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Your Casper Personal Injury Attorney
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without legal confusion on top of it. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you in Casper, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
A quick note on what this page is: general information about Wyoming injury law, written from the statutes, from a matching service that does not practice law. It is meant to help you ask good questions, not to decide your case.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Casper Attorney
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (W.S. 1-1-109).
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. Wyoming’s general limit for injury claims is four years (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any limit applies to your claim; Wyoming’s Constitution bars laws that limit damages for injury or death (Wyoming Constitution Article 10, section 4(a)).
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Wet floors, icy steps and broken railings cause injuries that turn on how long the hazard existed and who was responsible for it. Photograph the hazard as soon as you can and report the fall to whoever runs the property.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. Wyoming law requires a wrongful death action to be brought by the wrongful death representative for the exclusive benefit of the beneficiaries (W.S. 1-38-102). You do not have to sort this out alone or quickly; an attorney can explain who is allowed to act and what the dates are.
Injured in Casper? Get matched with an attorney now.
Sharing Blame Without Losing Your Claim
Wyoming uses a modified comparative fault rule. According to W.S. 1-1-109, a claimant whose fault is not more than fifty percent of the total can still recover, and the award is reduced by the claimant’s percentage. If a jury found you 30 percent at fault for a $100,000 loss, the award would be reduced by $30,000.
Each defendant is liable only for its own share of the total fault, and the jury is told the consequences of the percentages it finds. Because fifty percent is the dividing line, the share assigned to you is worth arguing about.
Is There A Limit On The Award?
Many states limit pain and suffering awards. Wyoming’s Constitution takes a different position: no law shall be enacted limiting the amount of damages to be recovered for causing the injury or death of any person (Wyoming Constitution Article 10, section 4(a)). That means compensatory damages in an ordinary injury or death claim are not capped by a statute.
Claims against a governmental entity are different. Under the Governmental Claims Act, liability is generally limited to $250,000 for any claimant for claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence, and $500,000 for all claims of all claimants from that occurrence (W.S. 1-39-118(a)), subject to the exceptions written into the statute.
When the Clock Starts and Stops
Civil actions for an injury to the rights of the plaintiff that do not arise on a contract and are not covered by a more specific rule must be brought within four years after the cause of action accrues (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)). A wrongful death action must be commenced within two years after the death (W.S. 1-38-102). Because one rule is twice as long as the other, the type of claim decides the date, so ask about it in your first conversation.
If you were a minor or under another legal disability when the claim arose, W.S. 1-3-114 allows three years after the disability is removed or any other statutory period, whichever is greater. That rule does not cover claims about licensed or certified health care services.
Auto Insurance Limits In Wyoming
Wyoming’s financial responsibility law sets the minimum for an owner’s liability policy at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $20,000 for property damage (W.S. 31-9-405(b)). A crash with several injured people can use up those limits quickly.
That is why other coverage matters. Before you accept a payment, ask your attorney to check for every policy that might apply, yours included.
Courts and Hospitals in Casper
Wyoming Medical Center in Casper appears on the Wyoming Department of Health list of designated trauma centers, with the designation Regional Trauma Center. Look up Natrona County in the Wyoming Judicial Branch’s court locator and you find the Seventh Judicial District’s district court in Casper, at 115 North Center Street, Suite 100, Casper, WY 82601. Casper lies within Natrona County.
Ask every provider for your full records and an itemized bill, and keep a running list of appointments. A transfer between hospitals leaves two sets of records, so request both.
Making Your First Contact In Casper
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. Once you send it, NeedAnAttorney.net matches you with an attorney who handles injury matters near Casper. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Before the first call, collect the basics: the date, the place, names of witnesses, your medical visits and your missed work. A single folder for bills, letters and photographs saves time later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I speak with the other driver’s insurance company?
You are free to talk to them, but you are not required to give a recorded statement immediately. Saying that you want advice first is a reasonable answer.
Are there special steps for claims against the government?
There are. The itemized written claim must be presented within two years of the act, error or omission (W.S. 1-39-113(a)), and the action follows within one year after filing the claim (W.S. 1-39-114).
Does it matter if my attorney knows the Casper area?
Local knowledge can help with scheduling, courts and medical providers. The form on this page connects you with an attorney who takes cases near Casper.
What is the Wyoming statute of limitations for an injury claim?
Generally four years (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)). For a wrongful death, the limit is two years from the date of death (W.S. 1-38-102(d)).
Does Wyoming bar me from recovering if I share the blame?
Not unless your share is more than fifty percent. At fifty percent or less you can recover, reduced by your share (W.S. 1-1-109(b)).
Does Wyoming put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
The Wyoming Constitution says no law shall be enacted limiting the amount of damages to be recovered for causing injury or death (Wyoming Constitution Article 10, section 4(a)). Claims against governmental entities have their own limits (W.S. 1-39-118(a)).
How much insurance does the other driver have to have?
An owner’s policy must provide at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more in one accident, and $20,000 for property damage (W.S. 31-9-405(b)).
What documents should I keep after an injury?
Medical records and bills, photographs, the police or incident report number, pay stubs showing missed work, repair estimates and every letter or email from an insurer.
Help Elsewhere in Wyoming
If your injury happened outside Casper, one of these pages may fit better.
