Aurora Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

You don’t get a windshield or an airbag when you’re on foot — just whatever the driver’s insurance company decides to offer once they’ve finished looking for reasons it wasn’t their driver’s fault. Getting hit while crossing East Colfax or Havana Street can leave you in an ambulance wondering what just happened, and dealing with the insurer while you’re still hurting only makes it worse. An Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer can take that part off your hands.

• Two decades of experience with Colorado crash claims: Levine Law was founded by Jordan S. Levine, and our Aurora attorneys have carried that experience forward for more than 20 years. See our firm and who would take your case.
• A firm judged by its results: Our multi-million-dollar case results and verdicts and client reviews show what to expect.
• Every kind of crash case: From car accidents to serious-injury and wrongful-death claims — on a contingency basis, so you pay no fee unless we win.
• Reach out and pay nothing to start: Contact our Denver office for a free consultation, and see our awards and recognition.

A pedestrian hit by a car is treated as a motor vehicle claim in Colorado, so you usually have three years to file (C.R.S. § 13-80-101). For claims filed in 2025 or later, Colorado’s cap on pain-and-suffering damages rose to $1.5 million, so acting early protects your claim.

What should you do immediately after a pedestrian accident in Aurora?

Your health is the most important thing. Other parts of your case can wait, but you must get checked for things like concussions or internal bleeding right away. After you get medical help, an Aurora Police Department officer will usually fill out a Colorado Traffic Crash Report (form DR 3447). You can ask the police department for a copy of this report later.

The choices you make in these first hours tend to follow the claim for months. A short list worth following:

• Go with EMS even if you think you’re “fine”. Adrenaline masks internal injuries and concussions surprisingly well. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus is a Level I trauma center, and a same-day exam builds the kind of medical paper trail an adjuster can’t easily argue around later.
• Get the crash on record. C.R.S. § 42-4-1606 requires prompt reporting of any crash involving injury, death, or property damage — Aurora Police or the Colorado State Patrol handle the DR 3447 filing.
• Photograph the crosswalk itself, not just the aftermath. The signal, the “WALK” indicator, skid marks, final resting position of the vehicle, and the lighting conditions can settle a right-of-way dispute before the insurer even raises one — especially at high-traffic corners like Colfax and Havana.
• Collect witnesses and camera locations while you can. Names, numbers, nearby shops, RTD R Line stations, and any intersection cameras along I-225 — all of it disappears fast once footage cycles out. Independent accounts carry the most weight exactly when the driver’s version and yours don’t line up, which happens often once money is on the table.

What actually happens after a pedestrian crash in Aurora?

The official record moves at its own pace — the Aurora Police Department posts crash reports through a third-party site called Crashdocs for a $10 fee, often taking several days to appear. Pulling yours requires a last name from the crash plus the date, or the report number itself (Aurora’s follow a AP2026##### or 2026-##### format). The APD Records Section (303-739-6320) is at 15001 E. Alameda Parkway.

The insurer, meanwhile, doesn’t wait on paperwork. A call within a day or two of the crash is typical, and pedestrian claims get a particular line of questioning: exactly where were you standing when the car made contact. The goal is an admission that you’d stepped outside the crosswalk or against the signal — and anything you say on that call, before you even know the extent of your own injuries, can end up working against you later. Stick to the basics, and you’re free to decline a recorded statement until a lawyer’s reviewed the case.

What are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Aurora?

Most Aurora pedestrian crashes come down to driver mistakes, and they cluster on the city’s widest, fastest roads. Aurora’s intersections carry more than their share of the danger — the city logged 172 auto-pedestrian collisions in the first seven and a half months of 2025 alone, eight of them fatal, according to Aurora police records, with recurring trouble spots along Havana Street, East Colfax Avenue, and Mississippi Avenue. 

The leading causes are the following:

• Not yielding at crosswalks — a driver turning across a crosswalk, or rolling through a right-on-red, hits people who have the right of way. This happens often at busy corners like East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street.
• Speeding on high-crash roads — Havana Street, East Colfax Avenue, Mississippi Avenue, and Chambers Road carry fast, heavy traffic. Drivers have little time to react to someone on foot.
• Distracted driving — phone use can keep drivers’ eyes off people walking along shopping stretches like Havana and Colfax.
• Drunk driving and hit-and-run — the corner of Colfax Avenue and Havana Street has seen deadly pedestrian hit-and-runs. Impaired drivers are a real danger after dark. Colorado State Patrol data ranks Aurora 28th among the nation’s 300 largest cities for its rate of fatal drunk-driving crashes.
• Poor lighting and low visibility — CDOT data shows more than 70% of Colorado’s pedestrian fatalities in 2023 happened in dark or low-light conditions. Aurora’s wide arterial roads are built for speed, not visibility, and a driver whose eyes haven’t adjusted — or who simply isn’t looking — can miss a pedestrian crossing until it’s too late.

Aurora spans three counties and a thick web of highways and main roads. So the road authority in charge — the City of Aurora, the state, or RTD — can matter as much as the driver when a crash ties back to bad intersection design or a transit stop.

What types of injuries are common in Aurora pedestrian accidents?

Because pedestrians have no bumper or airbag to protect them, injuries from a car accident are often very serious. How bad these injuries are usually decides how long it takes to recover and how much your legal claim is worth.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — striking the hood or the pavement can range from a concussion to lasting cognitive and memory problems.
• Spinal cord injuries — with the potential for partial or complete paralysis.
• Fractures to the legs, hips, and arms, typically from the initial impact and the fall that follows it.
• Internal bleeding — not always apparent right away, which is why fast evaluation at a Level I trauma center like UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus matters even when you feel okay.
• Catastrophic injuries — amputation and permanent disability among them, which reshape both medical care and long-term financial planning.

A child pedestrian changes the picture. Children’s Hospital Colorado on the Anschutz campus is the only pediatric Level I trauma center in the region, and a child injury claim carries its own set of rules. Because some injuries don’t fully surface for days, prompt follow-up care matters for the case as much as for your health.

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Who is liable for a pedestrian accident in Aurora?

To win a pedestrian injury claim, you must prove negligence. This means showing that the driver failed to drive safely around you. In Aurora, more than one person or company might be responsible for the accident. Here is who might be at fault:

• A driver who wasn’t paying attention — still the single most common source of liability, whether that’s a failure to yield, excess speed, a phone in hand, or impairment.
• An employer — when the person behind the wheel was on the clock, either on a delivery run, a rideshare pickup, or a job-related errand.
• A manufacturer — if a braking, sensor, or auto-braking defect contributed to the crash.
• A government entity — the City of Aurora, the state, or RTD can be on the hook for a flawed intersection, a malfunctioning signal, or a transit-vehicle collision along the I-225 R Line, though these claims run through the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.

Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule then divides fault proportionally: a share of 49% or less trims your award by that percentage, while 50% or more zeroes it out entirely — the exact reason “the pedestrian darted out” is such a reliable insurer talking point.

Attorney insight: What makes Aurora pedestrian cases complex?

Proving a pedestrian accident case can be difficult. Important evidence can disappear quickly, and insurance companies often try to blame you for the accident right away.

What makes Aurora pedestrian claims complex:

• Fault is almost always disputed. Under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule, a pedestrian who is 50% or more at fault recovers nothing, so insurers push the claim that you jaywalked or “darted out”.
• Venue depends on the exact crash site. Aurora spans Arapahoe, Adams, and a sliver of Douglas County, so the same city can send a case to the 18th or 17th Judicial District based on where you were struck.
• A public vehicle or bad intersection adds a hard deadline. If an RTD bus, a City of Aurora vehicle, or a poorly designed intersection along Havana or Colfax played a part, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act requires written notice within 182 days — or the claim is barred.
• Severe injuries require expert evidence of future costs. A pedestrian struck by a car often faces lifelong care, so building the claim’s full value takes life-care planners and future-earnings experts, not just current medical bills.
• Time-sensitive evidence must be preserved fast. Intersection cameras and traffic-signal logs are often the only neutral record of who had the light, and most systems record over that footage before a claim is even filed unless someone moves to save it right away.

We prepare for the trial from the very first day. Video and signal data are pulled before Aurora’s systems cycle them out; crash-reconstruction and medical specialists get involved early enough to matter; the long-term impact is documented rather than assumed; and the whole file is assembled as though a jury really will read it — because sometimes one does.

What damages can you recover after an Aurora pedestrian accident?

Two distinct kinds of damages are available to an injured Colorado pedestrian: economic damages, which put a dollar figure on losses you could point to on a receipt, and non-economic damages, which value the harder-to-quantify toll — pain, fear, disruption. The non-economic side is capped by statute (C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5). Meanwhile, the economic side isn’t capped at all.

On the economic side, expect to see:

• Medical costs, past and projected — everything from the ambulance ride through rehab.
• Income lost to recovery time, plus any reduction in what you can earn going forward.
• Incidental expenses — a totaled phone or damaged belongings, a rental vehicle, modifications to your home or car.

On the non-economic side:

• Emotional distress — the fear, anxiety, and psychological aftermath of getting hit.
• Pain and suffering — the physical toll of the injuries themselves.
• Scarring or disfigurement — lasting marks left by the injury or the surgery to fix it.
• Strained relationships — the toll a serious injury takes on the people close to you.
• Loss of enjoyment of life — the hobbies and routines the injury takes off the table.

The line between these two categories blurs in practice — trauma therapy and pain medication both cost real money, and scarring that limits your ability to work has a financial dimension even though it started as a non-economic harm. Colorado law lets you pursue both: the hard costs and the human toll.

Legal note on Colorado’s damage caps

The maximum amount you can get for pain and suffering in a Colorado pedestrian case is $1.5 million if the claim is filed on or after January 1, 2025. This is a significant increase over the old limit set by HB 24-1472. There is no limit on money for your actual losses, such as medical bills or lost wages. If the driver was reckless, you might also get punitive damages under C.R.S. § 13-21-102. This money is meant to punish the driver, not just pay for your injuries. If the person who was hit dies, the family will instead file a wrongful death claim, which has its own special rules and deadlines.

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How long do you have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Colorado?

You usually have three years from the crash date to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Colorado. That’s because a car-hits-pedestrian crash is treated as a motor vehicle claim under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. It’s longer than the two-year limit for most other injury claims, but it’s not forever.

If the crash caused a death, a wrongful death claim usually must be filed within two years (four years if the driver fled the scene). Deadlines can also change for an injured child, so it’s smart to confirm your exact deadline early.

Pitfall alert: the 182-day government deadline can come first

A much tighter deadline can override that three-year window entirely. Notice under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act is due in writing within 182 days of learning about the injury — not three years — any time an RTD bus or R Line train, a City of Aurora vehicle, or a government-maintained intersection or signal was part of what caused the crash. There’s no grace period: miss that window and the claim is gone, no matter how much of the three-year period would otherwise remain. Because so much of Aurora’s foot traffic crosses public ground — the Colfax and Havana corridors, the I-225 interchanges among them — this shorter deadline catches more claims here than people expect.

Why do you need a pedestrian accident lawyer in Aurora?

Pedestrian accident cases are often unfair from the start. The driver usually has a police report and an insurance company on their side. Often, they have the only account of what happened, while you might still be in the hospital. A lawyer can help level the playing field. Here is what you are up against if you don’t have one:

• Fault gets contested almost reflexively, and real injuries get quietly downplayed — that’s simply how insurers protect their margins.
• A lowball offer often lands before anyone — including you — has a clear picture of how serious a brain or spinal injury actually is.
• Add a City vehicle, an RTD bus, or a hazardous intersection to the mix, and you’re suddenly navigating overlapping public and private insurance plus a 182-day deadline that doesn’t bend.

Opponent playbook

On roads like Havana Street, or at busy corners like East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street, the insurer’s go-to move is to say you caused your own crash — that you crossed mid-block, walked against the light, or “stepped into” the car. It’s not a small thing: under Colorado’s comparative fault rule, every percentage point they pin on you comes straight out of your settlement, and going over 50% wipes it out entirely. That’s why this argument comes up in nearly every pedestrian case we handle. Our response is to move fast, pulling the DR 3447 report, signal-timing data, nearby video, and witness accounts before any of it disappears.

How a pedestrian accident lawyer helps injured victims

A pedestrian accident lawyer can take over the investigation and insurance fight while you focus on recovering. Levine Law can move quickly to gather evidence, challenge attempts to blame you, and build a claim that accounts for the full impact of your injuries.

• Investigate the crash: Gather the DR 3447 report, traffic-signal records, surveillance footage, vehicle data, and witness statements before key evidence disappears.
• Challenge disputed fault: Push back when insurers claim you crossed improperly, ignored a signal, or caused the crash.
• Document your injuries: Use medical records and, when needed, expert testimony to show how the accident affects your health, work, and daily life.
• Handle insurance companies: Manage communications and negotiations so you don’t have to deal with adjusters while recovering.
• Identify all responsible parties: Determine whether a driver, employer, government entity, or another party may be liable for your injuries.
• Prepare for trial: If the insurer won’t offer fair compensation, build the case for court and stand up for your rights through trial.

What does the pedestrian accident claim process look like?

Most cases follow a simple path: you get a free talk with a lawyer, they look into what happened, and then they ask the insurance company for fair compensation for you. If the insurance company won’t pay a fair amount, your lawyer will take them to court in Colorado.

1. Free consultation and case review — we look at the crash, your injuries, and available coverage. That includes the driver’s policy and any uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage you carry.
2. Investigation and evidence — the DR 3447 report, medical records, scene and signal evidence, video, and witness statements.
3. Demand and negotiation — we send a documented demand and negotiate with the insurer.
4. Settlement or lawsuit — if talks stall, we file suit. Most Aurora crashes fall in Arapahoe County, where civil cases are heard in the 18th Judicial District at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial. A crash in north Aurora may fall in Adams County (17th Judicial District), depending on where it happened.

How long this takes depends on how serious the injuries are and on the court’s schedule.

How do you choose the right Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer?

Look for real experience with serious pedestrian cases, knowledge of Aurora-area courts and insurers, clear communication, and trial readiness you can verify rather than take on faith.

Does the firm have relevant experience? 

More than 20 years representing injured people across the Denver metro sits behind Levine Law’s motor-vehicle results, including a $1.3 million settlement after a red-light-runner collision and a $256,000 verdict in a rear-end crash (full case results available; past outcomes don’t guarantee future ones). A real courtroom record outweighs anything in an ad.

Do they know Aurora’s courts and intersections?

 Look for a firm fluent in how the 18th Judicial District operates and which Aurora intersections generate the most disputed claims. Firm founder Jordan S. Levine argued Crowell v. ICAO, a ruling that still governs how Colorado holds insurers accountable in claims like these.

Are they ready to go to trial? 

An insurer’s posture shifts once it believes the attorney across the table will actually try the case. Levine Law’s attorneys carry the AV Preeminent rating — Martindale-Hubbell’s top peer-review distinction for legal ability and ethics — alongside recognition from Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers, each under that organization’s own criteria.

Are the fees clear? 

Contingency, no exceptions — no attorney’s fee unless Levine Law recovers for you, and the first conversation is free.

A serious pedestrian accident can leave you dealing with painful injuries, mounting expenses, and an insurance company that may be looking for ways to reduce your claim. Levine Law brings more than 20 years of Colorado experience, a proven track record, and a trial-ready approach to help Aurora pedestrians pursue fair compensation while keeping you informed throughout the process. 

Client testimonials

Ask around, and Levine Law’s past clients tend to bring up the same thing — being kept in the loop and treated like more than a file number.

“I was hit by a car while performing my regular job duties. My injuries were severe. To this day Jordan’s office continues to represent me and has always served me promptly and professionally.” — Andrew C., client testimonial

You can read more verified reviews on our Levine Law Reviews page.

Disclaimer: Client reviews are individual experiences and are not a guarantee of any particular result.

Case results that reflect real experience

A driver’s single mistake at a crosswalk can end in injuries that reshape someone’s life — Levine Law has represented a pedestrian hurt exactly that way, alongside others who came away from a crash with comparably serious harm:

• $925,000 settlement — a red-light runner struck a pedestrian mid-crossing, breaking both legs and putting her in the hospital for a week.
• $1.3 million settlement — another red-light collision, this one leaving the client with a broken leg.
• $770,000 verdict — a truck crash that left the client with neck, back, and abdominal injuries.

More outcomes are listed on our Cases & Verdicts page.

Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case is decided on its own facts.

Areas served

Levine Law represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Aurora and the surrounding Front Range. Our Aurora practice connects to the firm’s broader network of practice areas and locations:

• Aurora Personal Injury hub
• Aurora car accidents and Aurora bicycle accidents
• Denver pedestrian accidents (main hub)
• Lakewood and Glendale pedestrian accidents
• Denver personal injury

We also handle related motor vehicle and injury cases, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and catastrophic injury claims.

Local resources

Level I Trauma Centers (Aurora)

• UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital — 12605 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045 (adult Level I; state’s only ABA-verified burn center)
• Children’s Hospital Colorado — 13123 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045 (region’s only pediatric Level I trauma center)

Crash reports & agencies

• Aurora Police Department Records — reports via Crashdocs ($10); Records Section 303-739-6320, 15001 E. Alameda Parkway
• Colorado DMV — Report a Crash
• IIHS — Colorado fatality statistics (2024)

Courts

• Arapahoe County District Court (18th Judicial District) — Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112
• Adams County District Court (17th Judicial District) — Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601

Disclaimer: We provide these resources for convenience only; we do not endorse or profit from them.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Aurora?

You usually have three years from the crash date, because a car-hits-pedestrian crash is a motor vehicle claim under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. But if an RTD bus or a City of Aurora vehicle was involved, you must give written notice within 182 days under the Governmental Immunity Act. So your real deadline can be much shorter.

What if I was crossing outside a crosswalk in Aurora?

You may still recover. Under Colorado’s blame-splitting rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), you can recover if you are 49% or less at fault, with your award cut by your share. Drivers still must use reasonable care, and insurers often overstate a pedestrian’s fault on roads like Havana Street.

Who pays if the driver who hit me in Aurora had no insurance?

Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply. Other parties — an employer or a public body like RTD — may also share the blame. Colorado requires 25/50/15 minimum coverage, but many drivers carry none. That’s why finding every source of coverage early is so important after an Aurora pedestrian crash.

How do I get the police report for my Aurora pedestrian accident?

The Aurora Police Department releases crash reports through the Crashdocs site for a $10 fee. You need a last name of someone in the crash and the date, or the report number. Aurora Police and the State Patrol file the DR 3447 report with the state, and reports usually take several days to appear.

What if the pedestrian struck in Aurora was a child?

A child’s claim has special rules, including a possibly longer filing window and larger damages. Serious injuries to kids are treated at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the region’s only pediatric Level I trauma center. Colorado’s blame-splitting rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111) still applies, but courts judge a child’s actions differently than an adult’s.

Contact an Aurora pedestrian accident lawyer today

If you or a family member was struck by a vehicle in Aurora, Levine Law is available 24/7 to review your claim and explain your options at no cost.

Contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Attorney Review Disclosure

This content has been reviewed by the attorneys at Levine Law to help ensure its accuracy and compliance with applicable Colorado law. Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

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Other Cases We Take On

Beyond pedestrian crashes, Levine Law helps injured Coloradans across many practice areas:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Slip & Fall Accidents
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Catastrophic Injury
• Wrongful Death

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is evaluated on its own facts. This content has been prepared for review by Colorado-licensed attorneys at Levine Law.