Personal Injury in Colorado
Personal injury law covers harm caused by someone else's negligence — car and truck crashes, falls, dog bites, and medical errors. Colorado is an at-fault state with a two-year deadline for most injury claims (and three years for motor-vehicle cases), plus a modified-comparative-negligence rule that bars recovery once you're 50% or more at fault. This hub explains the core rules, then links guides for each type of case.
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines are strict and facts matter — talk to a Colorado attorney promptly.
If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence in Colorado, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal-injury lawsuit (C.R.S. § 13-80-102) — with three years for motor-vehicle accident claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)). Colorado uses modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), so you can recover only if your share of fault is less than half. Most Colorado injury claims come down to negligence: showing someone owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injury.
Is Colorado at-fault or no-fault?
Colorado is an at-fault (tort) state. It repealed its old no-fault/PIP system in 2003. You pursue the at-fault party (and their insurer) for your damages (C.R.S. § 10-4-620 governs minimum auto liability coverage), rather than turning first to your own no-fault coverage.
How long do I have to file?
The statute of limitations for general personal injury in Colorado is two years from when the claim accrues (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). But claims arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle get three years (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)). Miss the deadline and your claim is usually barred — so act early.
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury (general) | 2 years | C.R.S. § 13-80-102 |
| Motor-vehicle accident | 3 years | C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years | C.R.S. § 13-80-102 |
What if I was partly at fault?
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Your damages are reduced by your share of the fault. But if your fault is “as great as” the defendant’s — that is, 50% or more — you recover nothing (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). How fault is apportioned is therefore a central issue in many cases.
The guides
Pick your situation below:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Wrongful death
To get matched with a local Colorado personal-injury attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Guides
- Colorado Car Accident Claims
Colorado is an at-fault auto state: you pursue the driver who caused the crash and their insurer. A three-year deadline applies to motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)), and modified comparative negligence bars recovery once you're 50% or more at fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Colorado sets minimum liability limits (commonly 25/50/15) — confirm the current statute.
- Dog Bite Claims in Colorado
Colorado imposes strict liability on a dog owner for economic damages when a person suffers serious bodily injury or death from a dog bite while lawfully on public or private property — regardless of the dog's prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge (C.R.S. § 13-21-124). Exceptions include trespassing, knowingly provoking the dog, working dogs, and certain professionals. Lesser injuries fall outside this strict-liability rule.
- Medical Malpractice in Colorado
Colorado medical malpractice claims have a two-year deadline with a three-year statute of repose (C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5). Colorado caps damages under the Health Care Availability Act (C.R.S. § 13-64-302). Importantly, HB 24-1472 raised the caps on an escalating schedule starting Jan 1, 2025 — there's no single fixed figure, so confirm the current cap.
- Colorado Motorcycle Accident Claims
Colorado has no universal helmet law — only riders and passengers under 18 must wear one (C.R.S. § 42-4-1502), and eye protection is required for everyone. Motorcycle crash claims follow Colorado's at-fault framework: a three-year deadline for motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) and modified comparative negligence that bars recovery once you're 50% or more at fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111).
- Premises Liability in Colorado
Colorado's Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-115) is the controlling, exclusive statutory remedy for injuries from the condition of, or activities on, real property — it replaced the common-law approach. A landowner's duty depends on the injured person's statutory class: trespasser, licensee, or invitee. The two-year general injury deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-102) typically applies.
- Colorado Truck Accident Claims
Colorado truck crash claims follow the state's at-fault framework: a three-year deadline for motor-vehicle claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) and modified comparative negligence that bars recovery at 50% or more fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Federal FMCSA rules — hours of service, maintenance, driver qualification — layer on top, and a violation can be evidence of negligence. Cases often involve multiple defendants.
- Wrongful Death Claims in Colorado
Colorado's Wrongful Death Act (C.R.S. §§ 13-21-201 to 13-21-204) sets who may sue on a tiered, year-based scheme: the surviving spouse generally has the exclusive right in the first year, then spouse and/or heirs, and parents may sue for an unmarried decedent with no descendants. A two-year deadline generally applies. Colorado caps noneconomic damages, but HB 24-1472 raised the cap — confirm the current figure; there's no cap for a felonious killing.
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