Breckenridge Car Accident Attorneys
Protecting Your Rights After a Traffic Crash
Many people come to Breckenridge to ski in the winter and the ultimate mountain experience all year round. With extra traffic flowing in and out of Summit County, car accidents are more likely to occur. If you have been injured in a traffic crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Summit County
With more drivers on the roadways, car accidents kill and injure more people in the U.S. every year. In Colorado alone, 574 fatal crashes occurred in 2020, as reported by the Department of Transportation (CODOT). Common types of car accidents in Summit County include:
- Drunk driving accidents: Alcohol consumption impairs a driver’s judgment, vision, color distinction, and reaction time. In a recent year, more than 10,000 people in the U.S. were killed in traffic crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08% or higher, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Drugged driving wrecks: With the recreational use of marijuana legalized in 19 states including Colorado, drugged driving is becoming more of a problem. Among drug-tested fatally injured drivers in a recent year, 38% tested positive for marijuana, 16% tested positive for opioids, and 4% tested positive for both, as reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
- Distracted driving accidents: On average, we have 42 distracted driving crashes a day in Colorado, as stated by the Department of Transportation (CODOT). Despite the known dangers, many drivers are still texting, talking on cell phones, or otherwise driving distracted.
- Aggressive driving collisions: This type of dangerous driving behavior puts everyone on the roadway at risk. Aggressive driving may involve speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failing to yield the right-of-way, and disregarding traffic signals and signs.
- Drowsy driving wrecks: Fatigue impairs cognition and driving performance. Drowsy driving can lead to falling asleep at the wheel and deadly head-on collisions. Sleep deprivation is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes.
- Teen driving accidents: Teen drivers, 15 to 18 years of age, lack experience behind the wheel, and they are more susceptible to distracted driving. In a recent year, 2,042 people in the U.S. died in crashes involving a teen driver, as reported by NHTSA.
Filing a Colorado Car Accident Claim
After a serious car, truck, or motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to file a claim for compensation for your losses. Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state. This means, even if you were partially at fault for the crash, you can still recover compensation, provided you are not assigned 50% or more of the responsibility. Your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company under that driver’s liability coverage.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Insurance companies are in business for profit. Their goal is to maximize the premiums they collect and minimize their payouts. You can expect the other side to try to assign as much fault for the crash as possible to you. An experienced Breckenridge car accident attorney can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability, assess the full extent of your damages, negotiate skillfully with insurance companies on your behalf, and, if necessary, fight for the highest possible award in court.
At Whitaker & Penix, LLC, we have extensive trial experience and knowledge of local courts, players, and processes. Our Colorado personal injury lawyers are dependable, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and honest. Call us at (970) 368-0602 if you have been hurt in a car accident caused by another driver. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.