IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Greeley Personal Injury Lawyers Who Hold Reckless Drivers to Account
Hurt on US 34, US 85, or a Greeley street? CGH Injury Lawyers serves Greeley from Denver, files Weld County cases at the courthouse downtown, and charges no fee unless we win.
No fee unless we win- Two years is the general Colorado limit for tort claims under C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a), with a three-year period for motor vehicle claims in C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n).
- Claims involving a government entity start with written notice filed within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). The statute says failure to comply forever bars the action.
- Insurers often argue shared fault because C.R.S. 13-21-111 reduces damages by the injured person's percentage and bars them when that percentage is as great as the defendant's.
- CGH Injury Lawyers serves Greeley from its Denver office. A Greeley case filed in Weld County is heard at the Weld County Courthouse, in the Nineteenth Judicial District.
Greeley is the Weld County seat, with two state-designated trauma centers and the county courthouse inside city limits. CGH Injury Lawyers represents people hurt there, including those injured by drivers whose conduct went well beyond ordinary carelessness.
When a driver's conduct was more than careless
Most injury claims rest on negligence, meaning a failure to use reasonable care. Colorado law treats a smaller group of cases differently.
Under C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a), a jury may award exemplary damages where the injury was attended by fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct. The statute defines willful and wanton conduct as conduct purposefully committed that the actor must have realized was dangerous, done heedlessly and recklessly, without regard to the safety of others.
Whether impaired or extremely reckless driving meets that definition depends on the facts. Evidence such as the driver's blood alcohol test, prior conduct, and witness accounts can matter.
The procedure is strict. The claim cannot be included in the first complaint; it can be added only after initial disclosures and a prima facie showing of a triable issue (subsection (1.5)(a)). The award is generally capped at the amount of actual damages.
Impaired-driver crashes are covered in more depth on the Greeley DUI accident page.
Crashes with a Greeley city bus or other public vehicle
The City of Greeley runs Greeley Evans Transit, known as GET, including its fixed bus routes and an ADA paratransit service, according to the city's transit site. A crash with a GET bus is a claim against the city.
Claims against the city run under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, which waives immunity for injuries from a public vehicle driven by an employee on the job (C.R.S. 24-10-106(1)(a)). The written notice goes to the City of Greeley's governing body or its attorney within 182 days after discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1) and (3)(a)).
Weld County vehicles and school district vehicles on Greeley streets fall under the same Act, since both are public entities under C.R.S. 24-10-103(5). Each notice goes to that entity, not to the city.
Bus crashes raise evidence questions of their own: onboard video where it exists, route and schedule records, the operator's records, and passengers who saw what happened. Those records are the city's, so a request to preserve them should go out early.
Building the evidence in a Greeley impaired-driving case
When another driver was impaired, the evidence often comes from several places at once. Gathering it early matters, because some of it is kept only for a limited time.
Start with the report number. The Greeley Police Department handles records requests for the crashes it investigates, and the report identifies the officers, the witnesses, and any citations issued.
- The crash report and the investigating agency's records, whether from the Greeley Police Department or the Colorado State Patrol
- Chemical test results and any observations recorded at the scene
- Video from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or dashcams, where it exists
- Receipts, witness accounts, and other records showing where the driver had been before the crash
- Photos of the vehicles and the scene, and the medical record of your injuries
The criminal case and the injury claim are separate proceedings, brought by different parties. The injury claim is decided on its own evidence, and records from the criminal case can help it.
Fault is still divided under C.R.S. 13-21-111. The other driver's impairment is strong evidence, but the jury still assigns percentages to everyone whose negligence contributed.
Types of Greeley injury claims, and the rules behind each
A crash, a fall, and a bite can all be personal injury claims, but they are proved differently and can carry different deadlines.
- Car, truck, motorcycle, and rideshare crashes, which generally have a three-year deadline under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n).
- Falls and other property hazards, handled under the Premises Liability Act, C.R.S. 13-21-115.
- Dog bites causing serious bodily injury, where C.R.S. 13-21-124(2) allows recovery of economic damages.
- Product defect injuries, two years under C.R.S. 13-80-106(1).
- Wrongful death claims, generally two years under C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(d).
- Medical negligence claims, subject to C.R.S. 13-64-302.
Colorado's statewide rules for each category are collected on our personal injury practice page.
Greeley courts, trauma care, and roads
Where a Greeley case is filed
Weld County is the Nineteenth Judicial District. Cases are heard at the Weld County Courthouse, 901 9th Ave. in Greeley, with court operations also at Plaza West, 910 10th Ave., and the Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th St.
Where serious injuries are treated
The state lists Banner North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., as a Level II trauma center, and UCHealth Greeley Hospital, 6767 W. 29th St., as Level III.
Greeley roads where injuries happen
The Greeley Police Department takes reports in the city. Numbered routes through Greeley include:
- US 34 and US 34 Business, 10th Street
- US 85, 8th Avenue
- SH 263, 8th Street
- SH 257
- SH 392
See our Greeley injury page for local resources.
After a Greeley accident: what matters most
Much of what decides an injury claim is created in the first few days. These steps protect your health first and the claim second.
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Have your injuries checked, at Banner North Colorado Medical Center on 16th Street or another provider, as soon as you can.
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Get the incident on record. After a crash that usually means the Greeley Police Department, and C.R.S. 42-4-1606(1) requires drivers to report crashes involving injury, death, or property damage.
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Document the scene with photos and video.
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Collect witness information.
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Keep a file of every medical and financial record the injury creates.
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Let a lawyer handle communication with insurers.
The reasons are laid out in the insurance adjuster trap.
Injuries that are real but hard to see
Proof is uneven across injuries. These categories draw the most disputes.
- Soft-tissue injuries. Sprains and strains are real injuries even when imaging is normal; steady treatment and a clear timeline make the case.
- Head injuries without a skull fracture. Changes in memory, focus, sleep, or mood can be documented through testing and through people who know the injured person well.
- Pain that lasts. Months of treatment notes and changes in work and daily routine are the evidence.
- Emotional aftermath. Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, diagnosed and treated by a qualified provider.
- A prior condition made worse. Insurers raise it often; records from before and after show the difference.
Documentation is the common thread, starting with an early medical visit. For concussions and other head injuries, read the Greeley brain injury page.
Can you still recover in Greeley if you were partly at fault?
A jury in Colorado does not have to choose one person to blame. Under C.R.S. 13-21-111 it assigns percentages, and the injured person's recovery is reduced by theirs.
The cutoff is equality. At or above the defendant's percentage, the injured person's claim against that defendant fails.
Each defendant generally answers for its own percentage only (C.R.S. 13-21-111.5(1)). That is why identifying every responsible party early matters, and why a defendant's nonparty designation, due within ninety days of filing, or longer if the court allows, gets close attention.
A separate rule applies when the at-fault driver was working. Under C.R.S. 13-21-111.5(1.5), an employer's admission of vicarious liability does not bar direct negligence claims against that employer, such as negligent hiring or supervision.
The Greeley truck accident lawyer page covers fleet and employer claims.
The deadlines that can end a Greeley claim
Deadlines differ by claim type under Colorado law:
- Motor vehicle torts: three years (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)).
- General torts: two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)).
- Wrongful death: two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(d)); four years under subsection (2) for a death caused by vehicular homicide where the driver fled.
- Public entities: 182-day written notice (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), then the limitation period for the underlying claim.
When the clock starts matters as much as its length. C.R.S. 13-80-108 ties accrual to knowledge of the injury and its cause, and ties wrongful death to the date of death.
Rules for minors and people under a legal disability are in C.R.S. 13-81-103, and they turn on whether a legal representative is in place. Because each of these deadlines has conditions, the date for a specific claim should be confirmed with a lawyer early.
More on death claims is on the Greeley wrongful death lawyer page.
What is a Greeley personal injury claim worth?
What a claim can recover depends on proof, and on which Colorado category each loss falls into.
Economic damages
- Medical and hospital bills
- Past and future lost earnings
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Long-term care needs
- Vehicle repair or replacement where a crash is involved
Pain, stress, and quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional stress
- Inconvenience
- Impairment of the quality of life
Where the limits apply
Non-economic losses are subject to a $1.5 million limit under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(3)(a)(II), for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 or actions filed in 2025. The jury does not hear about the limit.
Two things sit outside that limit. C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5) states that nothing in the section limits compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, and the section does not cap economic damages at all.
Separate caps govern wrongful death ($2,125,000 in non-economic damages for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, C.R.S. 13-21-203(1)(a)), medical negligence (C.R.S. 13-64-302), and claims against public entities, where C.R.S. 24-10-114 limits the total amount recoverable.
Punitive damages
Colorado reserves exemplary damages for fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct under C.R.S. 13-21-102(1)(a). The award is generally limited to the actual damages, and public entities are generally not liable for them under C.R.S. 24-10-114(4)(a).
Our article on average settlement figures explains why averages mislead.
Your insurer, their insurer, and the difference
Many injury claims involve two kinds of insurance. The at-fault party's liability insurer pays for harm its insured caused. Your own policies, such as medical payments or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, can pay you directly under your contract.
Many pages overstate this remedy. C.R.S. 10-3-1116 applies to first-party claimants, people seeking benefits owed under their own coverage, and C.R.S. 10-3-1115(1)(b) excludes anyone claiming against an insured under a liability policy.
What you say to an insurer becomes part of the file. Get advice before discussing fault or injuries.
If the at-fault driver had little or no insurance, read our guide to crashes with an uninsured driver in Colorado.
How we build a Greeley injury claim
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Talk to us
Free review, no pressure, in English or Spanish.
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We investigate
Evidence is preserved before it is lost.
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You treat; we document
Medical records and costs are gathered throughout.
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We demand
The insurer receives a claim supported by the file.
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We negotiate
Offers are measured against the evidence and explained to you.
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We litigate if needed
The case is filed in the Weld County Courthouse and prepared for trial. The team includes Managing Partner Kevin Cheney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Examples of past matters are 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.
What should a Greeley injury lawyer be able to tell you?
Many people hire an injury lawyer only once. These questions help you judge a firm on what it will actually do.
- Who would try my case if it went to court? Ask for names. Ours would be the firm's trial attorneys.
- How are costs handled if there is no recovery? Get the answer in writing. Our fee agreement covers it.
- How do you keep clients informed? Expect a named contact and updates at each stage.
- Which deadlines apply to my claim? Colorado's range from 182 days for a government notice to two or three years for most lawsuits.
- What evidence should I be saving? Photos, medical records, bills, and witness names are a good start.
- Can I work with you in Spanish? Yes. The team works in English and Spanish.
The firm's approach from intake to resolution is laid out on the how we handle your case page.
Who we are
CGH Injury Lawyers has represented injured Coloradans since 2016. It is the public brand of Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, LLC, and its attorneys try cases.
- Kevin Cheney, Managing Partner: member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Timothy G. Tarr: recognized by Best Lawyers since 2023
- Nicole Greene, Director of Pre-Litigation: Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2025
- Tim Galluzzi, Director of Litigation: Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2019 to 2026
Your case is handled by licensed Colorado attorneys, supported by paralegals, and you can work with the team in English or Spanish.
Meet the full team on the about page, or read Kevin Cheney's bio.
What will a Greeley injury lawyer charge?
CGH Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation and represents injured people on contingency, which means no attorney fee unless we win. The agreement you sign explains the fee and the costs.
Some people prefer to start with the online case review; it is free.
Our office and Greeley
We do not have a Greeley office, or any office outside Denver. CGH Injury Lawyers works from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205 and meets Greeley clients by phone, video, or in person.
Greeley personal injury questions
What people ask us first. For more, visit the firm's FAQ page.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Greeley?
Colorado sets the deadline by the kind of claim: three years for motor vehicle torts, two years for most others, and a 182-day notice for claims against public entities. The start date depends on when the injury and its cause were known (C.R.S. 13-80-108(1)).
Can I get punitive damages after a drunk driving crash in Greeley?
Possibly. Colorado allows exemplary damages for willful and wanton conduct under C.R.S. 13-21-102, generally capped at the actual damages. Whether a particular driver's conduct qualifies depends on the evidence, and the claim can only be added after the case is underway.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in Colorado?
It is one of the main categories of non-economic loss in Colorado, alongside inconvenience, emotional stress, and impairment of the quality of life (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(2)(b)). The general cap is $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
It depends on the percentages. Under C.R.S. 13-21-111, being partly at fault reduces your recovery, and it ends the claim only if your share is as great as the defendant's.
Which Greeley hospitals are trauma centers?
The state lists Banner North Colorado Medical Center as Level II and UCHealth Greeley Hospital as Level III.
What should I not say to an insurance adjuster?
Avoid describing your injuries as minor, guessing at speeds or distances, and discussing prior accidents or conditions. A recorded statement to the other side's insurer can usually wait until you have advice.
How much is my Greeley personal injury case worth?
Value turns on the evidence: the medical record, lost earnings, how long the effects last, comparative fault, and the insurance available. Colorado generally caps non-economic damages at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025.
Where is the Weld County courthouse?
At 901 9th Ave. in Greeley. Weld County makes up the Nineteenth Judicial District.
Is it worth hiring a personal injury lawyer?
Sometimes it is not. If the injury was minor, the recovery complete, and the insurer fair, you may be able to resolve it yourself. Serious injuries, fault disputes, and public-entity claims are where a lawyer usually earns the fee.
I was hurt on or by a GET bus in Greeley. Is that claim different?
Yes. Greeley Evans Transit is run by the City of Greeley, so the claim is against a public entity. Written notice to the city is due within 182 days after discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), well before the usual lawsuit deadline.
Is there a freestanding emergency room in Greeley?
Yes. The state list shows Greeley Emergency Center on 10th Street as a freestanding emergency facility with no trauma designation. The designated trauma centers in the city are Banner North Colorado Medical Center (Level II) and UCHealth Greeley Hospital (Level III).
Does the impaired driver have to be convicted before I can bring a claim?
The criminal case and the injury claim are separate proceedings brought by different parties, and the injury claim is decided on its own evidence. Records from the criminal case can still be useful.
Is the Weld County Courthouse the only court building in Greeley?
No. The Colorado Judicial Branch lists three Weld County court facilities in Greeley: the Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Ave., Plaza West at 910 10th Ave., and the Weld County Centennial Center at 915 10th St.
Who responds to a crash just outside Greeley city limits?
Inside the city, the Greeley Police Department generally takes the report. On state highways and outside city limits, the Colorado State Patrol may respond, so it is worth confirming which agency has the report before requesting it.
Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Greeley?
No. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Greeley from its Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. There is no Greeley office. Consultations are free and can be handled by phone or video, and the team travels when a meeting needs to be in person.
More Greeley injury pages
Firm and statewide pages
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Questions about a Greeley injury? Call us
Call (303) 747-4817 or use the contact page. The review is free, there is no fee unless we win, and we work in English and Spanish.
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.