What Are the First Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Denver?

The consequences of being hit by a negligent driver don’t end when the tow truck leaves or the ER discharges you. You’re left dealing with more than pain and physical limitations. Now you’re managing costly medical bills, missed work, and calls from insurance companies that don’t have your best interests in mind. It’s a lot to handle on your own.

Knowing what to do after a car accident in Denver can make a real difference in your physical, financial, and legal recovery. From getting the right care to avoiding mistakes that could hurt the value of your claim, each step you take now matters. A trusted Denver car accident lawyer can guide you through this process, protect your rights, and lift the weight of a legal dispute from you while you focus on healing.

Key Takeaways for What to Do After a Car Accident in Denver

• Injuries like concussions, whiplash, and internal trauma can worsen over time. Seek a medical evaluation even if you feel okay.
• Hiring a Denver car accident attorney early helps prevent costly missteps, eases the legal burden, and positions you for a maximum recovery.
• Skipping medical appointments, posting online, or negotiating with insurers yourself can all hurt your claim.
• Journaling your recovery adds personal context that records alone can’t capture and provides evidence for how your pain and suffering have altered your life.

Seek Medical Care, Even If You Didn’t at the Scene

Not all injuries show up right away. Conditions like concussions, spinal trauma, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries can take several hours or days to appear, or they may gradually worsen. If you didn’t go to the ER, follow up with your doctor or visit a local provider like Denver Health or Swedish Medical Center.

Delaying care risks both your health and your claim. Medical records from a licensed provider help document your injuries and connect them directly to the accident.

Contact a Denver Car Accident Lawyer As Soon As Possible

After a car accident, you must make important decisions that could affect your future. Should you talk to the insurance company? Should you sign that form they sent you? What happens if your pain gets worse next week or next month?

Working with an experienced Denver car accident lawyer is one of the best steps you can take to protect yourself, the value of your claim, and your future. The sooner you reach out, the sooner someone is working to protect your rights, build your case, and handle the details that shouldn’t fall on you while you recover.

An attorney can begin by:

• Reviewing the accident report and preserving time-sensitive evidence
• Collecting medical records to document your injuries from day one
• Identifying all potentially liable parties — including drivers, employers, or rideshare companies
• Helping you avoid common mistakes that delay or weaken injury claims

Insurance companies often act quickly, not to help you, but to limit what they might have to pay. Adjusters may offer a quick settlement or ask questions that may shift blame onto you. A lawyer acts as a buffer, taking over all communication so you can focus on getting better.

In Denver, where crashes on roads like Colfax Avenue or Sixth Avenue often involve multiple vehicles or unclear fault, having someone who understands local traffic patterns and how Colorado applies comparative fault rules (Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-111) is vital to the outcome of your case.

Your attorney will not only help gather evidence, but they will frame and present it in a way that supports your claim and helps show the full impact the crash has had on your life.

If you’re struggling with medical bills, lost income, or ongoing pain, don’t wait. Early legal help often leads to stronger outcomes and peace of mind while you heal.

Keep Every Appointment and Follow Doctor’s Instructions

Missing appointments or going against your doctor’s advice may seem harmless, but it can seriously damage your injury claim. Insurance companies often use gaps in care to argue that you weren’t really hurt, or that your injuries must have improved.

If your provider recommends physical therapy, medication, or follow-ups, stick with the plan. Those visits create a clear medical timeline that supports your case and helps connect your symptoms to the crash.

Immediately report new symptoms like increased pain, sleep problems, or reduced mobility to your doctor or specialist. The more complete your records, the harder it is for insurers to downplay what you’ve been through.

Start a Recovery Journal or Video Diary

Medical records show what your doctors observe. A recovery journal shows what you live through, in your own words. This daily log can be one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in your injury claim, especially when pursuing pain and suffering damages.

Your journal helps illustrate how the crash disrupted your life in ways that don’t appear on X-rays or invoices. When insurance companies evaluate claims, they often look for personal impact. Your consistent, honest entries help tell that story.

Include details like:

• Daily pain levels, symptoms, and limitations
• Missed work, social plans, or family obligations
• Emotional struggles, sleep issues, or anxiety
• Progress or setbacks from therapy and medical visits

You can use a notebook, diary, or video. The format doesn’t matter. What matters is consistency. Over time, your journal becomes a real-time record of how the accident changed your routine, your comfort, and your sense of normal.

Avoid Social Media Activity Until Your Case is Resolved

Insurance companies can take innocent posts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms out of context. They may use a check-in at Wash Park or a photo from a friend’s event to question your pain level or credibility.

Avoid posting about:

• The accident or how it happened
• Your injuries or recovery
• Travel, outings, or physical activity

Also, avoid being tagged in posts by your family and friends. Until your case is resolved, assume anything you post could end up in the insurer’s hands.

Refer All Insurance Calls to Your Denver Attorney

Once you hire legal counsel, you should direct all calls from insurance agents involved in your case to your lawyer. Allow them to handle all conversations with insurance adjusters. Insurers will do everything they can to limit payouts.

Common risks of speaking directly with insurance companies include:

• Recorded statements used to minimize your injuries
• Tricky questions that shift blame
• Pressure to settle quickly for less than your losses
• Delaying and dragging out the process so you will settle out of frustration or need

Letting your lawyer lead these conversations protects your case.

Gather and Save Key Documents

A well-organized file makes your case easier to prove. Start a folder for:

• The Denver Police Department accident report
• Medical bills and treatment summaries
• Emails from insurance adjusters
• Photos of the scene and your injuries
• Witness information

Accidents on busy roads like Federal Boulevard or Speer Boulevard often involve multiple parties. The more details you have, the stronger your claim becomes. Don’t worry about any documents you may not have. Your lawyer will obtain anything they need.

Understand What Compensation May Be Available

Colorado is an at-fault state. If another driver caused the crash, you may be able to recover damages for:

• Medical costs
• Lost income and earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Ongoing therapy or care

An attorney can help you calculate these losses and present evidence that supports them.

FAQs About What to Do After a Car Accident in Denver

Do I need a lawyer if the accident was minor?

If you’re injured, have medical bills, or are missing work, consulting an experienced car accident lawyer is a wise move. In some cases, minor crashes can still cause major health and legal issues.

What if the other driver didn’t have insurance?

Your uninsured motorist coverage may apply. Talk with an attorney to understand what your policy covers in these situations.

Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Under Colorado’s modified comparative fault rule, you may recover damages if you’re less than 50% responsible. Your lawyer can help you understand how this rule might affect your claim.

What if I didn’t go to the hospital right away?

You can still file a claim, but insurers may scrutinize the delay. See a doctor as soon as possible and explain any delayed symptoms.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a car accident in Colorado?

Colorado’s statute of limitations generally sets a three-year deadline for filing a lawsuit for motor vehicle injury claims. This deadline typically begins on the date of the crash.

If you miss this deadline, you forfeit your legal right to pursue compensation in court. You should consult a knowledgeable attorney immediately to confirm the exact filing deadline that applies to your specific case.

Discover for Yourself Today Why Denver Trusts Born & McCaffrey Injury Law

When you’re hurt in a crash, you need more than answers. You need action. At Born & McCaffrey Injury Law, we combine legal strength with compassionate client care. Our attorneys are respected litigators with a track record of fighting — and winning — for clients across Denver and the Front Range.

We prepare every case for trial. We work directly with you, and we don’t get paid unless we recover for you.

Call (303) 800-6996 or reach out online for a free consultation. We’re here to help you move forward, one step at a time.