What this video covers
- Government claims have 182-day deadline
- Missing it bars your entire claim
- Document everything immediately after injury
Video summary
Many accident victims don't realize that claims against government entities—like a city, county, or state agency—operate under different rules than claims against private parties.
If you were injured due to negligence by a public entity in Colorado, you have only 182 days from the date of injury to file a written notice of claim.
This deadline is set by Colorado law and is much tighter than the standard personal injury deadline.
Transcript
Many accident victims don't realize that claims against government entities—like a city, county, or state agency—operate under different rules than claims against private parties. If you were injured due to negligence by a public entity in Colorado, you have only 182 days from the date of injury to file a written notice of claim. This deadline is set by Colorado law and is much tighter than the standard personal injury deadline. Missing it can permanently bar your ability to pursue compensation, even if your case has strong merit. The notice doesn't have to be a formal lawsuit; it's a written statement sent to the government entity documenting what happened and your injuries. Because this deadline is so short, it's critical to document the details of your incident immediately—photos, witness names, the date and time, and how you were injured. Keep medical records and bills as evidence. If you think a government entity's negligence caused your injury, don't wait to seek guidance. The 182-day window moves quickly, and there's no extension once it passes.