your legal rights
Do not make the mistake of thinking that the insurance company is more powerful than it is. When you have a tough and dedicated lawyer from Varner Faddis Elite Legal on your side, we can take them on if necessary.
Centennial Car Accident FAQs
Should I file a lawsuit or deal with the insurance company to get a settlement?
It all depends on the circumstances of your case. Your lawyer will know how to proceed based on their experience and how the insurance company is acting in your case. Filing a lawsuit introduces some risks to the case, but you may have no choice but to file a lawsuit against an unreasonable insurance company.
Will my case go to trial if I file a car accident lawsuit?
Not necessarily. Just because you have filed a lawsuit does not mean that your case cannot settle before you reach the point of a trial. In fact, a large majority of personal injury cases will settle, and very few of them will ever reach trial.
Both you and the insurance company have compelling reasons why you will want to settle your case and avoid a trial. However, a trial is necessary in some cases because you need an objective jury to decide your matter instead of a self-interested insurance company.
Contact a Centennial Car Accident Lawyer Today
Whether your claim is worth tens of thousands of dollars or millions of dollars, you need legal help just the same.
Varner Faddis Elite Legal are the legal heavy hitters that you want on your side when your financial future is on the line. To learn about what we can do for you, contact us online or call us today at 720-710-9073 to schedule your free initial consultation. We can meet you where you are to help you get started on your legal case more quickly.
Office
6025 South Quebec St.
Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: 720-710-9073
