By far, the most common types of accidents that result in injury in Colorado, or in any state for that matter, are traffic accidents. Other types of accidents that may result in personal injury lawsuits include medical malpractice, slip-and-fall accidents, assaults, dog bites, workplace accidents, and product liability claims, to name just a few. Whenever you have been injured as the result of someone else’s actions or negligence, it is a good idea to consult a skilled personal injury attorney to see if you might be eligible for compensation.

What Kinds Traffic Accidents Are Most Common?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute (NHTSA), the most common car accident is the front impact collision. There were 2.8 million front impact collisions in 2019 in the United States. Rear-impact collisions were second on the list of most-common accidents, with just under 1.6 million in 2019. According to the same study, most drivers are going straight when involved in a collision, and the great majority are traveling at speeds above 50 miles per hour.

 What Are the Most Common Causes of Traffic Accidents?

The most common cause of car accidents, by far, is distracted driving. Whether the distraction is caused by texting, talking on the phone, eating in the car, adjusting music, or other factors, distracted driving is a dangerous practice. It endangers not only the person who is driving distracted, but also the other drivers on the road who may be impacted. Other common causes of traffic accidents are poor weather conditions, excessive speed, drowsy driving or falling asleep at the wheel, intoxication with drugs or alcohol, recklessness, tailgating, and running red lights or stop signs. Other, less common causes include animal crossings, dangerous curves, and vehicle defects. While some traffic accidents are caused by circumstances beyond the driver’s control, many are the result of driver error, and can result in liability for the driver who is at fault. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you determine whether a personal injury claim is a good idea in your case.

Could I Be Found Liable for My Own Accident in Colorado? 

While Colorado was a no-fault state until 2003, that year the state changed its policies and became an at-fault state. What this means is that instead of each person in a car accident, for example, turning to their own insurance companies for coverage, it is possible to seek compensation from the other driver’s insurance company if they were at fault, or to file a lawsuit against the driver you believe to be at fault in the accident. Because Colorado uses what is called a comparative negligence model in determining liability, it is possible that you may be eligible for compensation even if you are partially at fault for your accident.