If you’ve been injured in an accident — such a car crash, slip and fall, or construction accident – and another person or company was responsible, then you may be entitled to money to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, damaged or destroyed property, and more. A Denver personal injury lawyer can evaluate the facts in your specific situation and help determine whether you can cause to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury is an area of the law that focuses on compensating victims for the injuries they’ve suffered as a result of the negligent or deliberate actions of another party. Common types of personal injury cases include:
- Automobile, truck, motorcycle and other types of motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Medical malpractice
- Boating accidents
- Defective products
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice
Colorado Personal Injury Law
Under Colorado law, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party, which can be one or more individuals, or an organization such as a business or government. (The party you’re suing is known as the defendant, and the injured party is known as the plaintiff.) If you don’t immediately discover the injury, that two-year deadline may be extended to two years from the time you learned of the injury.
It’s unwise to wait too long to file a lawsuit because you run the risk of missing the cut off. If that happens, your lawsuit will be dismissed and you’ll be unable to collect any compensation.
For your lawsuit to be successful, you’ll have to demonstrate that:
- The defendant behaved in a negligent or reckless manner
- That reckless or negligent behavior cause you to be injured
- As a result of your injuries, you suffered financial losses, such as doctors’ bills and lost wages
Compensation in Colorado Personal Injury Lawsuits
Under Colorado’s personal injury laws, you are entitled to damages, or compensation for your injuries. These are divided into three categories. Economic damages cover your out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of your accident. Medical bills and lost wages would fall into this category. Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for your pain and suffering. Physical impairment and disfigurement damages compensate you for any lasting injuries. Under Colorado law, there are limits to how much you can recover for non-economic losses.
