Situated in Mesa County, Colorado, Grand Junction is an idyllic location sitting next to the Colorado River at its confluence with the Gunnison River. Colorado National Monument is just a few miles away. Interstate 70, US 50, US 6, and SH 340 all serve Grand Junction. Although these highways all see their share of collisions, traffic accidents are not the only form of personal injury impacting Grand Junction residents.
The Grand Junction personal injury attorneys at Gerash Steiner Blanton, P.C., have your back. Our attorneys fight for the victims of negligence and other misconduct. You are not just a case number to us.
We carry on a decades-long tradition of providing world-class representation started by legendary Colorado lawyer Walter L. Gerash, father of one of our founding partners, Daniel P. Gerash. Michael W. Blanton, another of our partners, has helped clients recover more than $40,000,000 throughout the United States and has handled more than 80 appeals. And Eric L. Steiner—also a partner—is a medical doctor whose training and experience enable him to help accident victims as few in the legal community can.
The prestigious Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating process has given us the coveted rating of AV Preeminent, the highest possible quality rating. In addition, attorneys at our firm have been recognized for their outstanding legal work by numerous other organizations.
Types of Personal Injury
Our practice areas include every kind of personal injury claim, including:
- Car accidents,
- Criminal assaults,
- Defective products,
- Dog bites,
- Medical malpractice,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Nursing home abuse,
- Pedestrian accidents,
- Premises liability,
- Slip and fall accidents,
- Truck accidents, and
- Other injuries.
Our Grand Junction injury accident lawyers also know how to pursue a wrongful death claim if someone dies in an accident. In addition to personal injury, we handle criminal defense cases, employment law, estate planning, and civil rights cases.
Courtroom Litigation vs. Private Settlement
Personal injury litigation in the courtroom appears in many television dramas. But most TV shows neglect to depict the behind-the-scenes settlement negotiations where most of the legal work actually happens. The reality is that the vast majority of personal injury claims settle outside of court. Most of our clients prefer private settlement to courtroom litigation because it usually brings a quicker and more efficient resolution.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t file a lawsuit, however. Filing a lawsuit is sometimes the best way to nudge a stubborn defendant (or insurance company) into arriving at a more generous settlement offer. It is also a way to gain access to evidence through the pretrial discovery process. And even if you file a lawsuit, you can still settle your claim before the court renders a verdict.
Insurance Company Hardball Tactics
Insurance adjusters are not “good neighbors”ーthey are representatives of for-profit businesses that earn money by accepting premiums and lose money with every dime they pay a claimant. Thus, they are full of tricks designed to defeat your claim or minimize its value. The insurance company is your adversary.
Insurance companies try to convince you that you don’t need to hire a lawyer. But trying to represent yourself is the worst mistake you can make because you could end up with a smaller settlement even if the insurance company pays your claim.
They seek to lull you to sleep with numerous minor delays until the statute of limitations deadline expires. If this happens, your claim’s value will drop to zero immediately.
Or they will attempt to pressure you to settle while confused, in distress, and injured. Once you retain us, tell the insurance company to send us all further communications.
Insurance companies also try to capitalize on the fact that you probably have no idea how much your claim is worth.
Finally, they are well known for trying to at least partially blame the accident on you. Colorado’s comparative fault rules will reduce your damages if you are partly at fault. Insurance companies save themselves a lot of money this way.
Insurance companies have many more tricks. Our Grand Junction, CO personal injury attorneys won’t fall for a single one of them. Let us handle the negotiations for you while you focus on regaining your health.
The Social Media Trap
It is the job of your Grand Junction personal injury lawyer to help you avoid damaging or even destroying your claim. One way to hurt your chances is through the careless use of social media. It is best to stay off of social media entirely until you resolve your claim and receive your money. If you must use social media, observe the following tips:
- Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know;
- Never talk about your case on social media, and don’t upload any photos either;
- Ask your friends not to mention anything about you or your case;
- Don’t allow profile content that casts doubt on the severity of your injuries.
If you must use social media, assume that the insurance company is watching.
Damages and the Standard of Proof
You can potentially win damages for every aspect of the harm that your injury caused, including physical, financial, and psychological damages. Common elements of a personal injury claim include the following items:
- Medical bills,
- Lost earnings,
- Pain and suffering,
- Incidental expenses such as child care while you are incapacitated, and
- Punitive damages (in certain types of cases).
You don’t have to prove your claim “beyond a reasonable doubt” as you would in a criminal suit. The standard of proof in civil cases is lower than that. Our Grand Junction personal injury attorney can investigate to determine the value of your claim, and we can collect admissible evidence to build your case.
You Owe Us Nothing Unless We Win
We work on a contingency basis, which means that we charge you a pre-agreed portion of the total amount the defendant pays. Since any percentage of zero is still zero, you will owe us nothing unless we win. This arrangement puts us on the same side. When you win, we win too.
Take Decisive Action! Don’t Put-Off Getting Compensation for Your Injuries
The Grand Junction, CO personal injury lawyers at Gerash Steiner Blanton, P.C. are ready to lace up the gloves and fight to ensure that you win every dime of compensation that you deserve. We know how to handle evasive defendants and profit-hungry insurance companies. It’s not just about winningーit is also about how much you win. Call us at 720-821-6236 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Our experienced legal team handles other types of cases as well, including:
- Criminal Defense
- Estate Planning and Probate
- Fiduciary & Estate Litigation
- Employment Law
- Civil Rights
- Appellate Work