Ed Smith Blog

The end of November came with a grave announcement for many Colorado drivers. On November 23rd, the state announced the switch from a no-fault jurisdiction to a tort jurisdiction. This changes the dynamic for payment in the event of a car accident and puts the onus on all drivers to protect themselves to the fullest extent of the law.

Under a no-fault system, medical bills, lost wages, pain-and-suffering monies and any other fallout claims would be collected from the injured party’s insurance regardless of fault. But under the new tort jurisdiction, the at-fault party’s insurance is responsible.

This announcement punctuates the need for uninsured/underinsured driver coverage. But many drivers are not aware of what their policy calls for. This may leave some motorists on the hook for hefty bills if they should happen to get into an accident.

This is also a word of warning for underinsured drivers with limited liability coverage. These smaller coverage plans may have worked great under a no-fault system. But one accident that causes long-term injuries can leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical bills that your insurance may or may not cover.

Many drivers have expressed concern that a tort system may cause delays in damage payments after an accident, leaving innocent victims struggling to collect from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This is where personal injury attorneys can help you. Navigating the insurance minefield is tough enough without changing the whole system around. We can help make sure you don’t get the ‘tort’ end of the stick in the event of an auto accident.

If you or a loved one have been an unfortunate victim of an accident, and live in the Colorado area, contact Ed Smith Law. Edward Smith is an experienced personal injury attorney that knows how to fight for you. Check out his website www.edsmithlaw.com to see the many services offered.

Labels: auto accident, personal injury lawyer, tort