Each year, thousands of drivers and passengers get hurt because of accidents that are not necessary. It is essential for anyone who is going to drive in Denver or anywhere else to understand the most frequent reasons for car accidents. In the event of a crash, should you speak with an auto accident lawyer in Denver? Knowing what leads to these collisions and how fault is determined can help protect your rights and ensure fair compensation.
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Driver Distraction Is A Leading Cause Of Crashes
The number one source of traffic accidents in Denver is distracted driving. This is a very broad category that encompasses any activity such as texting, using a GPS, eating, or changing the music while driving. As a result of talking or using the phone, a driver is not providing full attention to the road, and such behavior causes accidents of rear-end, side swipes, and intersection types to increase in numbers.
Moreover, the lawyers can use different ways to prove that the defendant was distracted by the phone, they can get to the phone records, witness testimony, or even get the dashcam footage. If a lawyer could demonstrate using these proofs that the at-fault driver’s attention was not to the road but to something else at the moment of impact, he would have made his case.
Speeding And Its Role In Severe Auto Accidents
Speeding has been and is still a serious problem in Denver and generally in Colorado. In fact, a vehicle that exceeds the posted speed limits is a vehicle with a significantly reduced ability to react to unexpected hazards on the road, plus the longer it takes to stop, the worse the impact of collision will be.
In a situation when the lawyers need to prove that the speeding was the cause of the accident, they usually gather police reports, dash mark analysis, the car damage assessment, and traffic camera footage. All these help show that the driver was traveling faster than the situation required and that he had not followed the rules of responsible driving.
Driving Under The Influence Causes Serious Risks
Drunk or drugged driving is still the main root of suffering and death caused by car accidents in Denver. Besides, impaired drivers are slow to react, have poor judgment, and find it difficult to control their vehicle.
For these reasons, the lawyers collect officials’ evidence, such as the breathalyzer results, police reports, blood tests, and field sobriety tests. Witnesses can also come out and give their version of events if they saw the vehicle behaving in an unusual way before the crash, so the defense can also use such a statement to strengthen its case to be accepted.
Failure To Obey Traffic Signals And Signs
Another reason why people cause accidents in Denver is because of their careless acts of not following the traffic signals and road signs, which are definitely the most common causes of crashes. If one runs on a red light, disrespects a stop sign or does not give the right of way, a T-bone or an intersection collision might happen and the resulting accident can be quite devastating.
Attorneys try to prove the responsibility for such cases by getting the surveillance videos from the intersection, looking at the accident scene photos, and talking to people who saw the driver that was not following the traffic. Traffic light timing reports may also be used to verify signal status at the time of the crash.
Reckless Or Aggressive Driving Behaviors
Road rage is a very dangerous thing on the road when it is combined with aggressive driving such as tailgating, frequent lane changes without signaling, and incidents of road rage. The number of car accidents caused by these factors is multiplied significantly. In Denver, these kinds of drivers are quite a lot and they are always out there.
Those who represent the victims of the accidents, by the way, establish those evidence, which shows the reckless behavior of the offender. They will be searching for such evidences as video recordings, eyewitnesses’ testimonies, and even the offender’s past driving records, which confirm a history of aggressive driving.
Inclement Weather And Its Contribution To Collisions
The weather-related hazards are typical of Denver in winter, in particular. Besides, the snow, ice, rain, and fog, all those conditions contribute to limited visibility and slippery roads, and thus, the risk of accidents goes up. And yet, drivers must, according to the law, take this into account and adapt their driving behavior to the changing weather conditions.
In those cases, the fact that the defendant has violated the rules of safe driving can be proven by the fact that the driver has actually driven at a speed that was unsafe for the prevailing conditions, or due to his carelessness, for example, failing to turn on the lights or use the wiper. Additionally, accident reconstruction experts can give their point of view on whether the weather played a role in the crash and if the drivers acted reasonably under the given circumstances.
Vehicle Defects And Mechanical Failures Leading To Accidents
Automobile accidents do occur from time to time purely due to mechanical failure or vehicle defects and not necessarily because of driver behavior.
The ground for such a claim will be foremost that if the vehicle was properly maintained, no malfunction should occur and that the defendant is responsible if the negligence or mischief were given by the manufacturer. Maintenance records, expert mechanical inspections, and recalls issued by manufacturers are among the proofs in fault to be submitted.
How Attorneys Gather And Use Evidence To Prove Fault
In Denver, legal practitioners who are planning to file an automobile accident claim, have to be very diligent in their investigation of the case and use various types of evidence for fault to be proved. This process is crucial to obtain reimbursement of the medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
First, they go through the police reports that most likely will contain the preliminary fault’s information. They take pictures of the accident scene as well as of skid marks, debris patterns, and road conditions. They interview witnesses in order to obtain the multiple perspectives.
Moreover, lawyers may partner with accident reconstruction experts who can provide a detailed analysis of the collision through physical evidence and computer modeling. Thus, they will be able to present how driver behavior, vehicle speed, and other factors induced the accident.
Therefore, medical records play a very important role in providing a clear link of an injury to a car accident. The record of treatment can become an evidence of the harm’s intensity and how it change the life of the victim.
Comparative Negligence And Its Impact On Fault In Denver Cases
The State of Colorado’s comparative negligence concept, primarily if applied in Denver, enables judges to distribute blame among car drivers when one party bears the most responsibility. Thus, if the accident is caused by both drivers, the court can decide on a percentage of each party’s fault.
Lawyers fight that the client’s part of fault is as low as possible by proving that the other driver’s behavior was the main reason for the accident. Even if the client admits some fault, they are given a chance to recover their losses that are adjusted by their share of the blame.
Why Victims Should Seek Legal Guidance Immediately After An Accident
For anyone who has been in an auto accident in Denver, it is important that they seek legal advice without any delay. This will enable the attorney to get witnesses to give their statements while they are still fresh and also guide the clients through their interactions with insurance companies.
Insurance companies frequently are looking for ways to place the blame on others or give very low compensation. A lawyer will be there to protect victims’ rights and fight for a fair settlement that is just and covers the injuries and losses of the victims. If you or your loved one has been involved in a car crash in Denver, hiring a competent lawyer can be a game-changer in your claim. For compassionate legal representation, contact Donaldson Law, LLC today.
