If a driver hit you while you were walking in Denver, a Denver pedestrian accident lawyer can help you recover while you focus on healing. Crossings and busy corridors like I-25, I-70, and Colorado Boulevard put people on foot at serious risk, and a pedestrian has no protection against a moving vehicle. The injuries are often severe, and the medical bills add up fast.
An experienced attorney investigates how the crash happened, deals with the driver’s insurance company, and fights for the full value of your claim. The goal is to hold the careless driver accountable and get you the compensation Colorado law allows.
Why Do You Need a Denver Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
A Denver pedestrian accident lawyer protects injured walkers from insurance companies that try to shift blame onto the victim. Pedestrian injuries tend to be serious, which gives insurers a reason to fight harder to limit payouts. Your lawyer gathers the police report, video, and witness accounts, documents the full extent of your injuries, and negotiates from strength so you are not pressured into accepting less than your case is worth.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Denver?
Pedestrian accidents in Denver usually trace back to driver negligence. The most common causes our Denver pedestrian accident lawyers see include:
- Drivers failing to yield at crosswalks
- Distracted driving near intersections and parking lots
- Drivers turning without checking for people on foot
- Speeding through residential and school zones
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Poor lighting and unmarked crossings
In 2024, 120 pedestrians were killed on Colorado roads, even after that number fell 12 percent from the year before (CDOT, 2024).
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Denver?
The steps you take after a pedestrian accident in Denver can protect both your health and your claim. Follow this checklist as closely as your condition allows:
- Get medical attention right away, even if your injuries feel minor at first.
- Report what happened and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report.
- Take photos of the scene, the cause of your injury, your injuries, and the surroundings.
- Collect names, phone numbers, and details from everyone involved and from any witnesses.
- Do not admit fault or apologize, since those words can be used against you later.
- Notify your insurance company, but avoid a recorded statement until you speak with a lawyer.
- Contact a Denver lawyer before you accept any settlement offer or sign paperwork.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Compensation in a Colorado pedestrian accident claim, known as damages, is meant to cover both your financial losses and the harm that is harder to put a price on. The table below shows what an injured person may pursue.
Types of Compensation in a Colorado Pedestrian Accident Claim
| Type of Damage | What It Covers |
| Medical expenses | Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment |
| Lost wages | Income lost during recovery plus reduced future earning capacity |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life |
| Long-term care | In-home care, assistive devices, and ongoing therapy for lasting injuries |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Prescriptions, medical equipment, and travel to medical appointments |
How Does Colorado’s Fault Rule Affect Your Claim?
Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) lets you recover compensation as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for what happened. Your award is then reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total 100,000 dollars and you are found 20 percent at fault, you would receive 80,000 dollars. Insurance companies often try to assign you more blame than you deserve, so a Denver pedestrian accident lawyer works to keep that percentage as low as the facts allow.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Denver?
Colorado gives you three years from the date of a pedestrian accident to file a lawsuit, because the crash involves a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101). If your claim is against a government entity, such as for a dangerous crosswalk, you may have as little as 182 days to file a formal notice. Evidence fades quickly, so it is best to act early.
Do not wait to get legal help. Missing Colorado’s filing deadline almost always means losing your right to recover, no matter how strong your case is.
Who Is at Fault in a Colorado Pedestrian Accident?
Fault in a pedestrian accident usually falls on the driver, who has a legal duty to yield at crosswalks and to watch for people on foot. Even so, insurers often argue the pedestrian darted out or crossed against a signal. Under Colorado’s comparative negligence rule, you can still recover as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and a Denver pedestrian accident lawyer works to keep blame where it belongs.
How Much Does a Denver Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Cost?
Most Denver pedestrian accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront and no hourly bills arrive while your case is ongoing. The attorney fee is a percentage of the compensation recovered, and you owe it only if your case is successful. We also offer a free consultation, so you can learn where you stand at no cost and with no obligation.
Contact a Denver Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was hurt in a pedestrian accident in Denver, do not face the insurance companies alone. Our team is ready to review your case, answer your questions, and fight for the compensation you deserve. We serve clients throughout downtown Denver and the surrounding metro area and offer a free consultation. Call today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the driver says I stepped into the road?
Drivers often blame pedestrians, but Colorado law requires them to use care and to yield at crosswalks. Even if you were partly at fault, you can recover as long as your share was less than 50 percent. We use witness statements, video, and the crash report to show what really happened.
Can I recover if I was hit in a parking lot or driveway?
Yes. Drivers owe pedestrians a duty of care in parking lots, driveways, and on private property, not just on public streets. If a careless driver hit you, you may have a claim no matter where it happened.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim?
Because a pedestrian accident involves a motor vehicle, Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash. Claims against a government entity can require a formal notice within 182 days.
How much is my pedestrian accident case worth?
Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills, lost income, and the long-term effects. Pedestrian injuries are often severe, which can increase the value of a claim.