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Your Westminster Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Colorado most injury claims must be filed within two years, and three years for injuries from a motor vehicle (C.R.S. §§ 13-80-102 and 13-80-101). The trial court for Adams County sits in Brighton, at 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Nobody plans for the call that follows an accident. Whether you were hurt in a crash, a fall or something else in Westminster, the weeks afterward bring decisions that feel bigger than they should. Here is what Colorado law says, in plain terms, so you can ask better questions.
This page is general information, not legal advice. NeedAnAttorney.net matches people with attorneys and does not represent anyone. The legal points below come from Colorado’s statutes, and the form at the top of the page is how you reach an attorney.
What To Ask Before You Choose An Attorney In Westminster
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury puts a percentage on your fault. Damages are diminished in proportion to your negligence, and the court enters judgment for the defendant if your share is equal to or greater than the defendant’s (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
- The date. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file in your case. Colorado allows two years for most injury claims and three years when the claim comes from the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. § 13-80-102, C.R.S. § 13-80-101).
- Punitive damages. Ask whether the facts could support them. Colorado calls them exemplary damages, they require fraud, malice or willful and wanton conduct, and they must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt (C.R.S. § 13-21-102, C.R.S. § 13-25-127).
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- Who will work on it. Ask who handles your file day to day and how fast messages are answered.
Personal Injury Types of Cases
Premises Liability
Many premises liability claims are from a property owner’s duty to maintain a property in the way that does not endanger others. There are may ways a property owner can violate this duty.
- Broken Stairs
- Unlit alleyways
- Slippery Floors
- Surfaces that are uneven
- Places to receive burns
- Places to receive chemical exposure
- Dog bites
- and other dangerous conditions
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As long as the person that was operating the vehicle that injured you was negligent in some way, you can could have a claim for compensation. This can include.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- 18 wheeler Accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- and other types of motor vehicle accidents
Work Place Accidents
These types of personal injury lawsuits involve more that just a employee and employer. If you feel like your place of employment was negligent in some way, you might have a claim for compensation. These types of accidents can include.
- Slip and Fall
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unmaintained equipment
- Auto Accidents
- Death
- Electrical Hazards
- Occupational illnesses like COPD, contagious diseases, and asbestosis
- personal injuries at work
Wrongful Death
When negligence leads to fatal injuries, a wrongful death suit can help the surviving family members hold the negligent company, persons, and or person accountable for what was done. A wrongful death case can involve different types of compensation from other personal injury claims. After a fatal accident, family members can ask an attorney to review what compensation the surviving loved ones may have a right to. These types of accidents can include.
- Auto Accident
- Maritime Accident
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Helicopter Accident
- Fire
- Firearm
- and other types of wrongful deaths
Injured in Westminster? Get matched with an attorney now.
If You Were Partly At Fault
Blame is counted by percentage in Colorado. The jury, or the court if there is no jury, finds the total damages and the percentage of negligence or fault of each party and of any nonparty the defendant has properly named (C.R.S. § 13-21-111.5).
Those percentages decide who pays what. A defendant is liable only for the degree of fault attributable to that defendant, with an exception for people who consciously conspire and deliberately pursue a common plan to commit a tortious act (C.R.S. § 13-21-111.5). Your own percentage also matters, because a share equal to or greater than the defendant’s ends the claim against that defendant (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
Special Rules To Know
Ask early whether a special rule applies, because it depends on who is responsible. For a private defendant, exemplary damages need fraud, malice or willful and wanton conduct (C.R.S. § 13-21-102) and proof beyond a reasonable doubt (C.R.S. § 13-25-127), and the amount is limited to the actual damages unless the court raises it for conduct during the case.
For a public body, the notice must be filed within 182 days after the injury is discovered, even if you did not yet know every element of a claim (C.R.S. § 24-10-109).
Time Limits To Know
Time limits decide many injury cases. The usual Colorado rule is two years for tort actions (C.R.S. § 13-80-102) and three years for motor vehicle tort actions (C.R.S. § 13-80-101). Missing the date usually ends the case.
A wrongful death action must also be commenced within two years, counted from the date of death (C.R.S. § 13-80-102, C.R.S. § 13-80-108). The period is four years against a defendant who committed vehicular homicide and left the scene of the accident (C.R.S. § 13-80-102).
What Auto Policies Must Cover
Minimum coverage is a floor, not a measure of your claim. Colorado’s required limits are $25,000 for one person, $50,000 for all persons in one accident and $15,000 for property (C.R.S. § 10-4-620).
If a crash leaves you with more bills than the other driver’s policy pays, your own uninsured motorist coverage may matter (C.R.S. § 10-4-609). Before accepting a payment, ask an attorney to check every policy that could apply.
Courts and Hospitals Near Westminster
The Census Bureau lists Westminster in more than one county: Adams County and Jefferson County. The Colorado court directory lists the 17th Judicial District court for Adams County in Brighton, at 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601. For Jefferson County, that directory shows the 1st Judicial District court in Golden, at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401. St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster appears on the state trauma list as a Level III trauma center.
Measured in a straight line from Westminster, the nearest Colorado acute care and critical access hospitals in the federal Hospital General Information file are UCHealth Broomfield Hospital in Broomfield, 2.6 miles, an acute care hospital, then HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge in Thornton, 4.2 miles, an acute care hospital, then Centura Health-St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster, 6.2 miles, an acute care hospital. UCHealth Broomfield Hospital is at 11820 Destination Dr, Broomfield, CO 80021.
Road distance from Westminster is longer than a straight line. Wherever you were treated, ask for the full records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every visit.
Fourth and fifth on the list are Good Samaritan Medical Center LLC in Lafayette, 6.5 miles, and AdventHealth Avista in Louisville, 6.8 miles. Within 10, 25 and 50 miles of Westminster the file shows 6, 23 and 32 Colorado acute care and critical access hospitals, by straight line.
Other places this site covers near Westminster: Broomfield at 5.1 miles north, Arvada at 5.7 miles southwest, Thornton at 6.9 miles northeast. The reference cities are 13 miles southeast (Denver) and 72 miles south (Colorado Springs).
Making Your First Contact In Westminster
Use the form at the top of the page to tell us what happened. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Colorado. There is no charge to submit it, and submitting it does not hire anyone.
While you wait, write down what happened and when, who saw it, what treatment you have received and how many days of work you missed. Put bills, letters and insurance messages in one folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still recover if the accident was partly my fault?
Sometimes. Colorado reduces damages in proportion to your negligence, but a share equal to or greater than the defendant’s ends the claim against that defendant (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
What does Colorado require for exemplary damages?
Fraud, malice or willful and wanton conduct, proved beyond a reasonable doubt (C.R.S. §§ 13-21-102, 13-25-127). They cannot be part of the initial claim and may be added later with prima facie proof of a triable issue (C.R.S. § 13-21-102).
How much liability coverage must a Colorado driver carry?
The minimums are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage (C.R.S. § 10-4-620).
What is the nearest hospital to Westminster?
On the federal list the nearest Colorado acute care or critical access hospital is UCHealth Broomfield Hospital in Broomfield (2.6 miles, straight line), then HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge in Thornton (4.2 miles) and Centura Health-St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster (6.2 miles). In an emergency call 911; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Which nearby places does this site cover besides Westminster?
Closest by straight line are Broomfield (5.1 miles north), Arvada (5.7 miles southwest) and Thornton (6.9 miles northeast).
Are there special rules for claims against the government?
There are. Notice to the public entity within 182 days of discovery is a jurisdictional prerequisite, and missing it forever bars the action (C.R.S. § 24-10-109).
What should I ask when choosing an attorney for Westminster?
Ask each attorney you consider whether they handle cases where you live, how you would meet and how the fee works. Compare more than one before you decide.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Colorado?
For most injury claims, two years (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). For a car, truck or other motor vehicle claim, three years (C.R.S. § 13-80-101). Assault, battery and false imprisonment have one year (C.R.S. § 13-80-103).
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Colorado Communities
The same matching service covers more of Colorado. Pick the community closest to where it happened.
