To choose a personal injury lawyer in Colorado, ask five questions before you sign anything: what’s your fee and what else comes out of my settlement, how many lawsuits have you filed, who will handle my file, what do your reviews actually say, and have you handled cases like mine. Any lawyer worth hiring will give you straight answers to all five.
I’m Dylan Unger, a personal injury lawyer and the founder of Venyx Injury Law in Denver. I’ve been doing injury work for over a decade, and I’ve filed more than 300 lawsuits. Whether you were hurt in a car accident, a truck crash, or on a motorcycle or a bike, here’s what actually separates one lawyer from another.
| Question to ask | A good answer | A red flag |
|---|---|---|
| What’s your fee, and what else comes out? | The percentage at each stage and every add-on, in writing | “We’ll go over that later,” or extra fees that show up only in the agreement |
| How many lawsuits have you filed? | An actual number, plus first-chair trial experience | “Most of our cases settle,” with no number |
| Who will handle my file? | A named lawyer you can reach directly | A case manager or a call center |
| What do your reviews say? | A pattern of clients saying they got callbacks and explanations | Lots of stars and no detail |
| Have you handled cases like mine? | Specific experience with your kind of crash | A generic answer |
What’s Your Fee, and What Else Comes Out of My Settlement?
Ask for the percentage at every stage and every add-on, and get it in writing before you sign. In Colorado, a contingency fee agreement has to be in writing and signed by you, so none of this should be a surprise later.
Almost every injury lawyer works on a contingency fee. They get a percentage of what they recover for you, and nothing if they don’t recover anything. That part is standard. The percentage isn’t.
| Fee stage | Most Colorado firms | Venyx |
|---|---|---|
| Before a lawsuit | 33% to 35% | 29% |
| After a lawsuit is filed | 40% to 45% | 33% |
My fee is 29% pre-litigation and 33% if we sue. It’s calculated on the gross recovery, which is how every injury fee agreement I’ve seen works. See how my fees work.
Then ask what else comes out. Case costs like medical records, filing fees, and depositions come out of every case, and that’s normal. But some firms also charge a tech fee, usually $200 to $800, an administrative fee that can run $50 one time or $350 a month, or both. I don’t charge either.
Also ask what happens if the settlement is small and medical bills take a big chunk of it. I never take more from a case than my client takes home.
What a lower fee saves you
See how much more you keep with Venyx.
Estimates only. Your final recovery is reduced by case costs, medical liens, and other legal obligations. Every case is different. Fees and costs are discussed at consultation.
How Many Lawsuits Have You Filed?
Ask for lawsuits filed in court, not cases handled or settlements. That number tells you whether the insurance company believes your lawyer will actually sue.
Insurance companies know which lawyers file suit and which ones take the first decent offer, and they make offers accordingly. If your lawyer never files, the adjuster knows the threat isn’t real. I’ve filed more than 300 lawsuits since 2017.
Then ask whether they’ve tried a case to a jury as first chair, meaning they ran the trial. I’ve first-chaired jury trials in state and federal court. Most cases settle, and yours probably will too. But the cases that settle well are the ones where the insurance company believes you’ll go to trial.
Who’s Going to Handle My File?
Ask who your point of contact will be, and whether that’s the same lawyer who will be in the courtroom if your case goes to trial. At a lot of big firms, the answer isn’t the lawyer you saw on the billboard.
At many large firms, you talk to intake, then a case manager, then maybe an associate you’ve never met. That isn’t always bad representation, but it’s not what most people think they’re getting.
With me, it’s me. Every client gets my cell phone number.
What Do Your Reviews Actually Say?
Read what people wrote, not just the star rating. Look for a pattern in how the lawyer treated people, not one great or one bad review.
- Did the lawyer call them back?
- Did the lawyer explain what was going on?
- Was the lawyer they hired the one who showed up?
You can also confirm that any Colorado lawyer is licensed, and check their public discipline history, through the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel attorney search.
Have You Handled Cases Like Mine?
Hire someone who has built cases like yours. The right experience changes how a lawyer investigates the crash and how they answer the other side’s arguments.
If you were hurt on a motorcycle, this one matters most. Adjusters, defense lawyers, and even some police officers assume the rider was speeding. A lawyer who rides knows how a bike actually behaves: braking, lane position, and why you can’t just swerve. I’ve ridden my whole life, and I race in the MRA. If you ride, I wrote a separate guide on how to choose a motorcycle accident lawyer in Colorado.
The same idea works for a truck crash, a bike crash, or a claim against a government agency. Ask what cases like yours the lawyer has handled, and what they did differently because of it.
What If I Already Hired a Lawyer and I’m Not Happy?
You can change lawyers in Colorado at any time, and in most cases switching won’t cost you more than staying. The new lawyer should explain in writing how the old lawyer gets paid.
When I take over a case, the old lawyer’s share comes out of my fee, so you pay one fee. Here’s how switching personal injury lawyers works in Colorado.
The Short Version
Five questions: the fee and what comes out, lawsuits filed, who handles your file, what the reviews say, and whether they know your kind of case. Any lawyer worth hiring will give you straight answers to all five.
Choosing a Lawyer FAQ
How do I choose a personal injury lawyer?
Ask about the fee and every add-on, how many lawsuits the lawyer has filed, who will handle your file, what reviews say about communication, and whether they’ve handled cases like yours. Get the fee terms in writing before you sign.
What questions should I ask a personal injury lawyer before hiring them?
Start with these: What’s your percentage before and after a lawsuit? What costs or fees come out of my settlement? How many lawsuits have you filed, and have you tried a case as first chair? Who will be my point of contact? What happens to your fee if medical bills take most of a small settlement?
How do I find a good personal injury lawyer in Colorado?
Look for a lawyer who files lawsuits and tries cases, gives you a named point of contact, and has reviews that describe callbacks and clear explanations. Confirm their license on the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel’s attorney search.
How much does a personal injury lawyer charge in Colorado?
Most Colorado firms charge 33% to 35% before a lawsuit and 40% to 45% after one is filed, plus case costs. My fee is 29% pre-litigation and 33% if we sue.
Does it cost anything to talk to a personal injury lawyer?
Most injury lawyers, including me, offer free consultations. If you hire a lawyer on contingency, you pay nothing up front and no fee if there’s no recovery.
Can I change personal injury lawyers if I’m unhappy?
Yes. Colorado clients can end the representation at any time. The prior lawyer may be paid for the reasonable value of their work out of the recovery, and with me that comes out of my fee, so you pay one fee.
Talking to a few lawyers? Ask me all five questions. Consultations are free.
Call Dylan: 877-2929-LAWThis post is general information, not legal advice.
