Personal Injury Lawyer in Salida, CO

Whether you live here in Salida or were visiting the area for the variety of outdoor activities the town offers, you have the right to pursue compensation if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, lawyers Jason Levy and Brian Bradford spend significant time in Salida and the Chaffee County area. Jason and Brian are familiar with, and have resolved several injury cases for our clients, who have been hurt in the Salida area. We know the courthouse well, as well as the surrounding network of roads, businesses, and resources for our clients.

The team at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, can file a claim or lawsuit for you no matter where your injury occurred. Whether you were hit by a car or truck a local highway like on CR 156 or Colorado Highway 291, hit by another skier at Monarch, or were struck by a motor vehicle while on your bicycle, we can protect your rights. It is our mission to advocate for people like you, not the big insurance companies. This is especially important where an accident has happened in a small town like Salida, where a lawyer with knowledge of local resources like medical care facilities and knowledge of how to connect clients with help only available in the bigger cities, can make the difference between full compensation and a minimal financial recovery for your losses.

Call (303) 543-1000 today for a free consultation with Jason or Brian.

When Can You Sue Over a Personal Injury?

To file a claim or lawsuit, you must show that someone else’s negligence is “a” cause of your injury. Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, can assist you if you were injured in a:

Motor Vehicle Accident

Visitors come to and leave Salida at all hours, and they may not be familiar with the city’s roadways. Additionally, Salida is at a crossroads with other small, rural towns, and there is a high frequency of deliveries of supplies, provisions, and building materials that comes in on heavy commercial trucks. Overall, Salida’s location increases the risk of:

• Car accidents: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that there were 30 collisions involving passenger cars and vans in Salida in 2023.
• Truck accidents: In June 2024, a truck accident on Colorado 291 injured two and killed one.
• Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, so it is easier for an inattentive driver to miss them.

Bicycle Accident

Salida is home to several beautiful biking trails. However, these trails must be ridden with care for other cyclists, and the bike you buy or rent, whether it is a traditional bike or an electric one, also has to be kept in good shape. Any maintenance failure that leads to a bike accident could be potential grounds for an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Ski Accident

While skiing does involve accepting a certain amount of risk, you should not have to worry about an irresponsible skier or snowboarder colliding with you on the slopes.

Our lawyers can fight for you if you were injured in a ski accident at any local resort, including Monarch Mountain.

Premises Liability Accident

The owner of every place you go, including hotels, resorts, and even the building where you work, has a responsibility to keep their property free of hazards they know about or should know about, including liquid spills, broken walkways, and inadequate handrails. If they fail to do so and get hurt as a result, we can investigate your claim to see if you have a viable claim. Liability can also exist if you were a licensee, or even a trespasser, but those claims are far more nuanced and we recommend speaking to an attorney about them.

What Types of Things Can you Recover if You’ve Been in an Accident in Salida?

Your injuries entitle you to compensation from the at-fault party. This compensation could include:

• Past and Future Pain and suffering
• Partial or total disability
• Reduced quality of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Property damage
• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of wages
• Future loss of earning capacity

How our lawyers go about pursuing these and other damages depends on your situation. In most cases, we start by filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. This involves:

• Identifying the at-fault party. Whether this turns out to be a single negligent individual or a corporation, we have a proven track record of holding them accountable.
• Working with the Victims Advocate. Often times there is a victim’s advocate who works with the district attorney’s office. CBL attorneys can help you understand things like restitution and what benefits working with a VA can have for your case.
• Collecting evidence. Evidence might include photos, surveillance video, witness testimony, expert testimony, and official reports. These materials will help us confirm who is liable and what kinds of damages you should ask for. In all cases, we can review the evidence with you and determine together whether it makes sense to move forward with a claim.
• Negotiating on your behalf. Once we have gathered all the evidence and you have completed most, if not all, of your treatment, we can meet with the liable party’s insurance company and fight aggressively for fair compensation.
• File Suit. When negotiations fail, our team of experience trial attorneys has your back.

Depending on who the at-fault party is, we may file suit at the Chaffee Combined Court in the 11th Judicial District Court. Other times, depending on the specifics of the accident, we may file in jurisdiction like Denver or even Federal court. While many cases settle before a trial ever begins, we are ready to represent you in the courtroom if necessary.

Call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, today for more information. We do not get paid anything unless and until you win your claim.

What Do I do After an Accident in Salida?

Your first thought is almost always “how can I get medical help,” and not to call a lawyer from the accident scene and find out what your rights are. While you do want to get legal advice promptly after an accident, this is not the most urgent task. Our legal team recommends that you do the following before you get in touch with our office:

• Call 911. This will bring the Salida Police Department, emergency medical personnel, and any other necessary first responders to your location.
• Get medical attention. See a doctor as soon as possible, and always follow through on their recommendations, even if that means being transported to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center. This will protect your health and prove to the insurance company that your injuries really are serious enough to require medical care.
• Gather evidence. Only take this step if it is safe for you to do so. It may help your case if you are able to get the liable party’s name and insurance information, photograph the scene, and get witness contact information before leaving the accident scene. After leaving the scene, hold onto any additional materials that are relevant to your case, including medical bills or communications from the insurance company.

Once you have completed as many of these tasks as possible, we invite you to speak with our team at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC about your legal rights. Do not delay any longer than necessary, as some evidence is time-sensitive and, also, you have a limited time to file a lawsuit. In most car accident cases this deadline is 3 years, but you may have only up to two years in negligence or cases under Colorado’s Premises Liability Act. Even more urgent are cases involving a drunk driver, as Colorado’s Dram Shop statute of limitations is only one year.

However your injury happened, Jason and Breian want to fight for your rights. Our firm believes in the Power of Justice, and we will work closely with you as we seek that justice for you and your family.

Call Us Today: Our Lawyers Are Ready to Hear About Your Case!

Call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, at (303) 543-1000 today to learn more about your rights. With over 100 successful jury trials among our attorneys, our team is ready to handle both complex and straightforward cases for our personal injury clients.

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