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US 550 north of Durango, Colorado, the Million Dollar Highway. CGH Injury Lawyers represents car accident victims across La Plata County.

IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.

Durango Car Accident Lawyers Who Build Your Claim to Its Full Value

A crash on US 550, US 160, or the downtown Durango corridor leaves you facing medical bills, lost income, and an insurance adjuster whose job is to minimize what they pay. CGH Injury Lawyers represents injured drivers and passengers in La Plata County from our Denver office. We handle the claim, the negotiation, and the La Plata County District Court when an insurer will not be fair. You pay nothing unless we win.

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A car accident on US 550 north of Durango, on US 160 near Wolf Creek Pass, or on Main Avenue through downtown can end your ability to work and pile up medical costs faster than any insurance adjuster will move to cover them. CGH Injury Lawyers handles Durango and La Plata County car accident claims from our Denver office. We build the claim to its full value, negotiate from a position of trial readiness, and file in the District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District when the insurer will not be fair.

  • Colorado uses modified comparative fault. You can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault, as long as you were less than 50 percent responsible for the crash (C.R.S. 13-21-111). Insurance adjusters working car crashes on the Million Dollar Highway routinely try to shift blame onto injured drivers. An attorney pushes back on that.
  • The deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado is three years from the date of the crash (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). If a public entity such as CDOT contributed to road conditions that caused your crash on US 550 or US 160, a written notice of claim must reach the agency within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), well before the general filing deadline.
  • There is no CGH office in Durango. The firm's only physical office is at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve La Plata County clients from there, travel to Durango as cases require, and file directly in the District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District.

Where Durango crashes happen

The roads behind most La Plata County car accident claims

Durango sits at the confluence of US 550 and US 160, two of the most documented high-crash corridors in southwest Colorado. The roads that define the region's geography also define where serious car accidents happen and who bears responsibility for them.

  1. US 550 North: the Million Dollar Highway

    US 550 runs through downtown Durango as Camino del Rio and Main Avenue before climbing north through Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass toward Silverton and Ouray. CDOT documented 53 crashes over a 15-mile section south of Ouray between 2020 and 2024, with 33 of those crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway. The highway has no guardrails on significant stretches, lane widths as narrow as 23 feet, and tight curves above steep drop-offs. Tourist traffic from Purgatory Resort, winter avalanche closures, and seasonal fog add to the hazard profile year-round. When a head-on collision, a side-swipe, or a forced departure from the road occurs on this corridor, fault analysis must account for road design, signage, and the other driver's conduct.

  2. US 160: Wolf Creek Pass and the Farmington corridor

    US 160 carries east-west traffic through Durango toward Wolf Creek Pass and Pagosa Springs to the east, and toward Farmington, New Mexico to the west. CDOT schedules winter closures on this highway due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risk. Where US 160 and US 550 converge at the south end of Durango near Farmington Hill, CDOT previously documented the grade as a crash contributor before the US 550/US 160 Connection South interchange project. Commercial trucks navigating the steep grades toward Farmington add to the exposure for everyday drivers on this segment.

  3. Main Avenue and the downtown Durango corridor

    Main Avenue carries US 550 traffic as a through-route through downtown Durango and has a documented history of fatal and serious crashes on its north segment. Fort Lewis College students, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad visitors, Animas River Trail users, and through-traffic all converge on Main Avenue and the College Avenue intersection. CDOT and the City of Durango undertook pedestrian safety improvements including raised crosswalks at the Camino del Rio and College Avenue intersection in response to the documented crash history. Car-on-car crashes at intersections along Main Avenue often involve disputed right-of-way and split-second fault questions.

  4. Colorado State Highway 172 and south Durango

    Colorado State Highway 172 intersects the US 160/US 550 corridor at south Durango near the interchange area, creating a junction that generates significant merging and turning conflict. Commuters traveling between Durango and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation communities to the south use this corridor daily. Speed differentials between through-traffic on US 550 and vehicles entering or exiting on State Highway 172 are a recurring factor in rear-end and side-impact crashes at this interchange.

After the crash

What to do after a car accident in Durango

The hours after a crash on US 550, US 160, or anywhere in La Plata County shape your claim. These steps protect your health and preserve evidence the insurer will later try to dispute.

  1. Get to safety and call 911

    On a mountain road like US 550 or US 160, moving a vehicle can be necessary for safety if it is blocking traffic and the scene is stable. Call 911 immediately. A Colorado State Patrol or La Plata County Sheriff report creates the official record of the crash, including road conditions, weather, and initial fault observations. On the Million Dollar Highway, wait for a safe area before exiting the vehicle if you are on a narrow section with drop-offs.

  2. Seek care at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital

    Serious injuries in La Plata County are typically treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital (formerly Mercy Regional Medical Center), the region's designated Level III Trauma Center in Durango. Injuries from mountain road crashes frequently involve spine, head, and internal damage that may not be fully apparent at the scene. Get examined promptly, follow through with all recommended care, and keep every medical record. Those records become the backbone of your damages claim.

  3. Document the scene thoroughly

    Photograph your vehicle, the other vehicle, road conditions, skid marks, the absence of guardrails where applicable, posted speed limits, and your visible injuries. On US 550 in particular, lane width and road surface condition at the point of impact are evidence relevant to fault. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses before they leave the area.

  4. Do not give a recorded statement

    The at-fault driver's insurer is not on your side. Do not agree to a recorded statement, estimate the extent of your injuries before a full medical evaluation, or sign any documents without an attorney reviewing them first. Insurance adjusters handling mountain road crash claims are skilled at extracting statements that shift comparative fault onto the injured driver under C.R.S. 13-21-111.

  5. Check for a government notice deadline

    If a CDOT road design defect, a missing guardrail, or a dangerous condition maintained by the City of Durango contributed to your crash, a written notice of claim must be served on the public entity within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). This deadline runs before the general three-year filing period and is a jurisdictional prerequisite. Missing it bars the government-entity portion of your claim entirely.

  6. Contact CGH Injury Lawyers

    Colorado's three-year filing deadline for motor vehicle crash injury claims (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)) means evidence preservation starts now. We serve La Plata County clients from our Denver office, handle La Plata County District Court cases directly, and offer a free consultation with no fee unless we win. Call (303) 209-9395 or use the form on this page.

Compensation

What compensation can you recover after a Durango car accident?

Colorado law lets injured people recover two broad categories of damages after a car crash: economic losses you can document with bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of an injury. In serious La Plata County crash cases, the physical impairment category often carries the most value.

Economic damages (never capped)

  • Medical expenses, past and future
  • Lost wages and lost income
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Vehicle damage and property loss
  • Rehabilitation and therapy costs
  • Out-of-pocket expenses tied to the crash

Non-economic and physical-impairment damages

  • Pain and suffering (capped at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5)
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium for a spouse or family
  • Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement (not capped at all under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5))

For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2028 (lower, inflation-adjusted caps apply to older claims based on when the claim accrued). Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped under any circumstances. In serious mountain road crash cases, that uncapped category is frequently where the largest portion of a recovery lives. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are never capped. Punitive damages are available in Colorado when a defendant acted with fraud, malice, or willful and wanton disregard for others (C.R.S. 13-21-102).

Fault and coverage

What if you were partly at fault for the Durango accident?

You can still recover money in Colorado even if you were partly to blame. Colorado follows a modified comparative fault rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. You can recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.

Insurers handling US 550 and US 160 crash claims frequently argue that the injured driver was speeding for conditions, failed to maintain their lane on a curve, or was traveling too fast for the mountain road environment. Each of those arguments is an attempt to push your fault percentage toward the 50-percent bar under C.R.S. 13-21-111 that eliminates your recovery entirely. An attorney who knows how La Plata County juries evaluate comparative fault, and who presents road design, maintenance history, and weather conditions as context, can counter those efforts and protect the value of your claim.

How Colorado car insurance works in Durango cases

  • Colorado is not a no-fault state. You pursue your claim against the at-fault driver's liability insurer, not your own.
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is critical when the at-fault driver on a remote La Plata County road has no insurance or inadequate limits. Colorado UM/UIM claims are governed by C.R.S. 13-80-107.5 under Pham v. State Farm, 2013 CO 17.
  • If a public entity such as CDOT bears responsibility for road conditions that contributed to your crash, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-114) caps recovery at $505,000 per person and $1,421,000 per occurrence for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2030. The 182-day notice requirement (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)) applies to any such claim.

Real Colorado results

Verdicts and settlements we have recovered

  • $3,000,000 Car crash settlement, Montrose County
  • $2,527,546 Car crash verdict, Jefferson County
  • $1,654,629 Car crash verdict, Boulder County
  • $1,500,000 Car crash settlement, Summit County

Verdicts and settlements published on our case results page. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its own facts.

Local knowledge

Durango courts. Durango trauma care. Durango crash corridors.

A La Plata County car accident claim is grounded in local facts: the road where it happened, the hospital that treated you, and the courthouse where your case may be filed. Here is the ground we work on for every Durango client.

Courthouse

District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District

A Durango car accident lawsuit that exceeds the county-court jurisdictional limit is filed in the District Court, La Plata County, part of Colorado's 6th Judicial District, at 1060 East Second Ave, Suite 106, Durango, CO 81301. Local procedure, the jury pool drawn from La Plata County residents, and the defense firms active in the 6th District all differ from the Front Range. We handle La Plata County District Court cases directly from our Denver office and travel to Durango as the case demands. Your case is not handed off to local counsel.

Trauma Care

CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital, Level III Trauma Center

Serious injuries in La Plata County are typically treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital (formerly Mercy Regional Medical Center) in Durango, the regional Level III Trauma Center for southwest Colorado. Emergency care after a US 550 or US 160 crash often includes spine imaging, CT scans for traumatic brain injury, and trauma surgery. The records generated at Mercy Hospital become the evidentiary foundation for your damages claim. We know how to read and use those records to document the full scope of your injuries, including future care needs that a quick insurance settlement will never cover.

High-Crash Roads

US 550, US 160, Main Avenue, and Colorado State Highway 172

US 550 runs through Durango as Camino del Rio and Main Avenue before climbing north as the Million Dollar Highway through Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass toward Silverton and Ouray. CDOT documented 53 crashes over a 15-mile stretch south of Ouray from 2020 to 2024, with 33 involving vehicles leaving the roadway. US 160 carries east-west traffic through Durango toward Wolf Creek Pass to the east and toward Farmington, New Mexico to the west, with documented CDOT winter closure schedules for avalanche risk. Colorado State Highway 172 intersects the US 160/US 550 corridor at south Durango. Main Avenue through downtown has a documented pedestrian crash history, prompting CDOT and the City to install raised crosswalks at the Camino del Rio and College Avenue intersection. Fort Lewis College, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot, and Purgatory Resort all contribute to seasonal traffic surges on these corridors.

How it works

How a Durango car accident claim works with CGH

A La Plata County car accident claim moves through six stages, from a free case evaluation to trial in the District Court, La Plata County when an insurer refuses to be fair. Most cases resolve before a courtroom, but we prepare every Durango case as if it will be tried.

  1. Free case evaluation

    We review the facts of your Durango crash, explain your rights under Colorado law, and answer your questions at no cost and no obligation. We are honest about what the claim is worth and what we think we can do with it.

  2. Investigation

    We gather La Plata County crash reports, CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital medical records, witness statements, and vehicle damage data. For US 550 and US 160 crashes, we examine CDOT road maintenance records, guardrail placement documentation, and weather conditions to identify every responsible party, not just the other driver.

  3. Demand letter

    We calculate your full damages across every category Colorado law allows (economic, non-economic, and physical impairment) and send a documented demand to the at-fault insurer. The demand reflects the full value of the claim, not a number chosen to settle quickly.

  4. Negotiation

    Most Durango car accident cases settle during negotiation. We negotiate from a position of trial readiness, not from a willingness to accept the first offer. Insurers familiar with the La Plata County District Court and our firm's history of going to trial respond differently than they do with attorneys who never file a lawsuit.

  5. Filing suit in La Plata County District Court

    If the insurer refuses a fair offer, we file in the District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District. We handle La Plata County District Court cases directly, without handing your case to a referral firm. The case is prepared and tried by the same attorneys who took your initial call.

  6. Trial

    Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. When a La Plata County jury is what full recovery requires, we present your case. We are prepared to do exactly that.

I wish I could leave more than 5 stars!
Grace M., 5-star CGH Injury Lawyers client review

Your team

The team handling your Durango car accident case

CGH Injury Lawyers is a eight-attorney Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Every La Plata County car accident case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal. The firm serves Durango and La Plata County from its only office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. There is no Durango office.

ABOTA member on the team Tim Tarr: Best Lawyers in America since 2023 Over 25 cases to verdict Statewide Colorado coverage Bilingual EN / ES Free consultation No fee unless we win

Frequently asked questions

Durango car accident questions, answered

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit after a crash in Durango?

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)). However, if a public entity such as CDOT or the City of Durango contributed to road conditions that caused your crash on US 550 or US 160, you must serve a written notice of claim on that entity within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). That government-notice deadline runs well before the general three-year period. Missing it bars your claim against the government entity entirely. Contact an attorney well before either deadline so your specific dates can be confirmed.

Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Durango?

No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one physical office, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve La Plata County and Durango clients from that office, file cases in the District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District at 1060 East Second Ave, Suite 106, Durango, CO 81301, and travel to Durango as the case requires. We do not pretend to maintain a Durango address. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash on US 550 or US 160?

Colorado follows a modified comparative fault 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 are found 50 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover. Insurers handling mountain road crash claims routinely argue that the injured driver was speeding for conditions or failed to maintain their lane on a curve. An attorney who understands how La Plata County juries evaluate comparative fault on mountain roads can counter that framing and protect the value of your claim.

Does Colorado cap what I can recover after a Durango car accident?

Economic damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and future care costs are never capped in Colorado. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are capped at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2028 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5). Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped at all. In serious La Plata County crash cases involving spine injury, traumatic brain injury, or permanent disability, the uncapped physical impairment category is often where the most significant recovery lives.

Can I make a claim if I was hit by an uninsured driver on a Durango road?

Yes. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, you may file a claim with your own insurer when the at-fault driver has no insurance or limits too low to cover your losses. Colorado UM/UIM claims are governed by C.R.S. 13-80-107.5 under Pham v. State Farm, 2013 CO 17. On remote La Plata County roads, uninsured drivers are a real risk. An attorney can also evaluate whether the at-fault driver has other assets or whether road conditions create a separate government-entity claim.

Where would my Durango car accident lawsuit be filed?

A car accident lawsuit that exceeds the county-court jurisdictional limit in La Plata County is filed in the District Court, La Plata County, 6th Judicial District, at 1060 East Second Ave, Suite 106, Durango, CO 81301. Most cases settle before any lawsuit is filed, but where a case would be tried affects the local rules, the jury pool, and the defense firms you face. CGH handles La Plata County District Court cases directly without referral to outside counsel.

Could CDOT be responsible if road conditions on US 550 contributed to my crash?

Potentially, yes. CDOT is a public entity subject to the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Where a dangerous road condition (missing guardrails, inadequate signage, or a documented hazard that CDOT knew about and failed to address) contributed to your crash on US 550 or US 160, a claim may exist against CDOT. To preserve that claim you must serve a written notice on CDOT within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), and recovery from a public entity is capped at $505,000 per person and $1,421,000 per occurrence for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2026 (C.R.S. 24-10-114). The government-entity analysis is part of how we evaluate every Durango mountain road crash claim from the start.

How long does a Durango car accident settlement take?

Straightforward La Plata County cases with clear liability and fully documented injuries may settle in a few months. Complex cases involving disputed fault on mountain roads, serious injuries, or litigation in the District Court, La Plata County can take one to three years or longer. Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement, before the full scope of your injuries is known, routinely leaves money on the table, particularly in crash cases where long-term spine or neurological care is at issue.

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IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.

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CGH Injury Lawyers · Serving Durango and La Plata County from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205