Colorado Springs Orthopedic Injury Lawyer
Key Takeaways
- Deadline: 3 years if a motor vehicle was involved (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)); 2 years for most other injury claims (C.R.S. 13-80-102).
- If you were partly at fault: damages are reduced by your share and barred entirely at 50% (C.R.S. 13-21-111).
- Where it is filed: El Paso County Combined Courts, 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
How is an orthopaedic injury claim valued?
By what is left when treatment finishes, not by the operation.
Hardware that stays in, a joint that no longer moves fully, the likelihood of revision surgery, and any permanent impairment rating are what set the number, along with whether you can return to the work you did. Surgery and rehabilitation are economic and uncapped. Pain and suffering fall under the $1,500,000 noneconomic cap for claims accruing on or after 1 January 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(3)(a)(II)); the permanent restriction is physical impairment, and C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5) says the cap does not limit damages for physical impairment or disfigurement.
When is an orthopaedic claim ready to settle?
At maximum medical improvement — the point where a surgeon can say what is permanent.
Before that, nobody knows whether hardware will need removal, whether the joint will stiffen, or whether post-traumatic arthritis will follow, and a release covers all of it regardless. An impairment rating obtained at that point is what converts a description into a number.
Dedicated Advocates for Orthopedic Injury Victims in Colorado Springs
Orthopedics is the branch of medicine focused on care of the musculoskeletal system. This system of the body consists of muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Orthopedic doctors use surgical and nonsurgical techniques to treat musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.
What Are Some Common Types of Orthopedic Injuries?
Different types of accidents can cause a range of orthopedic injuries. Common injuries include:
- Bone fractures: Trauma can cause fractures of the arm, leg, elbow, knee, hand, wrist, ankle, hip, or any bone in the body. Broken bones can range in severity from a stable fracture, in which the bone has not moved, to an open/compound fracture, with the bone protruding through the skin, to a comminuted fracture, in which the bone is broken into several pieces. While a stable fracture may only require rest and immobilization, treatment for severe fractures may involve multiple surgeries, traction, and pins or metal rods to hold the bones in place.
- Dislocations: Shoulder, knee, hip, or finger joint dislocations can be caused by motor vehicle crashes and other types of accidents. A dislocation occurs when a bone slips out of the joint. These painful injuries may require medical maneuvers to move the bone back into place or surgical treatment in some cases.
- Compartment syndrome: This painful condition occurs with pressure build-up within the muscles, usually after a bone fracture or crush injury. The pressure can reduce blood flow to the nerves and muscle cells. Compartment syndrome requires emergency medical treatment to prevent permanent muscle damage.
- Back and neck injuries: These injuries are common in motor vehicle collisions and slip or trip and fall accidents. They can be painful and debilitating. Back and neck orthopedic injuries can limit a person’s ability to work, care for children, and perform activities of daily living. Depending on the specific injury, treatment may involve over-the-counter medications, physical therapy, surgery, or other treatments.
How do Most Orthopedic Injuries Occur and Who Is Liable?
Many accident victims suffer orthopedic injuries. Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, bicycle wrecks, pedestrian accidents, and slip or trip and fall accidents are common causes. When an accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, that party may be held liable for resulting orthopedic injuries. For example, if a distracted driver causes a collision, the at-fault driver may be held responsible for injuries the other driver suffers in the crash. If a slip and fall accident occurred because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, the property owner may be held liable.
What are the Consequences of Orthopedic Injuries?
Severe orthopedic injuries can have devastating consequences for victims. They may be required to undergo multiple surgeries and physical therapy, suffer loss of mobility, and experience significant pain. Some orthopedic injuries take months to heal, and some have long-term effects, with chronic pain and loss of enjoyment of life.
What Compensation Is Available to Orthopedic Injury Victims in Colorado Springs?
Accident victims who suffer orthopedic injuries through the negligence of another are entitled to pursue compensation for their losses. Damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages or earnings, loss of future earning potential, disability, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our Colorado Springs injury attorneys can assess the full extent of your damages and vigorously pursue the maximum compensation available.
If you have sustained orthopedic injuries in an accident that was someone else’s fault, call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. at (719) 475-2555 to schedule a free consultation. We are dedicated advocates and seasoned litigators with a history of success for our clients. Timothy Bussey has been voted Top Attorney in Colorado Springs by Colorado Springs Style Magazine for nine years in a row.
What Are the Colorado Deadlines and Rules on This Claim?
Which deadline applies depends on how the injury happened, not on what it is called. Colorado gives three years to a claim arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle and two years to most other injury claims. Missing the deadline normally ends the claim regardless of its merits.
| A claim arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle | 3 years — C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n) |
|---|---|
| Most other personal injury claims | 2 years — C.R.S. 13-80-102 |
| If you were partly at fault | Damages reduced by your share, barred at 50% — C.R.S. 13-21-111 |
| Where a Colorado Springs claim is filed | El Paso County Combined Courts, 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
Sources and References
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 13 (Colorado General Assembly)
- El Paso County Combined Courts — Colorado Judicial Branch
- The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. — Google Business Profile
Deadlines are cited by section to the Colorado General Assembly’s published 2024 revised statutes. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Our Colorado Springs Office
The Bussey Law Firm, P.C.
12 E. Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 475-2555
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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