Updated November 4, 2026: Corrected the police-reporting rule to track C.R.S. § 42-4-1606, added what to do when police are on accident alert, the Colorado deadlines and fault rules that shape a claim, and new FAQs. If you need a Colorado car accident claim plan for your facts, deadlines, medical treatment, or insurance coverage dispute, start with a free consultation.
Car accidents can be overwhelming and traumatic experiences. In the moments immediately following an accident, it's crucial to stay calm and take the right steps to protect yourself, your passengers, and your legal rights. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do after a car accident in Colorado.
The stakes are not abstract. The Colorado Department of Transportation reported in January 2026 that 701 people were killed on Colorado roads in 2025, up from 689 in 2024, and 235 of those deaths involved impaired driving. Our breakdown of the 2025 Colorado traffic fatality data covers where and how those crashes happened.
Emergency First
If anyone is seriously injured, call 911 immediately. Your safety and the safety of others is the top priority.
Step 1: Ensure Safety and Move to a Safe Location
If your vehicle is still drivable and you're not seriously injured, move to the side of the road or a safe location away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. If your car is not drivable, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until help arrives.
Step 2: Check for Injuries and Call for Help
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Even if you feel fine initially, some injuries may not be immediately apparent due to adrenaline. Call 911 if:
- Anyone is injured (even minor injuries)
- There is significant property damage
- The accident blocks traffic
- You suspect the other driver is under the influence
- There are any disputes about fault
Step 3: Document Everything
Documentation is crucial for insurance claims and potential legal action. Take photos and videos of:
Vehicle Damage
- All angles of both vehicles
- Close-up shots of damage
- License plates
- VIN numbers if visible
Scene Documentation
- Traffic signs and signals
- Road conditions
- Weather conditions
- Skid marks or debris
Watch: crash-scene documentation
Document the scene before the evidence changes
This short Conduit Law video summarizes the key photos, road-condition details, and witness information to preserve after a Colorado crash.
Watch the standalone video page →Step 4: Exchange Information
Exchange the following information with all parties involved:
- Names and contact information of all drivers and passengers
- Insurance information including company name, policy number, and contact details
- Vehicle information including make, model, year, and license plate numbers
- Driver's license numbers of all drivers involved
Part of this exchange is a legal duty, not a courtesy. Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1603(1), a driver in a crash that injures someone or damages an attended vehicle must give their name, address, and the vehicle's registration number, show their driver's license on request, and give reasonable assistance to anyone who is hurt, including arranging a ride to a doctor or hospital when treatment is clearly needed. Photograph the other driver's license and insurance card rather than copying them by hand; a photo does not transpose digits. If the other driver was working for a rideshare company, note which app and whether they were on a trip, because that changes which policy applies. See our guide to rideshare driver at-fault crashes in Colorado.
Step 5: Gather Witness Information
If there are witnesses to the accident, get their:
- Names and phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Statements about what they saw (if they're willing to provide them)
Witnesses leave fast, and memories fade faster. If someone is willing to write down what they saw, point them to our guide on how to write a witness statement. In a chain-reaction crash, independent witnesses are often the only way to sort out the order of impacts; see who is at fault in an I-70 pileup.
Step 6: File a Police Report
Colorado's rule is broader than many drivers assume. Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1606(1), the driver in a crash involving injury, serious bodily injury, death, or property damage must give immediate notice of the crash location to the nearest police authority, and must return to and stay at the scene if police direct it. There is no dollar threshold on that duty. A dented bumper is property damage.
The $1,000 figure people cite applies to the officer, not to you. Under § 42-4-1606(4)(b)(I), an officer who has a reasonable basis to believe that no one was injured and that no single person's property damage exceeds $1,000 does not have to investigate or file a report, unless a participant specifically requests one or a driver cannot show proof of insurance. So if you want a report for a minor crash, ask for one. Violating the reporting statute is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.
When police are on accident alert
During severe weather, the Colorado State Patrol and local police go on "accident alert" and respond only to crashes where a vehicle is disabled, someone has an injury needing medical attention, alcohol or drugs are involved, a hit-and-run is alleged, or public property such as a guardrail is damaged. For everything else, CSP's crash guidance is that the drivers exchange information and file the crash report themselves as soon as possible, online through the state's Online Crash Reporting System (those reports go to the Department of Revenue, not CSP) or at the troop office for the area where the crash happened. If you are not sure whether your area is on accident alert, call the police and ask.
An investigated CSP report can take up to 10 working days to process, and the basic report is usually enough for your insurer. Our guides explain how to get a copy of your Colorado accident report and whether you can make an insurance claim without a police report.
Step 7: Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of the accident. Nearly every policy requires "prompt" notice, which is a much shorter clock than your deadline to sue; see how long you have to report an accident to insurance in Colorado. While you are on the phone, ask whether your policy carries medical payments coverage: Colorado auto policies include $5,000 in MedPay unless the named insured rejected it in writing (C.R.S. § 10-4-635), and it can pay for that first medical visit regardless of fault. Provide them with:
- Basic facts about the accident
- Information about other parties involved
- Photos and documentation you've gathered
- Police report number (if available)
What NOT to Do After an Accident
Important Don'ts:
- Don't admit fault - Let the investigation determine liability
- Don't sign anything without consulting an attorney
- Don't give recorded statements to the other party's insurance company
- Don't post about the accident on social media
- Don't delay medical treatment - Some injuries worsen over time
What happens after these first steps? This is just Phase 1. Understanding the complete claim process—from medical treatment to settlement negotiations—is crucial. Learn all 5 phases of the Colorado personal injury claim process →
Colorado Deadlines and Rules That Shape Your Claim
Colorado is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, and that driver's insurer, pay for the harm. Four rules decide how much of that you can actually recover and how long you have to act.
Three years to file suit
Tort actions for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)). Claims against a government entity or employee, such as a city plow or an RTD bus, require written notice far sooner. See our Colorado statute of limitations guide and the 182-day government claim notice.
Partial fault reduces, and can end, recovery
Your own negligence does not bar recovery if it was not as great as the negligence of the person you are claiming against, but your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1)). At 50% or more, you recover nothing. That is why "I'm sorry" at the scene is a bad idea. Read more on comparative negligence in Colorado.
Minimum coverage is thin
Colorado requires only $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage (C.R.S. § 10-4-620). One ambulance ride and an ER visit can exhaust the per-person limit, which is when your own underinsured motorist coverage matters.
Fault, not no-fault
Colorado left its no-fault system in 2003, so you generally claim against the at-fault driver rather than your own carrier, with MedPay and UM/UIM as the exceptions. See is Colorado a no-fault state? and what drives value in Colorado motor vehicle accident settlements.
When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
You should consider contacting a personal injury attorney if:
- You or anyone else was injured in the accident
- The other driver is disputing fault
- Insurance companies are being difficult or offering low settlements
- The accident involved multiple vehicles
- There are complex legal issues involved
- You're unsure about your rights or the claims process
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call the police after a minor car accident in Colorado?
Yes. C.R.S. § 42-4-1606(1) requires the driver in a crash involving injury, serious bodily injury, death, or property damage to give immediate notice of the crash location to the nearest police authority. There is no dollar threshold on that duty. The $1,000 figure in the statute only lets an officer skip investigating and filing a report when no one was hurt and no single person's property damage appears to exceed $1,000, and even then the officer must file one if a participant asks or a driver cannot show proof of insurance.
What if police are on accident alert and will not come to the scene?
During severe weather, the Colorado State Patrol and local police go on "accident alert" and respond only to crashes with disabled vehicles, an injury needing medical attention, alcohol or drugs, a suspected hit-and-run, or damage to public property. For other crashes, CSP says the drivers must exchange information and file the crash report themselves, online through the state's Online Crash Reporting System or at the troop office, as soon as possible. If you are not sure whether your area is on accident alert, call the police and ask.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Generally three years. C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) gives tort actions for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle three years from when the cause of action accrues. Claims against a government entity or employee carry a much shorter written-notice deadline, and your insurance policy's notice requirement is shorter still, so treat three years as the outer limit, not a target.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Often, yes. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1), your own negligence does not bar recovery as long as it was not as great as the negligence of the person you are claiming against, but your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of fault. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing, which is why what you say at the scene matters.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after the accident?
Get checked. Adrenaline can mask whiplash, concussion, and soft-tissue injuries for hours or days, and a gap between the crash and your first medical visit is one of the first things an adjuster looks for. Colorado auto policies include $5,000 in medical payments coverage unless the named insured rejected it in writing (C.R.S. § 10-4-635), so ask your own insurer whether MedPay is available for that first visit.
What if the other driver has no insurance or not enough?
Colorado only requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, plus $15,000 for property damage (C.R.S. § 10-4-620). A serious injury can exceed that quickly. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap, so pull your policy and check for UM/UIM before you accept any offer.
This article is general information about Colorado law, not legal advice for your situation. Statutes cited are current as of the updated date above; confirm the current text at the Colorado General Assembly or talk with a lawyer about your facts.
Need Help After Your Accident?
If you've been injured in a car accident in Colorado, don't navigate the legal process alone. Contact Conduit Law for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your rights. If the crash happened in the metro area, our Denver car accident lawyer page explains how we build a claim around fault, coverage, treatment, and deadlines.