Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
Colorado In-Depth
It is normal to be frightened and overwhelmed following an arrest. Therefore our lawyers are devoted to demystifying major topics in Colorado criminal defense law.
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If you are involved in a car accident in Denver, Colorado, you must stop and trade insurance information and contact information with the other driver(s), pedestrian(s), or bicyclist(s). Otherwise, you face hit and run charges.
If someone is injured in the accident, you should – if possible – offer reasonable assistance such as calling an ambulance.
If you hit an unattended car, you are required to stop and find the car owner/operator or else attach a note with your name, address, and car registration information.
Finally, if the accident causes injury or property damage, you must file an accident report with the DMV unless police officers with the Denver Police Department are present at the scene.1
Fleeing after hitting an occupied vehicle – but causing no injury – in Denver, Colorado is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. Penalties include:
But if someone sustains a non-serious injury, then hit and run is a class 1 traffic misdemeanor. Punishments include:
If the accident causes a serious bodily injury, then hit and run is a class 4 felony. The sentence for this type of felony hit-and-run (CRS 42-4-1603) is:
If the accident causes a fatality, then hit and run is a class 3 felony. The penalties are:
Finally, fleeing after hitting an unoccupied motor vehicle that results in property damage is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. The punishment is:
Even if the at-fault motorist in a hit-and-run crash successfully escapes, chances are the Denver police will find them with the help of traffic cameras and eyewitness accounts.
The statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges turns on the seriousness of the case:
Colorado hit-and-run crime |
Statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges |
Class 3 felony (fatal accidents) and vehicular homicide (CRS 18-3-1-6) together | 10 years after the accident |
Class 3 felony (causing a fatality) | 5 years after the accident |
Class 4 felony (causing serious but non-fatal injuries) | 3 years after the accident |
Traffic misdemeanors (all other hit-and-run cases) | 1 year after the accident |
After the applicable time period has passed, the D.A. may no longer bring criminal charges.3
Five potential defenses to Colorado charges of fleeing the scene of an accident are:
See our related article, Denver Hit and Run – 5 key things to know.
Hit and run with only property damage is a misdemeanor in Denver.
Arrested for a Denver hit-and-run accident? Our Colorado law firm fights to get your charges reduced or dismissed while saving your driver’s license.
Our DUI/criminal defense attorneys offer legal advice in Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Adams County, Boulder County, Jefferson County, Lakewood, Westminster, and throughout the state of Colorado. Call to make an appointment with us at our Denver office, our Colorado Springs law office, or our Loveland law office.
And if you are a victim of a hit and run driver, contact our Denver CO personal injury lawyers. Our accident attorneys aggressively negotiate with the insurance companies in pursuit of the largest settlement possible to cover all of your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.