Thornton Personal Injury Lawyer

Thornton Personal Injury Attorney

Most people are aware of the term “personal injury,” understanding it as a legal term to define any incident in which one party causes harm to another through misconduct or negligence. However, while the average person may have some understanding of what a personal injury case may entail, they are likely to be completely unprepared to meet the legal challenges that a civil suit entails. Some may not even realize they have grounds to file personal injury claims, potentially missing their opportunity to seek compensation for the losses inflicted by others.

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Clients in Thornton

The attorneys with Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard have the experience and skill needed to guide clients through the toughest personal injury claims in Thornton, CO. Throughout the years, we have built a strong professional reputation as a leading choice for personal injury representation in the area. We take time to learn as much as we can about each client’s unique situation to provide carefully tailored advice and legal counsel through the various stages of their cases.

If you need to pursue compensation for damage another party has caused, we can help you make a clearer sense of your situation and help you approach your recovery process with greater confidence. The attorneys with Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard have successfully resolved many personal injury cases on behalf of clients in the Thornton area and can put this experience to work in your case.

Defining a Personal Injury

Personal injury refers to physical harm and/or economic loss inflicted on one party by another party. Most personal injury claims pertain to acts of negligence or failures to exercise reasonable caution and care in specific situations. Others result from intentional misconduct, such as criminal acts of violence, egregious recklessness, or general disregard for the safety of others. If you are unsure whether you have grounds to file a personal injury claim after a recent damaging event, consider whether another party is responsible for the event in question. If so, you likely have grounds to file a personal injury case against them.

In order for a plaintiff to succeed with a personal injury claim, they must prove that actual harm occurred from the event in question. “Actual harm” most often refers to physical injury, economic losses, and diminished earning potential. The term can also refer to physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma inflicted by another party. When a victim has suffered catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain damage or a paralyzing spinal cord injury, their damages may seem readily obvious. However, a personal injury can also apply strictly to economic damages, and it is also possible to file a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The attorneys with Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard can assist our client in determining whether they have grounds for a personal injury case and, if so, identifying the party or parties responsible for their damages. Do not assume that hiring an attorney would cost more than you could potentially win in compensation for your damages. With a contingency fee agreement, you will only part with a percentage of your case award to pay your attorney, and only if you win.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

It’s crucial to find an attorney familiar with cases like yours. You can rely on Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard to provide meticulous legal representation in a wide range of personal injury claims, including:

• Motor vehicle accidents. The aftermath of a car accident will be very difficult to resolve, and your recovery is likely to entail an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver and a personal injury claim. It is possible to resolve some minor car accidents with insurance alone, but if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s coverage, you will need to file a personal injury claim to recover the remainder of your losses.
• Dog bite claims. Most people only have positive interactions with dogs, but any dog is capable of inflicting severe injuries. Colorado enforces a strict liability rule for dog bites, meaning dog owners are always accountable for any damages their pets cause to others.
• Premises liability claims. If you sustained injuries on someone else’s property in Thornton, they are liable for your damages if the injury resulted from their failure to maintain safe premises. Slip and fall accidents often fall under the purview of premises liability law, but any type of injury on someone else’s property can potentially lead to this type of claim.
• Catastrophic injury claims. A “catastrophic” personal injury is any injury that entails permanent harm. For example, if the defendant who injured you caused a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis, this would qualify as a catastrophic injury. It is imperative to have experienced personal injury counsel on your side if you want to succeed with this type of claim and secure maximum compensation from the party that injured you.

We have successfully represented many past clients in a wide range of personal injury cases, and our goal in every case we accept is to swiftly determine liability for our client’s damages, accurately calculate the full scope of those damages, and guide them through whatever proceedings are necessary for ensuring full accountability for the defendant’s actions.

Compensation for Your Personal Injury in Thornton

It is natural for any personal injury plaintiff to wonder how much compensation they could potentially secure from the defendant if they succeed with their case. Many victims of personal injuries undervalue their claims at first, unaware of the full scope of damages they are legally allowed to seek from the defendants who injured them. State law permits the plaintiff in a personal injury action to claim full repayment for all financial losses the defendant caused and compensation for the pain and suffering they endured.

Economic damages you can potentially recover from the defendant in your suit include:

• Medical expenses, such as hospital bills and other immediate treatment costs following your injury. Your attorney can help you gather any documentation you need to establish these damages in your personal injury claim.
• Long-term medical expenses if the defendant caused a serious injury that demands ongoing care. Your attorney can coordinate with your medical care providers to assess the level of treatment you will require to reach maximum medical improvement.
• Lost income for the time you cannot work after your injury. If you are forced to use paid time off or earned vacation time, you can claim these losses as well.
• Lost earning potential, in the event you cannot work because of the severity of your injury.
• Property damage if the defendant damaged or destroyed your personal property. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, you might recover some of these losses through a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance, but compensation for any outstanding property damage can be sought through your personal injury action.
• Lost business value if the defendant’s actions harmed your business in any way.

Any personal injury has the potential to cause a host of immediate and long-term economic losses for the victim, and they need legal counsel they can trust. Plaintiffs are also legally allowed to claim compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced. State law limits this type of compensation to $250,000 in most cases, but the cap can increase to $500,000 if the plaintiff can produce clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is fully responsible for their injury.

Proving Fault for a Thornton Personal Injury

If you intend to file any type of personal injury claim in Thornton, it is essential to remember that you must firmly establish fault for the injury in question before you can recover any compensation for your damages. When a personal injury results from negligence, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care in a manner that directly resulted in their damages. If a personal injury results from an intentional act of harm, the defendant is likely to face criminal prosecution from the state and increased civil liability to the victim.

It is possible, however, for a plaintiff to bear partial liability for their personal injury. The state’s modified comparative negligence law means that if the injured party is partially responsible for their damages, they will lose a portion of any award equal to their percentage of fault for causing the incident in question. If the plaintiff’s fault does not exceed 50% of the total fault for the incident, they can still recover compensation but lose a portion of their award equal to their fault percentage. If their fault is 50% or more, they completely lose the right to recover compensation from the defendant.

FAQs About Thornton, CO Personal Injury Laws

Q: Will I Obtain a Larger Settlement if I Hire an Attorney in Thornton?

A: While it’s understandable to have concerns about the potential cost of hiring your attorney, the reality is that even after paying their fee, they are likely to generate a much greater case award than you expected or could have obtained on your own. When you choose Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard to represent your case, we will do everything we can to maximize your final compensation as much as state law allows.

Q: How Much Does a Thornton Personal Injury Attorney Charge?

A: We operate on a contingency fee basis for our personal injury clients in Thornton. This means that you pay no upfront or ongoing legal fees for our representation, and you pay nothing at all if we cannot secure compensation for your damages. If we win your case, our fee is a percentage of the case award, and you keep the remainder. We carefully review the terms and conditions of our billing policy with every client before any contracts are signed.

Q: How Much Is My Claim Worth in Thornton?

A: Many personal injury plaintiffs we represent are surprised to learn the full value of their claims, unaware of all of the damages they are legally allowed to seek from the defendants named in their civil suits. Your Thornton personal injury attorney should carefully explain the various economic damages you can seek from the defendant and provide detailed guidance concerning the amount of pain and suffering compensation you should reasonably expect. Many variables can influence the total case award you receive, and it’s vital to find an attorney capable of providing fully individualized legal counsel if you want to maximize your final recovery as much as possible.

Q: What Happens if a Personal Injury in Thornton Is Fatal?

A: Unfortunately, some victims of personal injuries do not survive these experiences. If you lost a relative due to another party’s actions, your family might file a wrongful death claim in lieu of a personal injury claim. While functionally similar to a personal injury case in many ways, a wrongful death claim pertains to the family’s losses. A wrongful death claim can potentially recover compensation for the financial impact of the death on the family and compensation for the family’s pain and suffering.

Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Thornton Personal Injury Lawyer?

A: An experienced legal team can make an incredible difference in the outcome of a civil suit in Thornton. The team at Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard has extensive professional experience with all manner of personal injury cases, and we have helped many past clients recover substantial case awards from the parties who were responsible for causing their damages. If you are worried about the potential cost of legal representation, know that even after accounting for legal fees, your attorney can significantly improve the outcome of your civil case.

The attorneys with Cheney, Galluzzi & Howard are prepared to help you navigate your civil court proceedings with confidence and peace of mind. We take time to learn as much as we can about each client’s unique experience, addressing their individual needs and concerns through all stages of their cases. If you are ready to speak with an experienced Thornton personal injury attorney about your options for legal recourse, contact us today and schedule a free consultation.