Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer
Colorado Springs Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Hurt on the job in Colorado? You have rights to medical care, lost wages, and a fair settlement. We make sure the insurer respects them.
Colorado workers’ compensation should be straightforward: you get hurt on the job, the insurer covers your medical care and lost wages. In practice, insurers minimize, delay, and deny. Bradford Pelton P.C. has spent decades pushing back. Attorney Alex Kerr personally manages every claim, with paralegal Gianna Grantham as your day-to-day point of contact.
Free consultation. No fees unless we recover.
If You’ve Just Been Hurt at Work
The First Four Days Matter Most
01
Report It in Writing
Colorado requires written notice to your employer within four working days. Verbal reports don’t count. A late notice can reduce or kill the claim.
02
See an Authorized Doctor
In Colorado, the employer typically chooses the initial treating physician. Go to that doctor first so your treatment is covered. Then keep careful records.
03
Document Every Restriction
Keep work restrictions, missed days, prescriptions, and physical therapy notes. The insurer will use any gap in your record to argue the injury isn’t as bad as it is.
Cases We Handle
- Settlements. Maximizing the value of your case before you sign away your rights to future medical care.
- Claim denials. Insurers deny claims hoping you’ll walk away. We file the petitions to reopen.
- Delayed claims. When the insurer drags its feet on accepting your claim or paying medical bills.
- Construction injuries. High-hazard worksites, multiple defendants, and complex third-party claims.
- Toxic exposure. Long-tail illnesses from workplace chemicals, dust, and contaminants.
- Third-party liability. When a non-employer is responsible, you may have claims beyond workers’ comp.
- Retaliation. If your employer punishes you for filing a claim, Colorado law protects you.
- Lost wages. Temporary total, temporary partial, and permanent disability benefits.
Colorado Workers’ Comp, in Brief
Colorado is an exclusive remedy state. You generally can’t sue your employer in civil court, workers’ comp is the trade. In exchange, you don’t have to prove fault, just that the injury arose out of and in the course of employment.
The four-day written notice rule is strict. Miss it and the insurer has a strong argument to delay or deny. Colorado also imposes a two-year statute of limitations on filing the formal claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation, three years for occupational disease claims.
The two terms that decide most settlements: Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and Impairment Rating. Once an authorized doctor says you’ve hit MMI and assigns an impairment percentage, that math drives your permanent disability benefits. Insurers push for low impairment ratings. We push back with second opinions and Division Independent Medical Exams (DIMEs).
Related Reading
Guides from the Firm
Reporting & Deadlines
Denials & Delays
Wages & Settlement
FAQ
Common Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury?
Four working days, in writing, to your employer. Late notice can reduce your benefits or be used to deny the claim. More on reporting deadlines.
Can I pick my own doctor?
Generally no. Colorado lets the employer designate the initial treating physician. You can request a one-time change of provider, and you can pursue a Division Independent Medical Exam if you disagree with the impairment rating.
My claim was denied. Am I out of options?
No. Denial is a starting position, not a final answer. We file petitions to reopen, request hearings before an Administrative Law Judge, and pursue the case through the Industrial Claim Appeals Office if needed. More on what a denial actually means.
What if my employer retaliates?
Colorado law prohibits firing, demoting, or punishing employees for filing a workers’ comp claim. If it happens, you may have a separate retaliation claim on top of the comp case. More on retaliation.
How long until I see settlement money?
From Maximum Medical Improvement to settlement check, expect a few weeks to several months depending on the impairment rating dispute and Division processing time. More on the settlement timeline.
Talk to a Workers’ Comp Attorney
Free consultation. No fees unless we recover. Alex handles every case personally.