Colorado Wrongful Death Lawyer
Any death in the family brings profound grief and sorrow for all of that individual’s loved ones. When the death is the unexpected result of another party’s negligence, the family can be entitled to compensation for the harm caused.
A wrongful death lawsuit allows certain family members to pursue damages from the party whose negligence or intentional actions caused the death of a loved one. Need an Injury Lawyer Colorado assists families all over Colorado with wrongful death claims, including clients in Arvada, Thornton, Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, Westminster, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and many other nearby areas.
Wrongful Death Laws in Colorado
Under Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-202, an entitled party can bring a legal action against any person whose wrongful act, neglect, or default of another party caused a loved one’s death. State law in Colorado establishes specific time periods for which certain relatives may file these claims.
Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-201(1)(a) states that in the first year after a person’s death, only the spouse of the deceased can bring such a claim. The child or children of the deceased may bring claims only with the spouse or upon the written election of the spouse or if there is no spouse, and another designated beneficiary will be permitted to file a claim if designated in accordance with state law.
Under Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-201(1)(b), any one of the aforementioned parties can file a wrongful death action in the second year after a loved one’s death. Unlike most personal injury actions in Colorado in which the statute of limitations (time limit) is three years, state law places a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death actions.
Family members may be entitled to various compensatory damages in these cases, but state law does establish certain limits on the amounts that may be awarded. While economic damages (damages relating to calculable losses such as medical expenses and lost wages) are not subject to any damage caps, Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-203 placed a limit of $250,000 on noneconomic damages (damages for subjective harm such as pain and suffering or disfigurement).
The noneconomic damages cap is occasionally revised by the Colorado Secretary of State for inflation, and the maximum amount of noneconomic damages that can be recovered as of 2017 is $468,010. Noneconomic damage caps do not apply in cases involving the death of a child or felonious killings.
Causes of Wrongful Death in Colorado
People can be killed in any one of a number of unfortunate incidents in Colorado. Some of the most common reasons wrongful death lawsuits are filed stem from cases involving:
- Car Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Commerical Vehicles
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Ridesharing (Uber or Lyft) Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
Find a Wrongful Death Attorney in Colorado
Was your loved one killed because of another party’s negligence in Colorado? You will want to contact Need an Injury Lawyer Colorado as soon as possible.
Our firm understands that families who have recently lost loved ones are rarely prepared to be making court appearances and satisfy legal deadlines for important paperwork, which is why our experienced personal injury attorneys handle all of these requirements on your behalf. We can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and Need an Injury Lawyer Colorado provides free, no-obligation consultations so you can have your case reviewed and fully understand all of your legal options.