Denver’s Rising Traffic Fatality Crisis Demands Legal Action
With 93 traffic deaths recorded in Denver during 2025 and already 2 fatalities in early 2026, Colorado’s capital faces a growing road safety crisis that leaves families devastated and searching for answers. If you’ve lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries in a Denver traffic accident, understanding your legal rights becomes essential for securing justice and compensation. The stark reality is that despite Denver’s Vision Zero initiative and the Safe System approach that recognizes people make mistakes and human bodies have limited tolerance for crash impacts, fatal accidents continue to claim lives across the Mile High City. These tragedies often result from preventable causes like impaired driving, excessive speed, or distracted driving, leaving survivors and families grappling with medical bills, lost income, and emotional trauma that can last a lifetime.
💡 Pro Tip: Document everything immediately after an accident – take photos, get witness information, and seek medical attention even for minor injuries, as symptoms may worsen over time.
When life takes an unexpected turn on Denver’s roads, securing justice shouldn’t be a roadblock. Jarret J. Benson Law is here to steer you towards the compensation you deserve, guiding you through every twist and turn. Ready to take the first step? Call us at (720) 710-6753 or contact us today.
Colorado Law Protects Your Right to Compensation After Serious Crashes
Colorado law provides clear pathways for accident victims and families to seek compensation when someone else’s negligence causes a crash. Whether you’re dealing with a drunk driver who contributed to the 30% of fatal crashes involving alcohol impairment or a distracted driver who caused a collision, working with a car accident lawyer in Denver ensures you understand these critical rights. According to CDOT, crash data listings, reports, and dashboards are protected under 23 U.S.C. Section 407, which prevents such safety-planning data from being subject to discovery or admitted as evidence in Federal or State court proceedings. While accidents involving injuries or fatalities do generate detailed reports, those reports maintained by the Department of Revenue or law enforcement agencies (rather than CDOT’s safety-planning data) may be available as evidence through proper legal channels. The state’s liability system allows victims to pursue damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in tragic cases where families lose a loved one, wrongful death claims become available.
💡 Pro Tip: Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover damages even if partially at fault, as long as your fault is less than 50% (49% or less). If your fault equals or exceeds 50%, you are barred from recovering any compensation.
Critical Deadlines and Steps Following a Denver Traffic Accident
Time becomes your enemy after a serious accident, with Colorado law imposing strict deadlines that can permanently bar your right to compensation if missed. Understanding these timelines and taking prompt action with a car accident lawyer in Denver protects your interests while you focus on recovery. The process begins immediately at the accident scene and extends through investigation, insurance negotiations, and potentially litigation if fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Within 24 hours: Report the accident to police and your insurance company, especially critical given that approximately 67% (two-thirds) of fatal crashes between midnight and 3 a.m. involve alcohol-impaired driving
- Within 72 hours: Seek comprehensive medical evaluation even if you feel fine – internal injuries and concussions often have delayed symptoms
- Within 2 weeks: Consult a lawyer to preserve evidence before surveillance footage gets deleted or witnesses become unavailable
- Within 60 days: Complete initial medical treatment documentation to establish the full scope of your injuries
- Within 3 years: File your personal injury lawsuit before Colorado’s statute of limitations expires (Colorado generally has a 2-year limit for most personal injury claims, but a 3-year period applies to motor vehicle accidents; wrongful death claims are generally 2 years from the date of death, though motor vehicle-related wrongful death claims may allow up to 3 years)
💡 Pro Tip: Insurance companies often contact victims within hours of accidents – never give recorded statements or accept initial settlement offers without legal counsel.
How Jarret J. Benson Law Fights for Maximum Compensation
Successfully resolving a serious car accident case requires aggressive representation and deep knowledge of Colorado traffic laws, insurance tactics, and courtroom strategy. A car accident lawyer in Denver from Jarret J. Benson Law brings the experience needed to investigate crashes thoroughly, identify all liable parties, and pursue every available source of compensation. The firm understands that behind every one of Denver’s 93 traffic deaths in 2025 was a person with family, dreams, and potential cut tragically short. This perspective drives their commitment to securing justice whether through strategic settlement negotiations or taking cases to trial when insurers refuse fair compensation. Medical records, police reports, accident reconstruction accounts, and witness statements often serve as key pieces of proof, while expert witnesses such as economists project lost earning capacity in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep a daily journal documenting your pain levels, limitations, and how injuries affect your daily life – this personal account becomes powerful evidence of non-economic damages.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims When Fatal Accidents Strike
When traffic accidents claim lives, Colorado law recognizes that surviving family members deserve compensation for their profound losses. In wrongful death lawsuits following fatal car accidents, the deceased person’s family members or the representative of their estate can ask a court to order the defendant to pay compensation for losses resulting from the death. These cases require proving that the defendant driver breached their duty of care, ultimately causing the fatality – a complex process requiring skilled legal representation.
Who Can File and What Damages Are Available
Colorado restricts who can file wrongful death claims to specific family members during the first year, typically the surviving spouse, with children gaining the right to file in the second year. A traffic fatality attorney Denver helps families understand these restrictions and pursue comprehensive damages including funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship, and the deceased’s pain and suffering before death. Expert witnesses become crucial in these cases, with economists projecting lost earning capacity and forensic pathologists analyzing medical findings regarding the manner or cause of death. Preserving evidence and consulting with experts early enhances the likelihood of accurately demonstrating liability and damages in wrongful death cases.
💡 Pro Tip: Wrongful death settlements are typically not taxable income, but punitive damages may be – consult both legal and tax professionals when structuring settlements.
Common Defenses and How to Overcome Them
Insurance companies and defense attorneys deploy predictable strategies to minimize or deny compensation after serious accidents. Understanding these tactics helps victims and their families prepare stronger cases with their wrongful death lawyer Colorado. Defendants in wrongful death lawsuits may raise defenses to limit or bar liability, similar to defenses that could have been raised if the deceased had survived and brought a personal injury lawsuit.
Comparative Negligence and Assumption of Risk Arguments
Defense attorneys often argue that victims contributed to their own injuries through actions like jaywalking, not wearing seatbelts, or distracted behavior. While Colorado’s modified comparative negligence law allows recovery even with partial fault, skilled representation becomes essential to minimize any fault attribution. Similarly, assumption of risk defenses claiming victims knowingly engaged in dangerous behavior require careful refutation through evidence showing the defendant’s conduct exceeded any reasonable risk the victim might have assumed.
💡 Pro Tip: Social media posts can severely damage your case – avoid discussing your accident, injuries, or activities online until your case resolves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Legal Concerns After Denver Traffic Accidents
Understanding your rights and options after a serious car accident helps you make informed decisions during a difficult time. These questions address the most common concerns victims and families face when considering legal action.
💡 Pro Tip: Write down all your questions before meeting with an attorney – free consultations work best when you come prepared with specific concerns.
Next Steps and Legal Process
The legal process following a serious accident can feel overwhelming, but understanding what to expect helps reduce anxiety and ensures you take appropriate action to protect your rights.
💡 Pro Tip: Most car accident cases settle without trial, but having an attorney prepared for litigation often results in better settlement offers.
1. How do I know if I need a car accident attorney Denver after my crash?
You should consult an attorney if you suffered injuries requiring medical treatment, missed work due to injuries, face disputed liability, or if the insurance company offers an inadequate settlement. With 93 traffic deaths in Denver during 2025, even seemingly minor accidents can have serious consequences that justify legal representation.
2. What if the driver who hit me was drunk or violated Colorado car accidents laws?
Drunk driving accidents, which comprise 30% of all fatal crashes, often justify punitive damages beyond standard compensation. Your Denver personal injury lawyer can pursue criminal restitution alongside civil damages, potentially increasing your total recovery significantly.
3. How long do I have to file a Denver car accidents lawsuit?
Colorado law generally allows three years from the accident date for motor vehicle personal injury claims, while most other personal injury claims have a two-year limit; wrongful death claims are generally 2 years from the date of death, though wrongful death actions arising from motor vehicle accidents may allow up to 3 years. However, government entity involvement or hit-and-run situations may alter these deadlines, making prompt legal consultation essential.
4. What compensation can a Denver auto accident lawyer help me recover?
Compensation typically includes medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Catastrophic injuries or wrongful death cases may include additional damages for permanent disability or family losses.
5. Should I accept the insurance company’s offer or consult a lawyer?
Insurance companies often make quick, lowball offers hoping victims accept before understanding their injuries’ full extent. Studies show accident victims with legal representation typically recover 3-5 times more compensation than those who settle alone, even after attorney fees.
Work with a Trusted Car Accidents Lawyer
The aftermath of a serious car accident challenges victims physically, emotionally, and financially. With Denver recording 93 traffic deaths in 2025 and the trend continuing into 2026, the need for experienced legal representation has never been clearer. Jarret J. Benson Law understands the complexities of Colorado traffic accident cases and fights tirelessly for maximum compensation while you focus on healing. Don’t let insurance companies minimize your suffering or deny rightful compensation – contact a dedicated legal team that treats your case with the urgency and compassion it deserves.
When tragedy strikes unexpectedly on Denver’s roads, let Jarret J. Benson Law be your beacon of guidance and support. Take control of your future with seasoned legal assistance by reaching out at (720) 710-6753 or contact us today.