Areas of Practice
Car Collisions
Sadly, with 6 million car crashes every year in the U.S., injuries from such preventable incidents are all too common. These crashes can sometimes alter or destroy lives and families. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not on your side.
But I am.
You have the right to be compensated for all of your injuries, lost income, medical bills, physical impairment and other damages. Often this means putting in the hard work to prepare a case to go all the way to trial.
The challenge is to prove something that is not always certain: Who was at fault? Were all of your injuries caused by this crash? How much are your past and future damages? These are factual questions that we will have to prove at trial, and they shape how the insurance companies defend cases and how they value settlements. I will work with you from day one to make sure that all of these questions and issues are thoroughly covered.
Trucking Collisions
Trucking crashes involve very unique issues that distinguish them from car crashes.
First, the basic physics of crashes with heavy vehicles can create catastrophic damages and injuries.
Second, trucks are specifically regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to protect you and other drivers. These regulations limit the amount of time that truck drivers can drive in one day, to avoid the dangers of lost focus or falling asleep.
There are also regulations covering equipment safety, including brakes, steering and tires. These regulations are crucial, and often trucking companies cut corners to save money. But the consequences of such moves can be deadly. I will investigate all aspects of a trucking crash to determine how the crash happened, who was at fault and what regulations were violated to give you the best possible chance at justice.
Motorcycle Collisions
First, as a fellow rider, I share your love of motorcycles. Motorcycles provide a unique level of freedom, performance and scenic views. However, never forget that we are invisible to many other drivers. Riding defensively and hyper-aware of everyone around you is the first step for safety.
Motorcycle crashes can be very serious for two reasons.
First, the low visibility of motorcycles, combined with distracted drivers on their cellphones, creates a very dangerous mixture.
Second, without the protection of a car and airbags around you, injuries from motorcycle crashes can be very serious. I will make sure that all aspects of a crash will be investigated, and I regularly consult with engineers to reconstruct accidents.
Dangerous Conditions on Property
Property owners can be responsible for damages and injuries caused by dangerous conditions. However, sometimes you must prove that the owner actually knew about the danger; simple negligence is not enough.
These incidents usually involve serious injuries including broken ankles and wrists, broken hips and tailbones, and even serious brain injuries.
Dangerous conditions can include snow and ice, spilled liquids, deteriorating building features, giant potholes and even intoxicated bar patrons. The key to these cases is to quickly develop and preserve evidence, including surveillance cameras, witness statements, building plans, inspection reports and other documents as soon as possible.
Product Liability
Product liability claims typically involve either a defective design of the product, or defective manufacturing.
Defective design means that the product was built without any defects, but the way it is designed causes an unreasonable danger.
Defective manufacturing occurs where something went wrong in the production phase, and the product fails to function properly.
Product liability claims are expensive. They often involve large, well-funded manufacturers who vigorously defend their products. They do this because they have invested tremendous amounts in research, development, advertising and distribution. In order to pursue these cases, we often have to incur significant expenses working with experts to analyze the defects.
Defective Drugs and Medical products
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies have created incredible drugs and products that provide life, health and safety for millions of people. However, on occasion, some of these drugs and products have serious defects, which can dangerously outweigh their usefulness.
Sadly, sometimes these drugs and products are left on the market because it is cheaper for these companies to settle lawsuits rather than to discontinue the dangerous drug or product.These products can include artificial joints, stents, blood filters, mesh inserts and other products.
This is a very expensive and complicated area of the law. Fortunately, I have teamed up with several of the elite law firms who handle these matters to coordinate claims into group actions. This helps to streamline the claims, save money, and creates strength by numbers. Even if you have been contacted by a drug or product manufacturer regarding a recall, you should still contact me, as the recall process never fully compensates you for the damages that you are entitled to.
Nursing Home Injuries
Sadly, with a growing elderly population, nursing home injuries are becoming more commonplace. Businesses have learned to save money by cutting staff, eliminating oversight, reducing training and reducing pay. Unfortunately, these cuts often lead to a lack of attention to safety and responsiveness to the elderly, at a time when they need help the most.
I am a strong believer in the "Golden Years"; we have a duty to take care of our elderly friends and family, as they once took care of us. But when nursing homes do not act reasonably careful, medications get missed, people fall and break bones, bedsores develop and a host of other problems can develop. These businesses must be held accountable for acts of negligence, otherwise our elderly friends and family will continue to be at risk.
Skier Liability
Skiing is an essential part of the Colorado experience. As a former ski racer and instructor, I love this incredibly fun and rewarding sport. But skiing is naturally dangerous. Even beginner skiers can quickly get up to 50 mph, or faster. Surrounded by slower skiers, children, and trees, reckless skiers can cause serious injuries to themselves and others.
As a result, Colorado has its own Ski Safety Act, which protects ski areas from any “inherent dangers” of the risk of skiing. You cannot sue a ski area for natural or necessary dangers like ice, rocks, trees, lift towers, cliffs, or similar dangers. The ski area can only be liable for its own negligent or reckless actions.
But other skiers are a different issue. Skiers on the mountain owe each other a duty to use reasonable care, just like driving a car. Every skier has to be vigilant, in control, and reasonably careful. Interestingly, homeowners and renters insurance often will provide coverage for dangerous skiers. As a result, if you are injured by another skier, there may be insurance to cover your claim.
Consumer Fraud
Sometimes businesses will take advantage of their customers. Colorado’s Consumer Protection Act prohibits businesses from using a host of unfair and deceptive trade practices with the public.
There are many types of such deceptive practices, which can include: selling goods or services as those of another; false representations of the source, sponsorship, approval or certification of goods, services or property; false representations of the characteristics, uses, ingredients or benefits of goods or services; falsely disparaging the goods or services of another; "bait and switch" schemes; and many other situations involving real estate, rentals, contests, telemarketing, car repairs, mortgage loans and other subject matters.
People defrauded by businesses can suffer devastating damages to their finances and credit. Fortunately, the Consumer Protection Act provides a strong tool to remedy these issues. The challenge is to prove that the misrepresentation was intentional. You must also prove that the misrepresentation affected not just you, but also the general public. If the evidence is strong enough, you can be awarded three times your damages, plus your costs and attorney fees.