Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyer

Last update: October 12, 2026

The knock comes after midnight. A police officer stands at the door and asks if the family can sit down. Someone you love was driving home on Leetsdale Drive when a driver who had been drinking crossed into their lane. CDOT counted 235 impaired-driving deaths on Colorado roads in 2025, up 11% from 2024. In the weeks ahead, insurance adjusters may start calling with questions.

Nothing about this is fair. Families shouldn’t have to learn legal rules while planning a funeral. Still, the law sets a two-year limit for most wrongful death claims and a set order for who may file. A Glendale wrongful death lawyer at Levine Law can explain where your family stands in that order, which parties may be at fault, and what the claim may cover. To see who would be working with your family, learn about our firm. A few things to know:

• Experience pursuing wrongful death claims. Levine Law represents families seeking accountability after losing a loved one because of another party’s negligence. A jury awarded a wrongful death verdict of $3.7 million after a nursing home didn’t properly monitor an elderly resident’s catheter. The case appears in the firm’s list of case results and verdicts. What clients have said about the firm is collected in client reviews.
• A fee paid only out of a recovery. Whether a death followed a car accident or another kind of negligence, the firm is paid from the money it recovers for the family, if any.
• A two-year window that starts at death. Colorado generally allows two years, measured from the day your loved one died, to file suit. Contact our Denver office, and we can help pin down your family’s deadline.
• Honors for three Levine Law attorneys. Super Lawyers selected founder Jordan S. Levine every year from 2011 through 2016. More recently, it named attorney Kellie O’Connell a Rising Star for 2024 and 2025. The National Trial Lawyers has also placed attorney Cristin Fitzgerald on its Top 100 list since 2022. The awards and recognition page has the firm’s other honors.

Whether alcohol played a part, and where the driver was served, can change who shares responsibility. Receipts, video, and witness memories fade fast. Here’s where to start.

What should a family do after a fatal crash in Glendale?

In the first days, it’s normal to feel frozen, and most legal steps can wait. A few things are easier to handle early, before records scatter. For a death tied to a crash in Glendale, the Arapahoe County Coroner in Centennial is usually the office that investigates. When you can:

• Lean on each other first. Funeral plans and family come before paperwork, and most of the legal work can wait a few days.
• Keep the police case number. The Glendale Police Department‘s report number will help you request the full report later.
• Note where the driver had been. If anyone mentions a bar, restaurant, or party the driver left, write down the name, the time, and who told you.
• Save the paperwork. Hospital bills, funeral receipts, and pay stubs that show what your loved one earned can all matter later.
• Let insurance calls wait. An adjuster can leave a name and number. You can call back after you’ve had advice.
• Hold off on signing. A release, or even cashing an insurer’s check, can end the claim. A lawyer can review the papers before you sign.

What happens in the weeks after a fatal crash in Glendale?

More than one office may be involved, and each works at its own pace. Meanwhile, the filing deadline keeps counting down. Several of them are based in Centennial. Stage by stage:

• The police investigation. Glendale officers talk to witnesses, measure the scene, and check whether the driver had been drinking. 

Why it matters: An insurer will often form its first view of the crash, and of any drinking, from this report.

• The coroner’s findings. The coroner’s office explains, in a formal report, what caused the death. 

Why it matters:The report can tie the death to the crash, which matters most if your loved one lived for a time afterward.

• Criminal charges, if any. Prosecutors at the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office decide whether the driver will face charges. 

Why it matters: A criminal case can bring out evidence, such as blood-alcohol results, that may also matter to the family’s claim. The office’s victim compensation unit may help with some costs, too.

• A personal representative for the estate. If the estate needs one, a probate court, usually in the county where your loved one lived, makes the appointment. 

Why it matters: The estate’s separate claim can’t go forward until someone is appointed to bring it.

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What kinds of fatal accidents lead to claims in Glendale?

Fatal crashes usually start with the same mistakes that injure people every day. CDOT reported that impairment, speed, and distracted driving were the top factors in the state’s deadly crashes during the first half of 2024. In Glendale, restaurants and bars sit within less than a square mile, next to two busy state highways. Deaths that lead to claims often involve:

• Drunk and impaired driving. A driver leaving a bar or party late at night may be slow to react or may drift across lanes.
• People on foot. Someone crossing near shops or restaurants can be killed by a driver who doesn’t yield.
• Bicycle crashes. Riders near the Cherry Creek Trail and on busy streets have little protection when a car hits them.
• Motorcycle crashes. A driver who misjudges a rider’s distance can cause a crash the rider doesn’t survive.
• Truck crashes. A heavy vehicle’s size can make an ordinary collision deadly.
• Unsafe property. A balcony railing that gives way or a pool without a working gate can cost a life.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim for a Glendale death?

Talking about who should file can feel strange when everyone is grieving. Colorado’s Wrongful Death Act (C.R.S. § 13-21-201) answers much of it by family relationship and by how much time has passed since the death. The order generally runs this way:

• A spouse in the first year. During the first year, a surviving spouse may file alone or, by written election, file together with the heirs or let the heirs file instead.
• Heirs in the second year. Beginning in the second year, the children or other heirs may also sue without the spouse. A spouse or designated beneficiary who didn’t start the case can generally join within 90 days after notice.
• No spouse. The heirs may sue at once, as may a designated beneficiary named in a recorded agreement.
• Parents. Where the person who died was single and childless, the parents may file, unless a designated beneficiary has that right instead.
• Brothers and sisters. Since HB 24-1472 took effect, siblings may bring a claim in limited cases, generally when there’s no spouse, child, designated beneficiary, or living parent.

Colorado permits just one wrongful death action (C.R.S. § 13-21-203) per death, so relatives with standing generally have to coordinate who sues and who joins the case.

Who can be held responsible for a death in Glendale?

Wanting someone to answer for a preventable death is a natural response. Legally, a person or business can be held liable when it failed to use reasonable care and that failure caused the death. Driving drunk, ignoring a broken railing, and overlooking a patient’s worsening symptoms can each be that kind of failure. Not every claim starts with a crash. Depending on the facts, any of these may share responsibility:

• The at-fault driver. An impaired, speeding, or distracted driver is usually the first party a claim looks at.
• An employer or vehicle owner. A company may share responsibility when its employee caused the crash while on the job, and a person who lent a car to an unfit driver may, too.
• A business that served the driver. A licensed seller of alcohol may share responsibility under Colorado’s dram shop law (C.R.S. § 44-3-801), within that law’s limits.
• A property owner. An owner may be responsible for a deadly hazard, such as a failing balcony, if it was aware of the danger, or if reasonable care would have revealed it.
• A medical provider or care facility. A provider whose care fell short of accepted medical standards may share responsibility when a person in its care dies as a result. These claims carry extra requirements, such as an expert’s review of the case (C.R.S. § 13-20-602), and may follow a separate time limit (C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5).
• A product maker. If a defective tire, brake, or airbag played a part, its manufacturer may share the blame.
• A third party in a workplace death. Workers’ compensation (C.R.S. § 8-41-104) usually bars a suit against the employer, but the family may still pursue another person or company whose carelessness played a part (C.R.S. § 8-41-203).
• A public entity. Colorado Boulevard is a state highway, so questions about its signals or design may involve CDOT. A public body may share responsibility when the legal requirements for governmental liability are met. A claim like that must first get past the state’s immunity rules (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act).

What if the insurer says your loved one shared the blame?

Families are sometimes told that the person who died made a mistake, too. Under Colorado’s comparative fault law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), some of the fault can be placed on the person who died. The family’s award then shrinks by that percentage. The law bars recovery when the negligence of the person who died is equal to or greater than the negligence of the person or parties the family is seeking recovery from.

Consider a hypothetical. Picture a jury that sets the family’s losses at $520,000 and decides the person who died was 10% at fault for driving a few miles over the speed limit. The family would recover $468,000. When a driver and a bar are both at fault, each one is generally responsible for just its own percentage under Colorado’s pro-rata liability law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111.5).

What can a family recover after a wrongful death in Glendale?

Money can’t bring anyone back, and it can feel wrong to discuss it. A claim can still ease the financial strain a death leaves behind. Depending on the evidence, the family’s claim may seek:

• Economic losses. Income your loved one would probably have shared with the family, the value of their help around the house, and the cost of the funeral and burial.
• Non-economic losses. Grief, lost companionship, and the emotional toll on the family.
• A fixed-sum option called solatium. Under Colorado’s solatium law (C.R.S. § 13-21-203.5), the family may choose in writing to take a set amount in place of the non-economic claim. The Colorado Secretary of State sets that figure at $135,990 when the claim accrues on or after January 1, 2024.
• The estate’s survival claim. The estate’s personal representative may also pursue a survival claim (C.R.S. § 13-20-101), which usually covers only losses from before the death, like hospital bills and missed pay.

Colorado caps non-economic damages in wrongful death cases at $2,125,000 for deaths on or after January 1, 2025, under HB 24-1472, and the same cap applies to wrongful death actions filed during 2025. The cap is adjusted for inflation starting January 1, 2028, and every two years after, using the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood consumer price index. The cap doesn’t apply when the death was a “felonious killing”, which Colorado’s probate code ties to murder and manslaughter (C.R.S. § 15-11-803).

Does a drunk-driving charge lift the cap?

Many families expect a criminal charge to remove the limit, and the answer isn’t automatic. A deadly DUI crash is commonly charged as vehicular homicide (C.R.S. § 18-3-106), which isn’t one of the crimes the felonious-killing rule lists. A civil court can still decide for itself whether the elements of manslaughter were met, so the facts matter. Separately, Colorado’s wrongful death law (C.R.S. § 13-21-203) allows exemplary damages when a death involved willful and wanton conduct, generally no more than the actual damages awarded.

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How long do you have to file a wrongful death claim in Glendale?

Grief doesn’t keep a calendar, so it’s worth learning the date early. Under Colorado’s wrongful death deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-102), the family usually has a two-year window for its lawsuit. Those two years start on the day your loved one died, not necessarily the day of the crash (C.R.S. § 13-80-108). Other timing can apply:

• A city, county, or state agency. A claim against a public body requires written notice, generally within 182 days of when the injury was discovered.
• A hit-and-run homicide. Four years may apply, but only if the driver’s conduct amounted to vehicular homicide and the driver fled the scene.

Although Glendale is an island inside Denver, the whole city is part of Arapahoe County. A wrongful death suit over a Glendale crash would generally belong in Centennial, at Arapahoe County District Court in the 18th Judicial District.

Pitfall alert

Waiting to ask a bar or restaurant to save its records can cost a family important proof. Security video can be erased on a routine schedule, and receipts or tab records can be hard to find later. Those records can show how much the driver was served and whether staff saw signs of intoxication. A written request to preserve them, sent early, can protect evidence the family may need.

Why might you need a lawyer after a wrongful death in Glendale?

A wrongful death claim raises questions that an injury claim doesn’t. Families often need to work out who may file, which deadlines apply, and which parties and policies may pay. Doing that while grieving is hard, and guidance from someone who handles Colorado wrongful death cases can take some of the weight.

Where the claim can become complicated

• Two sets of deadlines. A suit under the dram shop law must be filed within one year after the sale or service of the alcohol, so the bar’s deadline can pass a year or more before the two-year wrongful death window closes.
• Proving the bar kept serving. It usually takes receipts, video, and witnesses to show that staff could see the driver was drunk.
• Several sources of coverage. The driver’s liability policy may be small. Coverage may also come from the family’s own coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers, an employer, or the business that served the driver.
• A future that has to be proven. Lost support and household work are projections, and they usually need records and expert help.

Records and witnesses answer most of these questions, and they’re easier to gather while events are recent.

How can a Glendale wrongful death lawyer help?

A lawyer can take on the legal work while your family grieves. The first steps usually include confirming who has standing and sending letters to preserve records.

A lawyer may also:

• Trace where the driver was served. A Glendale wrongful death attorney can request receipts, video, and staff accounts from any bar or restaurant involved.
• Coordinate the family. A wrongful death lawyer can confirm who has standing and help everyone take part in the single lawsuit.
• Find every policy. An Arapahoe County wrongful death lawyer can look into the driver’s coverage, the family’s own policies, and any business or employer coverage.
• Document the loss. Pay records, tax returns, and stories from friends and coworkers can show what the family lost.
• Deal with the insurers. A lawyer can take the adjusters’ calls and measure any offer against the record, so the family decides with full information.

Your family sets the pace. With the deadlines tracked and the evidence protected, you can make each decision when you’re ready.

What are the steps in a Glendale wrongful death claim?

A lawsuit can sound overwhelming, but most claims follow a predictable path, and many resolve before trial. When a claim has to be filed, the case moves to Arapahoe County’s courthouse in Centennial. The steps:

1. Free consultation. You tell us about the crash and about the person you lost. We explain who can file and when.
2. Investigation. We collect reports from the police and coroner, medical records, bar receipts, video, and witness accounts.
3. Documenting the loss. We collect pay and benefits records and work with experts to show what the family lost.
4. Demand and negotiation. Your family’s losses go to each insurer in a written demand, and talks begin from there.
5. Lawsuit, if needed. If negotiation stalls, we file suit and prepare to present the case to a jury.

What if your family lives outside Colorado?

Glendale draws visitors from across the region, and some families learn of a death from far away. Family members don’t need to live in Colorado to bring the claim, since standing depends on the relationship, not an address. A case over a Glendale crash would still generally be filed in Arapahoe County. Much of the early work can often happen by phone and video, with travel usually saved for events like depositions or trial.

How do you choose a wrongful death lawyer in Glendale?

Choose a wrongful death lawyer by considering their experience with complex death claims, ability to investigate all potential sources of liability, familiarity with local courts, fee arrangements, and communication practices. Levine Law can help families understand their legal options and navigate the process during a difficult time.

• Has the firm handled wrongful death cases?

Ask about the firm’s experience pursuing accountability for families who have lost loved ones. Levine Law’s case results include a jury verdict in a nursing home wrongful death case. You can explore examples on the firm’s case results and verdicts page. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

• Will the firm investigate every possible source of liability?

Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve a negligent driver, an alcohol vendor, or another responsible party. Levine Law can investigate the evidence, assess whether Colorado’s dram shop law applies, and identify potentially available insurance coverage.

• Does the firm understand local court procedures?

Glendale wrongful death cases may fall within Arapahoe County’s court system, depending on jurisdiction and the circumstances. Levine Law can determine the appropriate venue and guide families through the legal process.

• How are legal fees and case expenses handled?

Levine Law handles wrongful death claims on a contingency-fee basis, with attorney fees calculated as an agreed percentage of any recovery. The written agreement should explain how expert fees and other case expenses are handled. Initial consultations are free.

• Will the family receive regular updates?

Ask who will manage the case, how progress will be communicated, and whom to contact with questions. Levine Law uses a team-based approach and offers a hotline that accepts calls around the clock.

Choosing a wrongful death lawyer means finding a team that can investigate what happened, explain your family’s options, and pursue accountability. If you have lost a loved one in Glendale, contact Levine Law to discuss your circumstances and learn about possible next steps.

What do clients say about working with Levine Law?

A client’s own words can say what a firm’s claims can’t. None of Levine Law’s published reviews come from a wrongful death client, so this one is shared for what it is: a review from the family of a firefighter who was badly hurt on duty and survived. It speaks to what support can mean during a family’s hardest stretch.

“In January of 2012 my husband, a firefighter of 15 years, was badly injured while on duty. The workers compensation process was a nightmare with lost income and difficulty getting proper medical treatment. Jordan Levine and his team stepped in to help when we were going through one of the most difficult times in our lives.” — Dan & Leilan, client testimonial.

You can read more in client reviews.

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

What results has Levine Law obtained in wrongful death cases?

The firm won this verdict at trial in a wrongful death case:

• $3.7 million verdict — During a short-term rehab stay, a nursing home failed to keep an 88-year-old resident’s Foley catheter clean and monitored. She died from a urinary tract infection.

For more of the firm’s work, 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 helps families who have lost someone in Glendale, in nearby Denver neighborhoods, and in other parts of Colorado, including:

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

If coming to an office is hard right now, a first conversation by phone is a fine place to start.

Local Resources

Death investigation

• Arapahoe County Coroner — investigates sudden and unexpected deaths tied to events in Arapahoe County, including Glendale — 13101 E. Broncos Pkwy., Centennial, CO 80112

Police and crash reports

• Glendale Police Department — takes crash and incident reports within the city — 950 S. Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246, non-emergency line 303-759-1511
• Colorado DMV Crash Records — the place to order the written report of a crash

Victim support

• 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Victim Compensation — the victim compensation unit of the district attorney’s office for Arapahoe County
• Colorado crime victim compensation law, C.R.S. § 24-4.1-109 — the losses the program may cover, including burial expenses and lost support for dependents

Courts

• Arapahoe County District Court, 18th Judicial District — wrongful death lawsuits over Glendale deaths, and probate for Glendale residents, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center — 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112

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

Can a family sue a Glendale bar if their loved one was the one drinking?

Generally, no. Under Colorado’s dram shop law, a person who was served alcohol, and that person’s estate, legal guardian, or dependents, generally cannot sue the alcohol vendor under that provision. However, if another driver caused the fatal crash after a bar or liquor store willfully and knowingly served them while visibly intoxicated, the victim’s family may be able to bring a dram shop claim against that vendor. A Glendale wrongful death lawyer can go through the Glendale Police Department‘s report for other responsible parties.

What if our loved one died at a Denver hospital after a crash in Glendale?

Where the person died changes less than families expect. Under Colorado’s coroner statute (C.R.S. § 30-10-606), the office where someone died generally asks to transfer the case to the county where the fatal event happened, which for Glendale is Arapahoe County. A lawsuit would generally be filed there, too.

What if the driver who caused a death in Glendale had no insurance?

The family may still have options. Colorado’s UM/UIM law (C.R.S. § 10-4-609) requires insurers to include uninsured motorist coverage unless it was rejected in writing, so a policy held by the person who died, or by a relative in the same household, may pay. The Glendale Police Department‘s report helps show who caused the crash.

Can a party host be responsible for a deadly crash after a gathering in Glendale?

Only in narrow cases. Under Colorado’s dram shop law, a social host can be liable for knowingly serving alcohol to someone under 21, or knowingly giving that person a place to drink. Serving an adult guest, even too much, generally doesn’t create liability. A Glendale wrongful death attorney can review what the host knew.

How much does a Glendale wrongful death lawyer cost?

No attorney fee is due upfront. Levine Law takes Glendale wrongful death cases on contingency, and it is paid only from money the family recovers. Case costs, like filing fees at Arapahoe County District Court, are listed in writing before you sign. With Colorado’s two-year deadline in mind, an early call can protect your family’s options.

When you’re ready, talk with a Glendale wrongful death lawyer

There’s no right time to think about a claim, and you can take the time you need. When your family is ready, we’ll listen to what happened, explain your options and deadlines, and outline the choices ahead. The first conversation is free, and attorney fees hinge on how the case ends.

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
DenverGlendale, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 333-8000

Denver Office
Levine Law LLC
4500 Cherry Creek S Dr #400
Denver, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 578-3729

Colorado Springs Office
Levine Law LLC
102 S Tejon St #1100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 642-6220

Other Cases We Handle in Glendale

Levine Law also represents Glendale clients in:

• Car Accidents
• Uber & Lyft Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• 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.