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Westminster, Colorado intersection. CGH Injury Lawyers represents pedestrian accident victims in Westminster from our Denver office.
Westminster, Colorado

Westminster Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Who Make Drivers Yield

Struck crossing Federal Boulevard, Wadsworth, or 120th Avenue in Westminster? Colorado law was almost certainly on your side. We serve Westminster from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St. No fee unless we win.

No fee unless we win
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Serving Westminster from Our Denver Office CGH Injury Lawyers 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 209-9395 Se habla espanol
5-star rated on Google ABOTA trial advocate on the team Trial lawyers, not a settlement mill 8 attorneys, bilingual EN / ES
  • Every intersection in Westminster is a legal crosswalk. Under C.R.S. 42-4-802, drivers must yield to pedestrians at both painted and unmarked crossings, so an insurer's claim that there were no lines is not a defense.
  • You can still recover even if you were partly at fault. Colorado's modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) bars recovery only when you are 50 percent or more at fault, so a driver's speed or distraction can outweigh a crossing mistake.
  • Your own auto policy may cover you on foot. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage often applies to pedestrian injuries when the at-fault driver carries too little insurance or flees the scene.

Westminster sits at the crossroads of US 36, US 287, and I-25, three of the Front Range's busiest and most dangerous multi-lane corridors. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Westminster pedestrian accident victims from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. We visit accident scenes, pull traffic camera footage, and challenge incomplete police reports. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

Who we represent

Westminster pedestrians we help after a crash

You do not need a perfect set of facts to qualify for a free review. These are the situations we see most often.

Call us if you were

  • Hit in a crosswalk at US 287 (Federal Boulevard or Wadsworth Bypass)
  • Struck crossing SH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard) at any intersection
  • Hit by a driver turning left at a Westminster intersection
  • Injured at or near the Orchard Town Center or Butterfly Pavilion, both major pedestrian traffic generators
  • Struck on SH 95 (Sheridan Boulevard) or SH 128 (120th Avenue)
  • Hit by a driver who fled the scene (hit-and-run)
  • A family member of someone killed by a driver in Westminster

We still review cases where

  • You were crossing outside a painted crosswalk (comparative fault may still leave you a recovery)
  • The police report seems to blame you based on limited information from the scene
  • The driver claims you stepped out suddenly
  • The at-fault driver has minimum insurance limits or no insurance at all
  • Your injuries were not obvious immediately after the crash
The law that governs your case

Colorado pedestrian law decoded for Westminster cases

Two statutes decide most Westminster pedestrian cases. Understanding both is how we build claims insurers take seriously, and how we counter the arguments adjusters use to deny them.

The driver's duty to yield (C.R.S. 42-4-802)

Under C.R.S. 42-4-802, a driver approaching any crosswalk must yield the right of way to any pedestrian who is in the crosswalk or close enough to be in danger. Once you enter the crosswalk, every driver in every lane moving the same direction must stop and stay stopped until you have safely crossed. A driver who passes a vehicle that has already stopped to let you cross violates this statute.

  • The duty applies at marked crosswalks with painted lines or signage and at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Paint is not required for a crosswalk to be legally recognized.
  • Pedestrians have duties under C.R.S. 42-4-803 too. They must yield to vehicles when crossing mid-block and must obey traffic signals when present.
  • Even when a pedestrian breaks one of those rules, the driver still has a duty to avoid striking a person they saw or should have seen. A single rule violation does not end a pedestrian's right to recover.

The 50 percent bar rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

Colorado's modified comparative negligence statute means that a pedestrian can recover as long as they are found less than 50 percent at fault. When you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. When you are less than 50 percent at fault, your damages are reduced by your share, but not eliminated.

  • Found 0 percent at fault, you recover 100 percent of your damages.
  • Found 30 percent at fault, you recover 70 percent of your damages.
  • Found 49 percent at fault, you recover 51 percent of your damages.
  • Found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.

Westminster insurers routinely argue the pedestrian jaywalked or stepped out without looking, then offer a fraction of the true value based on an inflated fault percentage. We use accident reconstruction, witness statements, and traffic camera footage to show the driver's speed, distraction, or failure to yield was the dominant cause of the crash.

The unmarked crosswalk trap

One of the most common mistakes Westminster pedestrian accident victims make is accepting an adjuster's argument that they were crossing illegally because there were no painted lines. In Colorado, an unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection where two roadways meet and sidewalks are present, whether or not any stripes are painted. The absence of paint does not erase the driver's duty to yield under C.R.S. 42-4-802.

Local knowledge

Westminster roads, courts, and trauma care that shape your case

A Westminster pedestrian accident case involves local infrastructure that determines where you were treated, which court hears the case, and which road hazards the at-fault driver was navigating. These are the specifics we work with.

Courthouse

Adams County District Court, 17th Judicial District

Westminster lies primarily in Adams County (with a smaller portion in Jefferson County). Personal injury cases arising in Westminster's Adams County portion are filed in the Adams County District Court of the 17th Judicial District, located at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601. The local rules, judicial preferences, and opposing defense firms at this courthouse are different from Denver District Court. We handle Adams County District Court cases directly and know the terrain.

Trauma Care

St. Anthony North Hospital (Level III Trauma Center)

Westminster's primary trauma facility is St. Anthony North Hospital (CommonSpirit Health), a CDPHE-designated Level III Trauma Center. Pedestrian accident victims with serious injuries are often taken there. The medical records from St. Anthony North documenting fractures, internal injuries, and head trauma become the backbone of your damages claim. We work with those records from day one to make sure nothing is left out of the demand.

High-Risk Corridors

US 287, US 36, and I-25: Westminster's most dangerous pedestrian roads

Westminster's pedestrian crash data concentrates around its major multi-lane corridors. Federal Boulevard and Wadsworth Bypass (both US 287), Wadsworth Boulevard (SH 121), Sheridan Boulevard (SH 95), 120th Avenue (SH 128), and the US 36 Boulder Turnpike carry heavy commuter and truck traffic that regularly exceeds the posted limit. The I-25 and US 36 interchange is a CDOT-documented crash hotspot with a steadily increasing crash rate since 2012, dominated by speed-differential collisions. US 287 at 96th Avenue and 102nd Avenue has been the site of documented fatal pedestrian crashes. Hail, black ice, and Front Range temperature swings create dangerous road conditions at multiple points of the year. Westminster's population of over 116,000 people (2020 Census) and dense residential growth along the US 36 and I-25 corridors mean more conflict points every year.

High-Traffic Generators

Orchard Town Center, Butterfly Pavilion, and RTD Westminster Station

Westminster's major pedestrian traffic generators include the Orchard Town Center mixed-use retail complex near 144th Avenue, the Butterfly Pavilion at 6252 W. 104th Ave., and RTD Westminster Station, the B Line commuter rail terminus and a major transit hub. Pedestrians entering and exiting these destinations cross some of Westminster's busiest vehicle corridors and parking-lot access roads, where drivers frequently fail to yield.

Why CGH

Why Westminster pedestrian accident victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

We serve Westminster from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, minutes from US 36 and I-25. We do not publish pedestrian settlement figures, because every crash is different and a headline number tells you nothing about what your case is worth. What we offer is the work.

The Statute

C.R.S. 42-4-802

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in every crosswalk, painted or not. We know which Westminster intersections produce the worst violations and how to prove them.

Honest Assessment

We tell you what the law actually says.

If your situation falls squarely within a defense that bars recovery, we will say so in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. That honesty is a refusal we make deliberately: cases we cannot honestly stand behind are cases we do not take.

Adams County

We file in Brighton, not just Denver.

Most Westminster cases are filed in Adams County District Court in Brighton. We handle that courthouse directly.

Evidence First

Traffic cameras disappear in weeks.

Many Westminster intersections have cameras. We request footage immediately. Many agencies keep it only 30 to 90 days.

Trial-Ready

ABOTA. 8 attorneys. Trial-prepared.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), one of the highest recognitions in trial practice. When insurers know the firm filing the lawsuit prepares every case for trial, settlement negotiations produce better outcomes.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Westminster's Spanish-speaking community.

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.

After the crash

What to do after a Westminster pedestrian accident

Your health comes first. Then protect the evidence. Then call us before you talk to any insurer. Here is the exact path.

  1. Get medical attention immediately

    Call 911. If your injuries are serious, paramedics may transport you to St. Anthony North Hospital, Westminster's CDPHE-designated Level III Trauma Center at CommonSpirit Health. Even if you feel fine, internal bleeding and traumatic brain injuries are not always obvious at the scene. Get examined, and keep every record and bill you receive.

  2. Document the scene

    If you are physically able, photograph the road, any crosswalk markings or their absence, traffic signals, the vehicle, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Note weather and lighting conditions. Get the driver's insurance information, license plate, and contact information for any witnesses. Ask if any nearby businesses might have security cameras covering the intersection.

  3. Do not give a recorded statement

    The at-fault driver's insurer will likely call within days. You are not required to give a recorded statement to anyone before consulting an attorney. A statement given without counsel present can be used to minimize your claim, even when your account is entirely honest.

  4. Call CGH before signing anything

    An early settlement offer is nearly always less than the full value of the claim. Once you sign a release, the case is over. Call (303) 209-9395 before accepting any payment or signing any document from an insurer.

  5. We investigate and build your case

    We request traffic camera footage from Westminster intersections immediately, before it is overwritten. We pull the police report, interview witnesses, confirm whether the crossing was a legal crosswalk under C.R.S. 42-4-802, locate every insurance policy, and assess fault under Colorado's comparative negligence standard.

  6. We negotiate, or we litigate

    Most Westminster pedestrian accident cases settle before trial. When an insurer refuses to be fair, we file in Adams County District Court and prepare the case for a jury. The insurer knows the difference between a firm that says it will go to trial and a firm that actually does.

Compensation

What compensation can Westminster pedestrian accident victims recover?

Colorado law lets injured pedestrians recover two broad categories of damages: economic losses documented by bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of a serious injury. Certain caps apply depending on when the claim accrued.

Economic damages (never capped)

  • Emergency room, surgery, and hospital bills
  • Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages from missed work
  • Lost earning capacity when the injury affects your ability to work long-term
  • Assistive devices, home modifications, and caretaker costs
  • Out-of-pocket expenses tied to the crash

Non-economic damages (cap applies)

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of consortium for a spouse

Disfigurement and permanent scarring are NOT subject to this cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5).

Non-economic damages cap under 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. Lower, separately calculated caps apply to older claims depending on when the claim accrued. Two categories are never capped: economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement. In a serious pedestrian crash, uncapped physical impairment and the full range of economic losses often make up the largest part of the recovery.

When a Westminster pedestrian accident takes a life, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.

What insurers argue

Common defenses Westminster insurers raise, and how we answer them

Adjusters use the same arguments on every pedestrian case. Understanding the playbook is the first step toward neutralizing it.

  1. "There were no painted crosswalk lines"

    This is the most common denial argument on Westminster's major corridors. The answer is C.R.S. 42-4-802: an unmarked crosswalk is legally recognized at every intersection where two roadways meet and sidewalks are present. We document that you were at a legal crossing, painted or not, and show that the driver had a statutory duty to yield regardless of the absence of stripes.

  2. "You stepped out suddenly and the driver had no time to react"

    Accident reconstruction experts calculate stopping distance using vehicle speed, road conditions, and reaction time. On multi-lane Westminster roads like US 287 and SH 121, a driver who is speeding, distracted, or tailgating may have no time to stop because they created the problem, not because the pedestrian was at fault. We hire reconstruction experts when the facts support it.

  3. "You were jaywalking and bear most of the fault"

    Under C.R.S. 42-4-803, a pedestrian crossing mid-block must yield to vehicles, and crossing against a signal is also a violation. But a violation does not automatically mean you were 50 percent or more at fault. A driver who was speeding 20 mph over the limit, running a late-change signal, or texting can still bear most of the comparative fault even when the pedestrian made a mistake. We assemble the evidence of the driver's conduct to put fault where it belongs.

  4. "The police report says the pedestrian was at fault"

    A police officer who arrives after the crash makes a preliminary finding from limited information at the scene, often from one side of the story. A police report is not the final word on fault. We challenge incorrect reports with traffic camera footage, physical evidence, and witness statements taken while memories are fresh.

Who pays

Insurance coverage for Westminster pedestrian accidents

Westminster pedestrian accident victims are often surprised to learn that more than one policy may cover their losses, not just the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

  • The at-fault driver's liability coverage is the primary source. Colorado requires minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person for bodily injury. A driver with higher limits gives you more to recover against.
  • Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can apply even when you were on foot. It adds compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or flees the scene. Colorado UM/UIM claims are governed by C.R.S. 13-80-107.5 under Pham v. State Farm, 2013 CO 17. Westminster has documented hit-and-run incidents; UM/UIM coverage is often the only path to recovery in those cases.
  • Health insurance and any MedPay coverage on an auto policy can pay early medical bills while the claim is pending. Health insurers often hold subrogation rights, and we negotiate those liens so you keep more of your settlement.
  • If the driver was operating a commercial vehicle, a delivery vehicle, or was on duty for an employer, the employer's commercial liability policy may be an additional source of recovery.

Insurance companies, including your own, are businesses built to minimize payouts. Before you give a recorded statement, sign a medical authorization, or accept a fast offer, speak with an attorney who can protect your rights in those conversations.

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Questions

Westminster pedestrian accident, frequently asked questions

Do drivers always have to yield to pedestrians in Westminster crosswalks?

Yes, within marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Under C.R.S. 42-4-802, a driver must yield to a pedestrian who is in the crosswalk or close enough to be in danger, and must stay stopped until the pedestrian has safely crossed. Pedestrians, in turn, must obey traffic signals when present and must yield to vehicles when crossing mid-block under C.R.S. 42-4-803. Both statutes apply in Westminster.

Is there a legal crosswalk at Westminster intersections that have no painted lines?

Yes. Colorado law recognizes an unmarked crosswalk at every intersection where two roadways meet and sidewalks are present, whether or not any stripes are painted. Under C.R.S. 42-4-802, the driver's duty to yield applies at both marked and unmarked crosswalks. An insurer's argument that you were crossing illegally because there were no lines is incorrect as a matter of law when you were crossing at a legal intersection.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the Westminster pedestrian accident?

Yes, in many cases. Colorado uses a modified comparative negligence standard (C.R.S. 13-21-111). As long as you are found less than 50 percent at fault, you can recover, with your damages reduced proportionally by your share of fault. If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. A driver who was speeding, distracted, or violated the right-of-way statute can still carry the majority of fault even when the pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk.

How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Adams County?

For motor vehicle accidents, Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n). If the at-fault driver was operating a government vehicle, or if a public entity's road condition contributed to the crash, you may need to file a written notice of claim within 182 days of discovering the injury under C.R.S. 24-10-109, which is a jurisdictional prerequisite. Different rules can apply when the injured person is a minor. Consult an attorney as soon as possible to confirm your specific deadline.

Which court handles my Westminster pedestrian accident case?

Most of Westminster lies in Adams County. Personal injury cases from that portion are filed in Adams County District Court of the 17th Judicial District, located at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601. A smaller portion of Westminster lies in Jefferson County, which has its own district court. CGH Injury Lawyers handles cases in Adams County District Court directly.

Does my own car insurance cover me as a pedestrian in Westminster?

It can. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto policy, that coverage can apply even though you were on foot when you were hit. It provides compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or fled the scene. Colorado UM/UIM claims are governed by C.R.S. 13-80-107.5 under Pham v. State Farm, 2013 CO 17. Check your policy's declarations page or call your insurer to confirm your UM/UIM limits.

Is there a cap on what I can recover for a Westminster pedestrian accident?

Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are not capped. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are capped under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Importantly, compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement are not subject to that cap either. The specific cap that applies depends on when your claim accrued, so the date of the accident matters.

CGH Injury Lawyers is in Denver. Can they handle my Westminster case?

Yes. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Westminster clients from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We do not have a Westminster office, but we regularly represent clients with cases filed in Adams County District Court in Brighton and Jefferson County District Court. Our attorneys visit Westminster accident scenes, request local traffic camera footage, and handle every step of the claim. Call (303) 209-9395 or submit the form on this page for a free case review.

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CGH Injury Lawyers · 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205 · Serving Westminster from our Denver office