Were you injured in a car accident by an uninsured Colorado driver? Are you worried that you’ll be unable to carry out your normal duties, and you may even have to miss work? Are you unsure whether you can afford your medical bills?
If you’ve been in a car accident with an under-insured or uninsured Colorado driver, we recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer near you to help you understand your legal rights. We recommend you work with a law firm that specializes as a Colorado car accident lawyer to make sure you receive fair compensation for your physical and emotional trauma and other expenses.
Below is information that might help you figure out your next step.
Colorado Car Accident Liability Insurance Laws
Liability car insurance is insurance that pays other parties when they are injured in a car accident and/or their property is damaged in a car accident and the insured person is considered “at-fault.”
Each state (with the exception of New Hampshire) requires that people have a minimum amount of car liability coverage insurance, but the amount varies by state.
The state of Colorado requires the following minimums for liability insurance for motor vehicles:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $15,000 per accident for property damage
If you live in Colorado, it’s a wise decision to have a car insurance policy that covers you should you find yourself in an accident with someone who is uninsured or under-insured. While uninsured motorist insurance is not required by Colorado law, it’s something that your insurance company should offer as a part of the package.
Dealing with Uninsured Drivers in Colorado
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and you’re surprised that the at-fault party does not have adequate (or any) insurance, you should know that it’s actually quite common — in fact, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) suggests that the number of people driving without liability insurance on their vehicles is around 14%.
The point of having liability insurance is that if you get injured in a car accident that is not your fault, the other driver’s liability insurance will compensate for expenses related to the accident.
The money you receive should cover all damage and losses incurred by the car accident, including medical expenses, damages and lost wages if you miss work.
If you are injured in a car accident in Colorado and the at-fault party is not insured, things can be quite complicated.
What To Do if Injured in a Car Accident by an Uninsured Driver
Be sure you clearly understand your car insurance every time you buy a new policy. Should you find yourself in an auto accident with an uninsured (or underinsured) party, here’s what to do:
- After calling medical personnel and ensuring the safety of everyone involved, you should exchange all contact information with the other party and take photos.
- Once you have detailed contact information, you can pass it to your own insurance company, including a signed statement from the other party if your insurance company requires it.
- Submit your own claim only after you have given their information to your company.
- If the other party was underinsured, their carrier will compensate you as much as the policy allows. You will then need to make a claim to your own insurance company for the rest of your compensation.
Possible Courses of Action
You don’t want to get stuck having to manage a case where you have to deal with an uninsured driver who is at fault — car accidents are complicated enough as it is.
To add to that, often when Colorado drivers don’t have liability insurance, it sometimes means that they can’t afford it. So there is a good chance the at-fault driver won’t be able to afford to compensate you out of pocket either. The best thing to do to ensure adequate compensation is to get the right type of insurance coverage in the first place.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re dealing with an uninsured Colorado driver who is unable to settle, it might be pointless going after a settlement as it will cost more than you will receive. Mediation services may help with this, and a civil lawsuit, while possible, should be a last resort.
Speak to a Colorado Springs Personal Injury Attorney
The good news is that, if you want a consultation from a car accident lawyer, you’ll pay nothing in fees until you get compensation. This is called a contingency fee, and you will only pay the contingency fee from money received from the at-fault party in the car accident. This is a normal pay structure for Colorado personal injury lawyers.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident by an uninsured driver, we recommend you speak with a local Colorado Springs personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
King & Beaty specializes in car accident injury lawsuits. Contact us to schedule your free personal injury consultation to determine if you have a case.
Call (719) 505-9999
