Colorado Car Accident Settlement Blueprint

Use this hub to connect the settlement calculator outputs with the statutes and insurance rules that control car, truck, motorcycle, and rideshare claims across Colorado.

Key statutes & benchmarks

Statute of limitations: Three years for motor vehicle collisions under C.R.S. § 13-80-101, with shorter notice windows (180 days) if a government entity is involved.
Fault framework: Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule—claimants at 50% or more fault recover nothing; lesser percentages reduce the award proportionally.
Insurance minimums: Drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 limits, which often require UM/UIM stacking or policy discovery to reach fair compensation in serious injury cases.
Damage caps: General noneconomic damages use the statewide cap ($729,790 for pre-2025 incidents; $1.5M for filings on/after January 1, 2025), subject to comparative fault reductions.

Colorado car accident laws at a glance

Colorado car accident laws set the guardrails for every case our calculator models. They confirm that Colorado is an at-fault state for car accidents, which keeps liability squarely on the negligent driver and their insurer. The same statutes spell out Colorado minimum auto insurance requirements—25/50/15 liability limits plus mandatory MedPay offers—and they preserve your three-year window to sue while preserving shorter notice deadlines against public entities.

Use this page to connect those laws with the calculator inputs: run scenarios that reflect policy limits, comparative fault percentages, and the evidence you have to prove negligence. If a step feels unfamiliar, click into the supporting guides below for deeper statutory analysis and practice tips.

When to loop in a Denver truck accident lawyer

Commercial crashes escalate quickly—multiple insurers, federal safety regulations, and data downloads that disappear if you do not act fast. If the claim involves a tractor-trailer on I-70 or a delivery fleet in the metro, partnering with a Denver truck accident lawyer helps preserve driver qualification files, hours-of-service logs, and telematics before evidence is lost. Use the calculator to bracket damages, then coordinate with the trucking specialist so their litigation plan aligns with your valuation work.

Motorcycle accident insight for Colorado Springs riders

Riders hurt in a motorcycle accident Colorado Springs jurisdiction face venue-specific hurdles: El Paso County juries expect helmet evidence, lane positioning proof, and expert testimony on visibility. Document road debris or construction around Powers Boulevard and Academy Boulevard, and capture dashcam footage from surrounding vehicles whenever possible. Plug those facts into the calculator so you can explain how a motorcycle bias adjuster might reduce the offer and what evidence you need to overcome it.

Colorado car accident FAQs

What to do after a car accident in Colorado

Move to safety, call 911, and photograph every angle of the scene before first responders clear vehicles. Exchange information, get the DR 3447 incident number, and seek medical attention even if symptoms feel minor. Within 24 hours, notify insurers in writing, preserve dashcam or phone footage, and log every out-of-pocket cost. Those steps feed straight into the calculator fields for medical specials, lost wages, and liability.

Is Colorado an at-fault state for car accidents?

Yes. Colorado’s tort system makes the negligent driver—and their carrier—responsible for bodily injury, property damage, and non-economic losses. Comparative negligence applies, so use the calculator’s fault slider to see how a 10, 25, or 40 percent allocation impacts the bottom line and whether you remain under the 50 percent bar.

Colorado minimum auto insurance requirements

Colorado minimum auto insurance requirements sit at $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. MedPay must be offered at $5,000 unless rejected in writing, and carriers must offer UM/UIM coverage equal to the liability limits. Always document stackable policies or umbrella layers—if limits are low, flag the gap in your demand letter and run alternative scenarios in the tool.

Suing for a car accident in Colorado

Suing for a car accident in Colorado usually starts with a demand package, but file suit well before the three-year statute if negotiations stall. For wrongful death, the deadline drops to two years, and government defendants require 182-day notice under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Use the calculator outputs to anchor your complaint’s damages section and to model settlement brackets during mediation.

Pair the calculator with these guides

Start with an estimate, then review these explainer pieces to understand how insurers adjust your range for liability, medical documentation, and venue.

In-depth articles to explore

Dive into these guides for deeper explorations of statutes, insurance rules, and negotiation tactics that shape Colorado car, truck, and motorcycle claims.

Colorado car accident statute of limitations

Breaks down the three-year deadline and exceptions for government defendants.

Read article →

Understanding Colorado’s at-fault insurance system

Explains minimum coverage, stacking options, and how adjusters evaluate liability.

Read article →

Colorado modified comparative negligence explained

Uses real-world math examples to show how fault percentages reduce settlement offers.

Read article →

Calculator prompts for car crash intakes

Capture property damage separately—total loss valuations often anchor negotiations.
Log medical specials by provider; adjusters scrutinize billing reasonableness.
Document time missed from work and any diminished earning capacity evidence.
Use the negligence slider to test best/worst-case comparative fault allocations.