When an accident disrupts your life in Wyoming, the path forward can feel overwhelming. Medical bills accumulate, insurance companies pressure you to accept quick settlements, and you’re left wondering how to protect your rights while recovering from your injuries. This is where working with an experienced Wyoming personal injury lawyer becomes essential to securing the compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Lawyer Wyoming
Wyoming personal injury law allows injured individuals to seek compensation when another party’s negligence or wrongful actions cause harm. The state follows a modified comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover damages even if you share some fault for the accident—as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
The types of personal injury cases in Wyoming include car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, slip and fall incidents, pedestrian accidents, workplace injuries, dog bites, medical malpractice, product liability, and wrongful death claims. Each case type has unique legal considerations and requires thorough documentation of injuries, medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages.
Wyoming law also imposes strict time limits for filing personal injury claims, known as statutes of limitations. Generally, you have four years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, certain circumstances can shorten this deadline, making it crucial to consult with an attorney promptly after an accident. Compensation in personal injury cases may include medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in some cases, punitive damages for particularly egregious conduct.
Understanding Personal Injury Law
Wyoming law sets a four-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, according to Wyoming Statute 1-3-105. This means you have four years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can permanently bar you from recovering compensation.
The timeline might seem generous, but gathering evidence, conducting investigations, and building a strong case takes time. Starting early gives you the best chance of success.
How Fault and Damages Work
Wyoming follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages as long as you’re not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. However, your compensation decreases by your percentage of fault. If you’re 20 percent responsible, you’ll receive 80 percent of the total damages.
Damages in personal injury cases typically include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. Some cases may also involve punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless.
Building Your Case
Strong personal injury claims require solid evidence. This includes medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photographs, and documentation of financial losses. The sooner you begin collecting this information, the better.
Insurance companies often contact injury victims quickly, sometimes offering settlements before the full extent of injuries is known. Having legal representation helps protect you from accepting less than your claim is worth.
What to Expect During the Process
Most personal injury cases settle without going to trial. Settlement negotiations involve presenting your evidence and damages to the insurance company and working toward a fair resolution. If settlement talks fail, your case may proceed to court.
The legal process can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to recover from injuries. Ganderton Law, LLC helps clients understand each step and makes informed decisions about their cases.
Getting hurt because of someone else’s carelessness shouldn’t mean you’re stuck paying the price alone. Whether you were injured in a traffic accident, on someone’s property, or through medical negligence, Wyoming law gives you the right to seek compensation.
Why Experience Matters in Personal Injury Law
Ganderton Law, LLC brings a unique perspective to personal injury cases through founder David Ganderton’s 17 years of legal experience. Unlike many attorneys, Dave’s background includes working as a prosecutor handling criminal cases on behalf of victims, then serving as an insurance defense attorney representing major insurance companies. This insider knowledge of how insurance companies evaluate and defend claims gives his clients a significant advantage when pursuing compensation.
Since opening his personal injury practice in 2013, Dave has secured millions of dollars in settlements for injured clients. The firm’s case results speak volumes about their effectiveness, including a $2.25 million policy limits settlement for catastrophic motorcycle accident injuries, a $1.6 million rear-end collision case involving spinal surgery, and numerous six-figure settlements for clients with traumatic brain injuries, spinal surgeries, and other serious injuries.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
If you’ve been hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you’re probably facing medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about what comes next. A Wyoming personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car accidents represent one of the most common personal injury claims in Wyoming. These cases include collisions involving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
- Truck Accidents: Commercial trucking accidents often involve multiple liable parties beyond just the driver. Trucking companies, cargo loaders, and maintenance providers may all share responsibility for injuries.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle accidents frequently result in severe injuries due to the lack of physical protection for riders. These cases require careful documentation of road conditions, driver behavior, and the extent of injuries.
- Pedestrian Accidents: When vehicles strike people in crosswalks, parking lots, or roadways, the injuries can be devastating. Pedestrians have legal rights when drivers fail to yield or exercise proper caution.
- Slip and Fall Cases: Property owners must maintain safe conditions for visitors who enter their premises. When wet floors, icy sidewalks, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained stairs cause injuries, owners may be held liable.
- Inadequate Security Claims: Property owners can be responsible when failure to provide reasonable security leads to assaults or crimes. Poor lighting, broken locks, or lack of security personnel may contribute to these incidents.
- Medical Malpractice: Healthcare providers must meet accepted standards of care when treating patients. Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and birth injuries are common examples of medical negligence.
- Workplace Injuries: While workers’ compensation covers most on-the-job injuries, some workplace accidents involve third-party negligence. Construction site accidents, equipment failures, and toxic exposure may allow claims beyond standard workers’ compensation.
- Product Liability: Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must ensure their products are safe for consumers. Defective designs, manufacturing errors, or inadequate warnings can all lead to liability claims.
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Wyoming law holds dog owners responsible for injuries their pets cause in certain situations. These cases can result in serious physical injuries, infections, and lasting emotional trauma.
- Wrongful Death: When negligence causes a fatal accident, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims. According to Wyoming Statute 1-38-102, these actions must be filed within two years of the death.
- Assault and Battery: While often thought of as criminal matters, assault and battery can also form the basis for civil personal injury claims. Victims can seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from intentional harmful acts.
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: When nursing homes fail to provide adequate care, elderly residents suffer preventable injuries. Bedsores, malnutrition, medication errors, and falls may indicate neglect or abuse.
- Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries can occur in many types of accidents and often have life-altering consequences. These cases require extensive medical documentation to prove the injury’s impact on daily functioning and future earning capacity.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis. The costs associated with these injuries, including ongoing medical care and home modifications, make proper legal representation particularly important.
Ganderton Law, LLC handles various personal injury cases throughout Wyoming. Understanding which category your situation falls into helps determine the best path forward for recovering compensation.
Wyoming Personal Injury Statistics
Wyoming faces significant traffic safety challenges that make legal representation crucial after an accident. Recent data shows Wyoming recorded 35 traffic fatalities in 32 crashes during the first five months of 2025, representing a 25% increase compared to 2024. The state historically averages over 110 traffic fatalities annually.
Human error drives most accidents, with speed contributing to 44% of fatal crashes, followed by driver inattention at 40%. Notably, speeding-related fatalities increased 40%, while deaths involving lack of seat belt use jumped 56%.
Legal representation significantly impacts outcomes. Injured individuals who hire attorneys receive average settlements of $77,600 compared to just $17,600 without representation—more than four times higher. Similarly, victims who negotiate receive average settlements of $42,500 versus $11,800 for those accepting first offers. Approximately 95% of personal injury cases settle before trial, making skilled negotiation essential.
Personal Injury Law Firm
Ganderton Law, LLC is a dedicated personal injury law firm serving Wyoming and Colorado with offices in Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo. Founded by David Ganderton, an attorney with 17 years of legal experience including background as both a prosecutor and insurance defense attorney, the firm brings unique insider knowledge to every case. This dual perspective allows the team to anticipate insurance company tactics and build stronger cases for injured clients.
Our firm has secured millions in settlements, including a $2.25 million motorcycle accident case and a $1.6 million rear-end collision settlement. With a commitment to personalized attention and aggressive advocacy, Ganderton Law handles all types of personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis—meaning clients pay nothing unless they win.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, attracts millions of visitors annually to witness geysers, hot springs, and abundant wildlife. The park’s 2.2 million acres span Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, offering breathtaking natural wonders like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring. However, the park’s winding mountain roads, wildlife crossings, and heavy tourist traffic create conditions where accidents frequently occur. Visitors navigating unfamiliar terrain while distracted by scenery face increased collision risks.
Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park
Jackson Hole serves as the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, renowned for its dramatic mountain peaks and world-class skiing. This area draws adventure seekers year-round for activities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The combination of challenging mountain roads, winter weather conditions, and high volumes of tourist traffic contributes to numerous vehicle accidents each year. Rental car drivers unfamiliar with mountain driving and icy conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower, an iconic geological formation rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, stands as America’s first national monument and a sacred site to multiple Native American tribes. Located in northeastern Wyoming, this natural wonder attracts rock climbers, hikers, and sightseers traveling along rural highways. The remote location and winding two-lane roads leading to the monument create hazardous conditions, especially when drivers are distracted by the dramatic landscape. Limited shoulders and wildlife crossings add to the accident risk on these isolated routes.
Whether you’re a Wyoming resident or visiting our beautiful state, accidents can happen anywhere—from Yellowstone’s scenic roads to Cheyenne’s busy highways. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence while traveling through Wyoming, Ganderton Law, LLC is here to help.
Call Ganderton Law, LLC Today!
At Ganderton Law, LLC, we understand that behind every personal injury case is a person whose life has been turned upside down. We’re committed to fighting for the compensation you need to move forward—whether that means covering mounting medical bills, replacing lost income, or providing for long-term care needs.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to face the legal system alone. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your case and learn about your options for pursuing justice and fair compensation.