Glendale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Last updated: October 14, 2026

The walk signal is lit as you step off the curb at Colorado Boulevard. A driver waiting to turn right on red is watching traffic to the left, not you. The bumper catches your legs before either of you can stop. CDOT reported that 126 people on foot died in Colorado traffic crashes in 2025, a 5% increase over 2024. Soon, an adjuster for the driver may want to know exactly where you were crossing.

Being hit while you had the signal can leave you hurt, shaken, and angry all at once. Those reactions make sense. Colorado law gives people on foot strong protections, but a claim still depends on a deadline and on proof of what happened. A Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer at Levine Law can gather that proof, explain how fault may be divided, and lay out your options. Before you call, feel free to learn about our firm. What stands out:

• Proven experience translated into successful settlements. Our experience handling pedestrian accident claims reflects our commitment to helping injured clients pursue the compensation they deserve. In one case, we secured a $925,000 pedestrian settlement for a client who was crossing the street when a driver ran a red light. Learn more about our case results and verdicts and hear directly from former clients through our client reviews.
• Fees that come only from a recovery. As in a car accident case, the attorney fee on a pedestrian claim is contingent on the outcome.
• A decade on a national trial lawyers list. Jordan S. Levine, founder, earned Top 100 Trial Lawyers honors every year from 2007 through 2016. See more on the awards and recognition page. Two more of our attorneys have been honored more recently. Cristin Fitzgerald, a senior trial attorney, has made the Top 100 list from The National Trial Lawyers since 2022, and Kellie O’Connell, a litigation attorney, earned a Super Lawyers Rising Star designation for 2024 and 2025. 

Pedestrian claims often turn on the signal, the crosswalk, and the driver’s line of sight. Video from nearby businesses and the memories of witnesses fade quickly. Contact our Denver office to protect your rights.

What should you do after being hit by a car in Glendale?

Getting hit can leave you confused about what just happened, and many people try to stand up and walk it off. If you can, stay where you are and let officers document the scene. In Glendale, the Glendale Police Department usually responds. Steps that help:

• Call 911 and stay at the scene. Police can record the signal, the crosswalk, and the driver’s account while details are fresh.
• Get medical care right away. Broken bones and head injuries can hide behind adrenaline for hours. For urgent care, HCA HealthONE Rose has an emergency room on East 9th Avenue in Denver.
• Photograph the crossing. Capture the signal heads, the crosswalk lines, where the car stopped, and your injuries.
• Get the driver’s details. Write down the name, plate, and insurance, and ask whether the driver was working for an employer or delivery app at the time.
• Look for cameras and witnesses. Nearby stores, buses, and doorbells may have recorded the crash. Ask people who stopped for their phone numbers.
• Be careful with statements. The driver’s insurer may ask to record your version soon. You don’t have to give one before you get advice.

What happens after a pedestrian accident claim starts in Glendale?

In the early weeks, it may seem like a string of forms and phone calls. Most pedestrian claims pass through four stages: the crash report, treatment, insurance claims, and a demand. You can usually request reports for police-handled crashes through Colorado DMV crash records or the agency that responded. 

Stage by stage:

• The crash report. Officers note where you were crossing, the signal, and what each person said. 

Why it matters: Mistakes in the report, like the wrong crossing location, are easier to correct early.

• Treatment. Care may include surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up visits over many months. 

Why it matters: Your records show how the crash changed your ability to walk, work, and sleep.

• The insurance claims. The driver’s liability carrier opens a file, and your own health or auto coverage may pay some bills first. 

Why it matters: Several insurers may be involved, and each one has its own adjuster and paperwork.

• The demand. After your treatment settles into a pattern, your lawyer submits the losses, with records attached. 

Why it matters: Complete records leave less room for an adjuster to discount your injuries.

Where do pedestrian accidents happen in Glendale?

Glendale is small, but a lot of traffic passes through it. Statewide, CDOT’s crash data tracks where and how people on foot are hurt. In Glendale, crashes involving pedestrians tend to happen in a few familiar places:

• Colorado Boulevard crossings. Wide lanes and heavy turning traffic make each crossing long, and drivers may be watching for gaps in traffic rather than for people.
• Right turns at signals. Drivers making a right turn, whether on red or green, may look left for cars and miss someone stepping into the crosswalk. Where a posted sign bans turns on red, a driver who turns anyway is breaking the rule.
• Leetsdale Drive. Fast-moving traffic and long blocks can tempt people to cross between intersections.
• Parking lots at shops and restaurants. Drivers backing out of spaces or hunting for a spot may not see someone walking behind them.
• Cherry Creek Trail crossings. Walkers and runners leaving the trail cross streets where drivers may not expect them.
• Event nights near Infinity Park. Crowds heading to and from games and events fill nearby streets, sometimes after dark.

What causes pedestrian accidents in Glendale?

Crashes that injure pedestrians often start with a driver who wasn’t watching the crossing or was moving too fast to stop in time. CDOT reports that more than 70% of pedestrian deaths in Colorado happen after dark, and its advice to drivers includes yielding at crosswalks and never driving impaired or distracted. Common causes include:

• Distracted driving. A glance at a phone or a navigation screen can be enough for a driver to miss a pedestrian who is already in the crosswalk.
• Speeding. Higher speed shortens the time a driver has to react and increases the likelihood that a pedestrian will die. An AAA Foundation study found that the average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 25% at an impact speed of 32 mph and 50% at 42 mph.
• Impaired driving. Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and weaken judgment, so an impaired driver may not notice a person crossing, or may notice too late to brake.
• Running red lights. A driver who runs a red light or speeds through a yellow can strike someone crossing on the walk signal.
• Left turns across a crosswalk. A driver turning left on a green light may be concentrating on oncoming traffic instead of the pedestrian entering the crosswalk.
• Slick roads. Rain, snow, and ice lengthen the distance a car needs to stop, so a driver who doesn’t adjust speed to the conditions may slide through a crossing.

What injuries are common after a Glendale pedestrian accident?

Nothing protects a pedestrian from a car’s impact, so the most serious injuries go to Level I trauma centers. Two that serve the area are in Englewood and central Denver: HCA HealthONE Swedish and Denver Health. Injuries people on foot often suffer include:

• Broken legs and knees. Bumpers tend to hit at leg height, so shin, knee, and ankle fractures are common.
• Pelvis and hip injuries. The impact or the fall to the pavement can fracture the pelvis, which can mean weeks of limited walking.
• Brain injuries. Hitting the hood, windshield, or street can cause a mild concussion or a lasting brain injury.
• Spinal cord injuries. A hard fall onto pavement can injure the spine and, in some cases, cause numbness or weakness.
• Cuts and skin injuries. Scraping along the pavement can leave wounds that scar.
• Internal injuries. Damage to organs or internal bleeding is not always visible at the scene.

Many people also feel nervous crossing streets afterward, and that change belongs in the claim, too.

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Who can be held liable after a Glendale pedestrian accident?

When a driver hits a pedestrian, determining fault requires examining whether everyone involved followed Colorado’s traffic laws. Insurance adjusters may argue that the pedestrian contributed to the collision, but drivers have a legal duty to take reasonable precautions to prevent pedestrian accidents.

Under C.R.S. § 42-4-807, drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians on the roadway. Additionally, C.R.S. § 42-4-802 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks under specified circumstances and prohibits passing a vehicle stopped to allow someone to cross. These protections do not automatically make a driver liable for every pedestrian accident. Responsibility depends on the circumstances, including whether either party failed to follow applicable traffic rules.

Depending on the evidence, one or more of the following parties may be responsible:

• The driver who hit you. Turning without looking, speeding, or distraction usually makes the driver the main party.
• The driver’s employer. If the crash happened during work, such as a delivery run, the employer and its insurer may be responsible.
• A second driver. A driver who went around a car stopped at the crosswalk, or who pushed another car into you, may share the blame.
• A property owner. Poor lighting or a confusing layout in a private parking lot may play a part.
• A public entity. A signal or road design problem may bring in the city or, on a state highway like Colorado Boulevard, CDOT. That can happen when the legal requirements for governmental liability are met under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.

What if you were crossing outside a crosswalk?

That alone won’t necessarily defeat your claim. Colorado’s rule for other crossings (C.R.S. § 42-4-803) requires a pedestrian outside a crosswalk to yield to vehicles, but drivers still owe due care. Under Colorado’s comparative fault law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), any fault assigned to you reduces your award by that percentage. The law bars recovery when your negligence is equal to or greater than the negligence of the person or parties you’re seeking recovery from.

Take a hypothetical. Suppose your losses come to $230,000, and the jury puts you at 30% fault because you crossed mid-block on Leetsdale Drive. You would recover $161,000. A driver’s speed, distraction, or poor lookout can shift that balance.

What can you recover after a Glendale pedestrian accident?

A crash can take away your ability to walk to work, drive, or even climb stairs for a while. Under Colorado’s damages law (C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5), a pedestrian claim can seek economic losses, non-economic losses, and damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, depending on the injuries and evidence. What each category can cover:

• Economic losses. Hospital and surgery bills, therapy, future care, and lost income, including reduced earning ability.
• Non-economic losses. The pain, the anxiety, and the time lost with family and activities you enjoy.
• Physical impairment or disfigurement. A permanent limp, restricted joint movement, nerve damage, an amputated limb, or prominent scarring can affect daily life long after the initial medical bills are paid. Colorado law recognizes compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement separately from the general cap on non-economic damages in qualifying personal injury claims. These injuries may require ongoing rehabilitation, assistive devices, reconstructive procedures, or other care. The specific amount depends on the evidence and the circumstances of the case.

Colorado’s cap on non-economic damages in injury claims is $1.5 million for civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, under HB 24-1472, subject to the statute’s terms and future inflation adjustments beginning in 2028. The cap applies to non-economic losses and does not eliminate the ability to seek supported economic damages. A death claim is subject to a different limit.

What costs are easy to overlook?

The largest medical bills are only part of the financial burden. Rides to appointments, crutches or a wheelchair, a shower chair, home modifications, and paid help with household tasks may also be recoverable economic losses when supported by the evidence. Damaged glasses, phones, and clothing may count as property losses, too.

For someone living with lasting impairment or disfigurement, future expenses can be especially important. Keep receipts, medical recommendations, rehabilitation records, and estimates for necessary equipment or home modifications. These records can help document the full financial impact of the collision and the care you may need going forward.

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How long do you have to file after a Glendale pedestrian accident?

Recovery can take up so much energy that deadlines slip out of view. Colorado’s car accident deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) generally gives a pedestrian hit by a motor vehicle three years to sue. Ongoing insurance talks don’t pause that deadline. Some claims follow other timing:

• A crash with no motor vehicle. A collision with a cyclist, for example, generally falls under the two-year injury deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-102).
• A public entity. For a claim against the city or another public body, written notice is generally due 182 days from the date the injury was discovered.
• An injured child. Colorado’s disability statute (C.R.S. § 13-81-103) can change a minor’s timeline. The rules turn partly on whether the child has a court-appointed representative.

Denver’s streets surround Glendale, but stepping into the city also means stepping into Arapahoe County. If you sue over a crash inside Glendale, the case generally belongs in Arapahoe County District Court, located in Centennial. A crash just across the line in Denver could end up in a Denver court instead.

Pitfall alert

Relying on the driver’s traffic ticket to prove your pedestrian accident claim can backfire. Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1713, the record of a conviction for a Colorado traffic-code violation generally cannot be admitted as evidence in a civil injury case, subject to limited statutory exceptions. That means a driver paying a ticket does not automatically establish liability in your injury claim. Other evidence, such as witness statements, surveillance footage, photographs of the crossing, and the officer’s observations, may help show how the collision occurred. Preserving that evidence early can strengthen your claim, even when the police report identifies the driver as responsible.

Why might you need a lawyer after a Glendale pedestrian accident?

Some pedestrian claims are straightforward, with clear fault and injuries that heal fully. Others involve a disputed signal, a driver with little insurance, or injuries that affect work for months. When fault is contested, or the injuries are serious, help from someone who handles Colorado pedestrian cases can make the process more manageable.

Where the claim can become complicated

• Who had the signal. Drivers and pedestrians often remember the light differently, and video may be the only neutral witness.
• Where you were crossing, an insurer may say you were outside the crosswalk so it can put some of the blame on you.
• Too little coverage. Colorado’s minimum liability limits (C.R.S. § 10-4-620) are low, and serious injuries can exceed them quickly.
• Several insurers at once. Health insurance, your own auto coverage, and the driver’s policy may each want records, and some may seek repayment later.

These disputes usually come down to proof, and the best proof is often gone within days.

How can a Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer help?

A lawyer can secure the evidence, deal with every insurer, and show the full cost of the crash. Early steps often include asking shops and offices nearby to save their camera footage.

A lawyer may also:

• Reconstruct the crossing. A Glendale pedestrian accident attorney can compare signal timing, video, and vehicle damage with the driver’s account.
• Find every policy. A pedestrian injury lawyer can look for coverage from the driver, an employer, and your own auto policy’s protection against drivers with little or no insurance.
• Fix errors early. An Arapahoe County pedestrian accident lawyer can ask the police to correct a report that lists the wrong location or facts.
• Document your recovery. Treatment notes, statements from your doctors, and a simple pain journal can show how the injuries affect daily life.
• Negotiate with adjusters. A lawyer can answer the insurers’ questions and compare each offer against your records.

Your recovery gets your full attention. With the evidence gathered and the deadlines tracked, the choices about your claim get easier to make.

What are the steps in a Glendale pedestrian accident claim?

Knowing what comes next can take some of the worry out of the process. Pedestrian claims usually begin with an investigation and move into negotiation. Only some go to court. Suits over crashes inside Glendale are generally heard in Centennial, where the Arapahoe County Justice Center is located. The steps:

1. Free consultation. You explain what happened in the crash and where your recovery stands. We go over your options at no charge.
2. Evidence gathering. We request the crash report, nearby video, signal timing records, and witness accounts.
3. Medical documentation. We collect records and bills as your treatment moves forward.
4. Demand. When your recovery is clearer, we deliver a written demand to the insurer, with the proof attached.
5. Negotiation. Each offer is compared with your documented losses, and we push back on low numbers.
6. Filing suit, if needed. When talks break down, we file a lawsuit, exchange evidence, and prepare the case for a jury.

What if a cyclist hit you on the Cherry Creek Trail?

Not every pedestrian injury involves a car. A collision on the trail with someone riding a bike can still break bones or injure the head. The rider may be responsible for riding carelessly, and a household insurance policy may cover the claim, depending on its terms. Because a bicycle isn’t a motor vehicle, the shorter two-year deadline noted above generally applies.

How do you choose a pedestrian accident lawyer in Glendale?

A few things can guide your choice of a lawyer after being hit on foot. Look at pedestrian experience, how thoroughly the firm searches for coverage, familiarity with the local court, how fees work, and how the team keeps you informed. Levine Law can explain a pedestrian’s options in plain terms.

• Has the firm handled pedestrian claims? 

Ask about the firm’s pedestrian work and how those cases ended. Among its published results is a settlement of $925,000 for a client hit by a red-light driver while walking across a street. The details appear below.

• Will the firm trace every policy that might pay? 

Responsibility can reach past the driver who hit you. An employer on a delivery run, a second driver, or the owner of a poorly lit lot may share it. Levine Law can work out who else may be at fault and which coverage could respond, including your own.

• Does the firm know how Glendale cases are handled? 

A crash inside Glendale usually involves the Glendale Police Department and, if a lawsuit follows, Arapahoe County District Court. Levine Law can explain how each step works and what to expect.

• How are fees handled? 

The attorney fee is contingent. Levine Law takes a percentage of any recovery and nothing if there isn’t one. The written fee agreement should spell out case costs. There’s no fee for the first meeting.

• Will you hear from your legal team? 

Ask who will answer your questions and how you’ll be kept up to date. Someone answers Levine Law’s hotline at all hours, and several team members work on each case.

A good fit means a team that can piece together what happened at the crossing, lay out your options in plain language, and stay in touch. If a driver hit you in Glendale, contact Levine Law to review your circumstances and learn what comes next.

What do clients say about working with Levine Law?

Hearing from someone who hired the firm can tell you more than a firm’s description of itself. This client was injured by a driver while on the job and wrote about the firm’s continuing work on the case.

“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.

Additional feedback appears in client reviews.

Disclaimer: Client reviews reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee a particular result.

What results has Levine Law obtained in pedestrian cases?

This settlement came in a case involving a pedestrian and a red-light runner:

• $925,000 settlement — Our client was hit by a red-light runner while crossing the street. The client’s injuries included two broken legs and a seven-day hospital stay.

To see results in other kinds of cases, visit Cases & Verdicts.

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

What areas does Levine Law serve near Glendale?

Levine Law represents people hurt while walking in Glendale, the Denver neighborhoods on every side of it, and cities along the Front Range, including:

• Cherry Creek
• Belcaro
• Hilltop
• Virginia Village
• Washington Virginia Vale
• Denver
• Aurora
• Lakewood
• Boulder
• Colorado Springs

For people who can’t get around easily after a crash, a first call by phone can cover the basics.

Local Resources

Emergency and trauma care

• HCA HealthONE Rose — emergency room a short drive north of Glendale — 4567 E. 9th Ave., Denver, CO 80220
• Denver Health Medical Center — Level I Trauma Center — 777 Bannock St., Denver, CO 80204
• HCA HealthONE Swedish — Level I Trauma Center — 501 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood, CO 80113

Police reports and tickets.

• Glendale Police Department — the agency that answers crash calls in Glendale — 950 S. Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246, non-emergency line 303-759-1511
• Glendale Municipal Court — handles traffic cases from citations issued in Glendale — 950 S. Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246
• Colorado DMV Crash Records — for requesting the report after a Glendale crash

Courts

• Arapahoe County District Court, 18th Judicial District — injury lawsuits over crashes in Glendale, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center — 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112

Pedestrian safety data

• CDOT 2025 traffic deaths release — statewide deaths in 2025, including pedestrians
• CDOT Crash Data — statewide crash statistics, including pedestrian crashes

Disclaimer: These resources are provided for informational purposes only. Levine Law does not endorse or have an affiliation with any listed organization or service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which police department handles a pedestrian crash on a Glendale boundary street?

It depends on which side of the line the crash happened. The Glendale Police Department covers streets inside the city, while Denver police may respond just across the boundary. That can decide where the report is kept. If you’re unsure which agency responded, Colorado DMV crash records explains how to request a report.

Can I bring a claim if a City of Glendale vehicle hit me?

Often, yes. Under Colorado’s immunity waiver for public vehicles (C.R.S. § 24-10-106), a public entity generally can’t claim immunity when its employee injures someone while driving a government vehicle on the job, with exceptions for some emergency vehicles. The short notice deadline described above still applies to a claim against Glendale.

What if I was looking at my phone when a Glendale driver hit me?

You may still recover. Under Colorado’s comparative fault law, a jury could reduce your award if it finds your distraction played a part. The driver’s own duty of care doesn’t go away. In Arapahoe County District Court, the evidence about both people’s attention would matter.

Does it matter that I was hit in Glendale at night?

It can. Darkness may affect what each person could see, and an insurer may raise dark clothing. Colorado’s due-care law still requires drivers to watch for pedestrians, and headlights and speed matter. Photos of the lighting at the Glendale crossing, taken soon after, can help show what the driver should have seen.

How much does a Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer cost?

The first consultation is free. For Glendale pedestrian cases, Levine Law’s fee is contingent and tied to the result. Your agreement lists case costs, like Arapahoe County filing fees, separately. Colorado’s three-year deadline for most vehicle crashes makes an early call worthwhile.

Talk with a Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer.

You were simply crossing the street, and now you’re dealing with injuries and insurers. Tell us what happened. We’ll sort out who may be at fault, which insurance may pay, and what comes next. The first call is free, and our fee depends on winning a recovery for you.

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

Attorney Reviews and Office Information

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

Glendale Office
Levine Law LLC
4500 Cherry Creek S Dr #400
Denver/Glendale, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 333-8000

Other Cases We Handle in Glendale

Levine Law’s other Glendale cases include:

• Car Accidents
• Uber & Lyft Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Wrongful Death
• Dog Bites

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.