Denver Car Accident Lawyer Guide: First Steps, Crash Reports and Choosing a Lawyer
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A collision in Denver raises the same questions for most people: what the law expects at the scene, where the report comes from, how long a claim stays open, and how to pick a car accident lawyer if you need one. The Census Bureau puts the 2025 population of Denver near 740,613.
The points below come from Colorado statutes and official agency websites, reviewed November 2026. Busy routes in the city include Colorado Boulevard, Colfax Avenue, I-70 and I-25.
Duties at the Scene of a Collision in Denver
State law sets out what each driver involved must do. Doing it in order keeps your options open.
- Remain at the scene, or as near as is safe. C.R.S. 42-4-1601 makes leaving a crash with injuries a criminal offense.
- Phone 911 when someone is injured or a driver appears impaired. If the road is a divided highway and your car still runs safely, C.R.S. 42-4-1602(2) says to clear it from the travel lanes.
- Help any injured person in a reasonable way, per C.R.S. 42-4-1603, and swap names, addresses and registration details with the other motorist.
- Notify police. Under C.R.S. 42-4-1606, a collision causing injury, death or property damage must be reported at once to the nearest police authority.
- Photograph the cars, license plates, traffic signals and visible injuries, and collect contact details from witnesses.
Get checked by a medical provider promptly, because pain from a crash can appear late, and save receipts, estimates and pay stubs together.
Requesting a Crash Report in Denver
Reports stay with whichever agency answered the call, and every request starts with the case number.
- Within city limits: reports are written by the Denver Police Department, and its records page explains how to ask for one.
- Outside city limits in Denver: none exist, because the city and the county are one government, and the Denver Police Department answers calls countywide.
- On interstates and state highways in unincorporated areas the Colorado State Patrol usually responds; its crash information page explains how to ask for a copy.
State Law Behind a Colorado Car Accident Claim
Colorado assigns responsibility by fault: the careless driver, and that driver's insurer, usually cover the damage.
- Time limit: three years to sue for most injuries from operating a motor vehicle, C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n).
- Government vehicles or roads: a written notice of claim is due within 182 days after the injury is discovered, C.R.S. 24-10-109.
- Comparative fault: C.R.S. 13-21-111 cuts an award by the injured person's percentage of fault and bars recovery at 50 percent or higher.
- Minimum coverage: $25,000 for one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $15,000 for property, C.R.S. 10-4-620.
The Court for Denver Claims
Civil injury suits arising in Denver usually go to the Denver District Court (2nd Judicial District), located at 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 (Denver City & County Building, civil matters). Lower-value disputes may be heard in county court, and the large majority of crash claims end in a settlement.
Crash Numbers for the Area
Federal crash records count 63 traffic deaths in Denver County during 2024 (FARS data), a total that spans every road in the county, not only city streets.
Choosing a Car Accident Lawyer in Denver
- Look the lawyer up in the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel's attorney search to confirm active status and see any public discipline.
- Ask about experience with vehicle injury claims specifically, including cases taken to trial.
- Insist on a signed, written contingency agreement, which Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) requires, and learn how costs are handled.
- Treat uninvited outreach shortly after a crash as a warning sign: C.R.S. 13-93-111 prohibits soliciting injured people within 30 days.