# Denver car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims

> After a Denver car accident: Colorado's 3-year deadline, Denver police crash reports, the 182-day notice for city claims, Denver courts and lawyer checks.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/denver/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

A Denver crash is governed by Colorado law: you generally have 3 years to sue over injuries or vehicle damage from a car crash, and you recover nothing if your share of fault is 50% or more. The local deadline to know is for claims against the City and County of Denver: a written notice of claim is due within 182 days. Denver Police crash reports are ordered online or by mail, but reports that drivers filed online themselves come from the state, not the police.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit deadline, injury or vehicle damage | 3 years (Colorado law) |
| Wrongful death deadline | 2 years from the date of death |
| Fault rule | No recovery at 50% or more of the fault |
| Notice of claim to the City and County of Denver | 182 days |
| Denver Police crash report by mail | $10 |
| Traffic deaths in Denver, 2025 | 94 |
| Denver County Court civil limit | $25,000 |
| Small claims limit | $7,500 |

## Deadlines and fault rules in Denver

Denver follows Colorado's statute of limitations. A lawsuit over injuries or vehicle damage from a car crash must generally be filed within 3 years (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)(I)). A wrongful death claim has a shorter deadline: 2 years from the date of death.

Colorado uses modified comparative fault. Your damages are reduced by your share of the blame, and you recover nothing if your share is 50% or more (C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1)). The [Colorado guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/colorado/) covers insurance minimums and other state rules, and the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/?state=co&fault=20#fault) shows how a fault share changes a claim.

## Getting a crash report in Denver

The Denver Police Records Unit provides the crash report that insurers usually ask for. Reports are typically ready 5 to 7 days after the report is closed; a crash still under investigation can take longer. You can order one in two ways:

1. **Online**, through the "Order Crash Report Online" link on the Denver Police Records page.
2. **By mail**, with the DPD report request form and a $10 check or money order payable to the Manager of Revenue, sent to the Denver Police Department Records Unit, 1331 Cherokee Street, Room 420, Denver, CO 80204. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope, or an email address to get the report by email.

Some crashes need an "Investigation Report" from the department's Civil Liability Section instead, ordered online with a $20 research fee. That applies to crashes involving a death or serious injury, a juvenile driver or passenger, an active investigation or a city vehicle.

> **Note:** If you filed the crash report yourself online, Denver Police do not have it. Get it from the state's [Colorado crash reporting website](https://dmv.colorado.gov/report-accident).

Our guide to the [police report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains how a report is used in a claim.

## Claims against the City and County of Denver

Colorado's Governmental Immunity Act requires a written notice of claim before you can sue a public entity. Denver's City Attorney's Office says the notice must be filed within 182 days of the injury or damage, and a late notice cannot support a lawsuit. The statute, C.R.S. § 24-10-109, counts the period from the date the injury was discovered.

The notice should include your name and address, a short account of when, where and how the crash happened, the name of any city employee involved, the nature of your injuries or damage, and the amount of money you are asking for. File it online through the City Attorney's form, or send it to the Claims Dept., City Attorney's Office, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 1108, Denver, CO 80202.

After filing, you generally must wait 90 days before suing, unless Denver denies the claim sooner. For a crash, the key waiver of sovereign immunity is this: Immunity is waived for injuries caused by a public employee driving a vehicle the public entity owns or leases, in the course of employment (emergency vehicles operating under the emergency-vehicle rules excepted). Colorado caps what can be recovered from public entities, per person and per occurrence, and the Secretary of State adjusts the amounts every four years.

> **Warning:** The notice deadline of 182 days is much shorter than the lawsuit deadline of 3 years. A claim against another public body, such as a state agency, needs its own notice; for the state, it goes to the Colorado attorney general.

## Crashes in Denver

Denver's Vision Zero program reports 94 traffic deaths in the city in 2025. Denver had 740,613 residents in 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates.

## Where a lawsuit is filed

Denver is both a city and a county, so a lawsuit filed in Denver goes to one of its two trial courts. Colorado's venue rules decide whether Denver or another county is the right place to file.

- **Denver County Court** hears money claims up to $25,000, and its small claims division handles claims up to $7,500.
- **Denver District Court** hears larger cases. Claims over $25,000 must be filed there.

Our guide to [filing a lawsuit](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/filing-a-lawsuit/) explains what happens after a case is filed.

## Finding a lawyer in Denver

The Colorado Bar Association does not make referrals; it offers an online Find-a-Lawyer directory, where you can search by practice area. The Denver Bar Association's website points the public to that same directory. To confirm that a lawyer is licensed in Colorado, call Colorado Attorney Registration at 303-928-7800 or use its online attorney search. Our guide on how to [check a lawyer's license](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/check-a-lawyers-license/) explains what to look for.

## FAQ

### How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Denver?

Generally 3 years from the crash for injuries or vehicle damage, under Colorado law. A wrongful death claim must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.

### How do I get a Denver police accident report?

Order it online from the Denver Police Records page, or by mail with the request form and a $10 check or money order. Crashes with a death, serious injury, juvenile or city vehicle need an Investigation Report from Civil Liability.

### How long do I have to file a claim against the City of Denver?

The notice of claim is due within 182 days of the injury or damage. You can file it online or by mail with the City Attorney's Office.

### Can I sue in small claims court after a Denver crash?

Yes, if your claim is $7,500 or less. Denver County Court hears claims up to $25,000; larger claims go to Denver District Court.

### What if I was partly at fault for a crash in Denver?

Colorado reduces your damages by your share of fault. If your share is 50% or more, you recover nothing.

## Sources

- [City and County of Denver, File a Claim](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/City-Attorneys-Office/File-a-Claim) — notice contents and filing options
- [City and County of Denver, Police Records](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Police-Department/Police-Records) — crash and investigation reports
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 24-10-109 (copy on colorado.public.law)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_24-10-109) — notice to public entities, including the state
- [Denver County Court, Civil](https://www.denvercountycourt.org/civil/) — civil and small claims jurisdiction
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)(I)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_13-80-101), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_13-21-111), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(d)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_13-80-102), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 13-80-108(2)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_13-80-108), checked October 29, 2026
- [Denver Police Department, Report Request form DPD 241B](https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/police-department/documents/records/dpd241b.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [City and County of Denver, Vision Zero Statistics & Real-Time Tracking](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Citywide-Programs-and-Initiatives/Vision-Zero/Statistics), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 24-10-106(1)(a)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_24-10-106), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado General Assembly, C.R.S. § 24-10-114(1)](https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_24-10-114), checked October 29, 2026
- [Colorado Bar Association, FAQs for the Public](https://cobar.org/For-the-Public/FAQs-For-the-Public), checked October 29, 2026
- [US Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025, SUB-EST2025)](https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025.csv), checked May 14, 2026