Lawyers.com Blog

Auto Accident Attorney in Colorado Springs

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:45:52 -0500

Colorado Driving Laws and Driver Responsibility

The attorneys at Sears & Swanson, P.C., have been representing automobile accident victims in Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado for more than 30 years. We know that the period following an auto accident can be traumatic, confusing, and stressful. That is why our lawyers simplify the process of obtaining fair compensation from an insurance company by handling all of the necessary communications and paperwork for you. If you suffer injuries from an auto accident, it is best to speak with one of our Colorado Springs automobile accident lawyers. What follows is a brief overview of Colorado driving laws and insurance requirements.

General Colorado driving lawsUse of safety restraints

Colorado law mandates the use of seat belts for the following:

Drivers

Front seat passengers

Children 16 and under

Exceptions are made for paramedics, police, and people with physical or psychological disabilities who obtain approval, buses, and mail carriers/delivery drivers.

In addition, the following safety devices must be used for children:

Booster seats for children 4 to 6 years old until they reach 55 inches tall

Front-facing safety seats for children 1 to 4 years old who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds

Rear-facing safety seats for children under 1 year old who weigh less than 20 pounds

If you have questions about these laws, or whether a safety restraint exemption applies to you or a loved one, an auto accident lawyer in Colorado Springs from Sears & Swanson can provide more information.

Sears & Swanson PC
2 N Cascade Ave # 1250, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1672
(719) 471-1984

Ways to Avoid a Colorado Springs Car Accident

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:39:21 -0400

Driving is a part of daily life for most Americans, but it is also one of the most dangerous activities we take part in. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there are between five and six million car crashes annually in the United States. These accidents injure millions of people and kill thousands each year.

Defensive driving, as defined by the National Safety Council, is: driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. Taking a defensive driving course can increase your ability to anticipate and respond to dangerous situations on roadways. Even if you do not take an official class, following these safety tips can help prevent a serious wreck. And remember that if you are injured in a crash, you should contact car accident lawyer in colorado springs right away.

Tip #1: Always keep a safe following distance

Many accidents are caused by a driver following another vehicle too closely. Following the two-second rule can help you keep from tailgating. To do this, choose a fixed point on the roadway and begin counting when the vehicle in front of you passes it. If you reach the marker before two seconds expire, you are following too closely.

Tip #2: Adjust to the road conditions

Certain conditions make driving considerably more dangerous. Here is what to do in the following conditions:

At night: The fatality rates for night driving are four times higher than day driving. Always have your headlights on between sunset and sunrise.
Fog/smoke: Use your low beams or fog lights (if you have them). Be prepared for sudden stops. If you do not feel safe driving in fog or smoke, pull off the road and turn on your emergency flashers.
Snow/ice: Winter driving presents particularly treacherous conditions. If you begin to slide, you should:

Remove your foot from the gas pedal
Apply the brakes firmly if you have anti-lock brakes. If you do not, pump your brakes gently if you are about to collide with something
Steer into the direction of the slide to straighten out

Tip # 3: Avoid distractions

Multi-tasking is common these days. colorado springs car accident attorney. But driver distractions can be deadly. While behind the wheel, attorneys recommend you heed the following advice:

Do not read or write
Only use a phone if you have a hands-free device
Use preset buttons on your radio to avoid taking your eyes off the road for extended periods
Do not eat or drink

A popular saying in defensive driving is: Always expect other drivers to do the unexpected. Obeying this maxim, as well as the guidelines above, will help keep you safe behind the wheel. For more safety tips and car accident help, you should contact local attorneys.

Get a free consultation with a Colorado Springs car accident lawyer

Call us toll-free today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with a car accident attorney in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (866) 695-5158 or (719) 471-1984, or visit the Contact Us Page.

Sears & Swanson PC
2 N Cascade Ave # 1250, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1672
(719) 471-1984

Continue reading "Ways to Avoid a Colorado Springs Car Accident"

How to Deal with Insurance Companies after a Colorado Springs Auto Accident

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:21:53 -0400

When you submit a claim to an insurance company after an automobile accident, you will more than likely be contacted by an insurance adjustor whose job it is to investigate the claim. Understand that the role of the adjustor is not to facilitate the claims process for you, but to try and mitigate the insurance company liability for losses. What you say, and do not say, while speaking to an adjustor could play a large role in determining the amount of compensation you receive.

It is advisable to seek help from a Colorado Springs car accident attorney, who can handle the task of communicating with an insurance company for you. But if you choose to speak with an insurer yourself, following the guidelines below will help you avoid actions that could have a negative effect on your claim.

Record the details of all communications with an adjustor.

If the correspondence is by mail or email, save a copy of the document. When speaking on the phone to an adjustor, record the following information:

The date and time of the call
The name of the representative
Who the adjustor is calling on behalf of
The name, address and phone number of the insurance company

Limit what you say to an adjustor

The following personal information is safe to reveal to an insurance adjustor:

Name
Address
Occupation
Employer

Other information, such as details about your job and work duties, family members, or additional personal information, does not need to be divulged. Car accident lawyers in Colorado Springs can advise you on what, specifically, to say to an adjustor.

Deny the adjustor’s request to record your conversation.

When speaking to an adjustor, he or she will often request that you reveal details surrounding the cause of the accident. If you inadvertently admit fault, in any way, it could be an insurmountable hurdle to receiving financial compensation. Feel free to disclose information such as where and when the accident occurred and the vehicles involved, but do not discuss anything else, especially who was at fault, and do not consent to having the conversation recorded.

Do not discuss your injury

Give no details of your injury. You may admit, for example, that you have a broken arm or cuts and bruises, but never minimize the extent of your injuries. Some injuries are not discovered for a long time after an accident. If you make a statement denying or minimizing your injuries, an insurer could use this against you later.

Do not rush to an early settlement

An early settlement offer by an adjustor may seem like a great deal but, again, it is important to remember whose interests the adjustor serves. It is difficult to know the full value of your claim early in the process, before you understand the extent of your injuries and how much they will cost you, and before you have had the chance to talk about your case with auto accident attorneys. If you accept an early settlement and later find out your injuries are more severe and more expensive than you originally thought, you will have no recourse.

Contact Sears & Strafford to speak with a Colorado Springs auto accident lawyer
Call us toll-free today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with an auto accident attorney in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (866) 695-5158 or (719) 471-1984.

Sears & Swanson, P.C.
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Continue reading "How to Deal with Insurance Companies after a Colorado Springs Auto Accident"

Filing an Auto Accident Lawsuit in Colorado Springs

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:31:22 -0400

Common Misconceptions

Insurance companies are required to give fair compensation to people injured in car accidents. If you are filing a third-party claim for injuries sustained in a car accident, the other party’s insurance company will, in all likelihood, offer you compensation that is well below what a personal injury lawyer would demand. Unfortunately, car accident victims sometimes accept the ‘quick money’ from insurance companies because they believe, based on suggestions from the insurance company, that they will never receive a more favorable settlement. If you are filing an automobile accident lawsuit in Colorado Springs and are unsure about how to deal with an insurance company, do not hesitate to contact attorneys at Sears & Swanson.

Victims of car accidents in Colorado Springs should try to reach a settlement as soon as possible. Naturally, insurance companies would prefer that you settle quickly in order to avoid the potentiality of a higher-cost settlement after the full extent of the injury and associated costs becomes apparent. While there is a statue of limitations of two years for filing a claim, accident victims may need time to assess the full extent of the injuries and their associated costs. An auto accident might cause a person to be unable to work for a long period of time, or unable to work the same type of job they had in the past. Also, remember that the insurance company at fault will only pay once, after your claim has been settled. Before you file an auto accident lawsuit in Colorado Springs, speak to an attorney.

Sears & Swanson, P.C.
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Continue reading "Filing an Auto Accident Lawsuit in Colorado Springs"

Filing an Auto Accident Lawsuit in Colorado Springs

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:34:04 -0400

Common Misconceptions

Insurance companies are required to give fair compensation to people injured in car accidents. If you are filing a third-party claim for injuries sustained in a car accident, the other party’s insurance company will, in all likelihood, offer you compensation that is well below what a personal injury lawyer would demand. Unfortunately, car accident victims sometimes accept the ‘quick money’ from insurance companies because they believe, based on suggestions from the insurance company, that they will never receive a more favorable settlement. If you are filing an automobile accident lawsuit in Colorado Springs and are unsure about how to deal with an insurance company, do not hesitate to contact attorneys at Sears & Swanson.

Victims of car accidents in Colorado Springs should try to reach a settlement as soon as possible. Naturally, insurance companies would prefer that you settle quickly in order to avoid the potentiality of a higher-cost settlement after the full extent of the injury and associated costs becomes apparent. While there is a statue of limitations of two years for filing a claim, accident victims may need time to assess the full extent of the injuries and their associated costs. An auto accident might cause a person to be unable to work for a long period of time, or unable to work the same type of job they had in the past. Also, remember that the insurance company at fault will only pay once, after your claim has been settled. Before you file an auto accident lawsuit in Colorado Springs, speak to an attorney.

Sears & Swanson, P.C.
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Continue reading "Filing an Auto Accident Lawsuit in Colorado Springs"

Most Dangerous Highways for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Colorado

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:57:33 -0400

Most Dangerous Highways in ColoradoIn 2008, 548 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in Colorado. Many of these fatal accidents occur on Colorado’s highways, where vehicles travel at high speeds for long stretches. Accidents happen for many reasons, including fatigue and inattention, intoxication from alcohol or drugs, speeding, and bad weather.

In response to the fatalities on Colorado’s roads, the Colorado State Patrol has designated ‘highway safety zones’ to target segments of highways with particularly high fatality rates. The list of most dangerous highways includes state and interstate highways throughout Colorado:

Interstate 25 in Adams and El Paso Counties
Highway 50 in Pueblo and Delta/Montrose Counties
Highway 287 in Larimer County
Interstate 70 in Mesa, Eagle, and Clear Creek Counties
Highway 13 in Rio Blanco County
Colorado 172 in La Plata County
Colorado 160 in Archuleta, Rio Grande, and Costilla Counties
Colorado 92 in Delta/Montrose Counties
Colorado 550 in Montrose/Ouray Counties
’30 Area’ in Jefferson County
Highway 119 in Boulder County

The stated goal of the highway safety zones is to reduce the rate of fatalities from motor vehicle crashes on these stretches of state and federal highways by increasing police patrolling.

Increased police patrolling is just one component of avoiding accidents on Colorado’s most dangerous highways. Drivers must also do their part by resisting behaviors that commonly cause accidents, such as impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving.

If you are injured in a crash on one of Colorado’s highways due to negligent driving, it may be possible to receive compensation from insurance companies for your injuries. Recording accident details, obtaining police reports, preserving evidence, and obtaining contact information of potential witnesses are all steps that should be taken. In addition, you can contact an attorney to guide you through the complicated process of filing claims with insurance companies.

Sears & Swanson, P.C. - colorado springs auto accident lawyer

colorado springs automobile accident

colorado springs car accident
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Continue reading "Most Dangerous Highways for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Colorado"

Understanding the Law in CO and Driver Responsibility

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:10:47 -0400

Colorado Springs Auto Accidents and Traffic Laws

Auto accident lawyers in Colorado Springs at Sears & Swanson, P.C., know the laws of Colorado’s roads. If you are involved in an accident in which certain traffic laws were violated by the party in involved in the crash, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and the associated costs of those injuries.

Traffic laws are designed to make the roads safe for everybody. Drivers have a special duty to behave responsibly when behind the wheel in order to ensure the safety of themselves, passengers, other automobiles, and also pedestrians and bicyclists.

Every state has traffic laws which govern how people should act on the roads, who is allowed to drive, and the consequences for not obeying the rules. A sample of some of the topics covered in the Colorado state statutes shows their breadth:

Requirements for driver’s licenses and permits
Rules for reporting accidents
Registration and inspection requirements
Restrictions on the use of equipment (horns, lamps, etc)
Speed limits
Rules for driving in school zones
Driving under the influence of alcohol

Determining Fault for Accidents
Car accidents happen for many different reasons, including intoxication, distraction, inattention, reckless driving, and bad weather. If you are the victim of a Colorado Springs car accident, contact lawyers at Sears & Swanson to see if you could be entitled to compensation.

In order to receive compensation, you may need to prove that the other party is at fault for the accident. In some cases, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, this can be very clear. In other cases, an injured victim’s attorney may have to provide convincing evidence—either to the other party’s insurance company or to the court if a settlement cannot be reached—that the other party was negligent.

Determining negligence in Colorado is largely based on the principle of duty of care, which demands that drivers act reasonably. To collect from an injury, a victim of an accident has to prove that the driver did not exercise duty of care (i.e., the driver was careless) and that this carelessness caused the injuries

Modified Comparative Negligence in Colorado

Colorado state law institutes comparative negligence. Comparative negligence acknowledges that sometimes, both parties contributed to the cause of an accident or injury. In comparative negligence, the amount paid is proportional to the judgment of who is at-fault. Colorado follows a modified version of this principle by precluding parties who are more than 49% responsible for an injury from recovering any damages. Colorado Springs automobile accident Law

Sears & Swanson, P.C. - Colorado Springs car accident lawyers
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Continue reading "Understanding the Law in CO and Driver Responsibility "

After Car Accident: First Steps

nospam@example.com (Victoria C. Swanson) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:18:20 -0400

What to Do After a Car Accident

Car accidents are sudden, unexpected events that can leave parties involved feeling stunned and confused. If you are involved in a Colorado Springs car accident and are fortunate enough to avoid serious injuries requiring urgent medical attention, then there are some steps you can take following the accident to significantly improve your chances of reaching a settlement in the future.

At the scene of the accident

The first and perhaps most obvious point is to stay at the scene of the accident. In Colorado, as elsewhere, there are serious penalties for hit-and-run drivers.

Call the police.
Exchange contact information with the other drivers involved.
Talk to witnesses and obtain contact information of witnesses, if possible. If possible, record what they tell you.
If possible, take photographs of the accident scene, including damage to your vehicle.

Note: you should be very careful when talking to the other parties involved in the accident. Apologies and admissions of fault can be used against you when trying to reach a settlement.

Beyond the scene of the accident

After the police have arrived and you are free to leave the scene of the accident, you will want to contact your insurance company and let them know what happened. It is a good idea to be prepared with details about the accident before contacting the insurance company.

If you have received medical care and incurred medical costs, you will want to keep an organized record of the treatments and costs for presenting to an insurance company or at court. If you are contacted by a representative of the other party’s insurance company, you are not obliged to speak, nor should you, about the details of the accident.

Rather than engaging with insurance companies by yourself, you should contact a personal injury attorney. An attorney will assess the details of the accident and your injuries and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf in order to obtain a more favorable settlement.

Sears & Swanson - Auto accident lawyers in Colorado Springs

First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Automobile accidents in Colorado Springs

InjuriesJustice.Com

Continue reading "After Car Accident: First Steps"