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Colorado Car Accident Lawyer
We represent injured drivers, passengers, and families across every Colorado county. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
No fee unless we win- Colorado car accident claims usually turn on fault, injury proof, insurance coverage, and timing.
- Colorado is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash can be financially responsible.
- CGH reviews crash claims through evidence, medical records, coverage, shared fault, and litigation readiness.
A Colorado car accident lawyer can help when a crash creates injuries, disputed fault, insurance pressure, or uncertainty about what to do next. Colorado car accident claims are not all the same. A rear-end crash, hit-and-run, uninsured-driver claim, serious highway collision, and low-speed parking-lot crash may each require different proof.
CGH Injury Lawyers handles Colorado car accident claims statewide. The firm reviews the crash facts, medical records, available coverage, comparative negligence issues, and whether the claim should be resolved through insurance negotiation or prepared for litigation.
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.
How it works
How do Colorado car accident claims work?
Colorado car accident claims usually begin with liability. The injured person must show who caused the crash and how that crash caused harm. Evidence may include the police report, photos, witness statements, body camera footage, dash camera footage, vehicle damage, medical records, and insurance communications.
The second track is damages. Damages can include medical bills, future treatment, lost income, loss of earning capacity, property damage, pain, inconvenience, and other losses that can be proven under Colorado law. 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. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped, and economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are never capped. The damages track depends on documentation. Treatment gaps, missing records, and early statements that minimize symptoms can all create avoidable fights.
The third track is insurance. A claim may involve the at-fault driver's liability coverage, the injured person's medical payments coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, health insurance liens, or several insurers at once. CGH reviews coverage early because available insurance can shape the strategy.
At-fault rules
Is Colorado an at-fault state for car accidents?
Yes. Colorado is an at-fault state for car accidents. The state's former no-fault insurance law, the Colorado Auto Accident Reparations Act (C.R.S. 10-4-701 to 10-4-726), was repealed effective July 1, 2003. Since then, the driver who caused the crash can be responsible for the harm caused by that negligence, subject to insurance limits, available evidence, and Colorado law.
At-fault does not mean the insurer will accept responsibility without a fight. The other driver's insurer may dispute how the crash happened, argue that the injuries are unrelated, blame the injured person, or push for a recorded statement before the full medical picture is known.
After the crash
What should you do after a Colorado car accident?
After a crash, focus on safety, documentation, medical care, and insurance boundaries. The hours after a Colorado crash shape your claim. These steps protect your health and preserve the evidence an insurer will later try to dispute.
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Get to safety and call 911
Call 911 when anyone is hurt or the crash blocks traffic. A police report creates an official record of the scene.
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Exchange information and document the scene
Exchange information. Take photos of the vehicles, roadway, signs, weather, debris, license plates, and visible injuries. Get witness names before people leave.
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Seek medical care immediately
Seek medical evaluation if symptoms exist or develop, even if you feel fine. Symptoms like whiplash and traumatic brain injury can appear hours or days later, and a treatment gap weakens your claim.
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Do not guess about fault or give recorded statements
Do not guess about fault at the scene. Keep statements factual. If an insurer calls, ask for the request in writing and avoid recorded statements until you understand the claim.
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Contact a car accident attorney
Colorado's three-year filing deadline under C.R.S. 13-80-101 means evidence preservation starts now. A free consultation costs you nothing.
Deadlines
How long do you have to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Colorado motor vehicle injury claims often use a three-year statute of limitations under C.R.S. 13-80-101. That deadline should still be reviewed by a lawyer because different claims can involve different timing rules. Wrongful death, UM/UIM coverage, public-entity claims, minors, insurance bad faith, and contract disputes may change the analysis.
Do not let the three-year concept create delay. Evidence problems start much earlier. Traffic video can disappear, witnesses can become hard to locate, vehicles can be repaired, and insurers can use medical-treatment gaps against the injured person.
Compensation
What compensation can you recover after a Colorado car accident?
Colorado law lets injured people recover two broad categories of damages after a crash: economic losses you can document with bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of an injury.
Economic damages
- Medical expenses, past and future
- Lost wages and lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses tied to the crash
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for a spouse or family
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. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped, and 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?
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. If you share fault for a crash, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault, and you are barred from recovering anything if your share of the fault is equal to or greater than that of the party or parties you are seeking recovery from. In practical terms, you can recover only if you are less than 50 percent at fault.
Shared-fault issues are common. Insurers may argue the injured driver was speeding, distracted, following too closely, driving too fast for conditions, or failing to avoid the crash. The answer usually depends on evidence, not assumptions. Scene photos, vehicle damage, witness statements, traffic laws, and crash reconstruction can all matter.
Uninsured drivers
What if the other driver was uninsured or fled?
If the other driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene, the injured person's own coverage may become important. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply to bodily injury losses caused by a hit-and-run driver, a driver without insurance, or a driver with too little coverage.
UM/UIM coverage is not automatic in every practical situation. The policy, written rejection rules, available limits, notice issues, and claim timing should be reviewed. Under C.R.S. 13-80-107.5, a lawsuit or arbitration demand on a UM/UIM claim generally must be brought within three years after the cause of action accrues, with limited extensions in some situations. A hit-and-run also raises evidence questions, including police reports, camera footage, vehicle descriptions, and witness accounts.
Insurance communications
What should you avoid saying to insurance?
After a Colorado crash, keep insurance communications truthful, brief, and limited to confirmed facts. Do not guess about speed, distance, injury severity, fault, or future medical needs. Do not say you are fine if you have not been evaluated or if symptoms are still developing. Do not agree to a broad release without understanding what claims it closes.
You can usually say that you are still assessing medical issues, that you will provide documents in writing, and that you are not giving a recorded statement at that time. If you are represented, adjusters should communicate through your lawyer.
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When to call
When should you call a Colorado car accident lawyer?
Call a lawyer when the crash caused injury, fault is disputed, the insurer is pressuring you, the other driver lacks insurance, a commercial vehicle was involved, you missed work, or you are being asked to sign documents you do not understand. You should also call if the case involves death, brain injury, spinal injury, surgery, long-term treatment, or any injury that may affect your ability to work.
Some claims can be handled without legal representation. A lawyer's job in the first review is to tell you which path fits the facts. If the case is simple, CGH should say what documents to protect. If the case is serious, the team should explain what needs to happen now.
Your team
How CGH reviews Colorado car accident claims
CGH starts with the crash report, photos, medical care, insurance information, and the injured person's timeline. The review looks for liability proof, coverage issues, evidence that needs preservation, medical documentation, and statements that may affect the claim.
CGH also separates urgent issues from issues that can wait. Urgent issues include expiring evidence, a pending recorded statement, unclear release language, uninsured-driver questions, or serious injuries without organized medical records. Less urgent issues may include routine repair disputes or a property-damage estimate that can be handled through written documentation. That distinction helps the client avoid panic while still protecting the parts of the claim that can be damaged by delay.
The review should end with a concrete next step: preserve evidence, collect records, check coverage, wait for medical clarity, negotiate, or prepare to file. A useful legal review does not leave the injured person guessing.
The firm has represented injured Coloradans since 2016. Kevin Cheney is the Managing Partner, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and Treasurer of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Every car accident case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal.
If your crash happened in Denver, see the local Denver car accident lawyer page.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Colorado car accident claims
Is Colorado an at-fault state?
Yes. Colorado is an at-fault state for car accidents, which means the driver who caused the crash can be responsible for the resulting harm, subject to proof, insurance, and Colorado law. The former no-fault law was repealed effective July 1, 2003.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Colorado motor vehicle injury claims often use a three-year limitations period under C.R.S. 13-80-101. A lawyer should still review the deadline because claim type and facts can change the timing analysis.
What should I not say to insurance?
Do not guess, speculate, admit fault, minimize injuries, or agree to a recorded statement before you understand the claim. Keep communications truthful, short, and tied to confirmed facts.
What if the other driver was uninsured?
Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply, depending on your policy and Colorado law. Under C.R.S. 13-80-107.5, a UM/UIM lawsuit or arbitration demand generally must be brought within three years after the cause of action accrues. A lawyer should review the policy, any written rejection, medical proof, and claim timing.
Should I get a lawyer after a minor accident?
Maybe. A lawyer may be useful if symptoms appear later, fault is disputed, a release is unclear, or the insurer is pushing for a quick recorded statement or settlement.
What is the average settlement for a car accident in Colorado?
There is no standard average. Settlement amounts depend on the severity of injuries, who was at fault, the available insurance limits, and whether the case goes to trial. A soft-tissue case and a spinal cord injury case are not comparable. Our attorneys evaluate the full picture: medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and long-term impact.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
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. Insurance adjusters often inflate the injured person's fault percentage to reduce payouts, and an attorney can challenge that assessment.
What are the 4 elements of negligence in a car accident case?
To establish negligence in Colorado you must prove four elements: duty, meaning the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care; breach, meaning they violated that duty; causation, meaning their breach directly caused the crash; and damages, meaning you suffered measurable harm as a result.
How long does a car accident settlement take in Colorado?
Straightforward claims with clear liability and documented injuries may settle in a few months. Complex cases with disputed liability, serious injuries, or litigation can take one to three years or longer. Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement often leaves money on the table.
Sources: Colorado Revised Statutes, Colorado General Assembly. This page provides general legal information for Colorado readers and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fault, insurance coverage, deadlines, damages, and fee terms require case-specific review.
Statewide coverage
Car accident lawyers across Colorado
We serve car accident victims in every part of Colorado. Select your city for local case information. (City links pending sitemap verification before production; only confirmed-live pages ship.)
Do not see your city? We serve all of Colorado. Call (303) 209-9395.
Related injury cases we handle
Start your claim
Ask CGH to review a Colorado car accident claim
If a Colorado crash left you injured, unsure about insurance, or worried about fault, ask CGH to review the file before you sign a release. Call (303) 209-9395 or send the details through the contact form below. Ask CGH for current written fee, case-cost, consultation, and language-access terms during intake.
Cities we serve
We handle these cases for clients across Colorado. View all locations we serve.
Specific car accidents cases we handle
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Read next: What to do after a Colorado car accident