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.

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Western Slope State Of Mind

Western Slope State Of Mind

Our Founder, Nelson Waneka, started Western Slope Law because the people who call this place home shouldn't have to go to Denver to find one of the best lawyers in the state.

From catastrophic injury cases to insurance bad faith claims, Nelson has dedicated his life to holding wrongdoers accountable and securing life-changing settlements or verdicts for his clients—including several approaching or exceeding $20,000,000. In addition to this, Nelson has handled more than 100 appeals in Colorado state and federal courts, resulting in dozens of landmark decisions that changed Colorado law for the better.

Like you, Nelson and his family call the Western Slope home.

Our Founder, Nelson Waneka, started Western Slope Law because the people who call this place home shouldn't have to go to Denver to find one of the best lawyers in the state.

From catastrophic injury cases to insurance bad faith claims, Nelson has dedicated his life to holding wrongdoers accountable and securing life-changing settlements or verdicts for his clients—including several approaching or exceeding $20,000,000. In addition to this, Nelson has handled more than 100 appeals in Colorado state and federal courts, resulting in dozens of landmark decisions that changed Colorado law for the better.

Like you, Nelson and his family call the Western Slope home.

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.

It's All About You

It's All About You

You only get one chance to win your case. If you choose to hire Western Slope Law with respect to a personal injury or insurance claim, you're important to us. You can expect that your calls and emails will be returned promptly. If you want to meet in person, over the phone, or via Zoom—we'll make it happen. You can expect to be on a first-name basis with our Founder, Nelson Waneka, who will personally handle every aspect of your case from start to finish.

You only get one chance to win your case. If you choose to hire Western Slope Law with respect to a personal injury or insurance claim, you're important to us. You can expect that your calls and emails will be returned promptly. If you want to meet in person, over the phone, or via Zoom—we'll make it happen. You can expect to be on a first-name basis with our Founder, Nelson Waneka, who will personally handle every aspect of your case from start to finish.

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Serious Results For Serious Cases

We don't ever want to be the lawyer you see in a TV commercial. By limiting the number of cases we take and pursuing them well, we've had some very happy clients indeed. Whether it's for personal injuries or insurance claims, Nelson has secured a long list of multi-million dollar recoveries for his clients.

Don't Settle For Less

Don't Settle For Less

Personal injuries and insurance losses can affect every part of your life. When you're picking up the pieces after a tragic event, the last thing you want to do is deal with an insurance company whose only goal is to pay you as little as possible.

A study conducted by the Insurance Research Council concluded that, on average, injured people who hire a lawyer settle their claims for 3.5 times more than people who try to go it alone. And not all lawyers are the same.

You won't find another law firm on the Western Slope more versed in insurance than us. When we talk, insurance companies listen. Let us take it from here.

Personal injuries and insurance losses can affect every part of your life. When you're picking up the pieces after a tragic event, the last thing you want to do is deal with an insurance company whose only goal is to pay you as little as possible.

A study conducted by the Insurance Research Council concluded that, on average, injured people who hire a lawyer settle their claims for 3.5 times more than people who try to go it alone. And not all lawyers are the same.

You won't find another law firm on the Western Slope more versed in insurance than us. When we talk, insurance companies listen. Let us take it from here.

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Personal Injury

When you've suffered harm due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of another party, you may have a claim against them to recover your damages. We handle all types of personal injury claims including car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death claims, explosions, physical and sexual assaults, and ski injuries, to name a few.

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Premises Liability

When you are injured or harmed on someone else's property due to unsafe or hazardous conditions existing on the property, you may have a claim under Colorado's Premises Liability Act. We've handled some of the largest premises liability cases in Colorado—including broken bones, oil and gas explosions, amputations, electrical injuries, and slip and fall accidents arising from dangerous conditions on residential and commericial property.

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Insurance Claims

When an insurance company fails to fulfill its obligations under an insurance policy, such as by delaying or denying benefits, you may have a claim for breach of contract and insurance bad faith. We handle all types of insurance claims—from fire and smoke damage, hail, tornadoes, burst pipes, weight of snow and ice, and everything in between.

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Appeals

Following a trial, many cases result in an appeal to a higher court. Whether its protecting a large judgment you've obtained, or reversing an erroneous ruling in the trial court, we handle all types of civil appeals in state and federal courts.

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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.

Client

Legal Guides & News

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. Contact us for a free consultation today. We can talk over the phone, meet in person, or videoconference via Zoom. Whatever works best for you, works best for us.