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Auto Accidents in Fort Collins, CO

We are experienced attorneys serving auto accident victims in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado and we produce the results to back it up.

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Auto Collision

$425,000

We recovered $425,000 for our client who was severely injured in a head on vehicle collision caused by a drunk driver.

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About Us We are a collaborative team with the ability to deliver for you.

All of our lead attorneys have extensive litigation experience against insurance companies. Our attorneys have secured multi million-dollar judgments and settlements. Many of our attorneys previously worked defending insurance companies. Now we use their experience and insight to advocate for our clients against those same insurance companies.

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FAQs

We know how confusing it can be after an accident. Who will pay for your medical treatment? Should you talk with the insurance company? Here’s some common questions and answers as a starting point.

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  • Some people try to settle their personal injury case without a lawyer. They think that lawyers are too expensive or that they can do it on their own and get the same result. This approach rarely works. The insurance companies’ lawyers and adjusters are skilled at lowballing people who do not have a lawyer. Injured people are not aware of what damages they can recover and fail to ask to be compensated appropriately.

    We frequently see insurance companies offer injured people a small amount of money to settle their claim, even though their damages are ten times that amount. Some clients come to us after they have battled the insurance company for years and gotten nowhere.

    Hiring a personal injury attorney will result in a better recovery for you. At HSD Law, we pride ourselves on making sure we add value to every client’s case. Hiring an attorney provides numerous benefits:

    • Insurance companies more fairly evaluate claims once an injured person is represented by a lawyer. If an insurance company lowballs our client, then it faces litigation.
    • We read the fine print in all available insurance policies—this includes both the at-fault party’s insurance policy and our client’s insurance policy. We check to see if the at-fault party has an umbrella policy or if there is additional coverage provided by an employer’s policy. We review our client’s policies for Med-Pay Coverage and Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage to ensure that no money is left on the table. We also help negotiate any subrogation claims that are asserted by the client’s health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare.
    • We maximize clients’ financial recovery because we know which categories of damages an injured person can recover. We work with our clients to articulate their economic and non-economic damages and gather the evidence to support the claim. When a client’s injuries result in permanent impairment, we are experienced at attributing a monetary value to the claim.
    • We make the insurance company pay the full amount billed for the client’s medical services—not the amount actually paid for the services by the client’s health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare.
    • We are skilled at valuing a client’s non-economic damages—this includes pain and suffering, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment. The more severe the injuries, the greater the non-economic damages. Knowing how to evaluate, articulate, and demand payment of non-economic damages can only be gained through years of experience handling these types of claims.
    • We pay close attention to how the injuries will affect our clients in the future. We speak with doctors regarding future medical treatment our client needs and then calculate the client’s future medical expenses. When appropriate, we also consult with economists regarding what income a client will lose in the future and to calculate a client’s diminished earning capacity.

    Don’t go it alone. Together we can achieve excellent results.

  • Trials are sometimes necessary to get a fair recovery, but they are rare. You always have the choice of whether or not to go to trial. We see our role as providing you with the best possible information so you can make an informed choice.

    We prepare every case for the possibility that it could end in a trial. Most of the time, we prove our clients’ claims to the insurance companies or at-fault parties with the evidence gathered during our investigation. We then negotiate to determine if a fair settlement can be reached. We’ll advise you whether, based on our extensive experience, a settlement offer is fair or not. We’ll explain the pros and cons of pushing forward with filing a lawsuit. We’ll answer your questions and recommend a course of action.

    It’s important to note the difference between litigation and trial. Litigation is a word we use to mean anything after the filing of a lawsuit. We usually try to settle your case without even filing a lawsuit. Most cases are settled without filing a lawsuit. But sometimes it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. The defendant might be denying fault. The insurance company might not believe that you are hurt as badly as you are. Filing a lawsuit provides the opportunity to make witnesses answer questions under oath and provide documents and other evidence. We may need to get a court to order someone to provide information they are refusing to provide. All of these steps and much more are considered litigation, but they are not a trial. After these information-gathering steps, we will again try to negotiate a settlement in your case, often in a mediation.  Most lawsuits are settled without a trial.

  • If you do not hire an attorney after an accident, then you will likely be contacted by the insurance company for the at-fault party. Most of the time the insurance adjusters are friendly. They will ask you to tell them about the accident and ask you to sign a release so that they can access your medical records to evaluate the claim. Although the insurance adjuster will encourage you to sign a medical records release, you should not sign one. If you signed a medical records release before speaking to an attorney, be sure to inform them so they can promptly revoke the release.

    There are many reasons that we do not have clients sign medical releases for the at-fault insurance company. Signing a release potentially reveals your entire medical history to the insurance company and violates your privacy. It also allows the insurance company to use unrelated medical conditions as an excuse to undervalue your claim. It may also give them access to your health insurance information, which is irrelevant to your claim and will only result in a lower settlement amount.

    If an insurance company is asking you to sign a release, you should talk to an HSD attorney immediately. Once you hire HSD Law, the insurance company will stop calling you, and it is required to talk to your attorney instead. An attorney at HSD Law will determine which medical records the insurance company receives. This preserves your privacy and avoids giving the insurance company information to use against you.

     

Overview Here’s everything you need to know.

Fort Collins, CO’s Trusted Car Accident Attorneys

Victims of automobile accidents that result in personal injuries need a car accident lawyer they can trust to help them collect compensation to pay for their medical bills, car rental, and other expenses. Hadfield Stieben Doutt is your source for car accident lawyers in Fort Collins, CO, and we serve clients throughout Northern Colorado. If you’re involved in an auto accident, it can be stressful to deal with the pain and anguish of injuries and the substantial costs of treating your medical needs, fixing your car, and dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Before you settle for less than you deserve, let us work with you to determine how to proceed and what compensation you should expect from your claim.

How Auto Accidents Happen

Auto accidents occur frequently, and they can result in people getting seriously injured. A car accident can happen due to many reasons, including distracted driving, an inattentive driver, sun glare issues, driver fatigue, and traffic congestion. HSD Law handles many types of auto accidents, such as the following:

  • Auto v. Auto
  • Auto v. Truck
  • Truck v. Truck
  • Auto v. Bicycle
  • Auto v. Pedestrian

Steps to Take if You Are in an Auto Accident

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, there are steps you need to take so that you can preserve your personal injury claim and obtain the appropriate treatment for your injuries. Consider the following if you find yourself harmed in a traffic collision:

  • Seek medical treatment for your injuries. At the scene of the accident, get checked out if you feel you’ve sustained an injury. If you feel pain after the accident, seek follow-up treatment with your primary doctor, an emergency room, or a local urgent care facility. In many cases, the rush of adrenaline from the incident will numb your pain at the collision scene. Getting treatment after an accident is common for accident victims since that’s when they may start to feel pain. Every accident is different, and so is each person involved. However, seeking treatment when you feel you need it is an important action to take.
  • Document all the facts. Contact the local authorities so that you can make a report and document information pertaining to the person responsible for the accident. Follow up with the responding agency to obtain an accident report. Make sure you write down anything you observed, collect statements from people who witnessed the accident, and obtain photographs. Keeping a pain journal if you experience pain can be helpful.
  • Gather potential evidence. Keeping track of your incurred expenses resulting from the accident is important. Hold on to receipts from rental cars, personal property replacement, prescriptions, medical treatment, and other costs. They can be helpful when you present your case to the insurance company.
  • Don’t speak with the at-fault person’s insurance company. They will want information from you shortly after the accident, including you providing a statement in person or over the phone. They will also ask you to sign releases for your medical records, and the insurance company will evaluate the claim quickly to close it and offer you a low settlement. You’re not obligated to cooperate with them, and doing so can even work against you. If you settle your claim early, you’re forfeiting certain rights, and you may settle without understanding the injuries you’ve sustained and whether you’ve reached your maximum medical improvement. Call the experienced attorneys at Hadfield Stieben Doutt before speaking with the insurance company.
  • Hire an attorney. Injuries resulting from an auto accident can change your life. The paperwork alone is a time-consuming process, and the insurance company will shortchange you. When you settle any personal injury claim, you have obligations to your health insurance company that the at-fault party’s insurance company won’t explain to you. This can lead to you owing money to your health insurance company after the claim is closed. Our car accident attorneys have ample experience helping clients navigate their personal injury claims to ensure they are protected and compensated.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?

The types of compensation that apply to your claim depend on the circumstances pertaining to your case. Your personal injury case can include one or many types of compensation to cover your expenses. You may receive payment to cover your medical bills, including any future healthcare costs related to your injury from the accident. Compensation may also be justifiable to fix or replace your vehicle after the collision has damaged it. If you can no longer work or had to miss work due to the accident, we can help you collect lost wages. Your pain and suffering from an injury caused by an accident may warrant compensation. In extreme cases that involve the at-fault party committing severe misconduct, you might be eligible for punitive damages.

When to Get an Attorney After an Accident

You need to speak with an attorney as quickly as possible following an automotive accident, even if you start with a free consultation. Our experienced car accident attorneys will thoroughly assess your case and explain the types of damages to which you may be entitled. Having an experienced attorney helping you also takes the pressure off as we manage communication with the party at-fault, insurance companies, your health-care provider, and the billing department. Before the evidence fades and witnesses start to forget what they saw, we’ll want to launch an investigation that covers all the details of the accident.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident?

Under Colorado law, the simple answer is that you have three years from the date of the collision to settle your claim or file a lawsuit and seek compensation.  Your best chance of collecting the appropriate funds to cover your pain, anguish, and expenses comes by contacting a lawyer quickly. When you work with an experienced auto accident lawyer from Hadfield Stieben Doutt, we’ll start working on your claim right away to build a strong case. Our goal is to ensure you get the best outcome by pursuing the at-fault party, their insurance company, or another avenue to seek compensation.

How Does Negligence Factor into My Car Accident Case?

Colorado drivers are all responsible for their individual actions and behaviors while on the road. They owe a duty of care to fellow drivers to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly to protect the welfare of themselves and other motorists on the road. When a negligent driver fails to honor that duty, and a car accident happens that injures another person, that driver is responsible for the fallout and can be held liable for damages. There are many examples of negligence while behind the wheel, including the following:

  • Drowsy Driving
  • Distracted Driving
  • Driving While Under the Influence
  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Road Rage
  • Failing to Yield
  • Wrong-Way Drivers

Potential Claims & Sources of Recovery

It’s not so simple to resolve your personal injury claim. There may be ways for you to recover compensation outside of the insurance carrier for the at-fault party. You may have coverage from your own insurance policy that applies to your personal injury claim, even if you’re not at fault for the accident. This type of coverage is called underinsured or uninsured coverage. Your car insurance policy may also include medical payments coverage, which can pay some of your medical bills that result from the accident. You might not get adequate compensation if you try to settle the claim without upholding your right to seek coverage under your own insurance policy. We can help you determine whether you have the necessary coverage and if it applies to your personal injury claim. Similarly, the party responsible for the accident may have additional information that they don’t realize or disclose that applies to your claim. This information is important if your personal injury claim’s value exceeds the limits of the applicable insurance policy. Hadfield Stieben & Doutt auto accident lawyers are here to help you collect the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to get professional legal help on your claim from an automobile accident.

What’s my plan?

The insurance company or corporation has a plan. You need one too. We know the actions to take and the choices to make.

You got hurt.
Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered.

More Questions?

Consultation

Each case begins with a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. We will answer your questions. We will learn how you or a loved one was harmed. We will explain what you can expect from us, what needs to be done to obtain justice, and the timeline of the case. We can meet at our office, talk over the phone, or meet at your location if you are unable to travel. After the consultation, you choose whether to hire us as your attorneys.

Step 01

Representation

We will notify all involved insurance companies, claims adjusters, and lawyers that they must communicate with us about your case. You won’t be bothered by their phone calls, emails or letters from this point forward. If you must give a statement to anyone regarding the incident, we will advise you what to expect. We will be there with you when you give your statement. You do not pay us while your case is pending. Our fees are paid from any money we recover. If we don’t recover anything, we don’t get paid fees.

Step 02

Investigation

We will gather evidence to support your case. We will obtain incident reports, interview witnesses and investigators, and notify anyone in possession of evidence that they must preserve it for your case. We will inspect and photograph the scene of the incident and evidence involved in the incident. We will obtain your medical records and bills to support your case. We will also determine all parties who may be liable for your injuries and damages.

Step 03

Expert Involvement

When necessary, we will work with experts to obtain opinions in support of your claim. We will consult with your doctors to get their opinions about your future medical needs or permanent impairment. Sometimes, other types of experts are necessary. There are many types of experts. We know how to find the right expert for your case. For example, we may ask a crash reconstructionist to explain how a disputed collision occurred or an engineer to evaluate the danger of a property condition. We pay all experts’ fees up front.

Step 04

Settlement

In most cases, we can resolve your claim without court involvement. We compile the information described above and present it to the at-fault party or their insurance company. We request a specific monetary amount as compensation for you. If we reach a settlement, then your claim is resolved and we turn to resolving reimbursement obligations.

Step 05

Litigation

In some cases, you must file a lawsuit to obtain a fair recovery. We will give you our opinion about whether any offer on the table is fair, but it’s your choice whether or not to file a lawsuit. The vast majority of court cases are still settled without a trial. A trial is rarely necessary.

Step 06

Reimbursement Obligations

If any form of health insurance paid for your medical bills, then it probably has the right to be repaid from any money you recover. For more detail on this topic, see our FAQ on subrogation. Throughout your case, we will remain in contact with these insurers. We will negotiate with them to get them to reduce or waive their claims so that you keep more of the recovered money.

Step 07

Disbursement

You receive your net settlement check, free and clear of all obligations. We have resolved all of the issues related to your claim. Your case is officially closed.

Step 08
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