Holyoke Personal Injury Attorney

Holyoke Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Colorado

The wrongdoing of one person that causes harm to another individual is known as a "tort." When a tort causes another person to suffer serious injuries, personal or financial losses, or other forms of harm, the foundation for a personal injury case has been laid.

Personal injury covers a broad range of incidents. For this and other reasons, every personal injury case will be unique. Car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall injuries, and dog bites account for a significant percentage of personal injury claims. However, injuries caused by defective products and those related to mistakes made by doctors also fall into this category. When a person is injured while visiting someone else's property, such as a retail store or amusement park, they may be able to pursue a premises liability claim and recover compensation for injuries that were caused by the property owner's negligence. Family members of a person who was killed by someone's actions or negligence may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.

Some types of torts, such as physical or sexual assault, are criminal violations that may be punished by prison time, fines, or other penalties. Personal injury cases have a different purpose—namely, compensating the victim for the losses they have incurred and discouraging others from committing the same wrongdoing.

Personal Injury Claims in Colorado

Every state has unique laws that determine when victims can file personal injury claims and the procedures that will need to be followed. Victims of personal injuries in Colorado will need to understand the time limits that apply for personal injury cases filed in court. An injury victim typically has just two years after the date the injury occurred to bring a case to court.

Colorado also follows a rule known as "modified comparative fault." When an injury victim was partially responsible for the circumstances that led to the injury, they may share some level of fault. The damages a plaintiff can recover may be reduced based on their partial responsibility for the accident. The damages would be reduced by the same percentage of blame they bear.

Additionally, many states safeguard dog owners the first time their animals injure a person. However, Colorado exercises strict liability when it pertains to animal behavior. Even if a person had no reason to believe their dog was aggressive, they are responsible for injuries the first time their dog displays aggression.

Recoverable Damages

Both current and future losses are eligible for recovery by personal injury victims. Among the types of economic and non-economic damages an injured person could seek are:

• Reasonable and documented medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Various Colorado laws limit the amount of money a plaintiff can recover in a personal injury lawsuit. These "caps" usually apply to non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, and each type of claim could have a different cap.

In cases involving particularly egregious or malicious behavior on the part of the defendant, punitive damages might also be available. This form of compensation may be an additional award of money that is meant to punish the defendant for actions that caused the victim to suffer harm. Punitive damages may be capped as well.

Contact Our Holyoke Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love have suffered an injury that was caused by another person's negligence, our attorneys can help you seek compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact The Gold Law Firm today for a free consultation at 303-694-4653. We can help you obtain the money you need to put your life back together again after a serious accident. Call us today.