Personal Injury

What personal injury covers

Personal injury law lets an injured person recover money from whoever caused the harm (and, usually, their insurance company). Common Denver matters include car crashes on I-25 and I-70, rideshare accidents, motorcycle collisions, pedestrian and bicycle injuries, slip-and-fall on commercial property, dog bites, medical malpractice, and product liability.

When to hire a personal injury lawyer

As soon as you are medically stable. Colorado's statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years for motor vehicle cases and two years for other negligence claims. Insurance adjusters begin gathering statements immediately — do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurer before consulting an attorney.

What to look for in a Denver personal injury attorney

• Trial experience. Insurers pay more to firms known to try cases. Ask how many jury trials the attorney has tried in Denver in the last five years.
• Case type focus. Commercial trucking, medical malpractice, and traumatic brain injury are each subspecialties.
• Case load per attorney. High-volume firms may settle fast for low value. Ask how many active files the lead attorney personally handles.
• Verdict and settlement history in cases similar to yours.
• Willingness to advance costs — experts, medical records, filing fees — with repayment only if you win.

Typical costs

Personal injury cases in Denver are almost always handled on contingency — the lawyer earns a percentage of the recovery, and you pay nothing up front. Standard rates:

• 33⅓% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed.
• 40% if the case is filed in court.
• 45% or a sliding scale in some complex or appellate cases — always negotiable.

Case costs (expert witnesses, deposition transcripts, filing fees, medical records) are separate and typically come off the top of the recovery. Confirm in writing whether costs are subtracted before or after the contingency percentage is calculated — this can significantly change your net.

Red flags specific to Denver PI

Be cautious of firms that advertise heavily on TV or billboards but assign your case to a paralegal you never meet. Ask, in writing, which attorney will personally try your case if it doesn't settle.