When Insurance Isn’t Enough: Your Legal Options After an Accident in Lakewood

Accidents happen in a split second, but what about the repercussions?

What happens in weeks, months, or years that follow? What about the insurance red tape?

For many accident victims, the immediate response after a crash is to file an insurance claim. After all, that’s what insurance is for, right? But here’s the truth that many in Lakewood come to discover too late—insurance doesn’t always cover everything. When medical bills pile up, lost wages go uncompensated, and emotional trauma is left unacknowledged, it’s time to explore what lies beyond your policy limits.

If you are looking for legal help after an accident in Lakewood then there are plenty of options available to you from firms that have decades of experience when it comes to fighting insurance companies and getting clients what they’re owed.

Insurance Is Supposed to Protect You—So Why Does It Feel So Difficult?

Insurance companies make it sound so simple at first, right? “Pay us, and we’ll protect you when you need it!” But making a claim is anything but simple.

You’re likely dealing with:

• Slow responses
• Unreasonable settlement offers
• A mountain of paperwork
• Anything else the insurance company thinks they can get away with
• Or: “Sorry, we’re not going to pay out on your claim.”

Knowing When to Call for Help

After an accident, most people attempt to take on insurance companies themselves. For minor incidents, this may work. When you have extensive medical bills, few answers about when you’ll recover, and an insurer that just won’t cooperate, cordial phone calls and completion of paperwork won’t cut it.

You need someone who can interpret insurance policies and terms and use the system to your advantage. In those scenarios, it’s not just helpful to partner with an experienced legal team — it’s critical.

Common Insurance Challenges After an Injury

Here are a few examples of when you may need to call a lawyer:

• The insurance company declined your claim
• The insurance company offered a settlement that will not cover the full amount of your damages
• You are responsible for some of the fault involved in the accident
• More than one party or insurance policy is involved
• You are facing long-term or permanent injuries following an accident

These are not extraordinary circumstances. In fact, these situations happen all the time in all kinds of personal injury and accident cases.

Understanding Colorado’s Insurance Landscape

Colorado is an “at-fault” state, meaning that the person who causes a car accident is required to cover the damages from that accident. Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit companies that exist to make money, not pay claims.

What’s more, Colorado law allows car accident victims three years to pursue a claim in most cases. That doesn’t mean that you’re free to wait for two and a half years before starting the process. Waiting too long, even by a few days, can cause serious damage to your case.

That’s why opting to speak with a reputable car accident lawyer early is a wise decision, even if you are still treating or still trying to figure out what your damages are.

What a Lawyer Can Do for You

Hiring any kind of lawyer means you get experienced legal acumen and someone who can help you navigate Colorado insurance laws. In general, the benefits of working with a local attorney include:

• Having an advocate who understands what you’re going through and what obstacles you might face
• Having someone who can investigate what happened and determine who is at fault
• Having someone in your corner who can help you avoid running into the statute of limitations for personal injury claims
• Guidance through the process of filing an insurance claim
• Resolution of confusing policy language issues
• Calculation of damages you may be able to recover from the at-fault party, including future expenses
• Support and information on acquiring police reports and medical details for your case
• Avoiding common mistakes that can jeopardize your right to file an injury claim
• Making sure you file the right requests to protect your right to recovery
• Information and guidance on how the claims process works
• Settlement negotiations with insurance adjustors
• Avoidance of language or mistakes that could be used against you
• The ability to force an insurance company not to delay you for an unreasonable amount of time
• Effective counterarguments to common strategies insurance companies use to devalue or deny claims
• Preparation for trial and a solid defense in court if needed

With a skilled personal injury attorney on your side from the get-go, you don’t have to accept a bad decision. They’ll break down the process with you and give you the tools to take back control.