Colorado Springs Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Colorado law requires every driver involved in a crash to stop, share information, and render aid. Leaving the scene of an accident that caused injury is a crime, and doing so can add criminal penalties on top of civil liability. When police identify the driver who fled, we pursue a claim against them directly.

Even if the at-fault driver is never identified, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is designed for exactly this situation. UM coverage steps in to pay for injuries caused by a hit and run or a phantom driver, and Colorado insurers must offer it. The Law Giant reviews every policy that may apply, including coverage you may not realize you have, and handles the claim against your own insurer, which does not always treat these claims fairly.

A fleeing driver often leaves more evidence than they think. We move quickly to gather the crash report, canvass for traffic and business surveillance footage, locate witnesses, and collect physical evidence such as paint transfer and vehicle debris, all of which can help identify the driver and strengthen your claim.

The steps you take right after a hit and run can make or break your claim. Report the crash to police immediately and get a case number, write down anything you remember about the vehicle and driver, and look for witnesses and nearby cameras before they are gone. Notify your own insurer promptly, since uninsured motorist claims have their own deadlines, but do not give a recorded statement until you have spoken with a lawyer. Above all, do not try to chase the fleeing driver, which only puts you at further risk.

What you do in the hours and days after a crash can protect both your health and your right to compensation. If you are able, take these steps:

• Call 911 so there is an official police report
• Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, road conditions, and your injuries
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses
• Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver
• Decline to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement
• Keep every bill, receipt, and record related to the crash
• Call The Law Giant before you accept any settlement offer

Some serious injuries, including concussions and internal injuries, do not show symptoms right away, so prompt medical care protects both your recovery and the record that ties your injuries to the crash.

A strong claim rests on evidence, and the best evidence disappears quickly. From the first call, we obtain the crash report, return to the scene, request traffic and business surveillance footage, preserve vehicle data, and track down witnesses before memories fade. In serious cases we work with accident reconstruction and medical experts to show exactly how the crash happened and how it has affected your life. We then present the insurance company with a documented demand and negotiate hard, and if the insurer will not be fair, we are ready to take your case to an El Paso County jury.

After a crash, the other driver’s insurer is not on your side. Its adjusters are trained to limit payouts, and they often move fast, calling within days to request a recorded statement, a broad medical release, or a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. Letting The Law Giant handle these conversations protects you from the common traps and keeps the focus on the real value of your case.

The Statute of Limitations: Three Years

Because this is a motor vehicle accident, Colorado generally gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Evidence fades quickly, so it is best to act well before the deadline.

Colorado’s 50 Percent Comparative Fault Rule

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your share of the blame. At 50 percent or more, you recover nothing, so fighting a blame-shifting insurer matters.

Drivers leave the scene for predictable reasons: they are uninsured, they are driving on a suspended license, they have a warrant, or they were impaired. Understanding that helps us know where to look. The Law Giant moves quickly to canvass the area for traffic and business surveillance footage, interview witnesses, collect physical evidence like paint transfer and broken vehicle parts, and check nearby body shops for matching repairs.

Even when the driver is never identified, your case is not over. Your uninsured motorist coverage exists for exactly this situation, and we handle the claim against your own insurer, who does not always treat hit-and-run victims fairly. Either way, our job is to make sure you are not left paying for someone else’s crime.

Whether through the at-fault driver or your own UM coverage, you may recover medical bills and future care, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. We make sure the full extent of your losses is documented.

The Law Giant has recovered more than $850 million for injury victims, and we bring that experience and trial strength to every case. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win, and insurers make better offers when they know a firm is ready to go to trial.

This is one of the car accident cases we handle in Colorado Springs. For our full overview, visit our main Colorado Springs car accident lawyer page, or read about distracted driving crashes, drunk driving crashes, and fatal accident crashes.