Source: https://osullivan-law-firm.com/a-case-against-restitution-after-a-denver-car-accident/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 00:36:22+00:00

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From time to time in my personal injury law firm in Denver, CO, we are approached by victims of car accidents who want to know about restitution. Typically, we advise car accident victims against taking this action because there are all kinds of ways that they may seek reimbursement in the civil courts – primarily from both parties’ insurance companies.
“Restitution” is a legal term for when the court orders a defendant to compensate a victim for losses suffered as a result of a crime, and is imposed as a condition of a defendant’s sentence in the criminal case.
Losses that may be claimed as restitution generally include outstanding medical bills, counseling expenses and out-of-pocket expenses. Losses that cannot be included as restitution are things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of future earnings and exemplary damages.
However, victims injured in car crashes can recover both monetary losses and non-economic losses through a civil case.
If a victim wishes to seek restitution in criminal courts, he or she must work with the district attorney.
Restitution is not intended to be the sole source of reimbursement for many costs associated with car accidents. The law in Colorado for non-felony motor vehicle crimes only allows a judge to order restitution for the portion of a victim’s losses that are not covered by the defendant’s insurance policy or any other applicable insurance. This is why the number-one goal if you are injured in a car accident should be to seek payment from the at-fault driver’s insurance company and from your own insurance through the civil court process. This is why we have insurance in the first place!
In fact, personal injury attorneys cannot represent car or motorcycle accident victims in the criminal courts. The decision to press charges in a criminal case is up to the district attorney. Similarly, if a victim wishes to seek restitution in criminal courts, he or she must work with the district attorney.
Victims might also have access to the Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Fund. The Victim Compensation Fund provides up to $30,000 for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance or other collateral resources, or up to $2,000 in emergency funds directly related to the crime. (This fund is not taxpayer funded.) However, if you receive compensation from this fund and then you are later reimbursed for the same expenses through the insurance companies, you must reimburse the fund for the money you received.
In general, it’s not worth it to seek restitution in the criminal courts. It’s better to make sure you have as much insurance as you can afford because you can’t rely on the other driver to have enough insurance to cover your damages, losses and medical bills.
I’ve included the Colorado statute language for “awarding compensation” and for “restitution” below. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email or call me today at (303) 388-5304.
(d) Repealed by Laws 1989, H.B.1302, § 3.
(f) The application for an award of compensation under this part 1 is filed with the board within one year of the date of injury to the victim or within such further extension of time as the board, for good cause shown, allows. For purposes of this paragraph (f), “good cause” may include but is not limited to circumstances in which a crime has remained unsolved for more than one year.
(d) The application for an award of compensation for property damage under this part 1 is filed with the board within six months of the date of property damage or within such further extension of time as the board, for good cause shown, allows.
(2) The board may waive any of the requirements set forth in this section, or the limitations set forth in section 24-4.1-109(1), or order a denial or reduction of an award if, in the interest of justice, it is so required.
(3) Upon a finding by the board that compensation should be awarded, the board shall submit a statement of award to the court administrator who shall remit payment in accordance with the statement of award.
(4) Consistent with approved standards established pursuant to section 24-4.1-117.3(3) for the administration of crime victim compensation funds, the board may develop policies to ensure that primary victims are compensated and to ensure that available moneys in the fund are not exceeded.
Added by Laws 1981, H.B.1476, § 5. Amended by Laws 1983, H.B.1340, §§ 14, 18; Laws 1983, H.B.1349, § 2; Laws 1984, H.B.1212, § 11; Laws 1984, H.B.1329, § 20; Laws 1985, H.B.1093, § 2; Laws 1989, H.B.1302, § 3; Laws 1995, H.B.95-1346, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 2009, Ch. 129, § 4, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2012, Ch. 244, § 4, eff. Aug. 8, 2012.
(2) The court shall base its order for restitution upon information presented to the court by the prosecuting attorney, who shall compile such information through victim impact statements or other means to determine the amount of restitution and the identities of the victims. Further, the prosecuting attorney shall present this information to the court prior to the order of conviction or within ninety-one days, if it is not available prior to the order of conviction. The court may extend this date if it finds that there are extenuating circumstances affecting the prosecuting attorney’s ability to determine restitution.
(4)(a)(I) Any order for restitution entered pursuant to this section is a final civil judgment in favor of the state and any victim. Notwithstanding any other civil or criminal statute or rule, any such judgment remains in force until the restitution is paid in full. The provisions of article 18.5 of title 16, C.R.S., apply notwithstanding the termination of a deferred judgment and sentence or a deferred adjudication, the entry of an order of expungement pursuant to section 19-1-306, C.R.S., or an order to seal entered pursuant to part 7 of article 72 of title 24, C.R.S.
(II) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a), two years after the presentation of the defendant’s original death certificate to the clerk of the court or the court collections investigator, the court may terminate the remaining balance of the judgment and order for restitution if, following notice by the clerk of the court or the court collections investigator to the district attorney, the district attorney does not object and there is no evidence of a continuing source of income of the defendant to pay restitution. The termination of a judgment and order pursuant to this subparagraph (II) does not terminate an associated judgment against a defendant who is jointly and severally liable with the deceased defendant.
(e) The clerk of the court is authorized to adjust the unpaid balance in the case upon proof that any restitution or related interest amounts have been or will be satisfied outside of the court registry and receipting process regardless of when the restitution order and judgment were entered. The accounting adjustment does not modify a court’s order.
(8)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, for a non-felony conviction under title 42, C.R.S., the court shall order restitution concerning only the portion of the victim’s pecuniary loss for which the victim cannot be compensated under a policy of insurance, self- insurance, an indemnity agreement, or a risk management fund.
(c)(I) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (c), a court may not award restitution to a victim concerning a pecuniary loss for which the victim has received or is entitled to receive benefits or reimbursement under a policy of insurance or other indemnity agreement.
(II)(A) A court may award a victim restitution for a deductible amount under his or her policy of insurance.
(B) Deleted by Laws 2004, Ch. 255, § 28, eff. May 21, 2004.
(d)(I) Deleted by Laws 2004, Ch. 255, § 28, eff. May 21, 2004.
(e)(I) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an insurance company, risk management fund, or public entity shall not be obligated to defend a defendant in a hearing concerning restitution. No court shall interpret an indemnity or insurance contract so as to obligate an insurance company, risk management fund, or public entity to defend a defendant at a restitution hearing absent a specific agreement.
(10)(a) If, as a result of the defendant’s conduct, a crime victim compensation board has provided assistance to or on behalf of a victim pursuant to article 4.1 of title 24, C.R.S., the amount of assistance provided and requested by the crime victim compensation board is presumed to be a direct result of the defendant’s criminal conduct and must be considered by the court in determining the amount of restitution ordered.

References: § 3
 § 5
 § 2
 § 11
 § 20
 § 2
 § 3
 § 2
 § 4
 § 4
 § 28
 § 28