Many interstate highways present a merging accident hazard as vehicles attempt to navigate their way from one section of the highway to another. Merging accidents are more frequent when the lane changes are unfamiliar to drivers using the highway or when drivers fail to exercise sufficient care when merging.
Because of the high speeds encountered on highways like I-25, injuries that result from a collision can be serious. If you have survived a merging accident and are finding it hard to cope with the financial repercussions, talk to a personal injury attorney about the possibility of making a personal injury claim for compensation.
Interstate-25 in Colorado
I-25 is an important interstate highway running north south through Colorado east of the Rockies. The highway is considered part of the much longer Pan American Highway that technically extends from Alaska to Argentina. I-25’s full length within Colorado is 305 miles.
I-25 connects several large metropolitan areas within the state and is well used, so much so that sections of it are very busy.
The towns and cities that are bisected by I-25 include Fort Collins, Loveland, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver. I-25 enters Colorado from the state’s northern border near the town of Carr while its southern exit point is near Starkville.
Some of the busiest parts of I-25 are in Northern Colorado between the intersection with SH7 and Wyoming, especially for truck numbers. A merging accident involving a collision with a truck can be very serious indeed.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-25
It is important to be aware of the statute of limitations in Colorado. If you have been hit by a government employee you have only 180 days to file a notice of claim with the relevant government employer, but two years if you then go on to file a personal injury claim.
Claims against private individuals also have a 2 year time limit from the date of the injury.
Also note that Colorado has a modified comparative negligence rule that the at-fault party’s insurer may try and take advantage of. You cannot claim compensation in Colorado if it is decided that you were more than 50% to blame for the accident.
Otherwise, the payment will be calculated according to the percentage fault apportioned to each party.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-25
If at all possible be pro-active about collecting evidence at the scene of the crash. Photos can help to paint a picture of what happened. Get contact details of potential witnesses, or even record their statements if you have a voice recorder on your cell phone.
Make sure you obtain copies of medical reports on your injuries as well as invoices for all expenses related to your injuries. The police may have been at the crash scene and should have made a police report.
Track it down as it will be needed to support your claim. Get the vehicle repair company to provide a detailed breakdown of the damage done to your vehicle and the bill for repair or replacement of your vehicle.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Filing a personal injury claim after a serious accident can seem overwhelming. The financial repercussions can be hard to cope with unless you get help from an experienced personal injury attorney.
You will have a much better chance of winning a claim with an attorney than trying to convince an insurer all by yourself.
