Denver Hit and Run Accident Lawyers

Experienced Legal Support for Hit and Run Accidents in Denver & Across Colorado

After a car accident, it is the responsibility of the people who are involved to exchange information with one another. Some drivers ignore this responsibility—out of fear or carelessness—and leave the accident scene without even stopping to see the harm they have caused. Aside from being scary for many victims who are left in a vulnerable place, hit and runs can leave you in a bad situation as you try to secure compensation.

Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime, and both our lawyers and law enforcement officers care about seeing justice done in these cases. Our team at Denver Trial Lawyers includes experienced and skilled personal injury attorneys, paralegals, investigators, nurse practitioners, and litigation technology specialists. We also have connections with local police departments and investigators whose insight may be needed to help solve your case. After a hit and run, we can provide you with the resources and representation needed to pursue justice and compensation.

Call Denver Trial Lawyers today at (303) 647-9990 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our hit and run accident attorney in Denver!

Recovering Expenses and Handling Insurance Claims After a Hit and Run

As with any other accident caused by a third party, you can recover all related expenses after a hit and run. However, if you do not know who hit you, you may need to file a claim with your insurance under your uninsured and underinsured motorists (UM/UIM) policy.

In theory, your insurer exists to help you recover fully if you are harmed in an accident. In practice, getting your insurer to pay you what you deserve can be difficult. You may even face unfair fraud claims because you do not know who hit you. In a case like this, having a lawyer on your side is especially important.

Our legal team is well known for its ability to review these accidents and protect our clients’ right to compensation. We have been dealing with insurance companies for years, and we know how to respond to tactics insurers may use to try to deny you payment.

When we evaluate your losses, we look beyond immediate medical bills to the full financial picture created by a hit and run accident in Denver. That may include future treatment costs, time away from work, reduced earning capacity, and out-of-pocket expenses such as towing or rental cars. We also consider how the collision has affected your daily life, including ongoing pain, anxiety, or limitations on activities you used to enjoy. By documenting these losses carefully, we are better positioned to explain your claim to an insurer or a jury.

Colorado insurance law can be confusing, especially when multiple coverages may apply after a crash. In many cases, medical payments coverage, collision coverage, and UM/UIM coverage interact in ways that are not obvious from your policy documents. We help you understand which coverages may respond, how deductibles work, and what timelines your policy sets for reporting a hit and run accident. This guidance can prevent common mistakes that insurers might use as a reason to delay or limit payment on a valid claim.

What to Do If You Do Not Have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (UM/UIM) Coverage

Because uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is optional in Colorado, some drivers who are injured in hit and runs are not sure where to turn for compensation. If you are in this situation, you still have options. Through investigative work, we may be able to determine who was responsible for your accident—and whose insurance you can file a claim against.

Our team at Denver Trial Lawyers has a well-established relationship with law enforcement in Colorado. We have assisted police departments across the state in tracking down at-fault drivers in numerous hit-and-run cases we have taken on. Sometimes, through data points like witness testimony, descriptions of the car make, model, and/or color, and footage from nearby establishments or other drivers’ dash cams, we can track the perpetrator of a hit and run and identify them. This type of work is not easy, and many lawyers do not have the resources to take on such an investigation. We do—which is why we are trusted to handle complex hit and run cases throughout Colorado.

Contact Our Denver Hit and Run Accident Attorney Today

Being injured in any type of car accident is difficult. After a hit and run, many victims feel they are at risk wherever they go because they do not know the driver who hurt them. We know how you feel and are here to provide compassionate support as you pursue justice.

Using our ample skill and resources, we will investigate your case from multiple angles and identify every avenue you may have for recourse. Whether that means tracking down the at-fault driver or filing a UM/UIM claim your insurer cannot deny, our team is ready to do the work. We have served thousands of clients in Denver and beyond. See why our community and peers trust us to fight for people like you.

What To Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Denver

After a hit and run accident, taking the right steps can help protect both your health and your legal claim. Consider the following:

• Move to a safe location if you can do so without making any injuries worse. Get yourself and any passengers out of traffic whenever possible.
• Call 911 immediately, even if the accident appears minor. Responding officers can document the crash scene and prepare a police report that may help identify the fleeing driver.
• Write down everything you remember about the other vehicle, including:
  • License plate number (even a partial plate can help)
  • Make and model
  • Color
  • Direction the vehicle traveled
  • Any distinguishing features, such as business logos or existing damage
• Speak with any witnesses and ask for their names and contact information so investigators or your attorney can follow up later.
• Take photos or videos of the accident scene, your vehicle, any property damage, skid marks, debris, and visible injuries if it is safe to do so before the vehicles are moved.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you believe your injuries are minor.
• Notify your insurance company about the accident, but remember that you are not required to handle the claims process on your own.
• Consult a hit and run accident attorney in Denver before giving a recorded statement or signing any documents. An attorney can explain your insurance coverage, help ensure you provide appropriate information, monitor important deadlines under Colorado law, and communicate with investigators and insurance companies while you focus on your recovery.

Colorado Hit and Run Laws and Possible Penalties

Colorado law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop, exchange information, and render aid when someone is hurt, and leaving the scene can carry serious criminal consequences. The specific charge a driver may face depends on the harm caused in the collision, ranging from traffic offenses for minor property damage to felonies when someone is injured or killed. While the criminal case is handled in courts such as Denver County Court or the Denver District Court, the outcome can also affect your civil claim by providing additional evidence about fault and how the crash occurred.

Understanding the difference between the criminal and civil sides of a hit and run case can help you set expectations as your matter moves forward. Prosecutors decide whether to bring charges and what penalties to seek, which might include fines, probation, or jail time. Separately from that process, an injured person can bring a civil claim seeking compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other losses tied to the crash. Even if the fleeing driver is never found or is not convicted, it may still be possible to pursue a civil recovery through available insurance coverage.

Deadlines also play an important role in hit and run cases in Colorado. There are time limits for reporting a crash to law enforcement, notifying your insurer, and filing a lawsuit, and these periods can vary depending on the facts of your case. Because evidence such as surveillance footage from businesses is often kept for only a short time, acting quickly can make a meaningful difference in what information is available to support your claim. Our familiarity with these timelines and local procedures allows us to guide you through them in a structured and organized way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Have To Report a Hit and Run Accident to the Police?

In Colorado, drivers are generally required to report crashes that cause injury, death, or significant property damage. Reporting a hit and run to law enforcement creates an official record of what happened and starts an investigation that may help identify the other driver. A police report can also be an important piece of documentation when you submit an insurance claim. If you are unsure whether your situation must be reported, it is usually safer to contact local law enforcement and ask how to proceed.

Can I Recover Compensation If the Hit and Run Driver Is Never Found?

Many people assume that if the other driver leaves the scene and is not identified, they have no way to recover their losses, but that is not always the case. Depending on your policy, coverage such as UM/UIM, medical payments coverage, or collision coverage may help pay for medical care and vehicle repairs. There may also be other potential sources of recovery, such as coverage connected to your employment if you were driving for work. Speaking with a lawyer can help you understand what options apply in your specific situation.

How Long Do I Have To File a Hit and Run Injury Claim in Colorado?

Colorado law sets a statute of limitations that generally gives injured people a limited number of years to file a lawsuit after a motor vehicle crash, including a hit and run. The exact time period can depend on the type of claim and the parties involved, and certain circumstances may shorten or extend that window. Waiting too long can make it harder to gather evidence and may prevent you from filing at all. Because of this, it is wise to get legal guidance as soon as you are able after the collision.

Contact Denver Trial Lawyers by calling (303) 647-9990 today to schedule a meeting with our hit and run accident lawyer in Denver!