Even after taking all necessary precautions, you may end up in a car accident. In the real world, auto accidents are never simple. In majority of cases, more than one party is at fault, and that can make the whole process of filing a personal injury lawsuit a complicated one. So, what if you were injured in a car accident in Colorado and had a part role in fault? There is good news and bad news. Ideally, it is best to talk to one of car accident lawyers in Colorado Springs, to know your circumstances better. In this post, we are discussing more on how things work in Colorado.
Understanding modified comparative negligence
Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state. What does that mean? Well, the bad news is you will never get full compensation for your damages, if you had a share of fault. The good news is you can still hold the other driver responsible for their action and get compensated to an extent. In states that follow the modified comparative negligence rule, a driver can seek compensation from the other party at fault, provided their own share of fault is not 50% or higher. Eventually, your awarded compensation will be reduced by your fault in percentage.
A quick example
For instance, if your awarded compensation is $10,000, and you were found to be 10% at fault, you will eventually get $9,000. This means that you have lost $1,000 because of your share in fault. If you are 50% or more at fault, you will not recover anything at all. This is also known as the 50% Bar Rule in Colorado.
Do you need a lawyer?
Hiring a car accident lawyer can actually help your case. insurance companies will do anything to reduce what they pay for claims, and they are not working to show empathy. If the other driver’s insurer tries to pin or shift the blame to you, it is important to have some room to defend yourself. A skilled attorney knows what it takes to evaluate car accident claims, and they can work to protect your rights and interests.
Make sure that you do your homework when you look for local attorneys in Colorado Springs. You need to find an attorney, who is known, reliable, and has worked on claims and lawsuits that are similar and comparable to yours. Most attorneys take car accident cases on a contingency fee, which is a good advantage.