Colorado Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
When you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, your world is turned upside down in an instant. During this challenging time, you deserve a compassionate and experienced Colorado catastrophic injury lawyer who understands the gravity of your situation and is dedicated to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve.
At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we recognize the immense challenges you face after a life-altering injury. Our team of skilled Colorado catastrophic injury attorneys is here to provide the unwavering support, guidance, and legal representation you need to navigate this trying period. We believe you should not have to bear the burden of someone else’s negligence, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
Colorado Catastrophic Injury Guide
- Why Choose Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers for Your Colorado Catastrophic Injury Claim?
- What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
- Types of Catastrophic Injuries
- Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
- Why Trucks, SUVs, and Larger Vehicles Are So Dangerous
- Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
- Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
- Damages Available to Catastrophic Injury Victims
- How Can a Lawyer Help With My Catastrophic Injury Case?
- How to Find the Best Colorado Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Near Me
Why Choose Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers for Your Colorado Catastrophic Injury Claim?
With over 30 years of experience in personal injury law, Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers has successfully represented countless clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries. We have a deep understanding of the unique challenges these cases present and the strategies required to secure the best possible outcomes.
Our attorneys have a proven track record of obtaining substantial verdicts and settlements for our clients, having recovered millions of dollars in compensation for individuals and families affected by catastrophic injuries. We have access to a vast network of medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and other experts who can provide the critical evidence needed to support your claim.
At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we are committed to being your unwavering advocate during this challenging time. Let us focus on the legal aspects of your case while you focus on healing and rebuilding your life. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Colorado catastrophic injury lawyer who will fight tirelessly for the justice you deserve.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a severe, life-altering injury that often results in permanent disability, long-term medical complications, and a significant impact on an individual’s ability to perform daily activities and maintain employment.
These injuries typically involve damage to the brain, spinal cord, or other vital organs and may require extensive medical treatment, ongoing care, and rehabilitation.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Severe blows or jolts to the head can cause complex damage to the brain, leading to cognitive impairments, personality changes, and physical disabilities.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI): Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, and impaired bodily functions.
- Amputations: The loss of a limb due to a traumatic accident or surgical necessity can profoundly impact an individual’s mobility, independence, and emotional well-being.
- Severe Burns: Extensive burn injuries can cause excruciating pain, disfigurement, and life-threatening complications, often requiring multiple surgeries and prolonged rehabilitation.
- Multiple Fractures or Crush Injuries: Severe accidents can result in multiple broken bones or crush injuries that may lead to permanent impairments and chronic pain.
Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can result from a wide range of accidents and incidents, often caused by the negligence or reckless behavior of another party. Some common causes of catastrophic injuries include:
- Truck Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Uber and Lyft Accidents
- Premises Liability/Slip and Fall Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
- Sports and Recreational Activities
- Assaults or Attacks
When a catastrophic injury occurs due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you need to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Catastrophic injury lawyers represent victims of some of the damaging accidents on the roads. A skilled Colorado catastrophic injury lawyer can help you create the strongest case possible for compensation, as well as ensure that your claim includes fair calculations for your pain, suffering, and trauma. Catastrophic injuries lawyers are experts in presenting the full scope of your needs in legal documentation. They will investigate the cause of your injury, gather evidence, and build a compelling case to pursue the compensation you need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Why Trucks, SUVs, and Larger Vehicles Are So Dangerous
According to recent studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as Americans have gravitated towards larger trucks, SUVs, and cars, we have inadvertently created more dangerous situations on our roads, sidewalks, and driveways. In 2021, the amount of Americans killed in motor vehicle accidents was the highest it has been in the last fifteen years – even with fewer drivers on the road after COVID-19 shutdowns. Some of the blame rests on unsafe behaviors like speeding, distracted or aggressive driving, and substance abuse. However, part of the danger lies in vehicle design. As consumers turn to bigger, boxier, taller, and heavier cars and SUVs, this “truckification” of American traffic has increased the risk of horrific injuries and life-changing accidents.
The boxy front end design of modern SUVs and trucks is an important factor that has contributed to soaring fatality rates and increased catastrophic injuries in recent years. The IIHS finds that the higher point of impact on SUVs and trucks today leads to more severe and fatal injuries than crashes with smaller cars cause. These differences are especially marked for accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Both of these groups are more likely to be hit higher up in the chest and torso in a crash involving an SUV than a smaller car. In the past, bicycle and pedestrian collisions often resulted in the victim hitting the windshield, a relatively safer position than being struck in the chest and wrapping around the front of the truck, or being knock to the ground and literally run over.
Today, full-size trucks in America have front-end blind spots that range from 7 to 11 feet longer than those in sedans and even smaller SUVs. Pickup trucks now weigh an average of 1,300 pounds more than equivalent models in the 1990s, and are characterized by stiffer, body-on-frame steel designs and hoods that tower over roof heights of smaller cars. Meanwhile, the IIHS finds that motor vehicles with a hood height over 40 inches are 45% more likely to kill pedestrians than smaller cars are. As measured by the Abbreviated Injury Scale, the average score for head trauma caused by SUVs is 63% higher than head trauma caused by cars. Overall injuries are 55% higher for accidents involving SUVs than those involving cars.
This lack of visibility, combined with higher point of impact and heavier weights in trucks and SUVs has created a potent cocktail of catastrophic injuries on American roadways. When combined with unsafe behaviors like speeding and distracted driving, large trucks and SUVs can easily become weapons of mass destruction, with an average of 5,000 pounds plowing into cyclist and pedestrian torsos, literally tearing internal organs apart. Potential death is not the only outcome in a catastrophic injury accident; coma, vegetative state, paralysis, brain trauma, internal organ damage so severe it necessitates a donation, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and traumatic amputation all are very real possibilities. Each of these situations requires potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical care and follow up treatment, as well as expensive changes to survivors’ lifestyles and needs.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
Negligence is the legal concept that forms the basis of most personal injury claims, including those involving catastrophic injuries. In simple terms, negligence occurs when a person or entity fails to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another individual.
To have a successful catastrophic injury case based on negligence, four key elements must be established:
- Duty of Care: The first element requires showing that the defendant (the person or entity responsible for the injury) owed a legal duty of care to the plaintiff (the injured person). This duty can arise from various relationships, such as a doctor-patient relationship, a property owner-visitor relationship, or a driver-passenger relationship.
- Breach of Duty: The second element involves proving that the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as a reasonable person would in similar circumstances. For example, a driver running a red light or a property owner failing to repair a broken handrail could constitute a breach of duty.
- Causation: The third element requires establishing a causal link between the defendant’s breach of duty and the plaintiff’s injuries. In other words, the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s negligent actions or omissions directly caused or substantially contributed to the catastrophic injury.
- Damages: The final element necessitates demonstrating that the plaintiff suffered actual damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other losses due to the defendant’s negligence.
To build a strong catastrophic injury case, your Colorado catastrophic injury lawyer will work diligently to gather evidence supporting each of these four elements. This may involve investigating the accident scene, interviewing witnesses, reviewing medical records, and consulting with experts in various fields, such as accident reconstruction or life care planning.
Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
You should not accept the insurance company’s first offer without consulting an experienced Colorado catastrophic injury attorney. Insurance companies are primarily concerned with protecting their own financial interests, and their initial settlement offer is often far lower than the true value of your claim.
Here are several reasons why you should not accept the first offer from the insurance company:
- Inadequate Compensation: The first offer is typically a low-ball figure that does not fully account for the extent of your injuries, ongoing medical needs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you may be entitled to.
- Incomplete Understanding of Your Injuries: In the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic injury, the full scope of your damages may not be apparent. Some injuries may worsen over time or require additional treatment, and accepting an early offer could prevent you from seeking further compensation.
- Pressure Tactics: Insurance adjusters may use high-pressure tactics to convince you to accept a quick settlement, such as suggesting that the offer is only available for a limited time or is the best offer you will receive.
- Waiving Your Rights: By accepting a settlement offer, you may be required to sign a release that waives your right to pursue further legal action against the responsible party, even if your condition worsens or you discover additional damages.
Before entertaining any settlement offers, consult an experienced attorney who can evaluate the true value of your claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Your attorney can gather evidence, assess the long-term impact of your injuries, and fight for a settlement that fully compensates you for your losses.
Remember, the insurance company aims to settle your claim for as little as possible. By working with an experienced legal team, you can level the playing field and protect your rights and interests throughout the process.
Damages Available to Catastrophic Injury Victims
Catastrophic injury victims may be entitled to various types of damages, depending on the specific circumstances of their case. These damages are meant to compensate the victim for the losses and hardships they have suffered due to the injury.
Some of the common damages available to catastrophic injury victims include:
- Medical Expenses: Victims can seek compensation for all medical costs related to their injury, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and any necessary ongoing care or medical equipment.
- Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity: If the injury prevents the victim from working, they can recover lost wages and benefits in cases where the injury results in a permanent disability or reduced earning potential, victims may also be entitled to compensation for the loss of future earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: Catastrophic injuries often result in significant physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish. Victims can seek compensation for these non-economic damages, which are meant to recognize the overall impact of the injury on their quality of life.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Catastrophic injuries can prevent victims from participating in activities they once enjoyed, leading to a loss of enjoyment of life. This type of damage acknowledges the victim’s inability to engage in hobbies, social activities, or other aspects of their life that brought them happiness before the injury.
- Disfigurement and Scarring: If the injury results in permanent disfigurement or scarring, victims may be entitled to compensation for the emotional distress and self-consciousness associated with these changes to their appearance.
- Loss of Consortium: Spouses of catastrophic injury victims may be able to claim loss of consortium damages, which recognize the impact the injury has had on their relationship, including the loss of companionship, affection, and intimate relations.
An experienced catastrophic injury attorney from Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers can help you identify all the damages applicable to your case and work tirelessly to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
How Can a Colorado Lawyer Help With My Catastrophic Injury Case?
At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, our experienced Colorado catastrophic injury lawyers are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized representation to help you navigate the complex legal process and secure the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the ways our attorneys can assist with your catastrophic injury case:
- Investigating Your Case. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and consult with experts to build a strong foundation for your claim.
- Identifying Liable Parties. Our team will work to identify all parties who may be held liable for your injuries, including individuals, businesses, or government entities, to ensure that you can seek compensation from all available sources.
- Assessing Damages. We will carefully evaluate the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, future care needs, pain and suffering, and other losses, to determine the true value of your claim.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies. Our attorneys will handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf, working tirelessly to secure a fair settlement that meets your needs.
- Representing You in Court. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial. Our experienced litigators will present compelling arguments, evidence, and expert testimony to fight for the best possible outcome in court.
- Providing Ongoing Support. We understand that catastrophic injuries can have a profound impact on every aspect of your life. Our team will provide ongoing support, guidance, and resources to help you and your family cope with the challenges you face.
- Handling Legal Details. We will manage all the legal aspects of your case, including filing paperwork, meeting deadlines, and ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, allowing you to focus on your recovery and well-being.
How to Find the Best Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Near Me
At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we fight hard to secure the best possible outcome for each and every client we have. We know that living with a catastrophic injury is hard, and that many folks struggle with traveling. We are pleased to share that we maintain offices throughout Colorado, with offices in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton.
Contact the Colorado Catastrophic Injury Attorneys at Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers Today
Colorado Catastrophic Injury Attorney, Franklin D. Azar
At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we have a proven track record of success in handling catastrophic injury cases, having secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs and only owe attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Our dedicated Colorado personal injury lawyers are here to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (303) 757-3300 or through our online form to discuss your case and legal options.
Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers – Colorado Office
14426 E Evans Ave
Aurora, CO 80014
P: (303) 562-1442
Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
We Fight to Win Your Case or It Is FREE!
YOUR RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION
-
Payment of Medical Bills
-
Ongoing Medical / Care Expenses
-
Lost Income
-
Loss of Earning Capability
-
Pain and Suffering
-
Property Damage and Loss
-
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
We Can Help You With:
-
Free telephone, home or hospital consultation that carries no obligation to you
-
Compiling evidence for your case
-
Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf and setting up claims
-
Fighting for the best settlement for your injury claim
-
Assisting you to arrange temporary transportation and getting your car fixed
-
Assisting you to receive timely medical treatment for your accident injuries
-
Helping you understand every step throughout your case