Car accidents can be expensive and serious. You may need to pay for repairs to your vehicle or medical treatment for any injuries you received. In some cases, individuals can settle a car accident relatively painlessly by allowing their insurance companies to handle the matter.
However, when you’re in a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, the situation can be very different. A lack of insurance on the part of the at-fault driver can make it very difficult for victims of car accidents to recover from their injuries. Even if you receive a judgment in court against the individual who caused the car accident, if they do not have the money, it can be very difficult to recover anything despite your favorable verdict.
Because of the difficulty of dealing with uninsured drivers, you should take steps to protect yourself in the event that you are in an accident with someone who does not have insurance.
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact the lawyers at Zinda Law Group at 888-485-5226 for a free case consultation.
Steps You Should Take Immediately After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver in Colorado
1. Put safety first.
The most important thing to do in any car accident is to make sure everyone in your car is safe. If anyone is injured, call 911. Even if no one is injured, make sure that the vehicles and people involved in the crash are standing somewhere safe and out of the way of passing cars.
2. Call the police and file a police report.
It is important that there be a record of the circumstances of the car accident. Contact the police. A police report will document witnesses, parties involved, property damage, and other things necessary for your personal case, if you chose to bring one.
3. Do not accept fault.
Admitting fault in an accident, even just in the heat of the moment, to make someone feel better, or to diffuse a situation could lead to your claim failing in court. At the same time, while you may be frustrated or upset, try to avoid speaking out of anger and assigning blame; this will not help the situation. Stay calm, and speak carefully, not unthinkingly.
4. Visit a medical professional.
If you or someone with you was injured in the car accident, you will have called 911 and received treatment beginning at the scene. However, even if you did not have an immediate injury, you should still be looked at by a medical professional to assess any injuries that you cannot immediately detect. Establishing a record of your medical situation soon after the accident is important evidence in a personal injury claim.
5. File an insurance claim.
Contact your insurance provider to file a claim. However, keep in mind that insurance is a profitable business, and the way it remains so is not by paying out large sums of money to everyone who files a claim. The insurance agents you speak to are professionals who are trained to pay as little as possible and get you to admit fault in your case; this is why a lawyer could be beneficial in communicating with your insurance company.
6. Contact a personal injury attorney.
It can be extremely difficult to pursue compensation for a personal injury claim alone, whether you are up against insurance companies or filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver of the other car or another involved party. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to help you navigate your communications with your insurance agent, or the complicated personal injury legal system.
In addition, an attorney can be a valuable resource if you believe you may have to pursue a personal injury claim, especially when the driver who caused the accident is uninsured. Aside from the driver of the car that injured you, there may be other avenues for compensation that an experienced attorney can advise you to pursue.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat Insurance Laws Does Colorado Have?
Colorado, like many states, requires drivers to carry a certain amount of insurance. Colorado uses the 25/50/15 Rule, which states that drivers must have a minimum of:
- $25,000 individual bodily injury insurance. This does not mean that every bodily injury claim will receive $25,000, but that no bodily injury claim will receive more than $25,000.
- $50,000 total bodily injury liability insurance. If more than one person is injured, this is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for all of them.
- $15,000 in property damage liability.
You can have more insurance coverage than this, but you cannot receive a registration sticker on your car in Colorado if your coverage does not meet these minimum requirements. However, some individuals still drive without insurance, despite the fact that it is illegal to do so.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat Can I Do To Protect Myself From Uninsured Drivers in Colorado?
It is possible to add uninsured motorist coverage to your automobile insurance. This insurance covers what an underinsured or uninsured driver is unable to pay of your bodily injury claim, up to a specified amount, in the same way the minimum insurance rules do. However, keep in mind that these claims only provide coverage for bodily injuries, not for vehicle repairs.
In some states, drivers are required to have uninsured motorist insurance, but this is not true for Colorado. However, uninsured motorist insurance remains a good way to protect yourself from having to face all of the medical expenses of an accident with an uninsured driver.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationDoes Uninsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Cover Hit and Run in Colorado?
Yes. In Colorado, uninsured motorist coverage pays for bodily injuries from a hit-and-run accident. However, it is important to remember that uninsured motorist coverage only pays for bodily damage, and not damage to the vehicle of the insured person.
Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage if I Have Collision and Comprehensive in Colorado?
Yes. Collision insurance will pay for damages to your vehicle resulting from a collision, and comprehensive coverage will cover other damages to your vehicle that do not come from collisions. Neither of these insurances will pay for your medical treatment if you are injured in a car accident. In order to have coverage for bodily injury in case of an accident with an uninsured motorist, you specifically need uninsured motorist coverage.
Get Help From Zinda Law Group’s Colorado Accident Attorneys
Car accidents are never easy, but dealing with an uninsured motorist can be even more stressful because you might be struggling to work with your insurance company or deal with a possible personal injury claim. Having a good lawyer can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve.
At Zinda Law Group, our experienced attorneys have dealt with numerous car accident cases. They can deal with insurance companies and analyze your chances of a successful personal injury claim.
Contact Zinda Law Group today at 888-485-5226 for a free consultation on your case. Zinda Law Group practices a No-Win, No-Fee Guarantee, meaning that you do not pay anything unless you receive a favorable outcome in your case.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
