Posted on June 30, 2025 in Personal Injury

If you suffered injuries because of someone else’s reckless or intentional actions, you could be entitled to more than just reimbursement for your losses through a personal injury claim. In certain cases, Colorado law allows injured people to pursue punitive damages, known in Colorado as exemplary damages. A Fort Collins, CO personal injury lawyer can help you understand the financial value of your incident and injury, including whether or not you may qualify for exemplary damages.

What Are Exemplary Damages Under Colorado Law?

Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-102, exemplary damages are awarded in addition to the compensatory damages, meaning the actual losses incurred. The purpose of exemplary damages is to punish the defendant for conduct that was particularly egregious. Examples include:

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 Posted on June 26, 2025 in Car Accident

Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians are common in parking lots, and these incidents can cause serious harm, leaving many victims wondering whether they have legal options to recover compensation. In Colorado, pedestrians struck in parking lots often have the right to file a claim or sue, but success depends on the details of the case, including who was at fault and whether negligence can be proven. If you have questions about your right to compensation, a Fort Collins, CO pedestrian accident attorney can explain how the law governs your case.

What Are My Rights if I Am Hit in a Parking Lot in Colorado?

Several traffic and personal injury laws protect pedestrians in Colorado. For example, even though parking lots are typically considered private property, drivers are still required to operate their vehicles with reasonable care. Under C.R.S. § 42-4-807, drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians. In parking lots, drivers are expected to yield to pedestrians, especially in crosswalks.

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 Posted on June 19, 2025 in Car Accident

The new hands-free law in Colorado was designed to reduce distracted driving, a common cause of car accidents. It carries serious implications for legal liability after an accident, and anyone injured by a distracted driver may be able to use the driver’s violation as evidence in a personal injury claim. A Fort Collins, CO car accident attorney can help victims understand how the hands-free law strengthens their claim for fast and fair compensation.

What is the Colorado Hands-Free Law?

The Colorado Hands-Free Driving Law from Senate Bill 24-065 went into effect on January 1, 2025. It expands on an existing ban on texting and driving and prohibits all drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving unless it is in hands-free mode. This means that accessories like Bluetooth or dashboard mounts are allowed because they reduce the distraction of manually holding a phone while driving. As of April 2025, Larimer County recorded a decrease of more than 50 percent in traffic fatalities since the same time in 2024, and news reports highlight the Hands-Free Driving Law as a contributing factor to that positive change. 

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 Posted on June 11, 2025 in Car Accident

While car accidents can result in severe injuries and significant property damage, motorcycle crashes are inherently more dangerous, given the vulnerable nature of riding. In Colorado, dangerous mountain passes and inexperienced drivers significantly increase the risks for motorcyclists, and negligence is a common cause of many deadly crashes. If you suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident caused by another party’s reckless driving, a Fort Collins, CO car accident attorney can help you build a strong claim to recover your losses.

What Are Some Special Considerations for Motorcycle Accidents in Colorado?

Motorcycle accidents often result in more severe injuries than car accidents, which typically means that the value of motorcycle claims are higher. Therefore, medical considerations are sometimes more prevalent for injured motorcyclists. For example, you may need to prove that your injuries had a substantial impact on your quality of life, hindering you from enjoying your hobbies or doing activities that you used to do. 

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 Posted on May 28, 2025 in Truck Accident

When a semi-truck causes an accident because of overloaded or unsecured cargo, more than one party could potentially be liable for the resulting damages, including the cost of your medical expenses, the income you lost from missing work, the damage to your property, and the pain and suffering you endured. 

As the victim, you are responsible for presenting the evidence necessary to prove fault and to show that you suffered as a result. If you have questions about how Illinois personal injury law applies to your case, an experienced Fort Collins truck accident attorney will guide you through the process and protect you from anyone who may try to undervalue your claim.

What Can Cause an Overloaded Truck Accident?

Overloaded trucks can be much more difficult to maneuver. When they are too heavy, the driver can lose control or struggle to handle the truck as it rounds corners or makes turns. Additionally, exceeding the weight limit puts additional pressure on the tires, commonly causing blowouts that can make the driver lose control. 

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 Posted on May 22, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

Construction workers navigate some of the most dangerous working conditions in the country. Because the risk of injury is so high, employers in the industry are responsible for carrying workers’ compensation benefits. In the event of a construction injury, you would typically file a workers’ comp claim and receive the financial assistance you need to cover medical expenses and lost income, bypassing the liability requirement of personal injury cases. 

However, under specific circumstances, you may need to sue your employer or a third party. First, you will need to speak with an experienced Larimer County workers’ compensation attorney to learn more about your rights as they apply to the incident that led to your injury.

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 Posted on May 19, 2025 in Personal Injury

Bicycle accidents involving a vehicle can have substantial physical and financial consequences. Even at low speed, a car can cause severe injuries to a cyclist. If you suffered injuries while riding a bike, and a negligent driver is responsible, a Fort Collins, CO bicycle accident attorney can help you prove liability and gather sufficient evidence to support your claim for damages. First, consider some important elements of a bike accident case and how they can strengthen your claim.

Should I Report a Bicycle Accident to the Police in Colorado?

In general, accidents involving a motor vehicle that result in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more must be reported to the police in Colorado. For you, as the victim of a negligent driver, police presence can be beneficial to your case. When called to the scene, they will investigate the accident and document their findings in a police report that can be used as evidence in your case. This report can include findings on fault, noting traffic violations and other elements that could prove the other party’s responsibility for the accident.

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 Posted on May 05, 2025 in Car Accident

If you suffered injuries or property damage because of a drunk driving accident caused by someone else in Colorado, you are entitled to recover the costs related to all the damages you incurred. You typically have multiple legal avenues, including filing a lawsuit against the drunk driver and possibly the establishment that served them. Working with an experienced Fort Collins, CO drunk driving accident attorney ensures you understand the laws that apply to your case and the damages you can claim.

What Is Colorado’s Dram Shop Law?

Colorado, like many other states, has a Dram Shop Law that affords victims of drunk drivers the right to take legal action against the drunk driver and sometimes even the business that provided alcohol to the driver. Restaurants, liquor stores, bars, and any store that sells alcohol could qualify as a dram shop, and under the Colorado Revised Statutes, you could sue if the circumstances call for it. For example, the law applies if any of the following is true of the drunk driver in your case:

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 Posted on April 29, 2025 in Truck Accident

Truck accidents can cause severe injuries and result in significant damages, including tragic loss of life. An unfortunate common cause of big rig crashes with smaller vehicles is tire blowouts, which are most often the result of negligence. In Colorado, if you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident caused by a tire blowout, you may be able to recover damages. An experienced Fort Collins, CO truck accident attorney can help you file a claim and identify the recoverable damages available to you.

Types of Accidents Caused by Truck Tire Blowouts

Some types of accidents are unique to commercial trucks because of their weight and dimensions. When a tire blows out, the truck driver could lose control of the vehicle, and any of the following may happen:

• Jackknife accident: The truck trailer swings around, landing at an angle with the cab. This could cause the truck to skid off the road and hit other vehicles.

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 Posted on April 23, 2025 in Car Accident

Auto accidents can result in devastating consequences, especially for the victims of reckless drivers. Colorado has a fault-based system for auto accident cases, allowing you to hold the party responsible for your accident accountable for the damages.

The case becomes slightly more complex when the party at fault was driving uninsured. If you suffered losses in a car accident with an uninsured driver, a Fort Collins, CO auto accident attorney will listen to the details of your case and explain what you can do to recover damages.

How Does Fault-Based Insurance Work?

Anyone who owns and operates a vehicle in Colorado must carry liability insurance. According to the state’s mandatory automobile insurance laws, the minimum requirements cover maximum amounts for bodily injury or death to anyone involved in the accident and property damage. For example, if you caused an accident that resulted in someone else’s injury, the other party would file a claim for damages with your insurance. However, what happens when the driver who is responsible for the accident does not have insurance coverage?

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