Wrongful Death Attorney in Colorado Springs

Medical Fluency & 20+ Years of Personal Injury Experience on Your Side

Losing someone to another party’s negligence forces families to manage grief and legal pressure at the same time. At The Law Firm of Ted Bills, we handle the legal weight so you can focus on your family. With over 20 years of personal injury experience and more than $500 million recovered for injury victims, we bring the resources and commitment that wrongful death cases demand.

Every client works directly with Ted Bills throughout their case. He provides his personal cell number, gives regular updates, and doesn’t hand cases off to associates. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront fees and no fee at all unless we recover compensation for you.

Don’t face a wrongful death case alone. Call (719) 444-1000 to request a free consultation.

What Constitutes Wrongful Death Under Colorado Law

Under Colorado law (CRS 13-21-202), wrongful death occurs when a person dies as a result of another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. A viable claim requires establishing the four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The death itself isn’t enough; there must be a direct causal link between the responsible party’s actions and the loss of life.

Common causes we handle include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Premises liability
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice

Colorado’s wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of death. In hit-and-run vehicular homicide cases, that window may extend to four years. Tolling exceptions can apply in limited circumstances, such as when the deceased’s heirs include a minor. Missing the filing deadline can end the right to pursue compensation, which is why contacting an attorney promptly after a loss matters.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Colorado

Colorado law establishes a year-by-year priority order for who may bring a wrongful death claim, governed by CRS 13-21-201. Understanding where you stand in that order is one of the first questions we can help you answer.

• Year one: The surviving spouse holds the exclusive right to file. Other heirs may file jointly only if the spouse provides written consent.
• Year two: Both the spouse and children may file, or children may file independently if there is no surviving spouse.
• No spouse or children: In certain circumstances, such as when the deceased was an unmarried adult or minor without descendants, parents or a designated beneficiary may bring the claim.
• 2025 update: As of 2025, Colorado law was updated to allow siblings to file in applicable cases where there is no surviving spouse, heir, designated beneficiary, or parent.

Eligibility questions come up early and carry real consequences. If you’re uncertain whether you have standing to file, we can walk you through the rules during a free consultation.

Damages Recoverable in a Colorado Wrongful Death Case

Colorado wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. The distinction matters because Colorado caps non-economic wrongful death damages, though that cap was increased for cases filed on or after January 1, 2025. There is no cap on economic losses.

Economic damages may include the deceased’s lost income and future earning capacity, medical bills incurred before death, funeral and burial expenses, and lost future benefits such as pension or insurance coverage.

Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, grief and emotional distress, and loss of companionship experienced by surviving family members.

Punitive damages may be available when the responsible party’s conduct involved fraud, malice, or willful and wanton behavior.

Many cases also involve a survival action, a separate but related claim filed by the deceased’s estate. A survival action recovers damages the deceased suffered before death, such as pre-death pain and suffering and lost earnings, rather than the losses experienced by surviving family members. When both a wrongful death claim and a survival action may apply, understanding which path to pursue, or how to coordinate them, can significantly affect total recoverable compensation.

Why Colorado Springs Families Choose The Law Firm of Ted Bills

Ted Bills brings something to wrongful death cases that purely legal practices can’t offer: hands-on medical experience. While in college, Ted worked in the ER and trauma center at a local, city-owned hospital, assisting doctors, nurses, and surgeons with catastrophic injuries. He understands medical terminology, reads medical reports with fluency, and can recognize certain injuries sometimes before a victim’s own physician provides a diagnosis.

Medical Fluency That Shapes Case Strategy

In wrongful death cases involving complex medical causation, such as delayed-diagnosis deaths or emergency room errors, that background changes what we can find in the records and how we build a damages argument. We don’t have to rely entirely on outside experts to tell us what happened medically. We also connect clients with a trusted network of medical professionals to support both recovery and case documentation.

Building a complete wrongful death case means gathering police reports, medical records, and witness statements, and in some cases securing expert opinions from accident reconstructionists or medical professionals. We manage that process from the first call through resolution, whether that means negotiating a settlement or taking the case to trial at the El Paso County Combined Courts.

What Sets Our Firm Apart

Direct Attorney Access
Clients work with Ted directly, not associates, and have his personal cell number throughout the case.

20+ Years of Personal Injury Experience
We’ve focused on personal injury law for over two decades.

$500 Million Recovered
We’ve recovered more than $500 million for injury victims across our practice.

Contingency Fee Basis
No upfront fees. We collect a fee only if we recover compensation for you.

Settlement & Trial Representation
We pursue the best path to resolution, whether through negotiation or litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does a Wrongful Death Case Take to Resolve?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the facts, the willingness of involved parties to settle, and the court’s caseload. Many cases resolve within one to two years; cases that go to trial typically take longer. We keep clients informed at every stage and work diligently to move cases forward.

What Does a Wrongful Death Attorney Do?

A wrongful death attorney examines and collects evidence, files the appropriate legal documents, negotiates with insurance carriers and opposing counsel, and represents clients in court if litigation is required. We also help families understand the process, protect their rights under the statute of limitations, and pursue the full range of available damages. At The Law Firm of Ted Bills, clients work directly with Ted throughout every stage.

What Is the Deadline to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Colorado?

Colorado’s wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of death. In hit-and-run vehicular homicide cases, that period may extend to four years. Limited tolling exceptions exist, including in cases involving minor heirs. Contacting an attorney early preserves evidence and can help ensure your claim is filed before the deadline passes.

Call The Law Firm of Ted Bills at (719) 444-1000 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We’re here to help your family understand your options and take the next step with confidence.