Castle Rock Personal Injury Attorney

What is a Personal Injury—and What Are the Most Common Types?

A personal injury results from an accident caused by the negligence of another person or entity. The most common type of personal injury is auto accidents—car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. Other types of personal injury claims involve defective or poorly designed consumer products, dog bites, boating accidents, and accidents that occur at swimming pools, theme parks, and water parks.

Being involved in a Castle Rock personal injury accident can cause you significant distress as you attempt to deal with the financial, medical, and emotional trauma resulting from your accident. As you deal with physical pain and possibly an inability to do the everyday tasks you once did, you may also face emotional issues as well. It can be difficult to predict the long-term emotional side effects of an injury caused by another’s negligence.

Some people experience extreme stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and anger. Others may experience humiliation, loneliness, or embarrassment resulting from physical disfigurement. Depending on the extent of your physical injuries, you may also experience fear, loneliness, mood swings, chronic fatigue, and loss of appetite.

You may even relive the accident through flashbacks or nightmares, causing you to isolate yourself by withdrawing socially. If you find yourself in this position, having a strong legal advocate can truly make a difference in the outcome of your personal injury claim. An experienced Castle Rock personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya will look out for you, your family, your health, and your future.

Where Can I Turn for Help When I’ve Suffered a Personal Injury?

When you choose a Castle Rock personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, you are choosing a firm that is committed to maximizing your settlement. In addition, we:

• Have more than 200 positive Google Reviews
• Are smart, aggressive, and compassionate
• Offer a 100% free consultation—always
• Charge no fee if we do not recover a settlement for you
• Will help you get the medical treatments you need to get better

About Castle Rock, Colorado

Castle Rock is a home rule town and the county seat of Douglas County, Colorado. As of 2020, the population of Castle Rock was about 73,000—a 52 percent increase from the 2010 census.

Castle Rock residents, like those in any city or town, can suffer a personal injury that causes serious injuries. If you have suffered injury as a result of the negligence of another person or entity, you may have a valid personal injury claim. A Castle Rock personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya has helped hundreds of people just like you. We believe in your future and will ensure your rights are protected while we fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. 

How Much is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

Calculating the value of your claim will require reviewing the damages you have sustained as a result of your personal injury. Once you have a good idea of your damages, a value will be determined by an attorney at The Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya using more than 2 decades of experience. Economic damages include lost wages, medical expenses, and any other damages that have a financial amount attached. Economic damages are also known as special damages. Any damage you have suffered as a result of your personal injury that has an actual dollar amount attached to it is economic damage.

Non-economic damages are more subjective, thus, less easy to quantify. This means that it can be more difficult to prove non-economic damages because the jury has only your word regarding your level of pain or emotional suffering. Your attorney may bring in experts who will testify to the many ways your pain and suffering have changed your ability to do the things you did prior to the accident. 

What if I’m Partially at Fault for My Injuries?

The state of Colorado operates under “modified comparative negligence.” This means that the plaintiff in the accident may have been partially responsible for the accident. The jury will determine the amount of fault each party is responsible for, then the monetary damage award will be adjusted based on the percentage of fault. Under modified comparative negligence, if the plaintiff is 50 percent or more responsible for his or her own injuries, the plaintiff may not recover any damages.

If the plaintiff is 49 percent or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages from the defendant, but the award will be adjusted downward by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff. As an example, suppose the defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiff to slip and fall in a grocery store. At the time of the fall, the plaintiff was looking at their phone and not paying attention to the spill on the floor. A jury may reduce the plaintiff’s settlement by 10 percent or any amount they decide.  

How Long Does a Colorado Insurance Company Have to Settle a Personal Injury Claim?

The plaintiff in a personal injury claim has three years for an auto accident and two years for an accident not involving an auto under Colorado statutes of limitations in which to file a claim for damages. Insurance companies have no specific timetable in which they must settle a claim, however, the law requires they settle claims in a “reasonably prompt” manner.

As the plaintiff in a personal injury claim, you have the right to an efficient settlement. If you believe your insurance company is violating the law or operating unethically, you can file a bad faith lawsuit. A bad faith lawsuit can result in an award for the original settlement along with added penalties and interest. 

How Much Does a Castle Rock Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

When you’ve been seriously injured because of another’s negligence and you hire a Castle Rock personal injury attorney, you will not have to pay upfront for legal fees and expenses. Personal injury attorneys work for a percentage of your eventual settlement. Your personal injury attorney does not get paid unless there is a settlement. Usually, going to trial will increase the percentage the attorney receives. Preparing for trial requires research into relevant caselaw, preparing and filing legal pleadings, attending court hearings, and taking depositions.

All of these tasks take significant time and cost the attorney money as well. You will sign off on the contingency fee presented by your attorney so there are no surprises when your claim settles. Plaintiffs who are legally represented virtually always receive a significantly larger settlement amount than those who represent themselves.   

How a Castle Rock Personal Injury Attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya Can Help

Attorney Dianne Sawaya and her legal team are dedicated to presenting your personal injury claim in the very best light in order to ensure a fair settlement. Dianne has more than two decades of experience in personal injury claims. This extensive experience ensures you will receive a thorough investigation into your accident and fair reimbursement for your damages. We will work hard to ensure you are able to return to your normal daily routine as quickly as possible. Your accident is something you will likely never forget, however, your future can become significantly brighter when you contact the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya.