Manitou Springs is located in El Paso County, Colorado, and is home to over 5,000 residents. It is also a prime location for tourists looking to shop, dine at local restaurants, and access Pikes Peak. It is also a beautiful town to travel through en route to a variety of attractions, including Cave of the Winds, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, and Pikes Peak.
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness in Manitou Springs, finding the right legal representation is crucial for your journey to justice. At the Green Law Firm P.C., our dedicated team of Manitou Springs personal injury attorneys is committed to fighting tirelessly on your behalf. We have the resources and compassion to navigate the complexities of personal injury law, help you understand your rights, and strive to get you the compensation you deserve. Our first priority is your recovery and well-being, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today for your free consultation.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Manitou Springs
Unfortunately, even in Manitou Springs, injury accidents occur. From car accidents to slip and fall accidents, they can result in serious injuries that can lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering and even chronic disability. When you are injured in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, we can help. At the Green Law Firm, our Manitou Springs personal injury attorneys know all of the insurance company tricks and tactics, and we use this knowledge to build a case that is designed to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. We have successfully represented victims of:
- Car accidents – These involve collisions between two or more motor vehicles, typically caused by negligence, reckless driving, speeding, or distracted driving. Injuries can range from minor to severe and may include whiplash, broken bones, or traumatic brain injury.
- Motorcycle accidents – These involve a motorcyclist involved in a collision, often with a larger vehicle. Due to their vulnerability, motorcyclists often suffer severe or life-threatening injuries, such as road rash, broken bones, and head trauma.
- Slip and fall accidents – These are a common type of personal injury case, occurring when a person slips, trips, or falls due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property. Injuries can include sprained ankles, broken hips, or head injuries.
- Trucking accidents – These involve commercial trucks and often result in severe damage due to the size and weight of the truck. Causes may include driver fatigue, improper maintenance, or overloaded cargo.
- Drunk driving accidents – In these accidents, one or more involved drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This significantly increases the risk of serious injuries or fatalities.
- Distracted driving accidents – These occur when a driver’s attention is diverted from the road, often due to cellphone use, eating, or adjusting the radio. Even a momentary distraction can lead to catastrophic accidents.
- Bicycle accidents – These accidents involve cyclists and often occur due to negligent drivers who fail to share the road. Injuries can be severe, given the minimal protection afforded to cyclists.
- Pedestrian accidents – These involve individuals who are struck by vehicles while walking. They often result in serious injuries or death, as pedestrians have no protection against the impact of a vehicle.
- Medical malpractice – This occurs when a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or nurse, provides substandard care that results in injury or harm. This could involve misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or medication mistakes.
- And more – This can include a wide range of other personal injury cases, such as product liability cases (involving injuries caused by defective products), dog bites, boating accidents, and more. Each case is unique and requires a tailored approach to pursue compensation effectively.
Common Injuries in Manitou Springs Personal Injuries
In Manitou Springs, personal injury cases can involve a wide range of injuries. Here are some of the common injuries:
- Soft Tissue Injuries: These include injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which can occur in accidents such as car crashes, slips and falls, or other traumatic events. They can range from minor sprains and strains to more serious damage like torn ligaments.
- Broken Bones: Fractures are common in accidents involving high impacts, such as car, truck, or motorcycle accidents. Broken bones can be painful and may require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): These occur when the brain is injured by a sudden, violent blow to the head, often seen in car accidents or falls. Symptoms can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage with long-lasting effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These can occur in various types of accidents and can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Even a minor injury to the spine can cause significant pain and mobility issues.
- Burn Injuries: These can be caused by car accidents, defective products, or workplace accidents. Burn injuries can lead to severe pain, scarring, and long-term physical and psychological damage.
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end car accidents. It’s a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck.
- Internal Injuries: These often occur in high-impact accidents and can affect organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver. Internal injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Negligence in Manitou Springs Personal Injury Claims
Negligence in Manitou Springs is a crucial element to prove in personal injury claims. It refers to the failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.
To establish negligence in a personal injury claim, the plaintiff must prove the following elements:
- Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal obligation to act in a certain way toward the plaintiff. For instance, drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and drive safely to prevent harm to others.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet that duty of care. For example, if a driver was texting while driving and caused an accident, they breached their duty of care to drive safely.
- Causation: The plaintiff’s injury was directly caused by the defendant’s breach of duty. Using the same example, if the driver’s texting led to a collision that resulted in your injuries, then causation can be established.
- Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual damages (such as medical bills, lost wages, etc.) as a result of the injury.
It’s important to note that Colorado follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means that the amount of compensation you can receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
Recoverable Damages in Manitou Springs Personal Injury Claims
When it comes to personal injury claims in Manitou Springs, you may be able to recover various types of damages depending on the specifics of your case. These include:
- Economic Damages: These are damages that compensate for quantifiable monetary losses directly related to the injury. They include:
- Medical Expenses: Costs associated with immediate and future medical care, including hospital bills, doctor visits, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and any necessary medical equipment.
- Lost Wages: If your injury caused you to miss work or reduced your ability to earn a living, you could be compensated for those lost wages.
- Property Damage: If your property, such as a car, was damaged in the accident, you could be compensated for repair or replacement.
- Non-Economic Damages: These damages compensate for non-quantifiable losses, often emotional or psychological in nature, including:
- Pain and Suffering: This compensation is for physical discomfort and emotional distress resulting from your injury.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injury has caused long-term effects that prevent you from enjoying activities that you used to take pleasure in, you could be compensated for this loss.
- Emotional Distress: Serious accidents can cause psychological effects like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victims could be compensated for the emotional turmoil suffered due to the accident.
- Loss of Consortium: This is awarded if the injury negatively affects the victim’s relationship with their spouse or family.
- Punitive Damages: These damages are not always awarded and are not intended to compensate for a loss. Instead, they are meant to punish the offender and deter similar behavior in the future. In Colorado, punitive damages are usually only awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were extremely reckless or intentional.
Damage Caps in Manitou Springs Personal Injury Claims
Manitou Springs has certain limitations or “caps” on the amount of damages a person can recover in a personal injury claim. These caps are determined by state law and can vary depending on the type of case and the specific circumstances involved.
The damage caps in Colorado are as follows:
- Non-Economic Damages: These types of damages, which include things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, are capped at $250,000. However, this cap can be increased to $500,000 if the court finds clear and convincing evidence that a higher award is justified.
- Punitive Damages: These are damages intended to punish the wrongdoer rather than compensate the victim. In Colorado, punitive damages are typically capped at the amount of the actual damages awarded to the plaintiff. This means if a plaintiff is awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, the most they can usually receive in punitive damages is an additional $200,000.
- Medical Malpractice Damages: In cases involving medical malpractice, the total amount of damages is capped at $1 million, with no more than $300,000 in non-economic damages.
Statute of Limitations in Manitou Springs Personal Injury Claims
The statute of limitations is the time limit set by law within which a lawsuit must be filed. In Manitou Springs, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two (2) years from the date of the incident. This means that if you have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have two (2) years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.
However, there can be exceptions to this rule. For instance, if the injured party is a minor, the clock typically does not start ticking until their 18th birthday. Additionally, if the injury was not discovered right away, the statute of limitations might start from the “date of discovery” of the injury rather than the date the incident occurred.
Furthermore, in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, the statute of limitations is extended to three (3) years.
Injured Accident Victims Need an Experienced Law Firm
Not every law firm is capable of representing injured accident victims. You need an experienced and skilled personal injury law firm. From the very moment you are injured, the personal injury lawyers at the Green Law Firm will go to work for you. We investigate all aspects of your accident to clearly establish liability and prove fault. If necessary, we even employ accident reconstruction experts to help us win your case. Best yet, we do all this on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t owe us a dime unless we collect money for you! It’s that simple.
From the moment you step into our office, you can feel the difference. Here at the Green Law Firm, our injured clients aren’t just a case number. We give our clients the personalized attention they need and deserve after an accident. It’s why so many of our Manitou Springs clients continue to refer their friends and family members to us.
Contact Our Manitou Springs Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Don’t wait until it’s too late to seek justice and the compensation you deserve. Our Manitou Springs personal injury lawyers are ready and waiting to provide the aggressive representation and compassionate support you need during this challenging time. Contact Green Law Firm P.C. today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options. It’s time to take the first step toward healing and recovery. Let our experienced team guide you through the legal process while you focus on what truly matters: your health and well-being.
