Hit-and-Run Accident in Denver: Your Rights and Next Steps

Call 911 as soon as the other vehicle flees. Tell the dispatcher your exact location, the direction the other vehicle went, and any identifying details you noticed: license plate (even a partial plate helps), vehicle color, make, model, body damage, and number of occupants. This information goes out immediately to patrol units in the area.

Do not chase the fleeing vehicle. Pursuing another driver puts you and others at risk and is not your job. Stay at the scene, turn on your hazard lights, and wait for police. Under Colorado law (C.R.S. § 42-4-1603), you are required to remain at the scene and report the accident. The other driver violated this law — you should not.

If anyone witnessed the hit-and-run, get their names and phone numbers immediately. Witnesses who saw the other vehicle or caught a plate number are invaluable. Check whether nearby businesses have surveillance cameras pointed at the road. Dashcam footage from your own vehicle or other drivers nearby can identify the hit-and-run vehicle. Time is critical — surveillance footage is typically overwritten within 24-72 hours.

Photograph everything: your vehicle damage, the road layout, debris left by the other vehicle (broken headlight parts, paint transfer, mirror fragments), skid marks, and any visible injuries. Debris from the other vehicle can help police identify its make and model. Paint transfer color is particularly useful.

Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: the time of the crash, traffic conditions, weather, how the collision happened, and every detail about the other vehicle. Memory fades quickly, and the details you record now may be the key to identifying the driver.

See a doctor within 24 hours of the hit-and-run, even if you feel fine at the scene. Hit-and-run collisions produce the same injuries as any car crash — whiplash, concussions, fractures, soft tissue damage — and the shock of being hit by a fleeing driver can mask pain for hours. Your medical records from this initial visit link your injuries directly to the crash.

If you lack health insurance or are worried about costs, your MedPay coverage (medical payments on your auto policy) pays your medical bills regardless of fault. Your UM coverage also covers medical expenses. Denver Health, UCHealth, and other Denver hospitals treat crash victims and can coordinate billing with auto insurance.

For hit-and-run victims, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is the primary recovery tool. Colorado treats a hit-and-run driver the same as an uninsured driver for UM purposes. Your UM policy covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages up to your policy limit — even if the hit-and-run driver is never found.

Report the hit-and-run to your insurer promptly. Provide the police report, your medical records, photos, and any information about the other vehicle. Your insurer may require that you reported the crash to police within a certain timeframe (often 24-72 hours) as a condition of UM coverage. File the police report the same day.

Be aware that your own insurer handles UM claims adversarially. They will investigate the crash, evaluate your injuries, and attempt to settle for less than the full value. Do not accept the first offer. Document everything and consider consulting an attorney, especially if your injuries are significant.

Denver Police Department investigates hit-and-run crashes. Provide them with every detail you have. Even partial plate numbers can narrow the search when combined with vehicle description. Ask police to check traffic cameras on I-25, I-70, and major intersections near the crash. Denver has an extensive network of traffic and red-light cameras that may have captured the fleeing vehicle.

Post on neighborhood social media groups (Nextdoor, neighborhood Facebook groups) with the vehicle description and crash location — residents may have seen the vehicle or have doorbell or security camera footage. Check with nearby businesses for surveillance footage before it is overwritten. If the driver is identified, criminal charges apply and you can also pursue a civil claim for your injuries.

Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a Class 5 felony in Colorado (C.R.S. § 42-4-1601), carrying 1-3 years in prison and fines of $1,000-$100,000. If the hit-and-run results in death, it is a Class 3 felony with 4-12 years in prison. Even leaving the scene of a property-damage-only accident is a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.

Criminal prosecution of the hit-and-run driver is separate from your civil claim for compensation. The criminal case is handled by the Denver District Attorney's office. Your civil claim — whether through UM coverage or a personal lawsuit — is your path to financial recovery. If the driver is caught and convicted, the criminal record strengthens your civil case.

Colorado's statute of limitations for motor vehicle injury claims is 3 years (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101). This applies whether or not the hit-and-run driver is identified. If the driver is later identified as a government employee driving a government vehicle, the 182-day CGIA notice deadline applies from when you discover the driver's identity.

Your UM policy may have its own notice requirements — many policies require you to report the hit-and-run to your insurer within a specific period and to cooperate with the police investigation. Report the crash to both police and your insurer on the same day to avoid any coverage disputes.

Victim of a hit-and-run in Denver? Take our free 2-minute assessment. We will evaluate your UM coverage options, potential claim value, and connect you with a Denver attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases. You do not need to know who hit you to start the process.

A hit-and-run is one of the most frustrating things that can happen on the road — someone injures you and drives away. But you are not without options. If you have UM coverage, you have a clear path to compensation. Start with the assessment. It is free, confidential, and takes less time than filing a police report.