Colorado law guide
Colorado Car Accident Laws, in Plain English
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Three years for car crashes but two for almost everything else, a 50% fault bar, and a 182-day trap for government claims — Colorado's rules, without the legalese.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and CO Legal Help is not a law firm. Deadlines and rules vary by situation — a participating Colorado law firm can explain what applies to you. No outcome is guaranteed.
Attorney advertising. CO Legal Help is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your information may be shared with a participating Colorado law firm for review. No outcome is guaranteed.
Three years for car accidents — two for almost everything else
Colorado gives most personal injury lawsuits two years from the date of injury (C.R.S. 13-80-102) — but motor vehicle accident claims get three years (13-80-101). That extra year applies to car, truck, and motorcycle crashes; a slip and fall or dog bite stays on the two-year clock. Waiting is still costly: witnesses scatter and video gets erased long before any deadline.
The 182-day trap: government claims
If your crash involves a government entity — a city vehicle, an RTD bus, a state road defect — the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act requires written notice within 182 days (C.R.S. 24-10-109). Miss it and the claim is generally gone, no matter how strong. When anything public is involved, the clock is sprinting.
The 50% bar: modified comparative negligence
Colorado follows modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111): you can recover as long as you were less than 50% at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. At 50%, recovery is barred — a stricter line than most states, and exactly why insurers push so hard to shift blame onto you.
Dogs, lane filtering, and the first offer
Colorado's dog-bite law runs on two tracks: strict liability for serious bodily injury (economic damages, regardless of the dog's history — C.R.S. 13-21-124), and ordinary negligence for lesser injuries. For riders: lane filtering past stopped traffic at 15 mph or less has been legal since August 2024, though the law is under state review through 2027. And on any claim: first offers often arrive before the damage is fully known — a participating Colorado law firm can review an offer for free at the Colorado personal injury hub.
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Colorado law FAQ
Common questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Generally three years from the date of a motor vehicle accident — but most other injuries get only two years, and government-entity claims require written notice within 182 days. This is general information, not legal advice; a participating Colorado law firm can explain the deadlines that apply to you.
What if I was partly at fault?
Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule lets you recover as long as you were less than 50% at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. A participating Colorado law firm can explain how this may apply.
Is this legal advice?
No. CO Legal Help is a legal advertising website, not a law firm. This guide is general information; a participating Colorado law firm can review your specific situation for free.
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