What to Do After a Car Accident in Colorado: A Step-by-Step Checklist
Step-by-step guide for the critical first 72 hours after a Colorado car accident. Covers safety, reporting requirements, evidence documentation, insurance notification, medical treatment, and protecting your legal rights.
Table of Contents
The minutes and hours after a car accident are chaotic and stressful. But the decisions you make in this critical window can determine whether you protect your legal rights or accidentally destroy them. This step-by-step guide walks you through exactly what to do after a car accident in Colorado, from the moment of impact through the first 72 hours, so you can focus on your safety while preserving your right to full compensation.
Step 1: Ensure Safety and Call 911
Your first priority is safety — yours, your passengers', and other people involved in the crash.
Immediate Actions
- ✓ Check yourself and passengers for injuries before moving
- ✓ If the vehicle is in a dangerous position and drivable, move it to the shoulder or a safe area
- ✓ Turn on hazard lights and set up flares or reflective triangles if available
- ✓ If anyone is injured, do not move them unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic)
- ✓ Call 911 immediately — even for seemingly minor accidents
Colorado Reporting Requirement
Under CRS 42-4-1603, you are legally required to report any accident that involves injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Failing to report is a traffic offense. In practice, because even minor accidents routinely exceed $1,000 in damage, you should call police for almost every crash.
Step 2: Exchange Information
Once the scene is safe and emergency services are on the way, exchange the following information with every other driver involved:
Driver Information
- • Full name and phone number
- • Home address
- • Driver's license number and state
- • Insurance company and policy number
Vehicle Information
- • License plate number and state
- • Vehicle make, model, year, and color
- • VIN number (visible on dashboard or door frame)
- • Number and names of passengers
Also collect contact information from any witnesses. Witness testimony can be decisive in fault disputes, and witnesses are nearly impossible to locate after they leave the scene.
Step 3: Document the Accident Scene
Your smartphone is the most powerful evidence-gathering tool you have. Use it extensively:
Photos of all vehicles
Capture damage from multiple angles including close-ups and wide shots showing vehicle positions. Photograph all four sides of every vehicle involved.
Photos of the scene
Photograph the intersection or roadway, traffic signs and signals, road conditions, weather conditions, skid marks, debris patterns, and any obstacles that may have contributed.
Photos of your injuries
Document cuts, bruises, swelling, and abrasions immediately. These injuries may fade quickly, and photos taken at the scene are powerful evidence.
Video walkthrough
Take a video walking around the entire scene. Video captures context that photos cannot, including traffic flow, visibility conditions, and sounds.
Notes and voice memos
While details are fresh, record what happened in your own words. Note the time, weather, road conditions, traffic light status, and anything the other driver said.
You can also search for your accident on CrashStory to find the official crash record and supplement your documentation.
Step 4: Seek Medical Attention
This step is non-negotiable, even if you feel fine at the scene. Adrenaline and shock mask pain and symptoms. Many serious injuries do not produce obvious symptoms for hours or days:
Delayed-Symptom Injuries
See a doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the accident. This creates a medical record that links your injuries directly to the crash. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else. For details on how to manage medical bills, read our guide to car accident medical bills in Colorado.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly. Most Colorado auto policies require timely notification as a condition of coverage. When reporting:
Do
- ✓ Report the basic facts: date, time, location, other driver's information
- ✓ File a MedPay claim immediately if you have MedPay coverage
- ✓ Request the claim number and adjuster's contact information
Do Not
- ✗ Do not give a recorded statement without consulting an attorney first
- ✗ Do not speculate about fault or the extent of your injuries
- ✗ Do not sign a medical authorization allowing the insurer broad access to your records
- ✗ Do not accept a settlement offer until you understand the full extent of your damages
Step 6: Protect Your Legal Rights
The at-fault driver's insurance company is not on your side. Their goal is to minimize your payout. Take these steps to protect yourself:
- 1Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. They will use your words against you to minimize or deny your claim.
- 2Do not sign any documents from the at-fault driver's insurer, including medical release forms, settlement agreements, or "property damage only" releases that may waive your injury rights.
- 3Keep a daily journal of your symptoms, pain levels, limitations on activities, and emotional impact. This evidence supports your pain-and-suffering claim.
- 4Save all receipts related to the accident: medical bills, prescription costs, rental car, rideshare to appointments, home modifications, and childcare during recovery.
- 5Consult an attorney if injuries are involved, fault is disputed, or the insurance company is making things difficult. Most Colorado attorneys offer free case reviews.
The First 72 Hours: Complete Timeline
Here is a practical timeline of everything you should do in the critical first three days:
At the scene (0-60 min)
Ensure safety, call 911, exchange information, document the scene, collect witness details, cooperate with police, get a copy of the report number
Same day (first 6 hours)
Go to the ER or urgent care if injured. If not visibly injured, schedule a doctor appointment for the next day. Notify your insurance company. Do not post about the accident on social media.
Day 1 (within 24 hours)
See a doctor even if feeling fine. File MedPay claim. Begin a symptom/pain journal. Organize accident documents (photos, police report number, insurance info).
Day 2-3 (24-72 hours)
Follow all medical instructions. Research attorneys if injuries are involved. Request the police report. Do not speak with the other driver's insurance adjuster without legal guidance. Calculate initial expenses.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most frequent (and costly) mistakes people make after Colorado car accidents:
- ✗Not calling the police — without a police report, you lack critical documentation for your claim
- ✗Delaying medical treatment — gaps between the accident and treatment undermine your injury claim
- ✗Admitting fault at the scene — even partial admissions reduce your recovery under Colorado's comparative fault rule
- ✗Posting on social media — insurance adjusters monitor social media; posts showing activity can be used to dispute your injuries
- ✗Accepting the first settlement offer — initial offers are almost always far below the true value of your claim
- ✗Not documenting everything — memory fades, evidence disappears, and witnesses become unreachable
Use our settlement calculator to understand what your claim may be worth before making any decisions. If you are considering legal representation, browse our directory of Colorado car accident attorneys or read our guide on the 7 signs you should hire a car accident lawyer. To understand the fee structures before committing, see our guide to accident lawyer fees in Colorado.
Not Legal Advice
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every accident is different, and specific circumstances may require different actions. The Colorado statutes cited were current as of the publication date. Consult a qualified Colorado attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I have to call the police after a car accident in Colorado?
Under Colorado law (CRS 42-4-1603), you must report an accident to law enforcement if it involves any injury or death, damage to any vehicle requiring towing, or property damage exceeding $1,000. In practice, it is best to call 911 for any accident that is more than a very minor fender-bender, because a police report provides critical documentation for your insurance claim.
Should I see a doctor even if I feel fine after a car accident?
Absolutely yes. Many serious injuries, including concussions, whiplash, internal bleeding, and herniated discs, do not produce symptoms for hours or even days after the crash. Adrenaline masks pain at the scene. Seeing a doctor within 24-48 hours creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident, which is essential for any insurance claim or lawsuit.
What information should I collect at the accident scene?
Collect the other driver's name, phone number, address, driver's license number, insurance company and policy number, license plate number, and vehicle make/model/color. Also get names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Take photos of all vehicles, the scene, road conditions, traffic signs, your injuries, and any debris. Note the time, date, weather, and road conditions.
Should I admit fault or apologize at the accident scene?
Never admit fault or apologize at the scene, even if you think you may have been partially responsible. Fault determination is a complex legal and factual analysis. Saying "I'm sorry" or "I didn't see you" can be used against you by insurance companies to increase your assigned fault percentage, which directly reduces your compensation under Colorado's comparative fault rule.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a car accident?
If your accident involved any injuries, disputed fault, significant property damage, or an uninsured driver, you should contact an attorney within the first week. Evidence degrades quickly, insurance companies begin building their case immediately, and early attorney involvement helps preserve evidence, manage medical treatment strategically, and prevent you from making costly mistakes with insurance companies.
CrashStory Editorial Team
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information is based on Colorado statutes and CDOT data available at the time of writing. Laws and regulations change. Consult a qualified Colorado attorney for advice specific to your situation. Last updated: February 1, 2026.
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