Question 1

What is the first thing I should do to get increase my personal injury settlement?

Accepted Answer

Hire a personal injury attorney to help maximize your personal injury settlement. The Insurance Research Council has reported that individuals who get a personal injury attorney to help them with their case receive a settlement that is three-and-a-half times greater than people who do not retain an attorney.

Question 2

What should I say to the insurance company?

Accepted Answer

Ideally, nothing. Let your personal injury attorney handle communications with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are not on your side. In fact, it is in their best interest to reduce your personal injury settlement as much as possible so they can save money.

Question 3

Should I get medical treatment?

Accepted Answer

Medical care is a vital part of any personal injury claim. Your medical records link your injuries to the incident, and the bills will document your treatment costs. Keeping track of these documents is the best way to maximize your personal injury settlement.

Make sure you follow your medical provider’s treatment plan to a T. Do not have a gap in treatment.

Question 4

How do future medical needs fit in to my settlement?

Accepted Answer

Injuries often linger, and the side effects may be here to stay. Your doctors should document whether you require treatment and other medical needs in the future. If future procedures seem likely, you should seek damages now for those upcoming expenses.

Question 5

Should I keep my injuries off social media?

Accepted Answer

You absolutely should. An insurance adjuster will definitely look you up on social media. The insurance company might even hire an investigator to follow you or interview your friends and colleagues.

Do not post anything about being involved in an accident. No photos, no videos — of the incident or your injuries. Do not post anything that reflects your physical or mental condition. Do not post about the insurance claim or lawsuit. You may inadvertently contradict your own testimony, and insurance companies are looking for any excuse to minimize your personal injury settlement.

Bottom line: Don’t talk to anyone other than your attorney about your case.

Question 6

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Colorado?

Accepted Answer

For almost all personal injury cases, the statute of limitations is two years. However, there are some exceptions.

Slips and falls, dog bites, on-the-job injuries, non-vehicular accidents, or any other situation in which you are injured because of another person’s negligence have a limit of two years to seek damages through the court.

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases involving car accidents is three years. This covers anything that could be defined as “bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle.” (Colo. Revised Statutes 13-80-101)

This limit is applied from the discovery of the injury, not necessarily from the time of the accident. This is to accommodate car accident injuries that may not be obvious right away, such as spinal compression or whiplash, which often presents itself long after the accident that caused it.

How Can I Maximize My Personal Injury Settlement?