Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Colorado?
Every rule below is quoted from Colorado law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
We can't tell you whether you need a lawyer. We can show you the Colorado rules that usually decide it: how fault is split, how long you have, and how injury lawyers are allowed to charge. Many people with only car damage settle directly with the insurer. People with injuries, disputed fault or a claim near a deadline often talk to a lawyer first.
How fault changes your claim
If you were partly at fault
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence. You can only recover damages if your share of fault is less than the other party's. If your fault is equal to or greater than theirs, you recover nothing.
“if such negligence was not as great as the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought”
How long you have
- 3 years
- to sue for injuriesC.R.S. 13-80-101(1) intro and (1)(n)(I)
- 3 years
- to sue for car or property damageC.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)(I)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathC.R.S. 13-80-102(1) intro and (1)(d); see also 13-21-204
- 182 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedC.R.S. 24-10-109(1) (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act)
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 3 years to file a lawsuit for injuries from a car crash.
“shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not thereafter”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a state or local government vehicle or road caused your crash, you must send a written notice of claim within 182 days of discovering the injury, or you lose the right to sue.
“shall file a written notice as provided in this section within one hundred eighty-two days after the date of the discovery of the injury”
How injury lawyers charge in Colorado
Contingency fee rules
Colorado does not cap the percentage a lawyer can charge in a personal injury contingency fee case. The fee must be reasonable, and the contingent fee agreement must be in writing with specific disclosures.
“A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses.”
Questions to ask any lawyer before you sign
- What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case costs like records and expert fees if we lose?
- Will you handle my case yourself, or pass it to someone else?
- How long do cases like mine usually take here?
- What is the deadline for my claim, and when will you file?
If the insurer is the problem
File a complaint with the state
To file a complaint against an insurance company in Colorado, use the Division of Insurance's online Consumer Portal.
“Complaints are filed through the Consumer Portal, where you will first need to create an account using an email address and password.”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.