Car Accident Lawyer in Colorado Springs: Your Rights After a Crash on North Academy and Beyond

A recent fatal crash at one of Colorado Springs’ busiest intersections is a hard reminder of how quickly a routine drive can turn into a tragedy. In June 2026, the Colorado Springs Police Department announced that charges had been filed against a teenage driver in connection with an April crash at North Academy Boulevard and Lehman Drive that killed one teenager and seriously injured several other people. According to investigators, the driver was traveling well over the speed limit and ran a red light before the collision.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a wreck like this, you are not just reading a news story you are living it. This guide is written to help you understand your rights, the deadlines that apply, and how an experienced car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs can protect you when the insurance companies are working hard to protect themselves.

Hurt in a car accident? Call Malnar. Stubborn As A Mule.
Phone: 719-888-9529  |  Free, no-obligation consultation.

What We Know About the North Academy and Lehman Drive Crash

The collision happened on April 22, 2026, at the intersection of North Academy Boulevard and Lehman Drive in Colorado Springs. Police say a vehicle driven by an adult woman was turning from Academy onto Lehman when it was struck by another vehicle carrying three teenagers. Everyone involved was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and one of the teens later died.

On May 20, 2026, police obtained a warrant for the teen driver, who was charged in connection with the death and with reckless endangerment. Investigators reported that the driver was going roughly 25 to 39 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, ran a red light entering the intersection, and violated the restrictions on his minor’s driver’s license. He turned himself in the same day, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Source: KKTV 11 News

We share this not to sensationalize a family’s loss, but because crashes like this one raise real legal questions that thousands of Colorado Springs residents face every year. When a driver speeds, runs a red light, or ignores the law, the people they hit are left to deal with hospital bills, lost income, and grief — often while an insurance company is already building a case to pay them as little as possible.

Why a Single Intersection Crash Matters to Every Colorado Springs Driver

North Academy Boulevard is one of the highest-traffic corridors in the city, and intersections like Lehman Drive see thousands of vehicles a day. A recent accident in Colorado Springs at a spot like this is rarely an isolated event — busy arterial roads, distracted and speeding drivers, and heavy commuter traffic combine to make certain intersections genuine hot spots for serious collisions.

For anyone who drives in El Paso County, the practical takeaways are the same whether the crash makes the news or not:

• Speed and red-light running are leading causes of fatal and catastrophic crashes. The faster a vehicle is moving, the more force it delivers and the less time anyone has to react.
• The people who get hurt are usually not the ones who caused it. A driver lawfully turning or proceeding on a green light can have their life changed in an instant by someone else’s choices.
• Criminal charges against an at-fault driver do not automatically compensate victims. A criminal case punishes the driver; a separate civil claim is what actually recovers money for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These are two different tracks, and you need someone protecting your interests in the civil one.

That last point is where a car accident attorney becomes essential. Even when police clearly identify an at-fault driver, the injured party still has to prove the value of their losses and fight an insurance company that profits by minimizing the payout.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Colorado Springs

If you are ever involved in a car accident in Colorado Springs, the steps you take in the first hours and days can make or break your claim. Here is a clear checklist drawn from how these cases actually play out.

1. Call 911 and report the crash

Colorado law requires drivers to report accidents involving injury or property damage. A police report creates an official, third-party record of what happened — one of the most important pieces of evidence you can have. If officers do not come to the scene, you can still report the crash through the Colorado DMV.

2. Get medical attention immediately

Some of the most serious injuries — concussions, internal bleeding, soft-tissue damage, and spinal injuries — do not show obvious symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor protects your health and ties your injuries to the crash in the medical record. Gaps in treatment are one of the first things an insurer will use to argue you “weren’t really hurt.”

3. Document everything you can

If you are physically able, take photos of the vehicles, the intersection, traffic signals, skid marks, and your injuries. Get the other driver’s insurance and contact information, and the names and numbers of any witnesses.

4. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer

The at-fault driver’s insurance company may call within days, friendly and sympathetic, asking for “just a quick statement.” Anything you say can and will be used to reduce or deny your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other side, and you should talk to a lawyer first.

5. Talk to a car accident lawyer before you accept anything

Early settlement offers are almost always lower than what a claim is truly worth, because the insurer is betting you do not yet know the full extent of your injuries or your legal rights. A free consultation costs you nothing and tells you where you stand.

Stubborn As A Mule — and stubborn for you. If you were hurt in a car accident in Colorado Springs, call Malnar at 719-888-9529 for a free case review before you talk to the insurance company.

Understanding Colorado Car Accident Law

To make good decisions after a crash, it helps to understand a few core rules that govern every Colorado Springs car accident claim. These are not minor technicalities — they decide whether you can recover anything at all and how much.

Colorado’s deadline to file: the statute of limitations

In Colorado, you generally have three years from the date of a motor vehicle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-80-101. That is longer than the two-year deadline that applies to most other injury claims, but it is not as much time as it sounds. Evidence disappears, witnesses move and forget, and building a strong case takes months of work.

Two important exceptions can change that timeline dramatically:

• Claims against a government entity — for example, if a poorly designed road or a government vehicle contributed to the crash — require formal written notice within 182 days of the incident under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Miss that window and the claim can be barred entirely.
• Injured minors. When the victim is a child under 18, the deadline is generally paused (tolled) until the child turns 18. This matters enormously in crashes like the North Academy collision, where multiple teenagers were hurt.

Because these deadlines are strict and the exceptions are complex, the safest move is always to consult a car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs as soon as possible rather than guessing about which clock applies to your situation.

How fault works: Colorado’s 50% bar rule

Colorado uses a system called modified comparative negligence, set out in C.R.S. § 13-21-111. Lawyers and insurers often call it the “50% bar rule,” and understanding it is critical:

• If you are found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still recover compensation — but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
• If you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing.

Here is a simple example. Say your total damages are $100,000, and a jury finds you 20% responsible for the crash. Your recovery is reduced by 20%, leaving you $80,000. But if the insurance company can push your share of fault to 50%, your recovery drops to zero.

This is exactly why insurance companies fight so hard to shift blame onto injured victims. Moving you from 49% to 50% fault is the difference between a substantial payout and nothing at all. A skilled car accident attorney counters those tactics with police reports, witness statements, scene photos, and expert analysis to make sure fault is assigned fairly.

What compensation can cover

A successful car accident claim in Colorado can recover several categories of damages, including:

• Medical expenses — emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
• Lost income — wages you missed during recovery, plus reduced earning capacity if your injuries are permanent.
• Pain and suffering — the physical pain and emotional toll of the injury.
• Property damage — repair or replacement of your vehicle.
• Wrongful death damages — when a crash takes a loved one’s life, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for their losses.

The value of any individual claim depends on the specific facts, the severity of the injuries, and the available insurance coverage — which is why no honest lawyer will promise a dollar figure before reviewing your case.

Common Causes of Serious Crashes in Colorado Springs

The North Academy and Lehman Drive crash involved speeding and a red-light violation, two of the most dangerous driver behaviors on the road. In our experience reviewing Colorado Springs collisions, the same factors come up again and again:

• Speeding, which reduces reaction time and multiplies the force of impact.
• Running red lights and stop signs, a leading cause of dangerous intersection crashes.
• Distracted driving, especially texting, which takes a driver’s eyes off the road for critical seconds.
• Impaired driving involving alcohol or drugs.
• Inexperienced or restricted drivers who violate licensing rules, as alleged in the recent North Academy case.
• Aggressive driving and tailgating on high-speed corridors like Academy Boulevard, Powers Boulevard, and Interstate 25.

When a crash is caused by one of these behaviors, the at-fault driver — and their insurance company — is responsible for the harm they cause. Holding them accountable is the entire point of a civil injury claim.

How a Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorney Helps Your Case

You are allowed to handle a claim on your own. But insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to pay you as little as possible. Here is what an experienced car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs brings to the table:

• Investigation. Gathering the police report, the 911 audio, traffic-camera and surveillance footage, witness statements, and — in serious cases — accident reconstruction experts.
• Establishing fault. Building the evidence to defeat the insurer’s attempts to shift blame onto you under the 50% bar rule.
• Valuing your claim correctly. Accounting for future medical needs and long-term losses, not just the bills already in hand.
• Handling the insurance companies. So you can focus on healing instead of fielding adjuster phone calls.
• Negotiating — and litigating if necessary. Most cases settle, but the willingness to take a case to trial is often what drives a fair settlement.

Most personal injury attorneys, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no upfront fees, and your lawyer only gets paid if you recover compensation. There is no financial risk in finding out where you stand.

Why Choose Malnar The Stubborn Attorney

At Stubborn Attorney, led by attorney Ryan Malnar, we built our reputation on a simple idea: when an insurance company digs in to deny what you are owed, you need someone who is even more stubborn on your side. We are a Colorado Springs personal injury firm focused on car accidents, truck accidents, and serious injury claims throughout El Paso County and the surrounding communities — including Fountain, Falcon, Monument, Pueblo, and Castle Rock.

When you work with us, you get:

• A free, no-pressure consultation to understand your options.
• A team that handles the insurance companies so you don’t have to.
• Honest advice about what your case is realistically worth.
• No fee unless we recover compensation for you.

We are based at 6799 Bismark Rd Ste. C, Colorado Springs, CO 80922, and we are ready to fight for you.

Hurt in a Car Accident? Call Malnar.

Stubborn As A Mule. Stubborn for you.719-888-9529

Call now for your free consultation — or contact us online. The call is free, and you owe nothing unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Colorado?

For most motor vehicle accidents, you have three years from the date of the crash under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. Claims against a government entity require written notice within 182 days, and deadlines for injured minors are generally paused until they turn 18. Because exceptions apply, talk to a car accident attorney as soon as possible.

What if I was partly at fault for the accident?

Under Colorado’s 50% bar rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), you can still recover compensation as long as you were less than 50% at fault — though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing, which is why insurance companies try so hard to shift blame.

Do I need a lawyer if the other driver was clearly at fault?

Even when fault seems obvious, the insurance company still controls how much it pays. A car accident lawyer makes sure the full value of your injuries is documented and that the insurer cannot quietly shift blame onto you to reduce the payout.

How much does a car accident lawyer cost?

Most car accident attorneys, including our firm, work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront, and the attorney is only paid if you recover compensation.

What should I do right after a crash in Colorado Springs?

Call 911, get medical attention, document the scene, avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer, and talk to a car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have been injured in a car accident in Colorado Springs, contact a licensed Colorado attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.