Grand Junction Brain Injury Lawyers

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A traumatic brain injury is classified mild, moderate, or severe on the Glasgow Coma Scale. A mild label from the ER does not mean a minor case -- it means the insurer will work hard to pay as little as possible.
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). Economic damages -- medical bills, lost wages, and life-care plan costs -- carry no cap and often make up the bulk of a serious TBI recovery.
Motor vehicle injury claims in Colorado generally must be filed within three years of the crash (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Symptoms can surface weeks after impact, so consulting an attorney early protects your evidence and your options.

If you suffered a brain injury in a Grand Junction crash -- on I-70, on North Avenue, on Horizon Drive, or anywhere in Mesa County -- the injury on your chart is the starting point of your legal case, not the ceiling on what you can recover. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Grand Junction from our Denver office. We handle the medical proof, the insurance fight, and trial in Mesa County District Court when an insurer refuses to value your injury fairly. You pay nothing unless we win.

Injury types we handle

Mild TBI and post-concussion syndrome from car or truck crashes
Moderate TBI with cognitive deficits and personality changes
Severe TBI requiring long-term rehabilitation or lifetime care
Coup-contrecoup injuries from high-impact collisions
Diffuse axonal injuries that do not appear on standard MRI
Brain injuries from pedestrian and bicycle accidents on Grand Junction roads
Motorcycle crash TBIs on I-70 and Rim Rock Drive

How the injury happened

Crashes on I-70 or I-70 Business Loop through Grand Junction
Intersection crashes at North Avenue, 7th Street, or 12th Street
Commercial truck collisions on US 6 and US 50 corridors
Pedestrian strikes in downtown Grand Junction or on North Avenue
Bicycle accidents near Colorado National Monument or the Colorado Riverfront Trail
Crashes caused by black ice on bridges and ramps between October and April
Detour crashes from Glenwood Canyon closures routing traffic back through Mesa County

Filing deadline -- motor vehicle injuries (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n))

Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for injuries arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Most non-vehicle injury claims must be filed within two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)). If a government vehicle or agency is involved -- such as a city bus, county road crew truck, or CDOT vehicle -- a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), and missing that deadline bars the claim entirely. Brain injury symptoms can worsen weeks after impact. Talk to an attorney early, even while you are still treating.

Comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence. You can recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers push fault onto the injured person to cut payouts -- which is why preserving crash-scene evidence in Grand Junction quickly, before skid marks fade or cameras are overwritten, is critical.

TBI grades and the Glasgow Coma Scale

Medical teams classify a TBI using the Glasgow Coma Scale, a 15-point assessment of eye, verbal, and motor response. Mild TBI scores 13 to 15 (often called a concussion), moderate TBI scores 9 to 12, and severe TBI scores 3 to 8. That score becomes evidence in your claim, but it describes the first day -- not the rest of your life. A mild GCS score does not mean a minor case.

Non-economic damages cap (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)

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 beginning in 2028. Two categories are not capped at all: economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, and life-care plan costs) and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement. Together those uncapped categories usually make up the bulk of a serious TBI recovery.

Punitive damages (C.R.S. 13-21-102)

When a driver acted with willful and wanton disregard -- a drunk driver, a commercial truck operator who falsified logs, a driver who ran repeated red lights -- punitive damages may be available. Colorado's punitive damages statute (C.R.S. 13-21-102) generally limits the award to the amount of actual damages proven, but the court may increase that amount up to three times actual damages where the defendant continued willful and wanton conduct during the case.

Trauma Care

St. Mary's Regional Hospital (Intermountain Health)

St. Mary's Regional Hospital at 2635 North 7th Street, Grand Junction is western Colorado's only Level II trauma center, verified by the American College of Surgeons. After a serious crash anywhere on the Western Slope, the most critically injured patients are transported here. The records generated -- imaging, neurology consults, intensive-care notes -- become the medical backbone of your TBI claim. Community Hospital at 2351 G Road also holds a Level III trauma center designation (CDPHE Trauma Division, verified by American College of Surgeons, April 2017) and provides initial stabilization for crash victims across Mesa County. The records from both facilities are what we build your damages case on.

Courthouse

Mesa County District Court (21st Judicial District)

Personal injury cases arising in Mesa County are filed in the Mesa County District Court, part of Colorado's 21st Judicial District, with civil matters heard at the Mesa County Justice Center, 125 N Spruce St., Grand Junction, CO 81501. The jury pool, local rules, and the pace of civil litigation in Grand Junction differ from the Denver metro courts our team regularly appears in -- and we account for those differences when building your case strategy and evaluating settlement offers.

Roads and Crash Data

Grand Junction's most dangerous intersections and corridors

Mesa County recorded approximately 2,400 crashes in 2024, with 2025 tracking roughly 15 percent higher per GJPD and CDOT data. GJPD reported that fatal crashes in Grand Junction nearly doubled in 2024 compared to prior years. The North Avenue and 7th Street intersection recorded 18 injury crashes in 2024-2025 per CDOT and Mesa County Safety Action Plan data. North 12th Street and Patterson recorded 19 injury crashes over the same period, and North 12th Street and North Avenue recorded 14. Horizon Drive is a documented site of multiple serious and fatal crashes. I-70 through Glenwood Canyon to the east generates hazardous detour traffic through Mesa County after flash floods and rockfall closures. Black ice on bridges and ramps from October through April is a persistent hazard in the high-desert climate. These are not background statistics -- they are the evidence context we use when arguing that a responsible party had notice of the dangerous conditions that caused your injury.

Built for Trial

ABOTA advocate on the team. 25+ verdicts.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Trial readiness is what makes an insurer take a Grand Junction TBI claim seriously.

Statewide reach

Serving Grand Junction from Denver.

We handle Western Slope cases from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. There is no Grand Junction office. Consultations happen by phone and video, and we travel to Mesa County when your case demands it. You never pay for that travel.

Honest evaluation

We say no when we must.

We do not take brain injury cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If the facts of your Grand Junction accident do not support a strong claim, we will tell you that in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall.

Medical proof

We prove what scans miss.

Standard CT and MRI often miss the microscopic axonal tears that cause lasting symptoms. We coordinate neuropsychological testing and advanced imaging to prove the injury the insurer says does not exist.

Lifetime value

We project decades of costs, not just today's bills.

We work with life-care planners and vocational economists to quantify medical care, lost earning capacity, and long-term needs -- the numbers that actually drive TBI case value, not the bills sitting on your kitchen table today.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Grand Junction's Spanish-speaking community across Mesa County.

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 in your favor.

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Get emergency care

After a serious crash in Grand Junction, St. Mary's Regional Hospital at 2635 North 7th Street is western Colorado's only Level II trauma center. If you were not taken by ambulance, go anyway. Head injuries that feel minor at the scene can deteriorate rapidly. Keep every record, every imaging report, every discharge summary.
Follow up with specialists

Brain injury symptoms -- headaches, memory loss, mood changes, light sensitivity -- often appear or worsen in the days and weeks after impact. A neurologist or physiatrist creates the paper trail that connects your symptoms to the crash. A gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer points to when it argues your injuries are unrelated or exaggerated.
Document the scene and your daily life

Photograph your injuries, the vehicles, and the crash location on I-70, North Avenue, Horizon Drive, or wherever it happened. Start a daily symptom journal. Write down every task that has become harder -- driving to work, reading, concentrating, sleeping. That journal is evidence of how your life changed.
Do not give a recorded statement

The at-fault driver's insurer will call quickly. Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with us. What you say in that first call is used to minimize your claim. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395.
We build the medical and liability case

We gather the crash report, subpoena surveillance footage, retain accident reconstruction experts when needed, coordinate neuropsychological testing and advanced imaging to prove what standard scans miss, and work with life-care planners to project the full cost of your recovery.
We negotiate or try your case in Mesa County District Court

Most cases settle. When insurers refuse to be fair, we file in Mesa County District Court at the Mesa County Justice Center, 125 N Spruce St., Grand Junction, and try your case before a Mesa County jury.

Economic damages (no cap)

Emergency care at St. Mary's or Community Hospital, surgeries, and follow-up
Neurologist, physiatrist, and psychiatry visits
Rehabilitation: physical, occupational, speech, and cognitive therapy
Neuropsychological testing and advanced imaging
Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
Life-care plan costs projecting decades of medical need
Home modifications, adaptive equipment, and attendant care

Non-economic damages (cap: $1.5 million for 2025+ claims)

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional distress and cognitive symptoms that affect daily life
Loss of consortium for a spouse
Compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement (not capped under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5))

Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement -- the point where your condition stabilizes and doctors can predict the long-term prognosis -- often leaves money on the table because future complications have not yet appeared. We tell you honestly where your case stands at every stage, and we do not push you to settle before the full picture is clear.

"Your scans are normal"

Standard CT and MRI detect bleeding and fractures. They routinely miss the microscopic axonal tears that cause lasting symptoms in mild TBI. Adjusters use a clean scan to argue your injury does not exist, even when your daily life says otherwise. We counter with Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), which maps white-matter tracts and reveals what standard scans miss, paired with neuropsychological testing that produces objective data on memory, attention, and processing speed.
"The injury was pre-existing"

Insurers pull prior medical records looking for any prior head injury, depression, or cognitive complaint to argue your current symptoms are not related to the crash. A before-and-after case built with testimony from coworkers, family, and people who knew you before the accident directly refutes that argument. We use day-in-the-life documentation to show how your function changed after the Grand Junction crash -- not before it.
"You were partly at fault"

Under Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111), an insurer that can push your fault to 50 percent or more eliminates your recovery entirely. At high-crash intersections like North 12th Street and Patterson -- with 19 recorded injury crashes in 2024-2025 -- the insurer may argue lane position, speed, or distraction. Early accident reconstruction preserves the physical evidence that places fault where it belongs.
"You waited too long to treat"

A gap in medical care is the insurer's opportunity to argue you were not really hurt or that any symptoms arose from something else. If you delayed care because symptoms seemed manageable, a neurologist can often explain delayed onset in TBI cases. The critical thing is to see a specialist now and let a medical professional document the connection to the crash.

The at-fault driver's liability policy is the first source. Minimum auto coverage in Colorado is often far too low for a brain injury where medical bills alone can reach six figures. We identify every available coverage layer before we settle.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage lets you tap your own policy when the at-fault driver's policy runs out. Many Grand Junction drivers are not aware they have UIM coverage or that it can be stacked with the at-fault driver's liability limits. We check both policies.
If a commercial truck driver or trucking company is involved -- common on I-70 and US 6 through Grand Junction -- the carrier's commercial policy can be substantially larger and the defendants may include the motor carrier, its owner, the cargo company, or the truck manufacturer.
If a government vehicle or road-design defect contributed to the crash, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-114) caps recovery against a public entity at $505,000 per person for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2026 -- but the 182-day notice requirement under C.R.S. 24-10-109(1) is a hard jurisdictional prerequisite that must be met first.
The insurance company's job is to pay as little as possible. Our job is the opposite. Having trial-ready counsel is the single biggest factor in how seriously an insurer treats your TBI demand.

How long do I have to file a brain injury lawsuit in Mesa County?

For most motor vehicle crashes in Colorado, you have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Non-vehicle injury claims generally carry a two-year deadline (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)). If a government vehicle or public entity is involved, a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)) -- miss it and the claim is barred entirely. Because TBI symptoms can emerge or worsen weeks after impact, talk to an attorney as soon as possible, even while you are still treating.

Does Colorado cap brain injury damages?

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. Two categories are not capped at all: economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, and life-care plan costs) and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement. Together, the uncapped categories usually make up the bulk of a serious TBI recovery -- especially when a life-care plan projects decades of future medical needs.

Can I have a brain injury if my MRI at St. Mary's was normal?

Yes. Standard MRI and CT scans frequently miss the microscopic axonal injuries that cause persistent symptoms in mild TBI cases. Colorado courts recognize that the absence of visible structural damage does not mean the absence of injury. A normal scan from St. Mary's Regional Hospital does not close your case -- it may mean your case needs advanced imaging such as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), neuropsychological testing, and expert testimony to prove the functional impairment that your everyday symptoms describe.

What if I was partly at fault for the Grand Junction crash?

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers aggressively assign fault to the injured party to cut or eliminate payouts. Early accident reconstruction -- before physical evidence at crash sites on North Avenue or I-70 fades -- is how we protect your percentage.

Where would my Mesa County brain injury lawsuit be filed?

Personal injury cases arising in Mesa County are filed in the Mesa County District Court, 21st Judicial District, with civil matters heard at the Mesa County Justice Center, 125 N Spruce St., Grand Junction, CO 81501. Most brain injury claims settle before a lawsuit is filed, but where a case would be tried affects the local rules, the jury pool, and how the other side prepares. We account for Mesa County specifically when evaluating your settlement options and when trial is necessary.

Do I need a lawyer for a Grand Junction concussion case?

Even a mild concussion is worth a legal consultation if symptoms last beyond a few weeks or affect your ability to work. Insurers routinely undervalue concussion claims, offering a few thousand dollars for an injury that affects you for months or years. An attorney can determine whether your case needs neuropsychological testing, vocational assessment, or advanced imaging -- steps you likely would not know to request on your own. The consultation is free and you pay nothing unless we recover.

Is there a CGH office in Grand Junction?

No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office: 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Grand Junction and the entire Western Slope from Denver. Consultations happen by phone and video. We travel to Mesa County when your case requires it. All of that is included -- you never pay extra for our reach across Colorado.

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale and does my score affect my case?

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a 15-point assessment of eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, usually recorded by paramedics or at St. Mary's shortly after the injury. Mild TBI scores 13 to 15 (often called a concussion). Moderate TBI scores 9 to 12. Severe TBI scores 3 to 8. Adjusters use the score to estimate claim value, often arguing a mild score means a small case. Colorado courts recognize that even a mild GCS score can precede severe, permanent impairment when cognitive symptoms prevent you from doing your job or living your prior life. The GCS is the starting point of your case -- not the ceiling.

Grand Junction

Statewide pillar

Related injury types

Denver money pages

Grand Junction Brain Injury Lawyers Who Prove What Scans Miss

Grand Junction brain injury victims we can help

Injury types we handle

How the injury happened

What Colorado law says about your Grand Junction brain injury claim

Filing deadline -- motor vehicle injuries (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n))

Comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

TBI grades and the Glasgow Coma Scale

Non-economic damages cap (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)

Punitive damages (C.R.S. 13-21-102)

Grand Junction courts, trauma centers, and roads that shape your case

St. Mary's Regional Hospital (Intermountain Health)

Mesa County District Court (21st Judicial District)

Grand Junction's most dangerous intersections and corridors

Why Grand Junction TBI victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

ABOTA advocate on the team. 25+ verdicts.

Serving Grand Junction from Denver.

We say no when we must.

We prove what scans miss.

We project decades of costs, not just today's bills.

Hablamos espanol.

Contingency only.

What to do after a brain injury crash in Grand Junction

Get emergency care

Follow up with specialists

Document the scene and your daily life

Do not give a recorded statement

We build the medical and liability case

We negotiate or try your case in Mesa County District Court

What compensation can a Grand Junction TBI victim recover?

Economic damages (no cap)

Non-economic damages (cap: $1.5 million for 2025+ claims)

Defenses Grand Junction TBI insurers use, and how we answer them

"Your scans are normal"

"The injury was pre-existing"

"You were partly at fault"

"You waited too long to treat"

How insurance works in a Grand Junction brain injury case

Grand Junction brain injury, frequently asked questions

Related pages

You suffered a brain injury. We handle everything else.