We win.
Change follows.
Nelson Waneka is a two-time winner of Colorado Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Law. 5280 Magazine has named him a top insurance lawyer five years in-a-row. And he's secured some of the largest personal injury and insurance bad faith verdicts in the state. He's the lawyer that other lawyers hire when they need to win.
An Unwavering Commitment To Our Craft
We've obtained some staggering victories for our clients, and they weren't by accident. At Western Slope Law, we play to win. We take fewer cases. We litigate them right. Quality isn't just important to us—it's everything. When you see us in action, we want you to be glad that we're your lawyer and not theirs.
Serious Results For Serious Cases
Browse a rotating selection of real recoveries, settlements, and awards secured for Western Slope clients. Each result is a quick snapshot of the case type, outcome, and the work behind it.
Areas We Serve
Serving all of Colorado, with an emphasis on the people and communities of the Western Slope.
Grand Junction
Montrose
Aspen
Glenwood Springs
Carbondale
Basalt
Gunnison
Vail
Steamboat Springs
Eagle
Rifle
Durango
Telluride
Crested Butte
How do your fees work?
At Western Slope Law, we offer a variety of fee structures depending on your needs. Some clients choose to hire us on an hourly basis. Others choose a hybrid agreement. But most opt for a contingency fee —which means that you don't pay us any attorney fees unless we recover money on your behalf. Under a contingency agreement, our fee is a percentage of the amounts we recover on your claim. Call us to see which fee structure is best for you and your case.
Trusted in the toughest moments
Injuries, accidents, and legal cases are difficult on every level. In order to maximize the value of your case, you need someone with the know-how to get it done, the reputation to back it up, and a track record of obtaining life-changing settlements.
"Nelson is one of the best lawyers in Colorado. He has assisted me with business and personal legal issues over the years, and every time he shows up professionally and takes the appropriate action to serve each situation well. You won't be disappointed hiring Nelson for your legal needs!"
Sarah V.
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News
After a wildfire takes your home, document before you clean up. Film every room before anything moves, start a room-by-room contents inventory, and keep every living-expense receipt. Report the loss in a short call without guessing at cause, take your full time on the proof of loss, and call a lawyer if the claim is denied, delayed, or far below your contractor’s bids.
Answers
Yes: fire is a named peril on a standard HO-3 policy, so wildfire damage to your Colorado home is covered. The harder question is whether your limits will pay for a rebuild. After the Marshall Fire, hundreds of families found they were underinsured by six figures. Check your dwelling limit against today’s building costs, and ask about extended replacement cost and ordinance-and-law coverage.
Guides
Before fire season peaks, pull your declarations page and check whether your dwelling limit would actually rebuild your home. Ask your agent about extended or guaranteed replacement cost, ordinance and law coverage, and how long loss-of-use pays. Then video every room and store the inventory off-site. With federal disaster aid less certain in 2026, your own policy may be the only backstop you have.
News
Colorado lost 162 motorcyclists in 2024, up 23 percent from the year before, and motorcyclists account for 24 percent of its traffic deaths. Wear a full-face helmet even though Colorado requires one only for riders under 18, watch for cars turning left, and scan mountain passes for gravel and wildlife. After a crash, expect the insurer to blame you and lowball the settlement.
Guides
Check now whether your homeowner’s policy would pay to rebuild your house at today’s prices. After the Marshall Fire, 74 percent of affected homeowners were underinsured. Confirm your dwelling limit reflects replacement cost, ask whether wildfire is excluded or carries a higher deductible, check that living-expense coverage would last 24 months, and video every room before fire season.
Guides
In Colorado, the driver who caused the crash owes your losses, and you collect them through that driver’s insurer: medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair, and pain and suffering. Photograph the scene, get the police report, and see a doctor right away. Give the insurer only the basics, push back on a low first offer, and file suit within three years if talks stall.
Advice on a case? Let's talk.
At Western Slope Law, we won’t charge you to review the facts of your case and see if we can help. Sometimes this takes one meeting, sometimes it takes three. Regardless, you won’t have to pay us to evaluate your case. Request a consult today. We can talk over the phone, meet in person, or videoconference via Zoom. Whatever works best for you, works best for us.