Auto Accident Attorney in Colorado Springs
Colorado Driving Laws and Driver Responsibility
The attorneys at Sears & Swanson, P.C., have been representing automobile accident victims in Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado for more than 30 years. We know that the period following an auto accident can be traumatic, confusing, and stressful. That is why our lawyers simplify the process of obtaining fair compensation from an insurance company by handling all of the necessary communications and paperwork for you. If you suffer injuries from an auto accident, it is best to speak with one of our Colorado Springs automobile accident lawyers. What follows is a brief overview of Colorado driving laws and insurance requirements.
General Colorado driving laws
Use of safety restraints
Colorado law mandates the use of seat belts for the following:
- Drivers
- Front seat passengers
- Children 16 and under
Exceptions are made for paramedics, police, and people with physical or psychological disabilities who obtain approval, buses, and mail carriers/delivery drivers.
In addition, the following safety devices must be used for children:
- Booster seats for children 4 to 6 years old until they reach 55 inches tall
- Front-facing safety seats for children 1 to 4 years old who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds
- Rear-facing safety seats for children under 1 year old who weigh less than 20 pounds
If you have questions about these laws, or whether a safety restraint exemption applies to you or a loved one, an auto accident lawyer in Colorado Springs from Sears & Swanson can provide more information.
Minimum insurance requirements
Colorado requires that the owner of a registered vehicle carry the following minimum insurance coverage:
- $25,000 per person for injury liability for personal injury, up to $50,000 per accident
- $15,000 per accident for liability for property damage
When considering your auto insurance, consider whether this minimum coverage will adequately protect YOU and your assets and home from any judgment or claim by a person injured in an accident that you may have caused. While these are the minimum limits required by Colorado law, we recommend that you obtain coverage that has a minimum of $100,000 per person for liability claims. You will likely find that the cost differential is very small when considering the peace of mind that you will have.
Colorado law also requires that you be offered additional coverage for purchase with your auto policy which you must reject in writing if you don’t want it:
- Uninsured motorist/under insured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage equal to your liability coverage
- $5,000 of medical payments coverage
We at Sears & Swanson strongly recommend that you purchase the additional UM/UIM coverage because this is the only coverage that protects you and your family and passengers from an uninsured motorist (or one who carries the minimum liability coverage). It is widely believed that more than 20% of all drivers in Colorado break the law and do not carry auto insurance on their cars. If one of those uninsured drivers hurts you in an accident, you will have no way of collecting from them. Your only way of obtaining compensation for your injuries caused by an uninsured driver is through your own auto insurance policy if you have purchased UM/UIM coverage.
We also strongly recommend that you purchase the basic medical payments coverage of at least $5,000 (but preferably $10,000). Medical payments coverage will pay for all your medical bills and expenses from a car accident immediately, without any delay to determine fault. This coverage will pay 100% of your medical expenses, including ambulance, emergency room, diagnostic tests and alternative therapies such as chiropractic and massage. This coverage will pay before your health insurance pays, and there will be no co-pays or deductibles such as you may have with health insurance. We suggest purchasing $10,000 as our experience has shown that just the ambulance ride and basic emergency care for an auto injury may cost at least $5,000.
If you have any questions about filing an accident report, a Colorado Springs auto accident attorney from Sears & Swanson can help.
What Should You Do if you are Seriously Injured?
