HB 24-1472 Explained: Colorado’s New $2.125 Million Wrongful Death Cap and the Two-Year Filing Deadline

Northglenn, United States – July 8, 2026 / Hull & Zimmerman, P.C. /

Under Colorado’s HB 24-1472, the wrongful death damages cap nearly quadrupled to $2,125,000 for deaths on or after January 1, 2025, but families generally have just two years from the date of death to file, and the first deadlines arrive in early 2027.

NORTHGLENN, Colo. – July 6, 2026 – Colorado families who lost a loved one in 2025 are moving toward a legal deadline many don’t know exists. Under state law, most wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death, meaning the earliest of these post-reform claims begin expiring in early 2027. Miss the window, and the right to recover is generally lost for good.

The stakes are higher than many families realize. House Bill 24-1472, effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2025, raised the cap on non-economic damages in wrongful death cases from $571,870 to $2,125,000, a nearly fourfold increase. For the first time, it also allows siblings to bring claims. Yet Northglenn personal injury firm Hull & Zimmerman, P.C. cautions that many grieving families still don’t know the law changed, and that insurance adjusters may anchor early settlement offers to the old, far lower cap.

“The two-year clock starts on the date of death, not the day a family learns their rights changed. We’re now in the window where families who lost someone in early 2025 have real urgency, and an insurance adjuster who calls early is not there to remind them the cap nearly quadrupled,” said Alex Zimmerman, personal injury attorney and partner at Hull & Zimmerman, P.C.

What Families Need to Know

A two-year deadline applies. Colorado generally requires wrongful death claims to be filed within two years of the date of death (C.R.S. Section 13-80-102). For a death on January 1, 2025, that deadline falls on January 1, 2027.
The non-economic damages cap nearly quadrupled, from $571,870 to $2,125,000. This covers grief, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering, which often make up the largest share of a wrongful death recovery.
Economic damages remain uncapped. Lost income, funeral and burial costs, and future financial support are not subject to any cap under Colorado law.
Siblings may now file. Eligibility now extends beyond spouses, children, and parents to include siblings.
Claims settled before January 1, 2025 cannot be reopened under the new law.

Why the Timing Matters Now

For families who lose a primary caregiver, spouse, or child, non-economic damages frequently represent the core of a claim’s value, and the prior $571,870 cap had not kept pace with decades of inflation. By raising it to $2,125,000, Colorado moved closer to states that have significantly increased or eliminated such caps.

But the expanded rights come with the same strict deadline. As the first post-reform claims approach expiration, families who wait risk losing both the higher recovery and the claim itself.

“The reform meaningfully expanded what families can recover, but it did nothing to slow the clock. The worst outcome we see is a family that had a strong claim and a real deadline, and simply didn’t know either one existed,” said Zimmerman.

What Colorado Families Should Do

Families who lost a loved one on or after January 1, 2025 should:

Confirm the deadline. You generally have two years from the date of death to file.
Document non-economic losses. Journals, therapy records, and family statements help substantiate these claims.
Speak with an attorney before an insurer. A short consultation can prevent an early, undervalued settlement, and confirm how much time remains.

Hull & Zimmerman, P.C. offers free, confidential consultations and can be reached 24/7 at (303) 423-1770.

About Hull & Zimmerman, P.C.

Hull & Zimmerman, P.C. is a personal injury law firm based in Northglenn, Colorado, serving injured people and grieving families throughout the North Denver metro area, including Westminster, Thornton, Commerce City, Arvada, and Broomfield. Founded in 1990, the firm concentrates its practice in personal injury, wrongful death, Social Security disability, and workers’ compensation matters. With more than 30 years of experience, the firm has recovered over $100 million in verdicts and settlements and resolved more than 10,000 cases. Learn more at hullandzimmerman.com.