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Your Riverton Personal Injury Attorney
Nobody plans for the call that follows an accident. Whether you were hurt in a crash, a fall or something else in Riverton, the weeks afterward bring decisions that feel bigger than they should. Here is what Wyoming law says, in plain terms, so you can ask better questions.
Nothing on this page is legal advice, and NeedAnAttorney.net is not a law firm. It is a service that connects injured people with attorneys. The rules described here are quoted or summarized from Wyoming’s own statutes so that you can check them yourself.
Questions Worth Asking In Riverton
Bring these to your first call, whoever it is with:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is four years (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)).
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury assigns you a percentage of fault (W.S. 1-1-109).
- Any ceiling. Ask whether anything caps what you could recover. The Wyoming Constitution says no law may limit the damages for causing injury or death (Wyoming Constitution Article 10, section 4(a)).
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Kinds of Injury Claims
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
If a driver hit you while you were on foot or on a bike, note exactly where it happened, what the signals and lighting were like, and who saw it. Ask the people who stopped to leave their names and numbers.
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 someone you love died because another person was careless or at fault, the law treats it separately. 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 Riverton? Get matched with an attorney now.
Fault Shared Among Several People
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.
What Wyoming Does Not Cap
The Wyoming Constitution addresses damages directly. It provides that 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)). An award for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering is therefore decided by the facts, not by a legislative ceiling.
The exception is a claim against a governmental entity. W.S. 1-39-118(a) limits liability to $250,000 per claimant and $500,000 per occurrence, with exceptions that depend on the entity’s insurance.
When the Clock Starts and Stops
The ordinary time limit for an injury claim in Wyoming is four years from when the claim accrues (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)). For a death, the limit is shorter, two years from the death (W.S. 1-38-102).
If a city, county or other governmental entity may be responsible, the steps differ. A claim has to be presented to the entity as an itemized written statement within two years of the act, error or omission, with a narrow exception for late discovery (W.S. 1-39-113(a)), and the action is barred unless commenced within one year after that claim is filed (W.S. 1-39-114).
Insurance Minimums in Wyoming
Under W.S. 31-9-405(b), an owner’s motor vehicle liability policy must provide at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident, and $20,000 for property damage. Those figures are floors, and a serious injury can cost more than the other driver’s policy pays.
If your bills pass that limit, it helps to know early what other coverage may exist, including your own policy. Ask your attorney to look at every policy that could apply.
Medical Care and the Courthouse for Riverton
The Census Bureau counts Riverton in Fremont County. The court locator of the Wyoming Judicial Branch places the district court for Fremont County, in the Ninth Judicial District, in Lander, at 450 North 2nd Street, Room 235, Lander, WY 82520. The same locator also lists a Circuit Court location in Riverton. Sage West Health Care in Riverton appears on the Wyoming Department of Health list of designated trauma centers, with the designation Community Trauma Hospital.
Records matter later. Get the complete chart and an itemized bill from each place that treated you, and write down the date of every visit, including any transfer to another facility.
How To Begin Your Riverton Claim
Use the form at the top of the page to tell us what happened. We connect you with an attorney who takes injury cases in the Riverton area. There is no charge to submit it, and submitting it does not hire anyone.
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
Is a claim against a government entity different in Wyoming?
It is. Under W.S. 1-39-113(a) the claim is presented in writing within two years of the act, error or omission, and W.S. 1-39-114 bars the action unless it is commenced within one year after the claim is filed.
When will I know what my claim is worth?
It depends on how long you need treatment and how the insurer responds. Settlement usually comes after your condition is clear, and a lawsuit adds time.
What is the deadline to sue for an injury in Riverton?
Four years for most personal injury claims that do not arise on a contract (W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)), and two years after the death for wrongful death (W.S. 1-38-102(d)).
Can I still recover if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes, as long as your share is not more than fifty percent of the total fault, and your award is reduced in proportion to it (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)).
What are Wyoming’s minimum auto insurance limits?
At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, 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.
Do I have to give the other insurer a recorded statement?
Not right away. You may decline a recorded statement until you have talked to someone about your options, and saying so is fine.
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Wyoming Communities
People are hurt in every part of Wyoming. These pages cover other communities.
