Getting hurt in a car accident can change your life in seconds. Whether it’s a fender bender or a high-speed crash, the aftermath is often stressful and confusing. Medical bills, insurance paperwork, and lost wages pile up fast while you’re still just trying to get back on your feet. When another driver’s negligence causes your injuries, you shouldn’t have to go through it alone. Having an experienced attorney on your side helps you take the right steps right from the start. The attorneys from Dulin McQuinn Young are ready to help you schedule a free consultation with an Aurora car accident attorney today.
Why You Should Work With an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer From Dulin McQuinn Young
When you’re injured in a car accident, choosing the right legal team can make all the difference for your recovery and your future. We’re a great choice for the following reasons:
- Our attorneys have won record-breaking jury verdicts in the Denver area and know how to fight back against large insurance companies that care more about their bottom line than your health.
- We’re selective about the cases we accept, so every client receives the thorough, personalized attention they deserve from start to finish.
- We have over 20 years of courtroom and negotiation experience, giving us the knowledge we need to get you the justice you deserve.
Let us help you handle the complex legal aspects of the case so you don’t have to.
The Importance of Working With an Attorney After an Aurora Car Accident Injury
A car crash leaves injured parties with pain and confusion, and it can be difficult to know what to do next. An attorney does much more than just file paperwork – here’s why they’re so important:
- A lawyer manages strict deadlines, so you never risk losing out on compensation due to missed paperwork.
- They will build your case using witness interviews, video footage, insight from medical experts, and accident reconstructions if needed.
- A lawyer helps you push back against insurance company tactics that inevitably try to reduce your payout.
Working with a lawyer is the best way to ensure you don’t leave money on the table after an injury caused by someone else’s negligence.
Who Could Be Liable in a Car Accident
Determining who is liable for a car accident often isn’t as simple as blaming the other driver. In reality, responsibility can belong to several individuals or even organizations, depending on the circumstances behind the crash. Here’s a look at some of the parties who may share fault:
Other Driver
The most common scenario is when the other motorist’s negligent behavior -like speeding, texting, or running a red light – directly causes the collision
Vehicle Owner
Sometimes the person who owns the car isn’t the one driving, but someone else the owner lets use the vehicle. If they allowed an unqualified, reckless, or intoxicated driver to get behind the wheel, the car owner could be held financially responsible for what happens.
Employers and Companies
If you were hit by a delivery truck or a vehicle used for business purposes, the company that owns the vehicle and employs the driver might be on the hook. This is known as vicarious liability, and companies could be responsible even if they weren’t negligent in any way.
Automakers or Parts Manufacturers
If a blown tire, failed brakes, airbag malfunction, or other defective part triggered the crash, the responsibility could land with the automaker or whoever supplied those parts.
Government Entities or Contractors
In cases where poor road design, blocked signs, potholes, or overlooked repairs were to blame, the city, county, or a contracted company that maintains the roads could be partially or entirely responsible for the accident.
Victim Partially at Fault
Sometimes the injured party shares some responsibility for what happened. Colorado law uses a modified comparative negligence system in these cases, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of the blame is less than 50%.
(1) Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in any action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if such negligence was not as great as the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person for whose injury, damage, or death recovery is made.
(2) In any action to which subsection (1) of this section applies, the court, in a nonjury trial, shall make findings of fact or, in a jury trial, the jury shall return a special verdict which shall state:
(a) The amount of the damages which would have been recoverable if there had been no contributory negligence; and
(b) The degree of negligence of each party, expressed as a percentage.
(3) Upon the making of the finding of fact or the return of a special verdict, as is required by subsection (2) of this section, the court shall reduce the amount of the verdict in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person for whose injury, damage, or death recovery is made; but, if the said proportion is equal to or greater than the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, then, in such event, the court shall enter a judgment for the defendant.
For example, if you’re involved in an accident where you were speeding but the other driver ran a red light, you may be found partially at fault, though the other driver will likely bear the majority of the responsibility.
In these cases, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. So, if you are 30% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you’ll receive 70%, or $70,000, instead.
Contact an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer From Dulin McQuinn Young To Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Time matters after a car crash, and the sooner you call us, the sooner we can get started on your case. We review every detail, finding important facts that others might have missed. We won’t stop fighting until you get the care and compensation you need. Call Dulin McQuinn Young today and set up your free consultation with an Aurora car accident lawyer.