Denver, CO personal injury attorney Kyle Bachus explains why he wrote the book, Unthinkable. He explains that the book Unthinkable was written by him not just as a lawyer, but as someone who has lived through the very tragedy his clients face. A seasoned trial attorney who began practicing personal injury law immediately after graduating in 1992, he spent decades building a career representing individuals and families devastated by catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. For the first 27 years of his practice, he witnessed the grief of others, always with the quiet hope that his own family would never experience such loss.

That changed on April 28, 2020, when his mother was killed — struck by a concrete mixer truck while walking in a marked crosswalk with the walk signal in her favor. It was a horrific and sudden loss. His mother was the heart of a close-knit family, a beloved grandmother to nine grandchildren, and a powerful presence in their lives. They called her “Big,” a nickname given to her as the eldest sister and lovingly passed down through generations.

In the wake of her death, despite his legal experience, he found himself in the same position as many of his clients: overwhelmed, grieving, and faced with an avalanche of questions no one ever wants to ask. His family turned to him, naturally, for answers. And while he was grateful to have his law partner immediately begin investigating what happened, the emotional reality of the situation was far more complex than any case he’d handled before.

Even his sister — a physician herself — asked questions he hadn’t fully prepared to answer emotionally: Would the driver face jail time? What would happen with their mother’s belongings? Who would help them navigate the criminal justice system, if charges were even filed? And when she went searching for answers online, she found what many grieving families do — a flood of ads and little meaningful guidance.

He realized then that, despite being a personal injury lawyer, there were no comprehensive, compassionate resources that spoke to families the way they needed to be spoken to in those early days. So he decided to write one.

Unthinkable was created as both a tribute to his mother and a survival guide for families confronting catastrophic injury or sudden loss. It’s written in plain, clear language and is structured to walk readers through every step — from what to expect in a police investigation, to understanding criminal charges (or the absence of them), how and when to request an autopsy, what happens to the body, how to collect keepsakes, and how to preserve evidence. It addresses questions about probate, wills, life insurance, Social Security benefits, employment rights, and even practical matters like who gets the family pets.

For families dealing with catastrophic injury, the book covers what to ask doctors, how to advocate for a loved one in the hospital, how to schedule and participate in family meetings with medical staff, and what rights exist under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and state employment laws.

He compiled not only his personal experience, but also nearly three decades’ worth of client questions, legal knowledge, and real-world insight. Appendices in the book include victims’ rights statutes, wrongful death laws, and probate statutes for all 50 states. The goal, as he told the publisher, was simple: If it helps even one family navigate the worst moment of their lives, it will be a success.

What followed exceeded expectations. Unthinkable became an Amazon bestseller. It was recognized by Forbes, featured as one of its recommended life guidance books. Kirkus Reviews, one of the most respected book reviewers outside of The New York Times, gave it high praise. Readers from across the country — many of whom had not yet experienced loss — reached out to share how the book inspired them to write a will, create a trust, or make arrangements for their own families. Victims’ advocates, legal professionals, and survivors wrote to thank him for filling a void in a deeply personal and practical way.

To date, he has donated more than 10,000 copies of Unthinkable to victims’ advocates across the country, including those working with military families, district attorney offices, and police departments. For him, this is a living legacy to his mother — a way to bring purpose to an otherwise senseless loss.

He often says he wishes he had never written this book — not because he isn’t proud of it, but because writing it meant living through something he wishes had never happened. On the back cover, he writes: “This is a book I hope you never have to read. But if you do, I hope it gives you the answers you need to survive the unimaginable.” That is, in the end, what Unthinkable is about — turning heartbreak into help, and honoring one life by guiding others through their darkest hours.