What to Do Immediately After Being Hit by a Car in Denver

TL;DR: After being hit by a car in Denver, move to safety, call 911, seek immediate medical attention, document the scene, exchange information, and contact legal representation before dealing with insurance companies.

Being struck by a motor vehicle creates a crisis requiring immediate action to protect health and legal rights. The aftermath of a car accident demands specific steps that accident victims must follow to ensure safety, preserve evidence, and secure fair compensation for injuries sustained.

Immediate Safety Priorities at the Accident Scene

Move to a Safe Location

Getting out of traffic flow prevents secondary collisions that could cause additional injuries or death. If able to move without severe pain, pedestrians should locate a safe area away from vehicles involved.

Turning on hazard lights alerts other Colorado drivers to the incident and reduces crash risks. When unable to move safely due to injury severity, victims should wait for emergency responders rather than attempting movement that could worsen injuries.

Call 911 for Medical Assistance and Police Response

Colorado law requires calling police for accidents resulting in injury, death, or significant property damage. Requesting medical assistance ensures proper documentation even when injuries seem minor.

Providing exact location details, including street names, intersection markers, and Denver County identifiers helps emergency responders locate accident scenes quickly. Describing weather conditions and traffic signals assists dispatchers in sending appropriate assistance.

Victims should avoid admitting fault or making statements beyond basic facts about what happened during 911 calls.

Check for Visible Injuries

Assessing injury severity helps determine whether moving to safety is possible or whether staying still protects against worsening harm. Adrenaline often masks pain and injury symptoms immediately following collisions.

Evidence collection and case building begins with understanding injury extent and documenting conditions at the scene. Signs of serious consequences include bleeding, bone deformities, head injuries, or inability to move limbs.

Seeking Immediate Medical Attention

Why Immediate Medical Care Is Critical

Hidden injuries may not show immediate symptoms but can cause serious consequences if left untreated. Internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage often appear hours or days after automobile accidents.

Documentation requirements for insurance claim purposes make immediate medical attention essential regardless of apparent injury severity. Understanding who pays medical bills after pedestrian accidents helps victims focus on health rather than financial concerns.

Delayed medical attention affects legal rights by allowing insurance companies to argue injuries resulted from other causes rather than the collision.

What to Tell Medical Professionals

Describing all symptoms and pain locations ensures complete medical records that support insurance claims. Mentioning that a car accident caused injuries creates proper documentation connecting treatment to the incident.

Avoiding statements like “I feel fine” protects insurance coverage when symptoms develop later. Following all doctor recommendations and treatment plans demonstrates injury severity and commitment to recovery.

Documenting the Accident Scene

Gathering Evidence Before Leaving

Taking photos of vehicles involved, damage patterns, and street conditions preserves crucial evidence before scene cleanup occurs. Capturing images of traffic signals, crosswalk markings, and exact location markers supports liability arguments.

Documenting weather conditions, lighting levels, and road surface conditions helps reconstruct accident circumstances. Recording details while events remain fresh in memory prevents information loss as time passes.

Writing down what happened, including the date, time, and sequence of events, creates a complete accident report foundation.

Identifying Witnesses

Locating people who saw the collision occur provides independent verification of accident circumstances and driver behavior. Dangerous intersections in Denver often have nearby businesses or pedestrians who witness crashes.

Getting contact details from witnesses willing to help ensures testimony availability for legal proceedings. Witness statements often prove essential when drivers involved dispute fault or claim different accident scenarios occurred.

Dealing with Police and the Other Driver

Working with the Responding Officer

Providing accurate information to the responding officer creates official accident reports that support insurance claims and legal action. Obtaining the accident report number, officer details, and incident file information allows later report review.

Colorado law requires reporting accidents meeting specific criteria, including those causing injury or property damage exceeding threshold amounts. Reviewing police report accuracy after filing identifies errors requiring correction.

Never admit fault or apologize, as these statements can be used against accident victims in insurance claim negotiations.

Exchanging Information with Drivers Involved

Getting driver’s license and insurance information from all vehicles involved fulfills legal requirements and enables insurance claim filing. Recording contact and insurance information, including policy numbers and coverage details, supports the claims process.

Exchange contact information without discussing fault, injury severity, or accident circumstances in detail. Insurance companies often use scene statements to minimize payouts or deny coverage.

Special Considerations for Hit and Run Accidents

What to Do If the Driver Flees

Calling police immediately to report hit and run crime triggers investigation and helps locate at fault drivers who flee accident scenes. Hit and run victims in Denver face unique challenges requiring specialized legal guidance.

Attempting to note vehicle description, color, make, model, and license plate information helps police identify drivers. Understanding uninsured motorist coverage becomes critical when drivers cannot be located or lack adequate insurance.

Protecting Your Legal Rights After the Accident

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Insurance companies often contact accident victims quickly with settlement offers before injury severity becomes clear. Dealing with insurance adjusters requires caution and legal guidance.

Never sign documents or accept settlement offers without understanding full injury extent and financial consequences. Avoiding recorded statements without legal representation prevents insurance companies from using victim words against them.

When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Free consultation services help accident victims understand legal options without financial risk during a challenging time. Knowing when to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer protects rights and ensures fair compensation.

Attorneys handle insurance claim negotiations, investigate accident circumstances, and gather evidence supporting maximum recovery. Understanding contingency fees means victims pay nothing unless cases result in financial recovery.

Understanding Your Compensation Rights

Medical expenses and medical bills coverage includes emergency treatment, ongoing care, and future medical costs related to injuries. Settlement amounts in Colorado depend on injury severity, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Lost wages compensation covers time away from work during recovery. Property damage claims address personal belongings destroyed in collisions.

Colorado-Specific Requirements and Deadlines

Denver County Accident Reporting

Colorado law establishes specific reporting requirements for automobile accidents based on injury severity and property damage amounts. Statute of limitations for personal injury cases creates deadlines for filing legal claims.

Time limits for notifying insurance companies vary by policy but typically require prompt notification. Failing to follow reporting requirements and deadlines can result in coverage denials and lost legal rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I call an ambulance even if my injuries seem minor?

Yes, hidden injuries often don’t show immediate symptoms. Immediate medical attention creates documentation connecting injuries to the accident.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

Your uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation. Contact an attorney to explore all available coverage options.

Do I need to call police for every car accident in Denver?

Colorado law requires police notification for accidents causing injury, death, or property damage meeting threshold amounts.

How long do I have to file an insurance claim in Colorado?

Notify insurers promptly, typically within days. Personal injury lawsuits face longer deadlines but require timely action.

Can I still recover compensation if the accident was partially my fault?

Colorado’s comparative negligence law allows recovery if you’re less than 50% at fault, though amounts reduce proportionally.