Arvada Car Accident Attorney

Car Accident Attorney in Arvada, CO

Car accidents occur on a regular basis across the United States. Some of those collisions are minor parking lot bump-ins, while others are much more serious. In fact, some car accidents can leave those involved with serious, even life-threatening injuries. When this level of injury is present, the victims of car accidents may be unable to keep up with the never-ending stream of medical bills and may be unable to return to work and make a living.

So, while a personal injury claim following a car accident will not magically reverse your current reality, it can help you get the medical treatment you need. Having an Arvada car accident attorney by your side from start to finish can make a significant difference in the outcome of your car accident.

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), in 2019 the injury rate per 100 million vehicle miles was 84, while the fatality rate was 1.10. Police reported 6,723,000 non-fatal car accidents in 2019. Of those accidents, 1,916,000 individuals suffered moderate to severe injuries. Being injured, unable to work, facing an increasing number of medical bills can be a frightening, anxiety-inducing experience. At the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we want to help you get your life back on track.

Why Choose Arvada CO Car Accident Attorney Dianne Sawaya?

You may be wondering whether you really need a car accident attorney. After all, you can talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company just as well as an attorney, right? Wrong. There are so many things you are likely to face following your car accident with the majority of those being totally unexpected. There is no question, the insurance company is not on your side.

Can you stand up to an insurance company that has no intention of paying you what your claim is really worth? Do you understand the statutes of limitations? Can you accurately calculate what your future medical expenses and lost wages will be? Do you know how to calculate your pain and suffering damages? Can you talk to witnesses, finding and securing all necessary evidence? What if the insurance company refuses to pay you a fair amount and you are forced to file a personal injury claim—can you adequately handle that? Can you provide expert witnesses in the event of a trial?

Even if you are comfortable answering “yes” to each of these questions, then maybe you can handle your own car accident claim. If the answer to any question is “no,” or you have any doubts at all, contact the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya. Once an attorney is involved, insurance companies simply have more respect for you and your claim. They are much less likely to try and slide a lowball settlement past an experienced attorney, and much more likely to be fair and honest in their dealings. A study by the Insurance Research Council found that, on average, injury victims who were represented by a lawyer received settlements more than 3.5 times larger than those who settled on their own (without a lawyer).

While we know you have plenty of choices when choosing an Arvada car accident attorney, we believe we are the best choice for a number of reasons. We will work with the insurance company of the at-fault driver, ensuring the company honors its obligations to you in every way. While Dianne Sawaya and her legal team are highly skilled negotiators, there is never a moment’s hesitation in filing a lawsuit on your behalf and holding insurance companies accountable.

Our legal team is experienced, smart, aggressive, and compassionate. Additionally, we:

• Have more than 200 positive Google reviews, as well as thousands of satisfied clients;
• Receive no fee unless there is a recovery;
• Always seek to maximize your settlement;
• Offer a 100 percent free consultation, and
• Ensure you receive the medical treatments you need.

Distracted Driving Considered by Some to Be the Primary Cause of Car Accidents.

Although some car accidents are just that—accidents—many others are the result of negligence on the part of one or both drivers. Distracted driving is rapidly moving up the list to become the primary cause of car accidents in the U.S. In fact, many experts believe distracted driving has already made it to the number one slot, however, few people involved in an accident admit they were distracted.

This has made it difficult to get true statistics regarding distracted driving accidents. According to End Distracted Driving, at least 7 percent of all fatal crashes in 2019 were definitively tied to driver distraction. About 15 percent of non-fatal crashes in 2018 were reported as being caused by distraction. According to a study done by the University of Utah, the distracted driving behavior of talking on a cell phone while driving can render the driver just as impaired as a driver with a BAC of 0.08 percent. Further, cell phone users (while driving) are 5.36 times more likely to get into a car accident than drivers who are focusing solely on driving.

There are three primary types of distractions. Manual distraction occurs when you remove your hand or hands from the wheel. Types of manual distraction include eating, fiddling with the car controls or GPS, or changing the radio station. Visual distractions are those that take your eyes away from the road. Visual distractions include turning around to see what the children are doing in the back seat, reading a text, or watching something happening on the side of the road. Cognitive distractions occur when your mind wanders from the task at hand—driving. A cognitive distraction could be daydreaming while driving or thinking about what you will cook for dinner.

Some drivers engage in all three types of driver distraction. Consider this—you go through a fast food place and buy lunch, eating while driving back to work. You are holding a messy taco (manual distraction), looking down at your food in an attempt to avoid spills (visual distraction), and daydreaming about your plans for after work. This is a true recipe for disaster and could lead to a serious accident. Other drivers are also engaging in such distractions, making it essential that you be as alert as possible when behind the wheel.

What are Other Factors Involved in Car Accidents?

While distracted driving is bad, there are other causes of car accidents that are just as dangerous. Like distracted driving, fatigued driving has increased steadily as a cause of car accidents. According to the National Sleep Foundation, while drivers of all ages drive while fatigued, about 55 percent of all drowsy driving crashes involve a driver under the age of 25. About half of all adult drivers in the United States admit to getting behind the wheel when sleepy and fatigued. About twenty percent said they have fallen asleep behind the wheel over the past year, and 40 percent admitted they have fallen asleep at the wheel at some point in their driving career.

Driving while overly fatigued is as dangerous as driving under the influence as far as reaction time, awareness of hazards, and the ability to sustain attention on the job at hand—driving. If you are driving while overly fatigued, you are three times more likely to be involved in a car crash and if you have gone for more than 20 hours without sleep, that is equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent.

Other factors involved in car accidents include:

• Driving while under the influence
• Exceeding the speed limit
• Driving recklessly
• Inclement Weather
• Defective car parts
• Driving carelessly

Tailgating, passing on a double yellow line, weaving in and out of traffic, and cutting other drivers off are the top forms of reckless driving. Driving carelessly is less serious than driving recklessly and includes such things as failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, failing to use a blinker, and failing to slow down in inclement weather.

What are Potential Damages, and How Soon Should You Expect a Check?

Although your damages will be specific to the facts and circumstances surrounding your accident, you can expect to be reimbursed for all medical expenses to date as well as future medical expenses. These medical expenses include the cost of ambulance transportation, emergency room expenses, physical and cognitive therapies, all physician expenses, expenses for necessary medical items like crutches and a wheelchair, the cost of prescription medications and in-home health services.

Pain and suffering damages will be available if you suffer physical pain and/or mental or emotional distress as a result of the accident. Lost wages are available if the accident left you unable to return to work. If your injury is so severe you will not be able to return to work for months, years, or forever, you may be entitled to future lost wages. If your injuries resulted in your inability to show affection to your spouse, he or she could be entitled to loss of consortium damages, and you are entitled to monetary compensation for the damages to your vehicle.

Generally speaking, once your Avada car accident attorney reaches a settlement agreement with the insurance company, you should receive your check within six weeks. If your car accident claim goes to trial, once the jury reaches a decision your check should arrive within weeks as well. You can choose a one-time lump-sum amount or a structured settlement where you receive a monthly or yearly amount.

How Can the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya Help with Your Arvada, CO Car Accident Claim?

Attorney Dianne Sawaya has been helping people in the same situation for many, many years. Because of this, she has compassion for your situation, a history of positive resolutions, and the experience and knowledge necessary for a positive resolution in your case. At the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we will ensure you receive the medical treatments you need to move forward with your life and the financial means to do so.

We will thoroughly answer all your questions regarding the claim process in an easy-to-understand manner. We understand this is a difficult, emotional time for you and your family members and we will show you the attention and care we would give to our own family members. Contact the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya today.