Disabling Accidents: Can I Sue for Home Modification Costs?

 Posted on October 30, 2024 in Personal Injury

If someone else’s negligence or intentional act injures you, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim for your accident-related damages. Most people have heard that statement but do not really know what it means. If you become an accident victim, understanding important legal concepts like these is vital, particularly if you are left disabled. Your home or vehicle may need accessibility modifications.

What are the damages, and how do I know if I qualify? What are my eligible losses, and are these modifications included? Your trusted lawyer from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. can discuss your eligibility and damages when you call for your free consultation.

What Is Negligence, Fault, Liability, and Damages in Personal Injury Cases?

To fully explain whether you could collect reimbursement for necessary accessibility modifications, we need to define a few legal terms used frequently in personal injury matters:

• Negligence: Failing to behave like a reasonable person would in the same circumstances
• Fault: The responsibility for causing a qualifying accident
• Liability: Responsibility for something, such as paying damages
• Damages: Either specific losses you suffer as a direct result of your accident or the funds you could receive to compensate or reimburse you for those losses

Damages are further distinguished as economic damages that reimburse for accident-related expenses, non-economic damages that compensate victims for intangible losses, and exemplary damages. Exemplary damages are rarely awarded but are intended as a further punishment for the at-fault party.

Do I Qualify for Compensation?

Most personal injury claims are based on proving another party’s negligence was the direct cause of your injuries and related damages. For example:

• 94 percent of car, truck, and other motor vehicle accidents are caused by negligent human error.
• Construction accidents frequently happen due to unmaintained equipment.
• Drunk or high drivers often cause collisions with catastrophic injuries.

In Colorado, you can obtain compensation for your eligible losses if you are less than 50 percent at fault for causing your accident. However, your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20 percent at fault, your payout is reduced by 20 percent.

The best way to determine your eligibility for compensation is to discuss your accident with a competent lawyer from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C.. We will evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.

What Damages Could I Receive After a Disabling Accident?

Various accidents can leave injured victims disabled, whether due to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, lost sight or hearing, amputations, or other severe injuries. If your accident created a disability, you might need a handicap-accessible vehicle, medical equipment, and extensive home renovations, such as:

• Installation of walk-in bathtubs
• Lowered countertops
• Wheelchair ramps, both inside and out
• Grab bars in bathrooms
• Widening hallways and door openings
• Replacing carpet with smooth flooring
• Installing lifts

These modifications can be extremely expensive, but they are often necessary. If your injury-producing accident created the need for these renovations, you can likely hold the party who caused it liable for these expenses. Your attorney from Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. will pursue all eligible damages on your behalf.

Call Our Dedicated Larimer County, CO Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Fighting to get the compensation you deserve can seem overwhelming, especially if you are learning to live with a new disability. You can trust Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. to handle your claim effectively. Call us now at 970-225-2190 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced Fort Collins, CO motor vehicle collision attorney.