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.
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. Talk to a Colorado attorney promptly — strict deadlines apply.
If you’ve been in a Colorado car crash caused by another driver, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)) — longer than the two-year window for most other injuries (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). Colorado is an at-fault state (it repealed no-fault/PIP in 2003), so you pursue the at-fault driver and their insurer for medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. Under modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), you recover only if your share of fault is less than 50%.
Is Colorado at-fault or no-fault for car accidents?
Colorado repealed its old no-fault system in 2003, so there’s no PIP requirement. After a crash you make a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance (C.R.S. § 10-4-620 sets the minimum limits) or your own uninsured/underinsured coverage if they lack enough. You can recover medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim?
Because a car crash arises from the use or operation of a motor vehicle, the deadline is generally three years from the date of the crash (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)) — longer than the two-year window for most other injuries (C.R.S. § 13-80-102). It’s still firm, so file or settle before it runs.
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Motor-vehicle injury | 3 years | C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) |
| General personal injury | 2 years | C.R.S. § 13-80-102 |
| Vehicle property damage | 3 years (motor-vehicle) | C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) |
What if I was partly at fault?
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. § 13-21-111): your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and once your fault is as great as the other driver’s — 50% or more — you recover nothing (C.R.S. § 13-21-111). Insurers often argue the injured driver shares blame, so fault is frequently the key battleground.
What insurance does Colorado require?
Colorado requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage (C.R.S. § 10-4-620) — commonly $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage. Because these figures can be amended, confirm the current minimums.
| Coverage type | Minimum limit | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury — per person | $25,000 | C.R.S. § 10-4-620 |
| Bodily injury — per accident | $50,000 | C.R.S. § 10-4-620 |
| Property damage | $15,000 | C.R.S. § 10-4-620 |
Carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is valuable given how many drivers carry only the minimum (C.R.S. § 10-4-609).
To get matched with a local Colorado car accident attorney, connect with a lawyer.
Connect with a local attorney
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with a local California attorney who handles matters like yours. Free, no obligation.
Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Is Colorado a no-fault state for car accidents?
- No. Colorado is an at-fault (tort) state — it repealed no-fault/PIP in 2003. You pursue the at-fault driver and their insurer for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Colorado?
- Generally three years from the date of the crash, because the claim arises from the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)). Missing the deadline usually bars the claim.
- What if I was partly at fault?
- Under Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and if your fault is 50% or more you recover nothing.
Sources
Related guides
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Related area: Workers' Compensation in Colorado