Every Colorado injury claim has a filing deadline — and missing it almost always means losing your right to recover.
The General Deadline
In Colorado, the statute of limitations sets a strict deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. The general rule is two years from the date of injury for most personal injury claims. If you do not file suit within that window, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case no matter how strong it is.
This deadline exists so that evidence stays fresh and witnesses can be located while memories are still reliable. It also gives defendants certainty that they will not be sued indefinitely.
The Three-Year Rule for Car Crashes
Colorado treats motor-vehicle cases differently. For injuries arising from a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, the deadline is three years for claims arising from motor-vehicle accidents. Because most injury claims in Colorado involve vehicles, this longer window applies more often than people expect — but you should never wait until the deadline approaches.
Claims Against Government Entities
If your injury involved a city, county, or state entity — a CDOT road defect, an RTD bus, or a government vehicle — special rules apply. Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, notice of a claim against a Colorado public entity generally must be filed within 182 days under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. This deadline is far shorter than the ordinary statute of limitations and is easy to miss.
Exceptions That Can Change the Clock
Some situations pause or extend the deadline. For minors, the clock generally does not start until they turn 18. The discovery rule may delay the start date when an injury (such as from medical malpractice or a toxic exposure) was not immediately apparent. These exceptions are narrow and fact-specific.
Why Acting Early Matters
Even with years on the clock, waiting hurts your case. Skid marks fade, vehicles are repaired, surveillance footage is overwritten, and witnesses move away. The sooner an attorney begins preserving evidence, the stronger your claim will be.
Have questions about your own situation? Get a free, confidential case review. You pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Colorado attorney.