It is not hard to imagine that serious injuries and losses can follow a high-speed crash between multiple vehicles, but even a minor fender-bender can leave you with repair bills and nagging injuries like whiplash and a mild concussion. Regardless of how severe your wreck was, you may be able to recover compensation for any losses that stemmed from it with the right legal guidance.
Depending on your specific circumstances, several types of recoverable damages may be available after a Pueblo car accident. A knowledgeable car wreck attorney could discuss your unique situation with you and determine what losses you could include in a lawsuit or settlement demand.
The majority of car accident cases in Pueblo center around compensatory damages. Also known as actual damages, these cover specific losses that can be traced directly back to the accident.
There are two subtypes of compensatory damages that may become relevant during a claim, the first of which is economic damages. These are losses that are monetary in nature, which means they can typically be proven using formal documentation like bills, receipts, or income statements.
Since most personal injury cases are based on at least one physical injury, expenses for short-term medical treatment usually make up many of the recoverable economic damages after a car crash in Pueblo. Additional recoverable damages in this category may include lost income, costs associated with long-term physical therapy and prescription medications, property repair or replacement costs, and legal fees.
The second subtype of compensatory damages—noneconomic damages—cover losses that do not a specific dollar value. Instead of presenting billing statements, an attorney seeking to recover noneconomic damages for a claimant after a Pueblo car accident may use testimony from family and friends, accounts from the plaintiffs, prior court precedent, and other qualitative evidence to argue for compensation.
Most noneconomic losses refer to the blanket term “pain and suffering.” More specifically, though, these damages may include but are not limited to physical pain, emotional anguish, symptoms of PTSD, loss of consortium with family, and loss of enjoyment of life, as well as a subjective valuation of the loss a permanent disability or disfigurement represents for a particular plaintiff.
It is important to note that Colorado Revised Statute §13-21-102.5 establishes a cap on the amount a claimant can recover financially for noneconomic harm. Adjusted for inflation, this cap is set at $468,010 for most cases, but it may be extended up to $936,030 at a civil court’s discretion based on “clear and convincing evidence.”
In rare cases, a civil court may elect to expressly punish a defendant in a car crash case for wanton negligence or malicious conduct. A plaintiff cannot request punitive damages in their initial filing, but they may file an additional motion after initial disclosures. State law also limits exemplary damages to no more than the plaintiff’s compensatory damages.
Recovering compensation is the core concern of any civil lawsuit, but before you start pursuing a settlement or court verdict, you should know exactly what damages you could stand to recover. An experienced lawyer could sit down with you and discuss your eligibility for recoverable damages after a car accident in Pueblo. Call today to set up your initial meeting.
I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it. Everyone at Springs Law Group is very professional, provides quick responses, communicates with patience and kindness, and remained detail oriented the entire time.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.