Key facts: Colorado
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Colorado follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for Colorado
General PI deadline is two years, but motor vehicle accident claims have a three-year deadline under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101. Wrongful death is two years from the date of death. Governmental immunity notice is required within 182 days under § 24-10-109.
Related: Colorado comparative negligence rule
Colorado follows a modified 50% bar rule. Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the plaintiff is barred when fault is "as great as" the defendant’s. Recovery is allowed only when the plaintiff is 49% or less at fault.
Read the full Colorado comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Colorado attorney before relying on it.