Independent legal information / Denver, Colorado
Denver Auto Accident Attorney Guide
A crash on Colfax, Speer or I-25 leaves you with a damaged car and a stack of questions: who pays, how fault gets split, how long you have. This guide explains Colorado's car accident rules in plain English and shows you what to ask a licensed attorney before you decide anything.
Read this first
Most of what shapes a Denver car accident claim happens in the first few days, long before anyone mentions a lawsuit.
Photos taken at the curb, the police report number, a same-week doctor visit and a few careful sentences to an adjuster carry more weight later than almost anything else. None of it requires a lawyer. All of it is easy to miss when you are shaken up and the tow truck is idling.
We wrote this site for that moment. It is not a law firm and it will not tell you what your case is worth. It will tell you how the Colorado system generally works, where the deadlines sit, and which questions are worth bringing to an attorney who can look at your facts.
The first 72 hours
What to Do After a Crash in Denver, in Order
Six steps, roughly in the order they come up. The full checklist, with a printable version, lives on the what to do after a car accident in Denver page.
- 01
At the scene
Stop, check on people, call for help
Colorado law requires drivers in a crash to stop, give reasonable aid, exchange information and report the crash to police (C.R.S. 42-4-1602 to 1606). If anyone is hurt, call 911 first and move to safety only if it is safe to do so.
- 02
Before you leave
Photograph more than you think you need
Wide shots of both cars and the intersection, close shots of damage, the other plate and insurance card, skid marks, signals and weather. Ask witnesses for a phone number. Keep comments about fault to yourself.
- 03
Same day
Get checked by a medical provider
Neck and back injuries often surface a day or two later. A prompt visit protects your health first, and it also creates a record that links symptoms to the crash. Long gaps in care are a common point of dispute with insurers.
- 04
Within a day
Tell your own insurer, with facts only
Most policies require prompt notice. Give the date, place, vehicles involved and the report number. Describe what happened without guessing at speeds or apologizing. Ask what your policy includes, such as MedPay and uninsured motorist coverage.
- 05
First week
Be careful with the other driver's insurer
Their adjuster works for their policyholder. You can ask to handle things in writing, and you are generally not required to give them a recorded statement. Do not sign a release or medical authorization until you understand exactly what it covers.
- 06
First weeks
Build a file and mark the deadlines
Keep every bill, letter, claim number and missed-work note in one folder. Write down the crash date and read the Colorado deadline guide. If someone was injured, this is a sensible time to speak with a licensed attorney.
Sheet 02 / Colorado rules
Four Colorado Rules That Shape Every Crash Claim
Colorado car accident claims run on a handful of statutes. Hover or tap a rule below to read the short version, then follow the link to the full guide. Statutes change, so treat the citations as a starting point for your own reading or a conversation with an attorney.
Rule 01 / Insurance
Colorado is an at-fault state
Since July 1, 2003, the driver who caused a crash, through their liability insurance, generally pays for the other people's injuries and property damage. Colorado's minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for property damage. Read the insurance claims guide.
C.R.S. 10-4-620 (minimum coverage)
Rule 02 / Deadlines
Three years is the general clock
Most tort lawsuits arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle must be filed within three years. Wrongful death claims and claims against public entities follow shorter rules, and the 182-day notice for government claims surprises many people. See the deadline guide.
C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n) / 13-80-102 / 24-10-109
Rule 03 / Fault
The 50 percent bar
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence. If you share the blame, your recovery shrinks by your percentage. If your share reaches 50 percent or more, you generally recover nothing from the other driver. Try the fault calculator.
C.R.S. 13-21-111
Rule 04 / Your own policy
Your policy may pay before theirs does
Colorado insurers must offer $5,000 in Medical Payments coverage and must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; you can only decline them in writing. These coverages often matter more in the first months than the other driver's policy. See the medical bills guide.
C.R.S. 10-4-635 (MedPay) / 10-4-609 (UM/UIM)
How a claim usually unfolds
Five stages, in order
Every claim is different, but most Denver car accident claims pass through the same five stages. Knowing which one you are in tells you what matters right now.
- 01The Crash.
What you photograph and say in the first hour is the raw material for everything after it.
- 02The Report.
The police report records parties, insurers and the officer's notes. It is evidence, not the final word on fault.
- 03The Treatment.
Medical records connect injuries to the crash. Insurers read gaps and missed visits closely.
- 04The Claim.
Adjusters gather records, assign fault percentages and make offers, usually after treatment ends.
- 05The Decision.
Settle, negotiate further or file suit before the deadline. This is where an attorney's view helps most.
Three habits that protect a claim: Pause before you sign, Document every detail, Ask a licensed attorney.
03 / The guides
Colorado Car Accident Guides for Denver Drivers
Six long-form guides, each written for one question. Pick the one that matches where you are.
-
The first hour, the first day and the first week, in order.
Open the after a crash guide -
How an at-fault state handles claims, adjusters and coverage layers.
Open the insurance claims guide -
The three-year rule, the shorter exceptions and the 182-day notice.
Open the deadlines guide -
How fault percentages change what you can recover, and the 50 percent bar.
Open the shared fault guide -
MedPay, health insurance, hospital liens and who gets repaid.
Open the medical bills guide -
When to call, how to check a license and what to ask.
Open the finding a lawyer guide
Common questions
Denver Car Accident Questions, Answered Briefly
Do I need a lawyer after a minor car accident in Denver?
Not always. Many property-damage-only claims settle directly with an insurer. People usually talk to a licensed Colorado attorney when someone was hurt, when fault is disputed, when an insurer denies or delays the claim, when a government vehicle or road is involved, or when a deadline is getting close. See the guide to choosing a Denver car accident lawyer for the questions worth asking.
Is Colorado a no-fault state?
No. Colorado moved away from no-fault insurance on July 1, 2003. Today the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, is generally responsible for the other people's losses. The Colorado insurance claims guide explains how that works in practice.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado?
For most tort claims arising from the use of a motor vehicle, the general period is three years under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n). Shorter rules apply in some situations, including wrongful death and claims against public entities. Read the Colorado statute of limitations guide and confirm your own date with an attorney.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111). Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and if your share is 50 percent or more you generally cannot recover from the other driver. The comparative negligence guide has a calculator that shows how the split works.
Who pays my medical bills while the claim is open?
Usually your own coverage pays first: Medical Payments coverage if you have it, then health insurance. The at-fault driver's insurer typically pays once at the end, in a settlement. Health plans and hospitals may then ask to be repaid. The medical bills and liens guide walks through the order.
Is this website a law firm?
No. Denver Auto Accident Guide is an independent legal information resource. It does not give legal advice, it does not represent anyone, and contacting it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Talk to a licensed Colorado attorney about your situation.
Have a General Question About a Denver Crash?
Send a short, general question through the inquiry form. Leave out confidential details. You will get general information at most, never legal advice, so if a deadline may be close or someone was hurt, speak with a licensed Colorado attorney.