What To Do If You’ve Been in an Accident With an Uninsured Driver in Colorado Springs
After you’ve been hit in a car accident, the most important thing to do is to make sure you and any other passengers are safe. Discovering that no one has been seriously injured is a huge relief, and you may feel comforted to know the accident wasn’t your fault. You might assume that the other driver’s insurance will cover any damage to you and your vehicle, but what if the person who hit you doesn’t have car insurance?
In the state of Colorado, liability insurance is required by law. If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver in Colorado Springs, keep reading to find out what steps you should take.
Uninsured and Underinsured Driver Coverage
After an accident where the driver who hit you is uninsured, you’ll need to contact your insurance company. If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance company can help cover your damages. While it’s not legally required to purchase uninsured motorist coverage in Colorado, insurers must at least offer it.
If the driver who hit you is deemed to be at fault and either has no coverage or insufficient coverage, you may make a claim against your own company for an amount up to your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage limit.
Either way, to get the process started, you should notify your insurer as soon as possible if you suspect that the at-fault driver is uninsured. Let them know you plan on filing a claim should the situation call for it.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you do not have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you have the option to file a lawsuit against the uninsured or underinsured driver. Colorado is a traditional negligence state, which makes it easier to file a lawsuit than in a no-fault state. A car accident lawyer can help you with this step, and they will let you know if it’s something worth pursuing.
You might be wondering, why wouldn’t I file a lawsuit against the driver at fault? There are certain circumstances where it just doesn’t make sense for the time and effort it will take. For example, if a driver doesn’t have car insurance, it’s likely they won’t have the assets or money necessary to pay for the damages or costs of a court trial. So proving that the other party was at fault for the collision and obtaining judgment against them still may not guarantee that you can collect any payment.
Call Heuser & Heuser, LLP — We’re on Top of It!
Car accidents are difficult to deal with no matter what, but when the at-fault party is uninsured, things get even more complicated. You may have excessive damage to your vehicle, suffer physical injury and lose wages for time off work as a result. Even if the driver who hit you is uninsured, you still have the right to be compensated for these damages.
A qualified attorney will be able to advise you on filing a lawsuit. Or if your insurance company is being difficult or trying to reduce your compensation, they will assist you in getting what you rightly deserve.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, the experienced attorneys at Heuser & Heuser can help. Make sure you keep a detailed record of the incident, including your expenses, so we can help you take the best course of action and obtain fair compensation that you deserve. To get started, give us a call or fill out our online form for a free case review today.
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions Or Schedule A Free Appointment? Click To Call (719) 520-9909
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions or Schedule A free Appointment? Click to Call (719) 520-9909
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know What My Case Is Worth?
There are a variety of things we look at when evaluating your case and determining its value. We look at how the accident occurred. We look at what sort of injuries you sustained. Do you have a permanent injury that will last the rest of your life? Are you going to have future medical bills? We look at lost wages. Did you lose your job? If you have permanent work restrictions as a result of the accident, you may not be able to find a job very easily in the future. These are some of the factors that we look at in evaluating a claim. Every case is unique and different. That’s why at our law firm, every case gets personal attention from the lawyer when it comes time to evaluate.
Why is it Important to Hire a Lawyer?
Insurance companies are in business for a reason: to make money. Anytime they are paying money on a claim, it means less money to their bottom line. They have literally hundreds of adjusters and hundreds of lawyers who are on their side trying to figure out how to prevent money from leaving their checkbooks. Quite frankly, you do need a lawyer to help you through this because your lawyer will make sure you’re properly compensated.
Do Cases Settle Without Going to Court?
Cases settle before going to trial 80 to 90 percent of the time. However, that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work involved in getting a case settled outside of court. Sometimes you have to file a lawsuit and do a lot of what I call “legal maneuvering” to get a case settled. That means we take depositions from witnesses to the accident, from police officers, and from your doctors. But, yes, most cases will settle prior to trial.
Do You Get Good Results for Your Clients?
We do get good results for our clients. We have settled hundreds, if not thousands, of cases where we’ve had large settlements. We’ve had substantial verdicts. We go to the mat for our clients if necessary. We’ll appeal cases. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure our client is taken care of.
See What Our Clients Say
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions Or Schedule A Free Appointment? Click To Call (719) 520-9909
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions or Schedule A free Appointment? Click to Call (719) 520-9909
Our Attorneys
Gordon J. Heuser, Esq.
As a Colorado Springs native, Gordon has been practicing in Southern Colorado for 35+ years.…
Barkley D. Heuser, Esq.
Barkley Heuser is a Colorado native, and has lived in Colorado Springs for over 59…
Brennan D. Heuser, Esq.
Brennan Heuser is a Colorado Native who graduated from the University of Miami, Fl with…
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Want To Learn More About Your Colorado Car Accident Case? Download Our EBook, On Us!
We wanted to find a way to make your car wreck case even easier for you. That is why we wrote this guide that will provide you with the critical information you need to know about your car accident case.
As car accident law professionals, we have seen too many individuals lose out on their maximum owed compensation. Don’t miss out on the settlement you deserve! In this book, you will learn how to:
- Avoid the key mistakes that can derail your claim.
- Know what you should and shouldn’t say if an insurance adjuster contacts you
- Understand the dos and don’ts of social media.
- Position yourself to collect full and fair compensation for your injuries.
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions Or Schedule A Free Appointment? Click To Call (719) 520-9909
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions or Schedule A free Appointment? Click to Call (719) 520-9909
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