After a car accident that is your fault, you may have to pay for the other driver’s damages, including their injuries. Your auto insurance should cover claims up to your policy limits; however, serious accidents can cause additional legal issues.
If both drivers contributed to the crash, Colorado’s comparative negligence rules may also affect how responsibility is determined. If you have been in a car accident, an attorney can help you understand your potential liability and how to respond to the claim.
Since 1996, Heuser & Heuser, LLP, has protected the rights of accident victims in Colorado. We are invested in your community because we’ve been a part of it for decades. Find out how our car accident lawyers in Colorado Springs can help when you call for a free consultation.
Will Your Insurance Pay for the Other Driver’s Damages?
Liability insurance exists to protect you when you are legally responsible for causing injury or property damage, subject to the terms and limits of your policy. Colorado requires drivers to carry liability coverage with certain minimums.
Even if you choose a higher level of coverage, your limits aren’t always sufficient in severe crashes. When damages go beyond your limits, your insurance company may not cover the difference.
You should notify your insurer immediately and provide information about the accident. Avoid making assumptions about what you ultimately owe before the claim has been evaluated. Heuser & Heuser, LLP, can help you assess the legal side of an insurance dispute.
For a free legal consultation, call (719) 520-9909
Could You Have to Pay More Than Your Auto Insurance Covers?
If an injured driver blames you for the accident and their damages exceed what’s allowed by your insurance coverage, they may file a lawsuit against you. Smaller claims may go to county court, while larger claims are filed in district court.
However, that does not mean the other driver automatically gets to collect whatever amount they want. A claimant still must establish the legal basis for recovery and the damages being sought.
The insurance policy also determines how the insurer responds within its coverage. Heuser & Heuser, LLP, can explain what happens after a car accident that is your fault and help you evaluate the potential consequences of a serious claim.
What If Both Parties Are at Fault for a Car Accident?
Even if you believe the accident was your fault, another driver’s actions may still affect how responsibility is determined. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule when more than one person may have contributed to an accident.
If you were partly responsible for a crash, the parties’ negligence can be assigned by percentage. However, the law prevents you from recovering damages when your negligence is as great or greater than the negligence of the other person.
That makes the circumstances of the crash extremely important. Our attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP, can review the facts and explain how modified comparative negligence in Colorado may apply to your situation.
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What Should You Do After Causing a Car Accident?
If you believe you caused a car accident in Colorado, what you do after the crash can affect how the insurance claim and any later dispute unfold. In the days and weeks afterward, focus on preserving information and understanding your potential responsibility.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed. Reach out to Heuser & Heuser, LLP, for advice and a free consultation.
Report the Accident and Notify Your Insurer
If law enforcement was not at the scene, Colorado allows you to file a crash report online. However, an individual-filed report is kept for record purposes and is not investigated by law enforcement. You should also notify your insurance company about the accident.
Keep Your Accident-Related Records
Save the police or crash report, insurance correspondence, photographs, repair information, and any other documents connected to the collision. Keeping these records together can help you understand what happened and respond if the other driver later makes a claim.
Be Careful About Statements Concerning Fault
Be truthful with your insurer and law enforcement, but avoid speculating or claiming responsibility for the crash. There may be factors you are unaware of that contributed to the collision that were not your fault.
Pay Attention to Communications From the Other Driver
The other driver may contact you directly or have an attorney contact you. You do not have to personally negotiate a serious injury claim simply because you believe you caused the accident. Notify your insurer and consider speaking with an attorney before making statements.
Get Legal Advice If the Claim Becomes Serious.
If the other driver alleges significant injuries, the damages appear likely to exceed your insurance coverage, or you receive a demand letter or lawsuit, speaking with a lawyer can be especially important.
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Talk to Our Legal Team After an Accident
After a car accident that is your fault, your insurance company may need to pay damages to the other driver. In serious accidents, you may face a civil lawsuit. An attorney can review the circumstances and explain your potential exposure under Colorado law.
You may have been hurt yourself, and you may be less at fault than you believe. Don’t accept blame until you are sure. Contact our legal team as soon as possible after your crash.
Heuser & Heuser, LLP, has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Colorado residents. Call today to schedule your free consultation.
Reviewed by Brennan Heuser | August 2026
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