Commentary and Analysis Regarding Colorado Law

There are times when a person is so severely injured in an accident there is no question whether or not to file a personal injury claim. The amount of money, time, and misery experienced because of the accident makes the need for compensation obvious.

But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, even with injuries, victims aren’t sure whether a claim is necessary.

3 Things You Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash?

Motorcycle crashes tend to be devastating and result in significant injury. The moments after a motorcycle crash and the days and weeks that follow are challenging. What you do during this time affects your physical and mental recovery, as well as your opportunity to receive compensation for your injuries.

In many cases, the person or people involved have no choice but to put all of their other concerns on hold and seek immediate emergency medical attention after a motorcycle crash. But following the initial assessment and emergency response, there are several things you can do to improve the odds you’ll receive compensation for your medical treatment, loss of income, and the pain and suffering you endured due to your injuries.

If you’ve recently been injured in an automobile accident, chances are you’ve received a call from the insurance company. Insurance providers representing negligent drivers are quick to contact accident victims. Their goal is to convince injured parties to settle out-of-court and usually for far less money than they’d receive if they waited.

In nearly every case, this initial insurance settlement offer is unfair and it’s an attempt to avoid paying you what you deserve. But is it ever smart to accept a settlement offer from an insurance company if you’ve been injured in an accident?

I hear it from my family and friends earlier every year:  “Can you believe the holidays are coming up?’  I know it’s just the middle of September and we’re going to be in the 90’s all week, but I did see the Halloween decorations on the shelves at Walgreens.  So, it’s only a matter of time before that gives way to an aisle filled with Christmas stockings and red and green m&ms.  I just received my first invitation to a holiday party last week.

And what goes better with holiday festivities than lots of wine and spirits?  If you are the hosting one of these gatherings, should you be worried about your responsibility for the person who has had too much to drink?  If that person gets in his car and winds up hurting someone are you responsible?  Assuming this is purely a social event, the answer is no – sort of.  Under Colorado Revised Statute 12-47-804 a social host cannot be held responsible for injuries caused by a person who became intoxicated at your party.  The exception to the rule is if the host “knowingly served any alcohol beverage to such person who was under the age of twenty-one years or knowingly provided the person under the age of twenty-one a place to consume an alcoholic beverage.”  This liability extends even to minors who may sneak a beer for friends while mom and dad aren’t watching.  So remember, eat drink and be merry, but make sure everyone is twenty-one.

Medical Payments Coverage in Colorado

In the last two newsletters (Are You Putting Yourself at Risk by Saving on Your Car Insurance – Part 1, Part 2) I wrote about how it is important to have enough liability coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect you from the harm you may cause or the harm you may incur when involved in an auto collision. Both of these auto coverages protect you in the long run, but are almost never paid until medical treatment is complete. Even though you may have plenty of insurance to reimburse you for damages incurred, medical bills start coming almost immediately after the accident. If you don’t have health insurance this can create real problems.

Under Colorado law an automobile insurance company is required to offer up to $5,000 of medical payments coverage when you initially purchase your auto insurance policy. Medical payments coverage pays up to the limit of coverage for every person in your vehicle and it pays on an ongoing basis. There are no deductibles and no co-payments, and it pays regardless of who is at fault for the collision. Many carriers offer medical payments coverage up $25,000 per person and some will offer as high as $100,000 per person.