Denver Car Accident Attorney

Representing Denver Auto Accident Victims Since 1992 — Over $75 Million Recovered

When a collision upends your life, who handles your case matters. At Tenge Law Firm LLC, J. Todd Tenge personally manages every car accident case from intake through resolution. Clients aren’t handed off to a case manager or rotating associate. Since 1992, our firm has recovered more than $75 million in verdicts and settlements for accident victims across Denver and the Front Range, and we’re prepared to put that record to work for you.

Denver’s rapid population growth has significantly increased traffic volume on corridors like I-25, I-70, Colorado Boulevard, Federal Boulevard, and Colfax Avenue. Winter conditions compound that risk every year, particularly for drivers unfamiliar with snow and ice. If a negligent driver injured you on any of these roads, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Our offices in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins serve clients throughout the region, and our car accident attorneys in Denver are reachable by phone, text, or email with prompt responses.

You can learn about your rights and options by speaking with Todd Tenge directly. Call (720) 818-9044 today to schedule a free car accident consultation with our lawyers in Denver.

Recovering Damages in a Colorado Car Accident Claim

After a car accident, you can file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver to pursue compensation for the full range of losses the crash caused. Compensable damages in Colorado include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving extreme negligence, such as drunk driving, punitive damages may also be available.

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence under C.R.S. 13-21-111. That rule allows a victim to recover damages proportionate to the other party’s share of fault, as long as the victim’s own fault is less than 50%. If the other driver is found 70% at fault, you may recover 70% of your total losses. Once a victim is found 50% or more at fault, the right to compensation is eliminated entirely. Even if you believe you share some responsibility for the crash, a free case evaluation can clarify what compensation may remain available to you.

Driver Behaviors That Cause Denver Car Accidents

A driver may breach the duty to operate a vehicle safely in many ways. Identifying the specific cause of your crash matters both for establishing fault and for determining which parties may be liable.

Common causes of Denver car accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Texting, browsing social media, and inattention are leading causes of collisions across Denver. Even a momentary distraction can cause a driver to strike another vehicle.
• Inability to Handle Winter Conditions: Snow and ice on I-70 and other Front Range highways cause a significant share of annual accidents. Roads don’t always get cleared before conditions deteriorate, and drivers unfamiliar with Colorado winters are frequently involved.
• Impaired Driving: According to CDOT data, impaired driving was a factor in more than one-third of all Denver traffic fatalities in 2024. Alcohol and marijuana impairment both affect reaction time and vehicle control. Intoxicated drivers face liability for the harm they cause.
• Aggressive Driving and Road Rage: Congested corridors like I-25 and I-70 generate frustration that some drivers express dangerously. Aggressive driving and deliberate road rage incidents cause serious and sometimes fatal collisions.
• Traffic Law Violations: Speeding, tailgating, failure to yield, and illegal turns establish clear negligence and expose at-fault drivers to liability for injuries they cause.

Common Injuries in Denver Car Accidents

Car accident injuries range from soft tissue damage to catastrophic harm requiring lifelong care. The delayed presentation of brain and soft tissue injuries makes early medical documentation critical. Gaps in treatment give insurers room to dispute whether the crash caused your injuries at all.

Common injuries include:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Whiplash is a typical soft tissue injury caused by the sudden jerking motion of the neck. Left untreated, it can cause chronic pain, stiffness, and long-term complications that affect daily life.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Collisions can cause the head to strike a surface or experience a rapid back-and-forth motion, producing concussions or more severe brain injuries. TBIs may result in cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments, and symptoms sometimes appear days or weeks after the crash.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Harm to the spinal cord can lead to partial or full paralysis, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care.
• Broken Bones: The force of a collision can fracture limbs, ribs, or the pelvis, often requiring surgery and lengthy recovery periods.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma can damage internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, or spleen, sometimes requiring emergency intervention.
• Lacerations and Scarring: Shattered glass, debris, and impact with a vehicle’s interior can cause cuts, bruising, and permanent scarring.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Denver

In the moments after a crash, it can be difficult to know what to do first, especially if you’re shaken up or worried about your passengers. Taking a few key steps can protect both your health and your legal rights.

After checking for immediate danger, call 911 so law enforcement and emergency medical responders can come to the scene, even if you believe your injuries are minor. If you’re able, photograph the vehicles, skid marks, traffic signals, and weather conditions, and collect contact and insurance information from the other drivers and any witnesses. Seeking prompt medical care at a facility like Denver Health Medical Center or UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital creates a clear record of your injuries, which matters if you later pursue a claim.

Notify your insurance company, but avoid giving recorded statements or accepting quick settlement offers before you understand the full extent of your injuries and losses. Preserve repair invoices, medical bills, time-off-work records, and written communications with insurers. Don’t post about the accident or your injuries on social media while your claim is active. Adjusters monitor those accounts for anything that can be used to minimize a payout. Contacting an attorney early can relieve a significant burden so you can focus on healing while your rights are protected.

Who Else Might Be Liable in a Car Accident? Our Auto Accident Attorney in Denver Answers

The at-fault driver isn’t always the only party responsible for your losses. After a crash, Tenge Law Firm LLC investigates all potentially liable parties and handles every step of insurance claims and civil lawsuits to pursue compensation you may be owed.

Other parties that may be liable include:

• Employers of Drivers: If a driver causes a crash while on the clock, the employer may be held liable under respondeat superior. Employers also have an independent duty to hire drivers they believe to be safe. Retaining a driver with a history of DUI convictions, license suspensions, or other serious violations can support a negligent hiring claim, particularly when the employer carries substantial insurance coverage.
• Auto Manufacturers: When a defective part such as a faulty brake system, tire, or airbag causes or worsens a crash, the manufacturer can be held liable. If your accident involved a defective auto part, Mr. Tenge can pursue a product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer alongside any negligence claims.
• Government Agencies: CDOT and local municipalities have a duty to maintain safe roads. Unremedied hazards such as unmarked potholes, missing signage, or failed barriers can support a claim against the responsible agency. Claims against the government carry shorter filing deadlines and specific notice procedures that differ from standard negligence claims, so prompt attorney contact is critical.

How Insurance Companies Fight Car Accident Claims

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Understanding their tactics helps you avoid the most damaging mistakes after a Denver car accident.

Adjusters often contact accident victims quickly with lowball settlement offers designed to close the claim before the full extent of injuries is known. They may request recorded statements and use your own words to dispute the severity of injuries or assign greater comparative fault under Colorado’s modified negligence framework. Drawn-out claim delays are another common tactic, intended to pressure victims into accepting less than their claim is worth.

Our firm handles all communication and negotiations with insurers on your behalf. We can hold insurance companies accountable through:

• Negotiation: We re-enter negotiations with the insurer, apply legal pressure, and work to pursue a fair settlement that reflects the actual damages you suffered and the coverage available under your policy.
• Arbitration: When a policy contains an arbitration provision, or when both parties agree, disputes can be resolved through a private, neutral arbitrator. Arbitration is often faster and less costly than court proceedings.

When negotiation and arbitration don’t produce a fair outcome, Tenge Law Firm LLC is prepared to take the case to court to fight for compensation.

Colorado Car Accident Deadlines Every Denver Victim Should Know

Acting promptly after a crash protects your claim in two ways: it preserves evidence before it degrades and witnesses’ memories fade, and it keeps every legal deadline within reach. Colorado imposes distinct deadlines depending on the type of claim and the party you’re filing against.

Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Deadlines

Under C.R.S. 13-80-101, car accident victims in Colorado have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline permanently eliminates the right to seek compensation in court, regardless of how clear the other driver’s fault may be.

If a car accident results in a death, the timeline is different and shorter. Surviving family members have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim in Colorado. That deadline is separate from the personal injury deadline and applies even when a personal injury claim was already being pursued before the victim died.

Government Claims & Insurance Requirements

Claims against government entities, such as CDOT or a Denver municipality, carry even shorter deadlines and require specific notice procedures that differ from standard negligence claims. These requirements make prompt attorney contact particularly important when a road defect or government vehicle was involved.

Colorado requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for property damage. As required by Colorado law, insurers must also offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Drivers may decline it in writing, but those who carry it have an additional source of recovery when hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage to compensate their losses.

Why Denver Accident Victims Choose Tenge Law Firm LLC

Car accident cases can be highly complex. Proving fault often requires accident reconstruction professionals who can reconstruct the sequence of events from physical evidence, and documenting the full extent of injuries frequently requires medical professionals who can explain long-term care needs to a jury. This is especially true in cases involving brain injuries with delayed onset or catastrophic harm requiring lifelong care. We work with both, so your case is built on credible, documented evidence rather than bare assertions.

Personal Leadership & a Boutique Structure Built Around Your Case

Since 1992, J. Todd Tenge has been fighting for the rights of car accident victims in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. Every vehicle accident case is personally managed by Mr. Tenge, supported by a fully informed team of attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and staff. Our boutique firm structure keeps caseloads deliberately small, which means clients have direct access to the attorneys and staff working their case and receive prompt responses to calls, texts, and emails.

Results That Reflect Our Commitment

Tenge Law Firm LLC has recovered more than $75 million in verdicts and settlements for accident victims. Named auto accident results include:

• $3,250,000 for a rollover auto accident involving a defective roof and serious injuries
• $1,475,000 for an auto accident with head, neck, and back injuries
• $1,350,000 for an auto accident with orthopedic injuries to the foot, ankle, and leg
• $950,000 for a car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
• $895,000 for a car crash with back injuries
• $840,000 for an auto accident with neck injuries

Mr. Tenge is an active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Attorney and Practice Magazine. Hundreds of 5-star client reviews reflect the firm’s commitment to responsive, client-centered representation. We handle every case on a contingency basis, meaning no fees are charged unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact Our Denver Car Accident Attorneys Today

Medical bills, lost income, and insurance company pressure can quickly become overwhelming after a crash. You don’t have to face any of it alone. Our car accident attorneys in Denver are ready to protect your rights, handle all communication with insurers, and fight for compensation you may be entitled to recover.

Please contact Tenge Law Firm LLC using the form at the bottom of the page or call (720) 818-9044 today to schedule your free car accident consultation. Mr. Tenge serves clients in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, Colorado.