Lakewood Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Statistics in Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in Colorado, with over 156,000 residents, and sits at the crossroads of several major highways in Jefferson County. The volume of traffic flowing through the city creates serious accident risks for everyone on the road. In 2023, Lakewood recorded 21 traffic fatalities, and Jefferson County as a whole saw 48 traffic deaths that year, ranking it among the top counties in the state for fatal crashes according to Colorado Department of Transportation data.

Statewide, Colorado logged over 115,000 car accidents in 2025, a 5 percent increase over 2024. Rear-end crashes are the single most common type, with 27,950 incidents statewide in 2024 alone. Approximately 87 percent of all Colorado crashes occur in the 12 metro counties, which includes Jefferson County. Distracted driving has been the most commonly reported cause of car accidents in Colorado for several consecutive years.

If you have been hurt in a car accident in Lakewood, the car accident lawyers at Anderson Hemmat can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Lakewood

Lakewood's road network includes several major highways and arterial roads with documented histories of serious crashes. Our attorneys have handled car accident cases involving collisions on each of these corridors:

• Interstate 70: Runs along Lakewood's northern boundary connecting Denver to the mountains. I-70 is one of Colorado's busiest interstate corridors and carries significant commercial truck traffic heading to and from the mountain passes, making it a frequent site of high-speed and multi-vehicle collisions.

• US-6 (6th Avenue Freeway): A major east-west freeway cutting through the heart of Lakewood that serves as a primary commuter route between Denver and the western suburbs. US-6 carries heavy traffic volumes and the interchange at Wadsworth Boulevard has been the site of multiple serious multi-vehicle crashes.

• Wadsworth Boulevard: A heavily traveled north-south arterial running through Lakewood with numerous commercial driveways and intersections that create turning-movement conflicts. South Wadsworth Boulevard was the site of seven or more traffic deaths between 2018 and 2020, and the intersections at West 14th Avenue, West 5th Avenue, and West 1st Avenue are particularly dangerous.

• Colfax Avenue (US-40): One of the longest continuous commercial streets in America. The 1.5-mile segment of West Colfax between Sheridan and Wadsworth is among the most dangerous stretches of road in Lakewood. According to Lakewood Transportation Engineering, this segment saw 820 total crashes from 2015 to 2019, causing 283 injuries and six fatalities, with a crash occurring nearly every other day. The City of Lakewood received a $10 million grant to fund the West Colfax Transportation Safety Project to address these hazards.

• C-470: The beltway along Lakewood's southern edge connects to the southern suburbs and is a frequent site of high-speed collisions and rear-end crashes during peak commuter hours.

• Alameda Avenue and Kipling Street: This intersection has been the site of multiple fatal crashes, including incidents involving red-light violations and high-speed T-bone collisions. It is recognized as one of the most dangerous intersections in Lakewood, where drivers frequently run red lights or fail to yield.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Lakewood

Car accidents in Lakewood occur for many of the same reasons as throughout the Denver metro area, but local road conditions and traffic patterns contribute to specific types of crashes:

• Distracted Driving: The leading cause of car accidents in Colorado for several consecutive years. Texting, phone use, and other distractions are especially dangerous on high-speed corridors like US-6 and I-70.

• Rear-End Collisions: The most common accident type in Colorado, with nearly 28,000 incidents statewide in 2024 and a 10 percent spike in 2025. Stop-and-go traffic on Wadsworth Boulevard and C-470 makes rear-end crashes particularly frequent in Lakewood.

• Red-Light Running and Failure to Yield: Busy intersections like Alameda and Kipling, Colfax and Wadsworth, and Colfax and Sheridan see frequent T-bone and broadside collisions caused by drivers running red lights. Broadside collisions accounted for 15,083 crashes statewide in 2024.

• Speeding: High-speed roads like I-70, US-6, and C-470 see crashes at elevated speeds that result in more severe injuries and fatalities.

• Drunk and Impaired Driving: Nighttime crashes along Colfax Avenue, which runs through commercial and entertainment areas, often involve impaired drivers.

• Weather-Related Accidents: Colorado's unpredictable weather, including sudden snowstorms and black ice, creates hazardous driving conditions on Lakewood roads, especially on elevated sections of I-70 and C-470.

No matter what caused your accident, our attorneys can investigate the circumstances, identify every liable party, and build a strong case on your behalf. We handle all types of car accident claims, including truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, hit-and-run accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death claims.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Lakewood

The steps you take immediately after a car accident can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation. If you are involved in a crash in Lakewood, follow these steps:

1. Check for injuries and call 911: Your safety comes first. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries. Call 911 to request medical help and report the accident to the Lakewood Police Department. An official police report is critical evidence for your claim.

2. Seek medical attention promptly: Even if you feel fine, some injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not show symptoms immediately. Prompt medical treatment creates documentation that directly supports your injury claim.

3. Document the scene: If you are able, take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and any visible injuries. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.

4. Do not admit fault: Be careful about what you say at the scene. Do not apologize or admit responsibility, even if you think you may have contributed to the accident. Colorado uses a modified comparative fault system, and anything you say can be used against you.

5. Notify your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurer, but do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without first speaking to an attorney.

6. Contact a Lakewood car accident lawyer: Consult with an experienced attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Insurance companies often try to settle quickly and for far less than your claim is worth. Anderson Hemmat offers free case evaluations so you can understand your options at no cost.

Colorado Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Claim

Several Colorado laws directly affect how car accident injury claims are handled. Understanding these laws is essential to protecting your right to compensation:

Statute of Limitations

Colorado law gives you three years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts. For claims involving a government vehicle or entity, you must file a notice within 180 days of the accident. The sooner you consult with an attorney, the more time you have to build a strong case.

Modified Comparative Fault

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover damages as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover anything. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto accident victims to reduce the value of their claims, which is why having an attorney who can counter these tactics is so important.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

Colorado requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for property damage. These minimums are often inadequate to cover the full cost of serious injuries. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Colorado but is strongly recommended. If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage, your own policy may be your best option for recovering compensation.

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Jefferson County

Lakewood is located in Jefferson County, which is part of Colorado's 1st Judicial District. Personal injury lawsuits arising from Lakewood car accidents are filed in Jefferson County District Court, located at 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden, CO 80401. The 1st Judicial District includes 14 District Court judges, 10 County Court judges, and 10 magistrates.

District Court handles civil cases involving claims exceeding $25,000, which includes most serious car accident injury claims. Cases involving claims under $25,000 are handled in County Court. Our attorneys are familiar with the Jefferson County court system, local judges, and the procedures required to effectively litigate car accident cases in this jurisdiction.

Many car accident cases are resolved through negotiation or mediation before ever reaching trial. Anderson Hemmat works to negotiate the maximum possible settlement on your behalf, but we are fully prepared to take your case to trial in Jefferson County District Court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair resolution.

Contact a Lakewood Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Lakewood, do not face the insurance companies alone. Anderson Hemmat has been fighting for personal injury victims across the Denver metro area for over two decades. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We also offer free case evaluations so you can understand your legal options at no cost.

Our attorneys also serve Lakewood residents with a full range of personal injury legal services. Whether your case involves a car accident, truck collision, or any other type of injury, we are here to help.

Anderson Hemmat, LLC
Lakewood Car Accident Attorneys
Serving Lakewood from: 5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 700 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: (303) 782-9999

Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Lakewood car accident lawyer.