Weston County Personal Injury Lawyers
Injured in Newcastle, WY? Reach Out to a Compassionate Attorney
Since its founding, Weston County has been invaluable to the growth of Wyoming. The county’s oil refinery and coal mines have bolstered the local economy for over a century, allowing for the development of Newcastle and Uptown, as well as the communities of Osage, Hill View Heights, and Four Corners. Each town offers unique opportunities to learn about the Wild West history of Wyoming while also exploring the beauty of the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the iconic Black Hills. However, its historic buildings, aging infrastructure, rural roads, and the constant flow of trucks all provide unique risks for Weston County residents. Many may not be aware of their legal rights following an accident, including their ability to file for compensation.
After an accident, you may be tempted to accept a quick settlement offer to alleviate your immediate medical bills and financial stress. However, these offers are usually extremely low and will not account for any future medical bills you experience due to an accident. Your best bet at recovering proper compensation for the harm done to you is to contact a Weston County personal injury attorney who can advocate for your best interest.
Luckily for you, the team at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. knows Wyoming personal injury laws inside and out. When you reach out to our legal team, we can thoroughly review your case and explain what options are available to you. Instead of accepting a low insurance settlement, contact an attorney who can prepare a sizable personal injury claim on your behalf by calling (307) 257-7800.
Cases We Handle in Weston County
After suffering a serious injury, most individuals choose to shoulder the financial costs on their own, whether it be medical bills or losing out on much-needed paychecks by taking time off work. However, if someone caused your injuries due to a reckless decision, you may be eligible for a personal injury claim.
A personal injury claim can take several forms depending on how you were injured. Oftentimes people file car accident claims, but you can also file a claim if you slipped and fell at a restaurant, you or a family member were neglected by a nursing home, or your child was injured at school.
For Weston County residents, our personal injury attorneys can file claims for:
- Car accidents, such as crashes with tourists
- Truck accidents with mining and oil companies
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Nursing home abuse, including against Weston County Manor in Newcastle
- Slip and fall accidents, such as from wet floors, poorly constructed walkways, or even icy parking lots
- Dog attacks
- Government agencies who oversee road construction on I-85, Route 16, and local roads throughout Newcastle, Upton, and Osage
Several other types of personal injury claims exist, but these are the main ones that we have seen throughout Weston County. Ultimately, if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, then you may be eligible for a claim. But how do we determine that?
Do I Have a Weston County Personal Injury Case?
As mentioned earlier, most victims choose to deal with the costs of their injuries on their own and fail to file a claim. Usually, this is because everyday people assume they do not have a case or that the accident was their fault. This is especially true for slip and fall accidents, where people attribute the fall to clumsiness. But the truth is that there are several other ways your accident could have been caused.
To be eligible for a personal injury claim, you must prove that:
- Someone owed you a duty of care;
- That individual failed to fulfill that duty because they acted negligently, recklessly, or carelessly;
- That failure led to your injuries; and
- Your injuries included a financial cost.
Duty of care is a major element in personal injury cases and can vary depending on the accident. For example, all drivers are required to provide a duty of care to each other. This means obeying speed limits, not driving while intoxicated, and paying attention to the road. Property owners, such as restaurant managers, landlords, and shop owners, are also required to provide a duty of care to guests or visitors. This can take the form of cleaning up a spill or fixing a broken step on a staircase or putting up warning signs about a safety hazard. As long as someone is legally required to prevent you from becoming injured, they can be held liable for any injuries you suffer.
Another important factor to discuss when reviewing your case is if an insurance policy applies. When filing a claim against a negligent individual, you will more often than not be filing against their insurance policy. For auto accidents, this would be the driver’s personal auto insurance policy or a commercial policy if they were driving for work.
Similarly, you may also file a claim against a property owner’s liability policy, however, the state of Wyoming does not require business owners to have liability insurance except for commercial vehicles. This means that if you are injured in a store that did not have insurance, you would have to file directly against the owner. In addition, if you were bitten by a dog, you may be able to file against the owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Every case is different, and the amount of money you can receive will vary depending on several factors. When reviewing your case, our Weston County personal injury attorneys will determine:
Damages, or the amount of money your injuries have cost you. This can include medical bills, lost wages from time off work, the cost of changing careers if you are left disabled, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma. A car accident that results in minor shoulder pain will involve less compensation than one that resulted in a disabled driver or passenger.
Liability policies, or the amount of insurance coverage that applies to your accident. For example, everyday drivers in Wyoming are only required to have a minimum of $25,000 for each individual injured in a car accident, which can cap out at $50,000 in total. You may very well have an injury that goes over the other driver’s minimum policy. But if you have underinsured motorist coverage, you may be able to file against your own insurance policy to cover the difference. In addition, accidents with commercial trucks or slip and fall injuries sustained at a major brand store tend to have higher insurance policies that should cover the cost of your injuries.
Comparative negligence, which means that multiple individuals or groups can be considered responsible for an accident. In the state of Wyoming, each individual is assigned a certain amount of fault by the court and anyone found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident cannot receive compensation. In turn, if you assigned between 1-49% of the fault, the amount of money you receive will be reduced by that percentage. This is only relevant in cases that go to trial, but it is still important to have a trial attorney at your side to ensure you receive proper representation.
The state of Wyoming allows accident victims up to four years to file a personal injury claim in court. While this may seem like a long time, you will need time to recover, collect evidence, calculate the costs of your injuries, and determine who is liable for your accident. This can be extremely difficult if you are in the middle of physical therapy or are dealing with a new disability. But with the right attorney at your side, you can focus on healing and getting back to your daily routine.
Advocating for the Compensation You Deserve
While most people expect insurance companies to offer fair compensation after an accident, they are more than likely to dismiss your injuries and reject your claim. Instead, reach out to a well-regarded attorney who can provide compassionate and knowledgeable legal representation. Personal injury laws can be complicated, even in Weston County, which is why it is important to have someone at your side who can provide proper legal advice during your recovery.
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Weston County personal injury lawyer at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. We offer each potential client a free, initial consultation to discuss your case and provide thorough legal advice for your situation. Call us at (307) 257-7800 or contact us online to learn what options are available to you after an accident in Newcastle.
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