Glossary

The insurance company employee who investigates and values a claim. They work for the insurer, including when they are polite and helpful.

Splitting responsibility for a crash into percentages. Colorado reduces damages in proportion to the injured person’s share of fault, and bars recovery altogether once that share is as great as the fault of the person being sued — half the blame, where there is a single defendant. C.R.S. § 13-21-111(1) verified 2026-09-14

A fee paid as a share of a recovery rather than up front. Costs — filing fees, records, experts — are usually separate and should be set out in writing.

Losses with receipts: medical bills, lost earnings, the cost of care, vehicle damage.

Pain, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment. For civil actions filed on or after 1 January 2025, Colorado’s cap on noneconomic damages rose to $1,500,000, and the wrongful death cap to $2,125,000, with inflation adjustments every two years from 2028. HB24-1472, amending C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5 verified 2026-09-11

The maximum a policy will pay. Every Colorado driver must carry at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability cover per person, $50,000 per crash, and $15,000 for property damage. Colorado Division of Insurance, auto insurance requirements verified 2026-09-11

Medical payments cover. Medical payments cover of $5,000 is included in a Colorado policy unless you turn it down, and it pays your early treatment regardless of who caused the crash. C.R.S. § 10-4-635 verified 2026-09-11

The deadline to file suit. In Colorado, a claim for injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle must be brought within three years. C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) verified 2026-09-11

An insurer’s right to be repaid out of your settlement for what it already paid on your behalf.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist cover. Uninsured and underinsured motorist cover is added to every Colorado policy automatically, matched to your liability limits, unless you reject it in writing. C.R.S. § 10-4-609 verified 2026-09-11