Colorado · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026

Deadline to sue after a car accident in Colorado

Time limits, government claims and a calculator.

Short answer

In Colorado, you generally have 3 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. Before suing a Colorado government body (city, county, state agency) for injury or damage, you must file written notice within 182 days after you discover the injury (C.R.S. § 24-10-109(1)).

Property damage (your car)
3 years
Injury
3 years
Law
C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) (all tort actions for bodily injury or property damage from use of a motor vehicle: 3 years)
Small claims limit
$7,500

Claims against a government in Colorado

  • Before suing a Colorado government body (city, county, state agency) for injury or damage, you must file written notice within 182 days after you discover the injury (C.R.S. § 24-10-109(1)).

Recent changes in Colorado

  • HB 24-1472 raised the general cap on noneconomic (pain and suffering) damages in injury lawsuits to $1.5 million for civil actions filed, or claims arising, on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5(3)(a)(II)); the cap is set to be adjusted for inflation from 2028.

Deadline to sue in Colorado

Colorado: 3 years for property damageEnter the date of the crash to see the last day to file a lawsuit.

Protecting your deadline in Colorado

  1. Deadline for both kinds of claim in Colorado: 3 years.
  2. If a government was involved, act fast. Before suing a Colorado government body (city, county, state agency) for injury or damage, you must file written notice within 182 days after you discover the injury (C.R.S. § 24-10-109(1)).
  3. Small claims, for car damage up to $7,500: Colorado small claims guide on Small Claims Map
  4. Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.

Free help in Colorado

Questions about deadlines to sue in Colorado

How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Colorado?

3 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) (all tort actions for bodily injury or property damage from use of a motor vehicle: 3 years)).

How do claims against a government work in Colorado?

Before suing a Colorado government body (city, county, state agency) for injury or damage, you must file written notice within 182 days after you discover the injury (C.R.S. § 24-10-109(1)).

What is the small claims limit in Colorado?

$7,500.

More for Colorado drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.