IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Erie Personal Injury Lawyers Who Know Which Side of County Line Road You Were On
Injured on SH 7, SH 52, or County Line Road? CGH Injury Lawyers serves Erie from its Denver office, handles cases in both Boulder and Weld counties, and charges no fee unless we win.
No fee unless we win- The general Colorado filing deadline for injury claims is two years under C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a). Claims arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle get three years under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n).
- If a public entity or one of its employees caused the injury, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act requires a written notice of claim within 182 days after discovery of the injury, under C.R.S. 24-10-109(1).
- Being partly at fault does not automatically end a Colorado claim. Damages are reduced in proportion to that fault, and recovery stops only if the injured person's negligence is as great as the defendant's (C.R.S. 13-21-111).
- CGH Injury Lawyers has no Erie office. It handles Erie cases from Denver, and a lawsuit filed in Boulder County goes to the Boulder County Combined Court.
Erie is split between two counties, and the line follows County Line Road. CGH Injury Lawyers handles Erie injury claims from the first call through trial, starting with the question of which county, which court, and which government the case involves.
Two counties, two judicial districts, one town
The Census Bureau places Erie in both Boulder County and Weld County, and the town describes County Line Road as the dividing line. That split has practical effects on an injury claim.
Boulder County is the Twentieth Judicial District. Weld County is the Nineteenth. A lawsuit filed in one goes to a different courthouse, a different bench, and a different jury pool from a lawsuit filed in the other.
The county line also matters when a public entity is involved. A notice under C.R.S. 24-10-109 has to reach the right governing body within 182 days, and a crash on a county-maintained road raises the question of which county.
Town property adds a third possibility. Erie owns and operates its municipal airport on SH 7, and a claim involving property the town owns would run through the town.
We confirm the location, the responsible agencies, and the court before a notice is filed or a complaint is drafted.
Cyclists hurt on Erie roads can read our Erie bicycle accident page.
Personal injury cases we take on in Erie
Each type of claim runs on its own Colorado rules, so the first job is identifying which kind of case you have.
- Motor vehicle collisions, including pedestrian and bicycle crashes involving a vehicle, generally carry a three-year deadline (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)).
- Premises injuries such as falls, collapses, and inadequate security run under the Premises Liability Act, C.R.S. 13-21-115.
- Serious dog bites can support a claim for economic damages against the owner without proof that the dog was known to be dangerous, C.R.S. 13-21-124(2).
- Product defects follow a two-year limit in C.R.S. 13-80-106(1).
- Deaths caused by negligence are brought as wrongful death actions, with a two-year deadline in C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(d).
- Claims against health care providers carry their own damages limits under C.R.S. 13-64-302.
For how these claims work across Colorado, see the Colorado personal injury practice area.
Erie courts, trauma care, and roads
Where an Erie case is filed
A case filed in Boulder County goes to the Boulder County Combined Court at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, which also has a location at 1035 Kimbark St. in Longmont. A case filed in Weld County goes to the Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Ave. in Greeley.
Where serious injuries are treated
The state lists UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital, at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. in Longmont, as a Level III trauma center. Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette is the nearest Level II.
Erie roads where injuries happen
The Erie Police Department takes reports inside town limits. Numbered routes through or along Erie include:
- SH 7, Baseline Road
- SH 52, Mineral Road
- US 287, on the western edge
- I-25, on the eastern edge
- County Line Road, the Boulder and Weld boundary
See our Erie injury page for more local resources.
Steps to take after an Erie crash or injury
Evidence fades quickly and insurers move fast. Here is what helps most, in order.
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See a doctor promptly, even if you feel all right. UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont is one of the facilities that treats serious injuries from the area.
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Make an official report. Crashes are handled by the Erie Police Department; C.R.S. 42-4-1606(1) requires a driver to report a crash involving injury, death, or any property damage.
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Take photos and video of the scene and your injuries before anything is cleaned up or repaired.
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Collect witness contact details.
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Keep every bill, receipt, and note from your doctors.
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Decline recorded statements until you have legal advice.
Why wait on the adjuster? The insurance adjuster trap explains.
The injuries insurers dispute most
Some injuries leave clear images and clear bills. Others depend on the record built around them.
- Whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries: proved by consistent care and a clear timeline, since imaging is often normal.
- Mild brain injuries: symptoms can be subtle and can be missed early. Neuropsychological testing and observations from people close to the injured person help.
- Ongoing pain: documented by treatment over time and the limits it places on work and activities.
- Emotional and psychological harm: supported by a qualified provider's diagnosis and treatment.
- Prior conditions made worse: before-and-after medical records are the key evidence.
Early evaluation and consistent care are what make these injuries provable. See the Erie brain injury lawyer page for more on head injuries.
Who pays when more than one person is at fault in Erie?
The comparative negligence statute, C.R.S. 13-21-111, asks the jury for two things: the total damages, and each party's percentage of fault. The injured person's percentage then comes off the award.
There is a threshold. When the injured person's share of negligence is equal to or greater than the defendant's, C.R.S. 13-21-111(3) requires judgment for the defendant.
Multi-party cases add another layer. C.R.S. 13-21-111.5(1) limits each defendant to its own share of fault, and subsection (3)(b) lets a defendant designate an absent nonparty as partly at fault by filing notice within ninety days after the action begins, or longer if the court allows.
Crashes involving a company vehicle raise a related point. Under C.R.S. 13-21-111.5(1.5), an employer that acknowledges vicarious liability for its employee does not thereby shut down direct negligence claims against the employer itself.
For collisions with a commercial vehicle, see our Erie truck accident lawyer page.
How long do you have to file an Erie injury claim?
The deadline that applies in Erie is the Colorado deadline for your type of claim:
- Three years for tort claims arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)).
- Two years for most other torts (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)) and for strict liability claims (subsection (1)(b)).
- Two years for wrongful death (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(d)), or four years in the narrow case of a vehicular homicide where the driver left the scene (subsection (2)).
- 182 days to file a written notice of claim against a public entity or public employee (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)).
Under C.R.S. 13-80-108(1), a claim for injury accrues when both the injury and its cause are known or should have been known with reasonable diligence. For wrongful death, it is the date of death.
Separate provisions for people under a legal disability, including minors, appear in C.R.S. 13-81-103, and they depend on whether a legal representative has been appointed. None of this should be applied to a specific claim without advice.
Wrongful death claims are covered on our Erie wrongful death lawyer page.
Damages in an Erie personal injury claim
Damages come in two main categories under Colorado law, and only one of them is capped in most cases.
Economic losses
- Hospital, surgical, and physician charges
- Income lost while unable to work
- Reduced ability to earn in the future
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Replacement services and household help
Non-economic losses
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience caused by the injury
The limits Colorado places on damages
Colorado caps non-economic damages at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, and for actions filed during calendar 2025, under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(3)(a)(II). Inflation adjustments begin January 1, 2028, and the cap is never disclosed to the jury.
The cap does not reach economic losses, and subsection (5) expressly preserves compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement.
Three kinds of claims run on other limits: wrongful death, capped for non-economic loss at $2,125,000 under C.R.S. 13-21-203(1)(a) for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025; medical negligence, under C.R.S. 13-64-302; and claims against public entities, where C.R.S. 24-10-114 caps the total recovery.
Exemplary damages
Exemplary damages require fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct under C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a), and generally may not exceed the actual damages awarded. The claim can be added only after initial disclosures and a prima facie showing, under subsection (1.5)(a).
For how these categories translate into a settlement figure, read understanding the average car accident settlement.
Whose insurance pays in an Erie injury claim?
There is the other side's liability carrier, and there is your own coverage. The first answers for what its policyholder did; the second owes you benefits under the policy you bought, which can include medical payments and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
It also decides whether Colorado's bad-faith statute is available. C.R.S. 10-3-1116(1) lets a first-party claimant whose benefits were unreasonably delayed or denied recover attorney fees, costs, and two times the covered benefit. The definition in C.R.S. 10-3-1115(1)(b) excludes someone claiming against another person's liability policy.
An adjuster's early call is part of the insurer's investigation. Statements made then can be quoted later, which is why it helps to have advice first.
Uninsured drivers raise their own issues, covered in car accident with an uninsured driver in Colorado.
How an Erie injury claim moves from first call to resolution
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Consultation
A free conversation about the facts, the deadlines, and whether the claim is worth pursuing.
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Evidence
Preservation letters, records requests, scene documentation, and witness interviews, done early.
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Medical documentation
Records and bills are collected as treatment continues, so the claim reflects the whole injury.
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Claim presentation
A written demand goes to the insurer once the injury is understood, backed by the records.
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Negotiation
Offers are evaluated against the evidence, and the decision to settle is always yours.
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Court
When a fair resolution does not come, the case is filed at the Boulder County Combined Court and tried by a team that includes Kevin Cheney, the firm's Managing Partner and an ABOTA member.
Past matters the firm has handled are listed on the case results page. Past results do not guarantee or predict similar outcomes in future cases. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts.
Questions worth asking before you hire an Erie injury lawyer
Many firms say they will fight for you. The answers to a few specific questions tell you more, and you should ask them of us too.
- Is this a case you handle regularly? Car and truck crashes, falls, dog bites, and wrongful death claims are all part of our practice.
- Who is my point of contact? You should know who answers when you call, and which attorney is responsible for the file.
- What will this cost me? Nothing up front. The fee is contingent on a recovery, and the agreement spells out how costs are handled.
- What deadlines apply to me? Colorado has several, and a claim against a public entity can require notice within 182 days.
- Do you prepare for trial? Insurers price claims partly on whether a firm will try them. Ours are built that way from the start.
- Can I speak with you in Spanish? We work in both English and Spanish.
For the full sequence from first call to resolution, see how we handle your case.
The trial team behind Erie clients
Founded in 2016, CGH Injury Lawyers is the public brand of Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, LLC. The firm represents injured people and families across Colorado from its Denver office and builds its cases for trial.
- ABOTA membership: Kevin Cheney, Managing Partner
- Best Lawyers, 2023 to 2026: Timothy G. Tarr
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2019 to 2026: Tim Galluzzi
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2025: Nicole Greene
Every case is directed by a licensed attorney. Spanish-speaking clients are served in Spanish.
The attorneys and staff are introduced on the about page, including Managing Partner Kevin Cheney.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Erie?
Nothing up front. CGH Injury Lawyers handles injury cases on contingency, so the attorney fee is owed only if there is a recovery. The fee agreement explains the percentage and the treatment of case costs in writing before you sign.
You can also begin with our free online case review.
We do not have an Erie office
To be clear: we do not have an office in Erie. CGH Injury Lawyers works from one office, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, and handles Erie cases from there by phone, video, and in-person meetings when needed.
Frequently asked questions about Erie injury claims
Answers to the questions that come up most often. See the FAQ page for more.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Erie?
Generally two years for most injury claims and three for motor vehicle claims, under C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a) and 13-80-101(1)(n). Claims against public entities need written notice within 182 days (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). Exceptions exist, so confirm your date early.
Does it matter whether my Erie crash was in Boulder or Weld County?
It can. Boulder County is the Twentieth Judicial District and Weld County is the Nineteenth, so the county can determine where a lawsuit is filed. It also determines which county government receives a notice if a county road or employee is involved.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in Colorado?
Pain and suffering is a recognized category of non-economic damages under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(2)(b). It is generally subject to the $1.5 million cap for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, with exceptions for wrongful death and medical negligence.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Usually. Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule reduces recovery by your share of fault and bars it once your share equals or exceeds the defendant's (C.R.S. 13-21-111).
Who takes the police report for a crash in Erie?
Inside town limits, the Erie Police Department. On state highways, the Colorado State Patrol may be involved. The report number is worth getting at the scene.
What should I not say to an insurance adjuster?
Do not apologize or speculate about what happened, downplay your injuries, or agree to a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer. Be careful with broad medical authorizations, which can open your entire history.
How much is my Erie personal injury case worth?
It depends on documented losses and on fault. Economic losses are not capped by C.R.S. 13-21-102.5; non-economic losses generally are, at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025.
Where would an Erie injury be treated?
UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont is the closest state-designated trauma center, listed as Level III. Good Samaritan in Lafayette is listed as Level II.
Is it worth hiring a personal injury lawyer?
For small claims with clear fault and quick recovery, sometimes not. For serious injuries, contested liability, or claims near a deadline, advice early is usually worthwhile. The consultation is free either way.
Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Erie?
No. The firm's only office is in Denver, at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. CGH Injury Lawyers handles Erie cases from there, by phone, video, or in person.
More Erie injury pages
Firm and statewide pages
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Hurt in Erie? Start with a free review
Reach us at (303) 747-4817 or through the contact page. Free consultation, no fee unless we win.
CGH Injury Lawyers · 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205
Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee or predict similar outcomes in future cases. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts.