Sideswipe accidents are fairly common on highways, where motorists do not properly merge or when they fail to check their blind spot. If you have been injured in a sideswipe accident, you could have suffered serious injuries after being forced off the road or into oncoming traffic.
We want you to know that Cimarron Ridge Legal Group has your back. With over 7 decades of combined experience in litigation, we can fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Instead of handling your case yourself, reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer today to build your case the right way.
CONTACT OUR FIRM
Why Sideswipe Accidents are Dangerous
With a sideswipe, a vehicle moving parallel to yours ends up hitting or scraping along the side of your vehicle. These accidents are very dangerous because they can force motorists off the road or, even worse, into oncoming traffic. If there is no center divider on a highway, then a motorist can be pushed into high-speed traffic coming straight at them, leading to head-on collisions and other accidents.
If you have been forced off the road, you can crash into a tree or a telephone pole at high speeds. Many of our clients suffer serious injuries, including:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Head injuries
- Nerve damage
- Back sprain
- Fractures
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
If you have been involved in a sideswipe, obtain immediate medical attention. You don’t have much time to delay.
Fault in Sideswipe Accidents
Colorado is a “fault” state. This means that fault determines who pays compensation for an accident. If you weren’t at fault, then you won’t pay compensation no matter how badly injured the other driver is. Instead, you can receive compensation for your injuries.
One problem with sideswipe accidents is that it is not always obvious who is to blame. With a T-bone collision, by contrast, the vehicle that struck another is usually to blame. The same is true with rear-end collisions. If you were rear-ended, then it is more likely than not that you aren’t to blame.
But with a sideswipe, the two vehicles are parallel to each other. It isn’t always obvious who hit who or who is to blame. Your Grand Junction sideswipe accident attorney can help you build a case for compensation by establishing fault. Some of the evidence we always find helpful includes:
- Dash cam video
- Eyewitness testimony, such as what you or your passengers saw
- Pictures of the location where the accident happened
- Analysis of the vehicles, which can reveal which vehicle struck first
With this evidence, we can reconstruct how the accident unfolded. Many sideswipe accidents occur because a motorist is merging into traffic but doesn’t have enough space, so they slam into the side of someone. In other cases, a motorist pulls into the left lane to pass on the highway but doesn’t see a car in their blind spot. In either example, the driver has been negligent because they did not operate their vehicle carefully, so they are at fault for the collision.
Bringing Your Claim the Right Way
If you have been hit by an at-fault driver, you need to get his or her insurance information so that you can file a claim. Many motorists are able to receive compensation for:
- Medical care to treat injuries
- Lost wages
- Damage to their vehicles
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
You will need to support your claim with documentation. In addition to the police report, you should get proof of the cost of medical care, such as receipts or medical bills. If you couldn’t work, get your most recent pay stubs to show how much you normally make.
In some cases, the insurer will make a fair settlement offer right out of the gate, but they usually don’t. Instead, insurers usually discount your pain and suffering or emotional distress and offer clearly inadequate settlements. You can increase your chances of receiving more compensation by hiring an attorney who knows how to negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf.
Our attorneys know how to value your injuries and will drive a hard bargain for fair compensation. You also need to file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. In Colorado, you typically get 3 years from the date of the accident to file.
Contact Us Today
Cimarron Ridge Legal Group has represented countless injured motorists. If you’ve been injured out on the road, one of our Grand Junction sideswipe accident attorneys can help. You should schedule a free consultation by contacting us today at (970) 230-7656.
Contact Us