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Car Accident Lawyers in Colorado Springs

Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

Following a car crash, you may face seemingly countless issues that don't have easy solutions: the medical expenses are too much for you to handle; your vehicle needs repairs, the costs of which add further to your financial stress; you're not capable of performing your job duties and are losing wages, etc. To make it worse, the person who caused the crash is refusing to admit fault, or their insurance company is making it extremely difficult for you to be compensated for the damages you have suffered.

crashed cars

If this scenario seems all too familiar, it's best if you consult with an experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorney. The process of filing a claim in a case of serious or fatal injuries requires assistance from a car accident lawyer to manage the process and who protects your right to the compensation you deserve. The steps include:

Meeting with your attorney, who will gather and preserve all supporting evidence, interview eyewitnesses to the collision, and craft a claim that reflects all of your damages. Various professional resources may be needed to provide financial or medical information to adequately value the claim.

  • A letter of claim is issued to the insurance company of the responsible driver.
  • When the other party admits fault, or the evidence supports it, the insurance company will often make a settlement offer – typically far lower than is deserved, based on the facts in the case.
  • The value of the settlement is negotiated with your car accident attorney, who may choose to apply more pressure by filing a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer in a timely manner.
  • The negotiations continue, often leading to resolution before the trial date arrives.
  • If necessary, the case goes to civil court, where a jury will decide about the award due the injured person or the family who lost a loved one.

When faced with the many obstacles that the aftermath of a car crash presents, attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., Timothy Bussey and Philip Shadwick, are prepared to help a survivor and his or her family members rebuild their lives. Our law firm is committed to assisting our clients in getting money for damages associated with the crash and the resulting injuries. Call (719) 475-2555 to receive a no-cost consultation about your legal rights.

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Car Accident Case Results

  • $750,000 - Wrongful Death Car Accident
  • Undisclosed Amount - Car Accident
  • $125,000 - T-Bone Accident
  • $100,000 - Rear-End Collision

View more case results.

We Call Them "Accidents," But We Shouldn't

Crashes always have a cause. Usually it involves driver error, but there are plenty of other contributors as well, such as defective car parts, faulty road design, and damaged roadways. When two heavy metal objects collide at even moderate speeds, the results can be devastating. The incident was not an “accident,” but the result of some type of negligence. In a car collision case, establishing negligence is the critical point in the success of your claim or lawsuit. It must be proven that:

The responsible party owed you a duty of care. This is the legal responsibility to avoid actions that could harm another person.

The duty of care was breached. The actions of a driver (or auto manufacturer, or parts manufacturer) violated the duty of care.

Common Car Accident Injuries

A vehicle collision can lead to very serious injuries. Some of the most common, life-changing injuries include:

  • TBI (traumatic brain injury)
  • Concussion, coma, or vegetative state
  • Spinal cord injury (paraplegia, quadriplegia, or nerve damage)
  • Back injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Disfiguring injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Neck injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries

After a vehicle accident, you may not realize you have sustained an injury. It is imperative that you see a doctor, as some types of closed head injuries are fatal if not treated immediately. After a car accident, your first step is to see a medical professional, tell the doctor you were in a crash, and undergo a full medical assessment. Your body has a defense mechanism – it releases adrenaline, which reduces pain. You may not experience pain until hours or days after the collision, after which it is unbearable.

Soft tissue injuries are overwhelmingly common after crashes. They can range from light bruising around the chest and shoulder where a seatbelt is worn, to severe, debilitating impairments. Both drivers and passengers are susceptible to head and neck injuries, such as concussion and whiplash.

Victims need to be aware that just because they can walk away from an accident doesn't mean they aren't injured. Especially with brain injuries, the symptoms may not be immediately apparent. It may take days or weeks for signs to manifest, and over time, they can gradually grow worse.

It's in your best interests to see a doctor as soon as possible after any collision, just to be sure. Even if your seatbelt protected you, you may be suffering "seatbelt syndrome" - damage to your abdominal organs caused by the impact.

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What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?

People in today's fast-moving world tend to believe that they can multitask without a hitch, even while driving. However, the fact is our brain is not able to process multiple tasks at once with equal efficiency. In other words, we lose our ability to achieve a task at full capability when we take on other tasks at the same time. Some of the most common causes of collisions, as reported by CDOT, include:

Not all auto accidents are attributed to driver error. Some crashes occur due to forces outside of the driver's control. Dangerous road conditions or defective auto parts can and often contribute to collisions. In these cases, a government entity or auto manufacturer may be held liable for damages.

Tim provided an excellent knowledge base...

"I would like to thank Tim Bussey and his law firm for their professionalism and compassion following my car accident. I sincerely appreciate their desire to see me return to my best capacity level for my professional life and family. Tim provided an excellent knowledge base supported by a strong commitment to privacy and efficiency. Without their support, I would still be in pain and with considerable financial concerns their expertise alleviated. Many thanks to them."

- Kari

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How Do I Deal with Insurance Companies After a Car Crash?

Simply put, you shouldn't have to. That's your attorney's job. Insurance companies (both yours and the other driver's) are in the business of making money; and they make money by offering you a settlement that is typically much less than you deserve. The reason you need an attorney is because insurance companies have lawyers on their payroll, whose sole job is to represent the interests of the insurance company and their insureds, not you.

What Your Attorney Can Do in a Car Accident Case

Only a qualified, experienced car accident lawyer knows the full scope of the damages you can pursue in a claim or lawsuit. Your attorney will protect your right to the compensation you deserve, and will seek the following types of damages:

  • Economic damages: The losses associated with medical treatment and care, nursing care, rehabilitation, transportation, cost of medications and medical equipment, loss of income from work, reduced earning capacity, and other hard financial losses.
  • Non-economic damages: This part of your claim is often the highest, and reflects the personal losses experienced by a car accident victim, including pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, and emotional anguish.

When you have an attorney representing you, the insurance company's lawyers will be less likely to try and pull a fast one by offering you insufficient compensation. Lawyers intimidate many people, and feel they have no choice but to accept the offered settlement, even though they feel it is inadequate. The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., will not let that happen to you. We will thoroughly investigate your crash, document evidence, depose witnesses, and construct the strongest case possible on your behalf. You shouldn't be burdened with those tasks when you've just been injured or lost a loved one.

Following an accident, an insurance adjuster may try to contact you. It is important that you do not speak with any representative of an insurance company. An adjuster will use anything to deny your claim, including your own words. Let us handle all dealings with insurance companies. Bottom line: to get the compensation you deserve you need an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury attorney.

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How Do I Prove Fault in a Collision in Colorado Springs?

If your injury claim is disputed, you must be able to provide evidence that supports your side of the story. An attorney can help you gather the following evidence to help you prove liability and ultimately your claim:

  • Police and medical reports
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Testimony from accident reconstruction specialists and other professionals
  • Photos of the accident site, damage to vehicles, and injuries
  • Traffic camera footage

You and your attorney may also invoke your state's traffic laws to establish that wrongdoing was committed on the part of the other party. This is especially important in cases where the circumstances aren't readily apparent at the crash site.

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Wrongful Death in Colorado

When a crash takes someone's life, it can be devastating for their loved ones. Knowing that the death occurred due to someone else's negligence makes it worse, and it is only natural for the family to hold the at-fault driver accountable.

Colorado allows wrongful death lawsuits in circumstances in which the victim would have been able to file a personal injury lawsuit. A car wreck is just one of the scenarios in which such a claim could be made. To find a defendant responsible for a wrongful death, it's necessary to match the same burden of proof that would have applied had the victim lived. In the case of a car accident, it will be necessary to show that the driver acted with disregard for the safety of the people around him or her. A prime example of this would be a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorneys Protecting Your Rights

Whether your car accident was caused by a distracted driver, auto part defect, or a dangerous roadway, The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. may be able to help. Our Colorado Springs car accident lawyers have the legal resources and experience to assist our clients in seeking money for pain and suffering; lost wages and benefits; medical expenses; and other damages.

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Attorneys Who Know the Other Side’s Playbook

As a former district attorney for multiple Colorado counties, our founding attorney, Timothy Bussey, understands the other side’s tactics and know how to counter them at every turn. He understands how to counter an insurance company’s strategies. Philip Shadwick worked in the insurance industry for 18 years before deciding the represent individuals and not insurance companies. He is well versed on insurance strategies and tactics. If you’re ready to get your life back on track after a serious accident, do not wait another minute to pick up the phone and contact The Bussey Law Firm, P.C.

To take control of your future and get your life back, call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. for a free consultation, at (719) 475-2555.

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Additional Information

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