Automobile Accidents
Thousands of automobile accidents happen every year on Colorado roads. Speeding and inattentive drivers are the primary causes. These crashes cause many deaths and injuries to innocent people who were simply minding their own business. The auto accident trial lawyers at the Colorado Springs law office of Melat, Pressman & Higbie, LLP, represent individuals injured in crashes involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles. They also represent families in wrongful death actions regarding their loved ones. The attorneys in our firm concentrate their practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and insurance bad faith claims and have achieved numerous successful settlements and verdicts.
The Role of Liability Insurance
Under Colorado law, all drivers must be insured for up to $25,000 for personal injury or wrongful death to one person and up to $50,000 to compensate for all injuries and/or death caused to all people in an accident. And, every driver must be insured for up to $15,000 for property damage they cause. While the required minimum amounts may provide some measure of compensation the injured, these minimums are most certainly inadequate to fully and fairly compensate someone with serious injuries. A spinal cord injury, for instance, can easily lead to expenses more than ten times the amount minimally required by law, without even considering noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. Just because a negligent driver is insured, it does not mean the plaintiff will be fully compensated without the necessity of serious negotiations or a lawsuit. Consult with a Colorado Springs injury lawyer for more information about whether your situation requires litigation.
Even though the law requires drivers to carry liability insurance, many people ignore the law and drive without it. For this reason, it is wise to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. With this coverage, your own insurance company covers your losses in the event you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. UM/UIM is not mandatory and can be waived by the insured. But, compared to other types of auto insurance, UM/UIM coverage is relatively inexpensive while still providing excellent protection.
The Role of the Car Accident Lawyer
Legal representation by a reliable personal injury lawyer in Colorado Springs is recommended when dealing directly with the other driver or with an insurance company, even if it is your own company. Insurance companies have a financial incentive to deny claims whenever possible, or to settle for as little as they can get away with.
Insurance industry statistics have shown that injured people who have legal representation, especially from an experienced trial law firm specializing in personal injury cases, receive more than 6 times the amount of compensation for their injuries than those who are unrepresented.
With our experience and track record of proven results, we are capable of making sure the insurance company deals with you fairly. When insurance companies act in bad faith, we pursue actions directly against them for the damages caused by their unreasonable behavior. If you have been injured or if someone you love has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, consult with the law firm of Melat, Pressman & Higbie, LLP, by contacting us online or calling toll free at 1-888-767-3063 for a free consultation regarding your rights, the time limits that may apply and the options available to you.
