AFTER THE ACCIDENT
What You Do in the First 48 Hours Matters Enormously
The steps you take — and avoid — immediately after a car accident can have a significant impact on the value of your claim.
A car accident is a trauma. In the chaos that follows, most people are focused on what just happened — not on protecting a future legal claim. Insurance companies know this. Their adjusters are trained to make contact quickly, while you are still shaken, and to get you to say things or sign documents that limit what they have to pay you.
One of the most important things you can do after a serious car accident is speak with a qualified attorney before you speak with the other driver’s insurance company. Not after. Before.
“Even something as simple as saying ‘I’m sorry’ at the scene can be used against you. Insurance adjusters are trained to look for exactly these openings.”
Do these things immediately:
- Call 911 — get police and medical help on the scene
- Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine — some injuries take days to appear
- Document everything — photos of vehicles, the scene, your injuries, road conditions
- Get contact and insurance information from all drivers involved
- Collect witness names and contact details
- Save all medical records, bills, and correspondence related to the accident
Do not do these things:
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before consulting an attorney
- Do not sign any documents from the insurance company without legal review
- Do not accept a quick settlement offer — first offers are rarely fair ones
- Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media
- Do not admit fault or apologize at the scene, even casually
TYPES OF CASES WE HANDLE
Common Causes of Serious Car Accidents in Colorado
Beth Klein handles car accident cases involving serious or catastrophic injuries. The Roaring Fork Valley’s mountain roads, highways, and winter conditions create unique dangers that demand an attorney who understands this landscape.
Distracted Driving
Phone use, texting, and in-car distractions are among the leading causes of serious accidents on Colorado mountain highways and in the Roaring Fork Valley corridor.
Drunk & Impaired Driving
DUI accidents cause some of the most severe injuries. In Colorado, impaired drivers can be held liable for full compensatory damages — and in egregious cases, punitive damages as well.
Fatigued Driving
Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Commercial drivers, overnight travelers, and those on long mountain drives are particularly at risk. Fatigue is a form of negligence.
Reckless & Aggressive Driving
Speeding, tailgating, illegal lane changes, and road rage behavior on Colorado's narrow mountain roads can have devastating consequences for other drivers.
Hit and Run Accidents
When a driver flees the scene, victims may still have options — including uninsured motorist coverage claims. Beth knows how to pursue every available avenue of recovery.
Weather & Road Conditions
Colorado's mountain roads present unique hazards — ice, snow, fog, and wildlife crossings. Drivers have a duty to operate safely for conditions regardless of weather.
Truck & Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving semi-trucks or commercial vehicles often involve multiple liable parties — the driver, the trucking company, and sometimes cargo loaders or vehicle manufacturers.
Vehicle Defects
Sometimes a car accident is caused not by driver error but by a defective part — faulty brakes, a defective tire, or a malfunctioning safety system. These cases may involve both personal injury and product liability claims.
BEFORE YOU TALK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to resolve your claim for as little money as possible. They may seem helpful and sympathetic — that is part of the approach. A recorded statement, an early settlement offer, or a signed release can dramatically reduce or eliminate your right to fair compensation.
Speak with Beth Klein before you speak with anyone from the insurance company. The consultation is free, and it could make a significant difference in what you ultimately recover.
WHY BETH KLEIN, P.C.
A Trial Lawyer Who Actually Goes to Trial
Most car accident attorneys are settlement mills — they handle high volumes of cases, settle quickly, and move on. That model works for minor fender-benders. It does not work for serious injuries, where the true value of a claim may be substantially higher than the first offer.
Beth Klein builds every case for trial from the beginning. That preparation — and the reputation behind it — changes what insurance companies put on the table. She won the largest PIP bad faith verdict in Colorado history. Insurance defense counsel know her name, and they price their settlements accordingly.
She accepts only a limited number of cases. If she takes yours, she will give it everything she has.
“We are willing to fight as long as it takes to bring you the best settlement or verdict possible. We don’t push clients to settle quickly just to move on.”
I
Record Colorado Verdict
Beth won the largest PIP insurance bad faith verdict in Colorado history — $2.1 million — for a seriously injured client whose insurance company wrongfully denied coverage.
II
No Quick Settlements
Beth does not pressure clients to settle quickly in order to close the file. She builds cases for maximum value — and takes them to trial when the insurance company won’t pay what the case is worth.
III
Nationally Recognized
Colorado Super Lawyer since 2006. Best Lawyers in America. Lawyer of the Year — All of Western Colorado, 2020 & 2021. Lawdragon Top 500 Plaintiff Lawyers. These are peer-recognized honors, not paid rankings.
IV
Complete Damages Recovery
Beth pursues every available category of damages — medical bills, lost income, future care costs, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and where appropriate, punitive damages against reckless drivers or insurers acting in bad faith.
V
Contingency Fee
Car accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless Beth wins compensation for you. The consultation is free and confidential.
VI
Direct Client Access
Beth limits her caseload so every client gets her direct attention. You will not be passed to a paralegal or junior associate. You hired Beth — you get Beth.