Most Aurora, Colorado personal injury claims must be filed within 2 years from the date of injury. Common claims subject to the 2-year limitation include:
- Slip and falls
- Dog bites
- Premises liability (dangerous buildings or property)
- Assault injury claims
- General negligence by another person or business
Missing this deadline almost always prevents you from recovering damages against the responsible party, no matter how strong your case appears.
Colorado Car Accident Statute of Limitations
Car accident injury claims in Colorado generally have a 3-year statute of limitations. This 3-year timeframe applies to claims arising from:
- Car accidents
- Truck or tractor-trailer crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents caused by vehicles
Lawsuits filed after three years are usually dismissed unless a rare exception to the rule applies.
Wrongful Death Filing Deadlines in Colorado
Wrongful death actions in Colorado must be generally filed within 2 years of the date of the person’s death.
A wrongful death claim can result from:
- Fatal car crashes
- Deadly worksite or workplace injuries
- Accidental deaths caused by medical negligence
- Fatalities from unsafe property or premises conditions
- Fatal injuries in product liability or other preventable incidents
If family or eligible relatives wait too long to file, they permanently lose the chance to hold responsible parties financially liable.
Exceptions to The Statute of Limitations
Some of the common exceptions to the statute of limitations include: Discovery Rule
The statute of limitations in Colorado may not begin to run until the injured person discovers or reasonably should have discovered their injury and its connection to the other party’s wrongful conduct. This can come up in situations where injuries develop slowly or are not immediately obvious after the wrongful act.
Injured Minors
If the person injured is under 18 at the time the injury occurred, the statute of limitations typically does not start until their 18th birthday.
Mental Illness or Legal Disability
For people legally incapacitated or found to be mentally disabled at the time of injury, Colorado law can pause (toll) the statute of limitations. The time limit usually starts or restarts if the person regains capacity.
Claims Against Government Entities
Claims involving Colorado government agencies, public entities, or employees require written notice of a claim within 182 days of an injury. This rule applies to cases like:
- Collisions with municipal buses, police cars, or other city vehicles
- Injuries on public sidewalks or in public parks
- Harm caused by negligent city, county, or state workers
Missing the notice deadline almost always results in the loss of the right to make a claim, regardless of your injury’s severity.
Fraud or Concealment
If the responsible party deliberately hides information or engages in fraud that keeps a victim from learning about their claim at the right time, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the injured person uncovers, or reasonably should have uncovered, the deception.
Defendant Outside Colorado
If the at-fault individual moves out of Colorado after causing the injury or leaves the state to avoid being served, the limitations period may be paused for the duration they are not present in Colorado.
Understanding the deadlines is a critical part of your claim; if you miss it, you likely won’t be able to recover any damages through a lawsuit. If you have any questions about the timeline in your specific case, contact our team today to schedule a free consultation.