Personal Injury Risks in Denver’s High-Crime Areas: What You Need to Know
Crime in a big city like Denver can affect a wide group of people, including innocent bystanders and members of the public who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like other personal injury victims, these victims of crimes have rights; however, exercising them can be challenging.
Types of Personal Injury Accidents in High-Crime Neighborhoods
Being present in an area of Denver known for high crime does not mean you deserve to be injured in any way. However, not only do people get injured in these areas, but they can also be hurt in unusual and violent ways. Some of the ways you can be injured in one of Denver’s high-crime neighborhoods include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Suspects fleeing a crime scene have little incentive to obey traffic laws and signals. They can speed through intersections, disregard right-of-way rules, and drive recklessly as they make their getaway. Not only this, but they have little incentive to stop and identify themselves or render aid if they collide with and harm you, complicating your recovery.
Trips and Falls
Suppose that a criminal is running away from a crime scene on foot instead of by car. In an effort to escape, the criminal could push and shove you and others in his way. This rough jostling can knock you off balance and cause you to fall and hurt yourself. Violent and sudden falls on a street or sidewalk can lead to concussions, broken bones, and back injuries.
Acts of Violence
Even though you may not have been the intended victim of the criminal’s acts, they may turn their attention to you if they believe they can easily victimize you in the moment or that you will report their crimes to the police. The criminal might shoot you with a gun or strike you with their fist, a blunt object, or a knife.
These injury incidents are on top of the ordinary injury risks that any person in Denver faces in any other neighborhood: slip and falls, car and truck wrecks, and other personal injury incidents can and do still occur.
What to Do if You Are Hurt in a High-Crime Area
You face additional risks to your safety and legal rights if you are injured in a high-crime area. The panic and confusion that normally set in after any personal injury accident can be amplified.
Learn what steps to take after such an event so that you protect yourself:
- Get away from the immediate area and to a place of safety, if possible.
- At the first opportunity, call 911 and report the incident.
- Request police and, if necessary, emergency medical personnel to respond to your location.
- Give as many details about the incident to the police, including a description of the person who hurt you and any vehicle they were driving.
- Remain available to law enforcement for follow-up questions.
The more cooperative you are with the police, the greater the chance they can locate the perpetrator. You can then take legal action against them or participate in any criminal prosecution that is filed against that person.
Contact Our Denver Personal Injury Lawyers at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
By hiring an experienced Denver personal injury attorney soon after being hurt in a high-crime area, you give yourself an advocate, a liaison, and a legal resource. Your attorney can serve as the first point of contact for law enforcement and others needing more information, providing you with peace of mind and some measure of privacy after your injury.
Your lawyer can also help you explore various avenues for recovering compensation in the short- and long-term. Call Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with our team to learn more.
We are located in Denver, CO, proudly serving all of Denver County.
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
