10 Years of Personal Injury Cases and More – Colorado Injury Law

Taking a look back at 10 years of personal injury cases

When we look back at 10 years of personal injury cases, criminal cases and more, we can’t help but feel both humbled and proud. Humbled by the strength and determination of so many inspiring clients and proud that we were able to help them achieve a better quality of life. We feel honored to represent so many Coloradans during their time of need.

The cases below represent a small sample of the work we do for clients every day:

Wrongful Death Case: Jack Jacquez

In the fall of 2014, Jack Jacquez, a 27-year-old man, was fatally wounded by a police officer at his mother’s home in Rocky Ford, Colorado. His mother witnessed the shooting, and Jacquez left behind three small children who are all younger than age five.

Fuicelli & Lee represented the Jacquez family in a civil suit against the officer, the police department and city of Rocky Ford. The case was settled out of court shortly after filing, which saved the family from the stress and pain that can come with a high-profile court case.

“The bulk of the settlement will go into trust accounts for Jack’s young children to help provide for their education and future,” said John Lee. “Nothing can make up for the heartache the Jacquez family feels from the loss of Jack, but we are proud we were able to represent them well in the civil case.”

Young woman ejected from car

Our client, Julia*, was riding in a car with her boyfriend when they were struck by another vehicle. She was ejected from the car and sustained a broken neck and other serious
injuries. She was transported to a local hospital in the suburbs north of Denver, but due to the nature of her injuries, she was transferred to Denver Health Medical Center, which is equipped to handle severe trauma.

We helped her win a settlement of $300,000 after conducting an insurance audit to determine which insurance policies would cover her as a passenger in a car owned by her
best friend’s parents.

Victim’s claim rejected by insurance

In another case, our client, Alex*, made a legal left-hand turn and was hit by another driver who went through the intersection on a green light.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company rejected the claim in its entirety and disputed their client’s liability. That driver, a two-time convicted felon, held a policy that would have covered up to $100,000.

Alex’s injuries resulted in cervical facet syndrome, inflammation and pain stemming from a facet joint in the spine and now requires radio frequency nerve treatments each year to manage the associated pain.

We pride ourselves on knowing insurance law inside and out, and we used our knowledge of Colorado law that requires insurance companies to pay limits on cases where a “reasonable insurer” would. The insurance provider denied the case up until a week before trial, but then settled with our client for $125,000 – 25 percent more than the limit outlined in the policy.

Negligent bus company

Fuicelli & Lee represented Gail* in a case against a private charter bus company. The bus driver backed into Gail’s car, and she sustained injuries that prevented her from working at full capacity.

She had to hire staff to help run her cleaning business as she recovered and took care of her children. Upon review of the case, we discovered that the bus driver had failed to disclose his suspended license on his application with the charter bus company. The company not only failed to ask about that missing information on his application, but then falsified records claiming that they had reviewed his driver’s license status the following year, as required by law.

We were able to secure a substantial settlement for Gail to cover her medical expenses, lost wages and more due to negligence on the part of the bus company.

Insurance ‘bad faith’ judgement

Paul* approached Fuicelli & Lee for representation after his auto insurance company offered him a low settlement following his on-the-job car accident.

He required surgery, and his injuries forced him to change careers, which resulted in lost income. We helped Paul file a bad faith case against his auto insurance provider, which had asserted that he was not eligible for his full uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits outlined in his policy because he had already received benefits under his employer’s workers’ compensation policy.

The ultimate judgement found the auto insurance company to have acted in bad faith for denying full coverage and for delaying a review of Paul’s claim. Most importantly, this case resulted in favorable language in the judge’s order that will positively impact future bad faith cases for Coloradans.

*Names have been changed for privacy

These cases shine a spotlight on the complicated nature of many personal injury cases, as well as wrongful death and criminal cases. Our attorneys thrive on representing clients’ best interests when insurance companies deny claims or try to low-ball coverage. Many of our clients experience years of recovery and necessary medical treatments, so securing adequate coverage can make a big difference to their quality of life.

If you have been injured in an accident, or if you have been charged in a criminal case, contact us for a free case evaluation. Our team of attorneys specialize in understanding the nuances of the law to best represent you and help you achieve the best possible outcome.