Statute of limitations for slip and fall in Colorado

Rule or statute summary

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

In Colorado, the deadline to file a slip-and-fall lawsuit generally depends on (1) who you’re suing and (2) when your claim “accrues”—often described as when your injury was discovered or should have been discovered with reasonable diligence.

Quick practical takeaway: Many people focus on “2 years,” but slip-and-fall timing can change based on accrual/discovery and, for public entities, separate notice requirements that can bar claims even if you still file suit within the limitations period.

1) Private property / typical slip-and-fall claim (most cases)

If the defendant is a private person or business (for example, a store, landlord, or homeowner), Colorado generally applies a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims—commonly summarized as actions for “injury to the person.”

2) Government entity defendants (public entities)

If the fall involved a city, county, the state, or another “public entity,” you must follow Colorado’s Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA) framework.

In that setting, the timeline usually has two layers:

1. A limitations period for bringing the civil action against the public entity; and
2. Notice/claim-processing prerequisites (often described as a notice of claim requirement) that must be completed within a set timeframe after the injury.

So even if the “headline” limitations period looks similar (commonly discussed as about two years), the required steps and triggers differ. Missing CGIA notice steps can prevent your case from moving forward.

3) Discovery/accrual: what changes the start date

For personal injury limitations periods, Colorado typically ties the start of the clock to the claim’s accrual—often summarized as the date of injury or the date the injury was reasonably discoverable.

In practice, that means:

• If you slipped/fell on March 1, 2024, a straightforward “two-year” estimate might land around March 1, 2026 (subject to accrual/discovery nuances).
• If symptoms weren’t immediately apparent (for example, a delayed diagnosis), the accrual date can sometimes shift, depending on Colorado’s accrual/discovery principles and the facts.

Because slip-and-fall cases often turn on when the plaintiff knew (or should have known) the injury was significant enough to sue, it’s important to treat dates carefully when you run the calculator.

Citations

• General private-person personal injury (two-year rule):
  C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a) — sets a two-year limitations period for actions for “injury to the person.”

• Public entities / CGIA timing:
  C.R.S. § 24-10-109(1) — provides the limitations period framework under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act for bringing a civil action against a public entity.
  (CGIA also involves notice/claim-related requirements; those deadlines are frequently decisive even when the suit-filing limitations period seems straightforward.)

• Accrual / discovery concept:
  Colorado limitations periods in personal injury matters may depend on when a claim accrues (often described in terms of discovery or when it should reasonably have been discovered).
  (A citation to specific Colorado appellate authority is often required for a precise “accrual/discovery” rule; see “Sources and references” below.)

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to estimate your last day to file based on your facts.

1. Open the tool: /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Select inputs that match your situation:

   • Jurisdiction: US-CO (Colorado)
   • Defendant type:

     • Private/business (typical slip-and-fall), or
     • Public entity (city/county/state/other CGIA defendant)
   • Date of injury (incident date): the day you slipped or fell
   • Discovery date (if applicable): the date you knew or reasonably should have known the injury was serious enough to sue (only enter this if it genuinely fits your facts)
   • Claim type: personal injury / injury to the person
3. Review the outputs:

   • Calculated limitations deadline (date) for filing
   • How input changes affect the result:

     • Changing the incident date typically shifts the deadline by roughly the same amount (for a basic two-year rule).
     • Providing a discovery date can change the accrual “clock start,” which may move the deadline.
     • Switching to public entity can adjust the timeline to reflect the CGIA pathway (including notice/claim-processing elements that may control whether your case is viable).

Example (basic two-year math illustration):

• Incident date: June 15, 2024
• Two-year estimate: June 15, 2026
  (This is an illustration of the basic math and is not a substitute for the calculator’s fact-based adjustments.)

Gentle disclaimer: This is general information to help you understand common timing rules. Slip-and-fall limitations disputes can be fact-specific—especially for accrual/discovery and CGIA notice. If you’re close to a deadline, consider getting legal guidance promptly.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Colorado and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator