Fort Collins Wrongful Death Lawyers

Metier Law Firm: Fort Collins Wrongful Death Attorneys Fighting for Your Family

Our attorneys have represented seriously injured clients and grieving families across Colorado for decades, bringing that same trial-hardened preparation to every wrongful death case we handle. Founding Partner T. Thomas Metier holds Board Certifications in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has earned an AV Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating, the highest designation for legal ability and ethics. Our team is licensed in Colorado state and federal courts, and we build every case for trial from the first conversation.

Real Wrongful Death Results From Metier Law Firm

The results below come directly from wrongful death cases our attorneys handled for Colorado families.

• Wrongful Death Claim, $6,000,000+: Over $6 million settlement for a wrongful death claim.
• Wrongful Death Claim, $1,700,000+: Over $1.7 million settlement for a wrongful death claim.
• Wrongful Death Claim, $1,450,000: Over $1.45 million settlement for a wrongful death claim.
• Wrongful Death Claim, $500,000+: Over $500,000 settlement for a wrongful death claim.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every wrongful death case turns on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Colorado?

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit filed by surviving family members against the party whose negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct caused the death of their loved one, entirely separate from any criminal case. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-202, the right to bring a wrongful death action exists whenever the act or neglect that caused the death would have given the deceased person grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit had they survived.

• Economic damages: Medical expenses incurred between the incident and death, funeral and burial costs, and the present-value calculation of the deceased's lost future income and financial contributions to the family.
• Non-economic damages: The grief, loss of companionship, loss of guidance and parental care, and emotional suffering the surviving family members carry forward.

Families in Fort Collins also ask whether a wrongful death claim conflicts with a survival action, a related but distinct claim addressing losses the deceased personally suffered before dying. Colorado permits both to proceed.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Colorado

Larimer County and the greater Fort Collins area see fatal accidents across a wide range of circumstances. Our attorneys handle wrongful death cases arising from:

• Truck and commercial vehicle accidents: Fatal crashes on I-25, US-287, and Colorado 14 are among the most complex wrongful death cases because of multiple liable parties, federal safety regulations, and aggressive insurer defense tactics.
• Motorcycle accidents: Riders killed by inattentive or reckless drivers leave families with limited time to preserve surveillance footage, driver phone records, and accident scene data.
• Car accidents: Speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving remain leading causes of traffic fatalities in Larimer County, and even straightforward cases can involve underinsured motorists or disputed fault.
• Premises liability: Deaths on commercial or residential property where an owner failed to address a known hazard, from inadequate security to structural failures.
• Workplace and industrial accidents: Fatal injuries in construction zones, oil fields, and manufacturing environments may give rise to workers' compensation claims and third-party civil actions.
• Medical malpractice: Deaths caused by a health care provider's failure to meet the accepted standard of care, including surgical errors, missed diagnoses, and medication mistakes.

The cause of death determines the liable parties, evidence strategy, and damages calculation. Identifying all responsible parties early is one of the most consequential decisions a family can make.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Fort Collins?

Colorado structures wrongful death eligibility by year. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-201, the surviving spouse or designated heir holds the exclusive right to file during the first year following the death. Beginning in the second year, the deceased's children may also bring or join a wrongful death action.

• Surviving spouse or civil union partner
• Children of the deceased, including legally adopted children
• Parents of the deceased, in cases where no surviving spouse or children exist

Insurance companies routinely dispute who qualifies as an eligible claimant, particularly in blended families or when relationships are questioned. Our attorneys identify all eligible parties at the outset and prevent eligibility disputes from delaying or diminishing your family's recovery.

Damages Available in a Fort Collins Wrongful Death Claim

The full scope of losses a Fort Collins wrongful death claim can recover is broader than many families realize. Colorado law allows surviving family members to pursue economic damages, non-economic damages, and exemplary damages in cases involving willful or wanton conduct.

• Medical and end-of-life expenses: All hospital, emergency, and treatment costs incurred from the time of the incident through the time of death.
• Funeral and burial costs: The direct out-of-pocket expense of services, burial or cremation, and related arrangements.
• Lost income and future earning capacity: An economist-supported calculation of the income, employer benefits, and financial contributions the deceased would have provided over their expected working life.
• Loss of companionship and consortium: The profound relational loss suffered by a surviving spouse, including loss of emotional support, partnership, and shared life plans.
• Loss of parental guidance: When children lose a parent, Colorado law recognizes the distinct harm of losing daily care, mentorship, and the parental relationship over the course of a childhood.
• Grief and emotional suffering: Colorado recognizes the personal anguish surviving family members carry as a compensable harm.

Colorado applies a modified comparative fault rule under C.R.S. § 13-21-111. If the deceased shared some responsibility for the events that caused the death, any damages award will be reduced by that percentage. Families retain the right to recover as long as the deceased was not more than 50% at fault. Our attorneys scrutinize every fault allocation argument to protect the full value of your claim.

Colorado Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Colorado imposes a firm two-year deadline on wrongful death claims. Under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, families generally have two years from the date of their loved one's death to file a civil action in Colorado court. A claim filed after that deadline will almost always be dismissed, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are.

Two circumstances can compress that window. When a government entity is responsible, Colorado law requires written notice within 182 days of the incident, a much shorter period than the standard two-year filing period. When the death results from a criminal act, parallel criminal proceedings do not pause the civil statute of limitations.

Wrongful death investigations require time. Accident reconstruction, subpoenaing records, obtaining medical files, and engaging damage professionals all take months. Families in Fort Collins who wait risk losing access to evidence that no longer exists. The earlier an attorney is involved, the stronger the case.

Contact a Fort Collins Wrongful Death Lawyer at Metier Law Firm Today

Your family deserves attorneys who match your commitment to accountability with their own. Metier Law Firm has the trial record, the credentials, and the resolve to fight for Fort Collins families who have lost a loved one due to another party's negligence. 

Call a Fort Collins wrongful death lawyer at our firm today at (866) 377-3800. We are ready to listen, and we are prepared to fight.