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CGH Injury Lawyers represents burn injury survivors across Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder, Colorado

Boulder Burn Injury Lawyers Who Recover the Full Lifetime Cost

For people seriously burned in Boulder, the degree of the burn drives the value of the claim. We build the medical proof that recovers the full lifetime cost of grafts, scar care, and reconstruction. We serve Boulder from our Denver office. No fee unless we win.

No fee unless we win
Call (303) 209-9395 Get my free burn case review

It's More Than Money.

Get my free burn case review

100% confidential. No fee unless we win.

Serving Boulder From Our Denver Office CGH Injury Lawyers 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 209-9395 Se habla espanol
5-star rated on Google Life Care Plans for burn cases ABOTA trial advocate on the team No fee unless we win
  • Burn injuries are classified into four degrees based on how deep the damage runs. In Colorado, the degree of your burn shapes both your treatment and the value of your Boulder legal claim.
  • Colorado caps non-economic damages, but economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are not capped, which is why a detailed Life Care Plan is essential in serious burn cases.
  • The standard deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Colorado is two years from the date of injury (C.R.S. 13-80-102).

If a fire, scald, chemical, or electrical burn seriously hurt you in Boulder, the initial emergency bill tells only a fraction of the story. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Boulder from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., a short drive down U.S. 36 from the city. We connect the medical reality of your injury to the full compensation you are owed, handle the insurance claim and negotiation, and try cases in Boulder County District Court when an insurer refuses to be fair. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

The law that governs your case

Colorado burn injury law, decoded for Boulder

Most burns are not accidents. They result from preventable negligence, and Colorado law recognizes several pathways to hold the responsible parties accountable. The right pathway depends on where and how you were burned.

Premises liability

Under the Colorado Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. 13-21-115), property owners owe a duty of care to lawful visitors. Tenants and customers are invitees who receive the highest duty of care.

  • Scalding water from miscalibrated water heaters
  • Defective appliances provided by a landlord
  • Missing smoke detectors and outdated electrical systems

Workplace and third-party claims

Workers compensation provides immediate coverage but limits your total recovery. When a contractor, manufacturer, or other non-employer entity caused the burn, you can file a third-party claim in addition to workers comp.

  • Full lost wages, not the partial cap under workers comp
  • Non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and disfigurement
  • Punitive damages where gross negligence is proven

Product liability

Colorado follows strict liability for defective products. You do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective, the defect caused your injury, and you used the product as intended.

  • Space heaters, stoves, and pressure cookers
  • Lithium-ion batteries and industrial machinery
  • Manufacturer, distributor, and retailer may all share liability

What if you were partly at fault?

Colorado uses a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you left a stove unattended but your landlord failed to install a required fire extinguisher, you may still recover the majority of your damages.

The classification system

How burn degree drives your Boulder claim

Burn injuries are classified into four degrees based on how deep the damage runs. Each degree reflects not just the depth of tissue damage, but the expected recovery timeline and the likelihood of permanent scarring or disability, and that severity shapes the structure of the legal claim.

Burn degree Typical legal impact What the claim must account for
First-degree (superficial) Rarely supports a standalone claim Documented only when part of a larger pattern of negligence
Second-degree (partial-thickness) Permanent scarring can support substantial non-economic damages Scar management, especially for visible areas like the face, neck, and hands
Third-degree (full-thickness) Often reaches the level requiring a full Life Care Plan Graft revisions, contracture care, counseling, and lost earning capacity
Fourth-degree (deep full-thickness) Catastrophic; may support wrongful death or permanent disability claims Reconstruction, amputation care, and lifetime attendant support

This table is a general guide. The legal impact of any specific burn depends on the medical evidence, the impairment rating, and the facts of the case.

The hidden cost of a serious burn

Insurance companies focus on the emergency room bill and the first surgery. They ignore the graft revision you will need years from now, the scar management, the psychological counseling, and the lost earning capacity when scarred hands can no longer perform your trade. In serious burn cases, the initial medical bills tell only a fraction of the story, which is why a Life Care Plan prepared by a medical economist calculates the present value of all future care.

Local Knowledge

Boulder roads. Boulder trauma care. Boulder courts.

A Boulder burn case lives in Boulder: the corridors where fiery crashes happen, the hospital that stabilizes critical patients, and the courthouse where your case may be filed. Here is the ground we work on.

Trauma Care

Foothills Hospital

Boulder Community Health's Foothills Hospital at 4747 Arapahoe Avenue is a Level II Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons, and the first designated Level II Trauma Center in Boulder County. Critically burned patients are often stabilized there or transferred onward to a verified burn center. Those medical records document the full scope of your injuries, including the depth and surface area of the burns, and become the backbone of your damages claim.

High-Risk Corridors

U.S. 36, U.S. 287, and the Diagonal Highway

Vehicle fires and post-collision burns cluster on Boulder County's high-speed corridors. The Boulder County Vision Zero program reports multiple fatalities from head-on and single-vehicle crashes on the U.S. 36 Denver-Boulder Turnpike and U.S. 287, and curve-related crashes and motorcyclist fatalities on Colorado 119, the Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont. The 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue intersection alone saw roughly 30 crashes in 2022 through early December per city reporting.

Courthouse

Boulder County District Court

Personal injury cases that arise in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court, the 20th Judicial District, at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, with an alternate location in Longmont at 1035 Kimbark St. Local civil procedure differs from the Denver courts, and we handle Boulder County cases directly rather than referring them out.

Why CGH

Why Boulder burn victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

Trial-ready attorneys, Life Care Plan expertise, bilingual help, and no fee unless we win. We do not publish burn settlement figures, because every burn injury is different and a number on a page tells you nothing about your case. What we offer is the work, not a headline.

The Method

Life Care Plans

We partner with medical economists and burn surgeons to calculate the lifetime cost of grafts, scar care, and lost earning capacity, not just today's bills.

Serving Boulder

Boulder cases, handled directly.

We serve Boulder from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, a short drive down U.S. 36. We try Boulder County District Court cases ourselves rather than handing them off.

Uncapped Losses

Economic damages never capped.

Medical bills, future surgery, and lost earning capacity are not subject to Colorado's non-economic cap.

We Front Costs

Experts, paid by us.

We advance the cost of fire-origin experts, burn surgeons, and medical records. We only get paid if you do.

Trial-Ready

An ABOTA trial advocate on the team, prepared for trial.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). When attorneys are genuinely ready to try a burn case to a Boulder County jury, insurers respond differently to a demand.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Boulder's Spanish-speaking community.

No Win, No Fee

Contingency only.

You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees. We advance costs and collect only from a settlement or verdict.

One honest thing we will tell you up front: we do not take burn cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If your situation has no viable path to recovery, we will say so in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. When the law and the medicine are on your side, we fight hard. When they are not, you deserve to hear that early, for free.

After the Burn

What to do after a burn injury in Boulder

Take care of your health first, preserve what caused the burn, then call before you talk to the insurer. Here is the path we walk with you.

  1. Get emergency care

    Foothills Hospital on Arapahoe Avenue is Boulder's Level II Trauma Center for serious injuries. Even a burn that looks survivable can carry infection risk and hidden depth. Get examined, and keep every record.

  2. Preserve the cause

    Save the defective product, appliance, or clothing exactly as it is. Do not return or discard it. The item that burned you is often the single most important piece of evidence.

  3. Document the scene

    Photograph your injuries, the hazard, and where the burn happened. Identify any maintenance issues, code violations, or warnings, and get the names and contact information of any witnesses.

  4. Call before insurance does

    The landlord's or manufacturer's insurer may call quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with us. Call (303) 209-9395.

  5. We build the Life Care Plan

    We bring in fire-origin experts, burn surgeons, and medical economists to calculate the lifetime cost of grafts, scar care, and lost earning capacity, and to identify every responsible party.

  6. Negotiate or litigate

    Most cases settle. When insurers refuse a fair offer, we file in Boulder County District Court and are prepared to try your case.

Compensation

What compensation can you recover after a Boulder burn injury?

Colorado law lets burn survivors recover two broad categories of damages: economic losses you can document with bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of disfigurement and pain.

Economic damages (not capped)

  • Emergency, surgical, and hospital costs
  • Skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, including future revisions
  • Long-term wound care, scar management, and physical therapy
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Home modifications and assistive equipment

Non-economic damages

  • Pain and suffering
  • Permanent scarring and disfigurement
  • Emotional distress and psychological trauma
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium for a spouse or family

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5), with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Disfigurement and physical impairment damages are not subject to that cap, and economic damages are never capped, which is why a detailed Life Care Plan documenting every future cost is the heart of a serious burn case.

Defense tactics

Defenses Boulder insurers use, and how we answer them

Insurers reach for the same handful of arguments to shrink a burn claim. Knowing what each one actually requires is how we keep the full value of your case intact.

  1. "It was your own fault"

    Insurers inflate your share of fault to cut the payout. Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) only bars recovery if you are 50 percent or more at fault, and below that line your award is simply reduced by your share. We document the landlord's, manufacturer's, or third party's conduct to keep the fault where it belongs.

  2. "Workers comp is your only option"

    Workers compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against your employer, but it is not the whole story. When a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner who is not your employer contributed to the burn, you can pursue a third-party claim for the full lost wages and non-economic damages workers comp does not pay.

  3. "The bills are already covered"

    Adjusters point to the emergency room bill as if it is the full cost. It is not. The graft revision, scar management, counseling, and lost earning capacity often dwarf the first surgery. A Life Care Plan prepared by a medical economist forces the insurer to account for the full medical reality.

Insurance adjusters offer settlements based on your current bills. They will not volunteer to pay for the graft revision you will need years from now or the retraining a scarred hand requires. A trial-tested attorney forces them to account for the full, documented cost of your injury rather than the first offer.

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Who pays for your recovery

Where the money comes from in a Boulder burn case

A serious burn rarely points to a single party or a single policy. Understanding where the money actually comes from is the difference between a quick, low offer and a full recovery.

  • In an apartment-fire or scald case, the landlord's property and liability coverage usually responds, not the owner's personal savings.
  • In a defective-appliance or product case, the manufacturer's, distributor's, and retailer's insurers may all share liability under Colorado's strict product liability rules.
  • In a workplace burn, workers compensation pays immediate benefits, and a separate third-party policy may cover the contractor or equipment maker who actually caused the burn.
  • The insurer will contest the full value whether the at-fault party is a stranger or someone you know. Having counsel is how you make the insurer meet its obligation.
Questions

Boulder burn injury, frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit in Colorado?

You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (C.R.S. 13-80-102). Exceptions exist: under the discovery rule the clock may start when you discovered the harm, and for a minor the deadline is paused until their 18th birthday. Do not wait, because evidence degrades and witnesses forget.

Are burn injury damages capped in Colorado?

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Two categories are not capped at all: economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, which in a severe burn case often make up the largest part of the recovery. That is why a detailed Life Care Plan is essential.

Can I sue my employer for a workplace burn in Boulder?

Generally no. Colorado's workers compensation system is the exclusive remedy against your employer, meaning you cannot sue your employer for negligence. You can, however, pursue third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners whose negligence contributed to your injury, which often recover far more than workers comp alone.

Where is a Boulder burn injury lawsuit filed?

Personal injury cases that arise in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court, the 20th Judicial District, at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, with an alternate court location in Longmont at 1035 Kimbark St. Most burn claims settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, but where a case would be filed affects the local rules, the jury pool, and the defense firms you face. We handle Boulder County cases directly.

Do I need a lawyer for a burn injury claim?

If your burn is second-degree or higher, yes. Insurance companies use teams of lawyers and medical experts to minimize payouts. You need an advocate who understands both the medical complexities, such as debridement, grafting, and contractures, and the legal nuances, such as the Premises Liability Act, comparative negligence, and Life Care Plans.

What if I was partly at fault for the burn?

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance adjusters often inflate the injured person's fault to reduce payouts, and an attorney can challenge that assessment.

How long does a burn injury settlement take in Colorado?

Minor burns may settle in three to six months. Catastrophic third- and fourth-degree burns often take one to three years because you must reach maximum medical improvement before finalizing a claim. Settling too early can waive your right to compensation for complications that arise later.

What should I do after a burn injury in Boulder?

Seek medical care even if the burn seems minor, because infections can be life-threatening. Foothills Hospital on Arapahoe Avenue is Boulder's Level II Trauma Center for serious injuries. Document the scene with photos of the hazard and your injuries, preserve the defective product or clothing, avoid giving recorded statements to adjusters without counsel, and consult an attorney before accepting any settlement. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395.

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It's More Than Money.

A serious burn changes everything. We build the proof.

Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Serving Boulder from our Denver office, in English and Spanish.

Tell us what happened

100% confidential. No fee unless we win.

Call (303) 209-9395 Get my free burn case review

Prefer to read first? See how Colorado's burn injury law works.

CGH Injury Lawyers · Serving Boulder from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205