Suffering a personal injury can be devastating. Between the physical and emotional trauma, mounting medical bills, lost income, and general disruption to your life, it can feel impossible to get back on your feet. However, under Colorado law, the negligent parties who caused your injuries can be held financially accountable through a personal injury lawsuit. With the right legal representation guiding your case, you can seek the maximum compensation available to cover all your losses. But finding the right personal injury lawyer is crucial.
This guide will explore Colorado’s top-rated personal injury attorneys so you can make an informed decision when choosing the best legal representative for your unique situation.
Overview of Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law is a broad legal field encompassing civil lawsuits that seek to hold defendants financially liable for harm caused to a plaintiff. Common grounds for personal injury claims include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes, motorcycle collisions, bicycle accidents, semi-truck accidents, etc. Many auto accident injuries are caused by negligent driving.
- Premises liability: Injuries that occur on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, poor maintenance, failure to address dangers, inadequate security, etc. Stores, restaurants, apartments, hotels, parks, and more can all be held liable.
- Medical malpractice: When a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care, causing avoidable injuries or wrongful death. This can include surgical mistakes, failure to diagnose illnesses, medication errors, and more.
- Dangerous or defective products: When a dangerous or defective consumer product causes injury. The manufacturer or retailer can be sued under product liability laws.
And more: Including animal attacks, sports injuries, workplace accidents, nursing home abuse, assault/battery, and any situation where one party’s negligent or reckless actions injure another.
The unique circumstances around each personal injury case determine which specific laws apply. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assess liability and build the strongest argument for demanding compensation from insurance companies, businesses, government entities, or individuals responsible for the plaintiff’s suffering.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Navigating the complex legal process on your own after an accident can be extremely difficult, especially when simultaneously trying to heal from your injuries. Personal injury lawyers have the expertise to handle all aspects of your case so you can focus solely on your recovery. Specific benefits include:
- In-depth understanding of injury laws – The intricacies between various state statutes and case law determining negligence and liability limits can be hard for non-lawyers to grasp. Attorneys know these details inside out.
- Dealing with insurance companies – Insurance providers aren’t on your side; they want to pay as little in claims as possible. Lawyers know how to skillfully negotiate for maximum settlements.
- Collecting evidence effectively – Gathering police reports, medical records, witness statements, employment documentation, and other evidence is complex. Lawyers have the resources and knowledge to build compelling cases.
- Objective guidance on your options – Emotions can skew judgment when deciding whether to settle or go to trial. Your lawyer will lay out the pros and cons of each choice impartially.
- Leveling the playing field – Bringing experienced legal counsel onto your team balances power dynamics against defendants who typically already have their own representation.
When you’re trying to piece your life back together after a serious injury, having a trusted expert handle the legal process is critical.
10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in Colorado
Now let’s explore the top 10 highest rated personal injury attorneys across Colorado for 2024:
1. Tenge Law Firm LLC
Founded in 1992 and based in Denver, Tenge Law Firm LLC focuses specifically on personal injury and wrongful death cases involving victims of negligence. Their experience spans auto collisions, dangerous premises conditions, defective products, medical mistakes, and other areas. Founding attorney J. Todd Tenge has received widespread recognition as one of Colorado’s best lawyers, including Denver Magazine and 5280 Magazine. Key highlights include:
- 30+ years handling injury claims
- Secured over $100 million for clients
- J. Todd Tenge named among Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Colorado (Attorney and Practice Magazine)
- Practice areas include car accidents, slip and fall incidents, dangerous products, etc.
- Staffed by 3 dedicated lawyers for personalized service
Tenge Law Firm stands out for its compassion and sincerity when representing injury and wrongful death clients. Reviews emphasize Todd Tenge’s genuine concern for helping clients move forward after tragic losses. This trio of devoted attorneys consistently wins cases against even major insurance companies.
2. Dormer Harpring LLC
Based in Denver and founded in 2017, Dormer Harpring LLC provides compassionate yet aggressive representation exclusively for injured plaintiffs in negligence cases. Their award-winning legal team has experience handling claims related to:
- Car, truck, bicycle, and motorcycle collisions
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Sexual assault/abuse
- Dangerous premises conditions
- Negligent security
- Plus fatal accidents
Dormer Harpring LLC stands out for taking on tough cases other firms reject. Even when defendants make low-ball offers, these lawyers aren’t afraid to reject them and battle for maximum compensation at trial if necessary. Awards and honors include:
- Multi-million dollar record of settlements/verdicts
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars Award (Sean Dormer)
- Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers
- AVVO 10/10 Superb rating
The dedicated team at Dormer Harpring LLC works closely with each client to fully understand their unique needs and concerns. Every case gets its complete commitment and laser-focused representation.
3. Law Offices of Cliff Enten
Established in 1992, the Law Offices of Cliff Enten advocate solely for plaintiffs injured by other parties’ negligence. Areas of expertise include litigation related to:
- Motor vehicle accidents – car, motorcycle, drunk driving, hit-and-run, etc.
- Premises liability – slip/trip/falls, inadequate security, etc.
- Dog bites
- Ski resort negligence
- Child Injuries
- Wrongful death
Notable accomplishments by the legal team include:
- Multimillion dollar record in recoveries
- Attorney Cliff Enten was named one of the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association
- Ongoing community support through volunteering and pro bono work
What sets Law Offices of Cliff Enten apart is their selective case acceptance, compassion for clients, tireless work ethic fighting for maximum compensation, and commitment to providing each client with truly personalized service.
4. Anderson Hemmat, LLC
Anderson Hemmat, LLC is a prominent Denver-based firm providing legal services related to personal injury and insurance litigation for over 60 years combined. Their areas of expertise include:
- Car, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, and rideshare accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Dangerous drugs & medical devices
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Plus negligence and insurance bad faith
Accolades include:
- Multimillion dollar record in settlements/verdicts
- AV Preeminent Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- American Association for Justice membership
- 10 Best Law Firm in Client Satisfaction by American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
At Anderson Hemmat, LLC, clients can expect meticulous case preparation, compassionate legal counsel, and aggressive courtroom litigation from a legal team devoted to securing the compensation injury victims deserve. The firm also actively gives back to the community through volunteering and donations.
5. Bendinelli Law Firm, PC
Since 1999, Bendinelli Law Firm has provided victims throughout the Denver metro area with unwavering commitment and personalized guidance through the complex legal process following life-altering personal injuries. Specific areas of expertise include litigation related to:
- Auto collisions – motorcycle, passenger vehicle, rideshare, etc.
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Permanent disabilities from spinal cord damage
- Wrongful death
- Plus slip/trip/falls and additional areas
Notable achievements showing their dedication to clients include:
- Handled over 8,000 personal injury cases
- Over $100 million was recovered in total
- AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
- American Association for Justice membership
At Bendinelli Law Firm PC, clients work directly with founding attorney Marc S. Bendinelli throughout their cases. Recognized among Super Lawyers and Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Colorado, Bendinelli provides aggressive yet compassionate legal counsel and guidance.
6. Scardina Law LLC
Scardina Law LLC is a boutique firm based in Denver focused exclusively on protecting the rights of personal injury victims. Their areas of expertise include seeking financial compensation related to:
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Permanent disability
- Loss of wages & earning capacity
- Wrongful death
Additional practice areas meeting client needs include business disputes, HOA conflicts, family legal issues, and insurance litigation.
Awards won by founding attorney Domenic Scardina include:
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars Award 3 consecutive years
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Award
- Perfect “10” AVVO Rating
At Scardina Law LLC, clients can expect diligent investigation of their unique circumstances, aggressive litigation and negotiations, compassionate legal counsel, and integrity/honesty when fighting for injury compensation.
7. Levine Law Offices
With over 20 years serving injured victims in Denver and surrounding communities, Levine Law Offices has a proven track record of success related to various areas of personal injury, including:
- Auto collisions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home negligence
- Plus slip/trip/falls and other areas
Founding attorney Scott Levine is nationally recognized as one of the top personal injury litigators in Colorado. Honors include:
- Consistent Super Lawyers honoree
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
At Levine Law Offices, clients can trust their complex injury cases are in the hands of compassionate and strategic legal counsel devoted to fighting for their best interests inside and outside the courtroom. Settlements/verdicts in the tens of millions speak to their relentless advocacy for clients.
8. After Service LLC
Founded by former JAG Officer Gregory Rada, After Service LLC provides compassionate legal guidance to help veterans nationwide receive the disability and survivor benefits they deserve related to injuries and trauma suffered during active duty service. Their focus on assisting veterans with VA claims helps ensure justice regarding:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of limbs/disfigurement
- Family survivor benefits
- Other service-related trauma
Gregory Rada stands out as a tireless advocate for veterans navigating complicated VA claims. He offers honest legal guidance so veterans and families understand precisely the benefits they qualify for under the law. Ratings include:
- Super Lawyers Rising Star 3 consecutive years
- Perfect 10/10 AVVO rating
- Nationally recognized speaker on veteran disability/survivor benefits
The sole mission of After Service LLC is empowering veterans and their families through transparent legal counsel, and compassion, and ensuring every eligible person receives entitled compensation for service-related suffering.
9. Klenofsky & Steward LLC
For over 20 years, Klenofsky & Steward has protected the rights of injury victims in Colorado and Kansas. Their experience litigating personal injury claims related to incidents such as:
- Passenger vehicle collisions
- Commercial truck crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle collisions
- Pedestrian injuries
Awards and ratings showing their commitment to clients include:
- Multimillion-dollar record in recoveries
- Super Lawyers honoree multiple years
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership
- Highly rated by peers for ethics & legal abilities
At Klenofsky & Steward LLC, founding partners Joe Klenofsky and John Steward provide aggressive yet compassionate legal representation. They continue fighting for injury victims even when defendants and insurance companies make low offers, demanding fair compensation for economic damages, pain/suffering, and diminished quality of life.
10. Smith & Weidinger
Smith & Weidinger serves injured clients throughout the Denver metro area related to incidents like:
- Auto collisions – cars, trucks motorcycles
- Slip/trip/fall accidents
- Animal attacks & dog bites
- Child Injuries
- Plus wrongful death cases
Founding attorney Brad Smith lends his extensive criminal defense background to protect clients’ rights. Attorney Matt Weidinger concentrates specifically on complex personal injury litigation and has successfully taken several cases to trial, recovering multi-million dollar verdicts for catastrophically injured clients. Awards include:
- Super Lawyers Rising Star Award (Matt Weidinger)
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Member (Weidinger)
- Nationally-published case strategies
At Smith & Weidinger, clients find aggressive legal advocates who leverage considerable resources to build strong injury cases, yet also provide compassionate counsel during difficult circumstances. This firm refuses to settle for low offers and fights relentlessly for maximum compensation when someone else’s negligence forever alters innocent lives.
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered harm in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, finding the right personal injury attorney is crucial for getting your life back on track again. Consider the following guidance:
Define your needs – What type of incident caused your injuries? Finding a lawyer who concentrates specifically in that area of personal injury law strengthens your chances of winning adequate compensation.
Research lawyer experience – Look for extensive background litigating your type of injury cases and a proven history of large verdicts/settlements (millions or more). This shows their ability to successfully argue for maximum damages.
Read online reviews – Client testimonials provide insight into lawyers’ commitment to personalized care, compassion, communication, integrity, and legal expertise.
Ask about case expenses – Many personal injury firms work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and legal fees come from settlement funds. But some do charge for expenses incurred fighting your case. Know these details upfront.
Verify resources & credentials – Do they have sufficient staff for your case? Are they respected by peers with awards and honors from reputable legal societies? Do they have millions or billions in recoveries over their careers? The more robust their resources and credentials, the stronger your positioning.
Meet your prospective lawyer – Schedule initial consultations, ask questions, look for seamless communication, and pay attention to your instincts on whether your values, needs, and priorities align. This relationship is pivotal for your legal and emotional well-being.
Colorado Personal Injury Laws & Statutes
Beyond finding the right legal representation, it’s essential to understand several basics around Colorado personal injury laws and statutes impacting your ability to successfully demand compensation after an accident:
Standard negligence laws – Seeking injury compensation in Colorado revolves primarily around proving negligence. Certain elements must be established:
- Duty – Defendants owed a duty of reasonable care to avoid causing harm.
- Breach of duty – Defendants failed to adhere to their duty through carelessness.
- Causation – Breaches of duty directly caused plaintiffs’ injuries.
- Damages – Quantifiable financial harm occurred because of injuries.
Modified comparative negligence – Under this statute, injury victims who bear less than 51% of fault can still recover compensation, but awards are reduced by their percentage of blame. So even if you partially contributed to an accident, you can still potentially receive damages.
Statutes of limitations – These limit how long plaintiffs have to file personal injury lawsuits after incidents occur. In Colorado:
- 2 years for most injury cases
- 3 years for motor vehicle collisions
- Exceptions are possible if plaintiffs didn’t immediately know they were injured
Liability caps – Certain types of cases have limits on recoverable damages. For example, settlements for mental suffering/emotional distress are capped at $250,000 in medical malpractice cases unless plaintiffs provide evidence justifying exceeding this amount.
Strict liability statutes – Some laws hold defendants strictly accountable when their actions hurt specific victims, regardless of intent or negligence. Under Colorado’s strict liability dog bite statute, for instance, owners are financially liable if their dogs seriously injure someone.
Because personal injury laws frequently evolve, working with experienced Colorado attorneys ensures you fully understand all statutes impacting your case. This expertise is invaluable for making informed choices when demanding rightful compensation.
Finding Justice After Personal Injuries
Suffering long-term physical limitations, trauma, lost income, and diminished quality of life after someone else’s negligent behavior can make rebuilding normalcy feel impossible. However, by leveraging Colorado personal injury laws strategically with trusted legal experts guiding your case, you can potentially gain the maximum financial compensation allowed to get your life back on track.
This guide explored top-rated personal injury firms and attorneys across Colorado so you can find compassionate yet aggressive litigation professionals who will fight tirelessly on your behalf. Every reputable lawyer understands that no amount of money can make up for the pain and suffering caused by life-changing injuries. However securing funds to cover all quantifiable losses while holding negligent parties accountable is pivotal.
If you or a loved one were injured unnecessarily due to things like car accidents, dangerous premises conditions, defective products, violence, medical malpractice, or other forms of negligence, don’t delay seeking legal representation for your unique situation. You deserve justice. With powerhouse personal injury attorneys in your corner, never accepting low settlement offers, recovery of the brightest future possible
Here is the continuation of the article:
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases
Suffering injuries and losses from someone else’s negligent behavior can leave victims and families overwhelmed with uncertainties around the legal process to pursue compensation. This section answers some common personal injury questions for citizens across Colorado.
How much is my settlement worth?
Unfortunately, no standard formula or calculator exists for precisely determining projected settlement values. Every personal injury scenario involves unique circumstances influencing case value based on factors like:
- Severity of injuries
- Duration of medical treatment
- Long-term prognosis
- Past and future lost wages
- Impact on quality of life
- Egregiousness of defendant’s negligence
- Applicable liability limits and caps
- Coverage maximums under insurance policies
- Willingness to go to trial if needed
- Previous settlements/verdicts in similar cases
Seasoned personal injury lawyers carefully weigh all these case specifics before negotiating demands with insurance companies. In especially catastrophic injury or fatality cases, projected settlements can ultimately range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars depending on all the above considerations.
How do claims get paid?
The at-fault party’s insurance coverage generally pays personal injury settlements, up to maximum policy limits. However, if damages exceed those coverage maximums or defendants have no insurance, plaintiffs can pursue compensation through personal assets and wages if state laws allow. It’s complex.
Proving inadequate insurance under Colorado statutes supports adding punitive damages demands to hold defendants fully accountable. Your experienced attorney handles these details so you focus on healing, not financial stresses.
What does “statute of limitations” mean?
These state laws limit timeframes when injury victims can file lawsuits after incidents causing harm occur. Failing to take legal action before statutory deadlines pass forfeits rights to pursue damages. In Colorado:
- Most personal injury claims must be filed within 2 years from injury dates.
- For motor vehicle collisions, victims have 3 years to file suits.
- Exceptions exist if victims don’t immediately know they suffered harm. Then the 2- or 3-year countdown starts when a reasonable person would have known injuries existed.
Discuss your unique incident timing with prospective lawyers regarding statute impacts. Their expertise in interpreting associated nuances proves invaluable for meeting strict state-imposed constraints.
Why hire an attorney? What do they do?
Here are the top benefits of personal injury lawyers:
- Analyze case merits objectively
- Determine viable legal theories of negligence
- Gather police/medical evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Work with doctors to assess prognosis
- Calculate short and long-term monetary damages
- File paperwork preserving legal rights
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance firms
- Be trial-ready if fair settlements can’t be reached
- Provide compassion and counsel during difficulties
In short, seasoned lawyers do everything required behind the scenes so victims concentrate energy on healing, rather than stressing over fighting for fair compensation alone against entities wielding massive resources and legal experience.
What are the chances my case goes to trial?
The majority of personal injury lawsuits settle out of court before trial. However, if victims don’t agree insurance offers are sufficient, skilled litigators aren’t hesitant to take cases to trial when needed to fight for victims’ rights to fair compensation.
Bringing experienced courtroom advocates onto your legal squad prevents adversaries from taking advantage of victims lacking trial readiness. Simply knowing plaintiffs have powerhouse attorneys primed for courtroom battles motivates higher pre-trial settlements in many cases as defendants wish to avoid courtroom showdowns.
How are attorney fees structured?
Most personal injury firms work on a contingency fee basis, meaning victims don’t pay any legal fees upfront. Attorneys only get compensated if they win cases through settlements or courtroom victories.
Standard contingency fees range from 30% to 40% of gross awards, covering lawyers’ extensive work investigating claims, gathering evidence, conducting negotiations, filing paperwork, attending hearings/trials, etc.
However, victims remain responsible for expenses beyond normal attorney services, like hiring expert witnesses. Reputable lawyers clearly explain fee structures so no confusion exists regarding out-of-pocket costs.
Concluding Guidance
Suffering long-lasting harm because of situations like distracted driving, premise fall hazards, vicious animal attacks, dangerous products, medical negligence, and countless other scenarios nobody would ever choose to experience can negatively impact all aspects of life. Emotional trauma and physical pain also take a heavy toll.
However, under the law, if injuries result from someone else’s provable reckless or careless behaviors, victims can demand financial accountability through personal injury claims potentially covering all quantifiable losses. This includes past and continuing medical treatment, lost income, diminished future earnings, specialized equipment/housing needs, lost enjoyment of life, and more.
With experienced personal injury attorneys guiding cases, Colorado citizens can take the first steps toward recovery and restoring stability life’s pivoting moments are unexpectedly altered forever. If you or someone you love endured harm unnecessarily, reach out for dedicated legal support while adhering to strict state statutes surrounding timely lawsuits. Though money itself provides no solace for suffering, securing rightful compensation facilitating life logistics allows focusing energy where it matters most: healing.
You and your family deserve bright futures ahead, regardless of whatever challenges arrive unexpectedly. Find your fiercest legal advocates and partners in those missions today. Justice awaits!