Colorado § 42-4-1601 Accidents involving death or personal injuries - duties

Colorado Statutes

§ 42-4-1601 — Accidents involving death or personal injuries - duties

Colorado § 42-4-1601

Title 42Vehicles and

Art.Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic

This text of Colorado § 42-4-1601 (Accidents involving death or personal injuries - duties) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-1601 (2026).

Text

(1)The driver of any vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting in injury to, serious bodily injury to, or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close to the scene as possible or shall immediately return to the scene of the accident. The driver shall then remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 42-4-1603 (1). Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. (1.5) It shall not be an offense under this section if a driver, after fulfilling the requirements of subsection (1) of this section and of section 42-4-1603 (1), leaves the scene of the accident for the purpose of reporting the accident in accordance with the provisions of sect

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(1) The
driver of any vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting in injury to, serious
bodily injury to, or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the
scene of such accident or as close to the scene as possible or shall immediately
return to the scene of the accident. The driver shall then remain at the scene of the
accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 42-4-1603 (1).
Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(1.5) It shall not be an offense under this section if a driver, after fulfilling the
requirements of subsection (1) of this section and of section 42-4-1603 (1), leaves
the scene of the accident for the purpose of reporting the accident in accordance
with the provisions of sections 42-4-1603 (2) and 42-4-1606.

(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits:

(a) A class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense if the accident resulted in injury to
any person;

(b) A class 4 felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury to any
person;

(c) A class 3 felony if the accident resulted in the death of any person.

(3) The department shall revoke the driver's license of the person so
convicted. A revocation pursuant to this subsection (3) runs concurrently with any
suspension imposed pursuant to section 42-2-127.9, if imposed as a result of the
same episode of driving.

(4) As used in this section and sections 42-4-1402.5, 42-4-1603, and 42-4-1606:

(a) Injury means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical or
mental condition.

(b) Serious bodily injury means injury that involves, either at the time of the
actual injury or at a later time, a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of
serious permanent disfigurement, or a substantial risk of protracted loss or
impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, or breaks, fractures, or
burns of the second or third degree.

Legislative History

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2399, � 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 98: (2)(b) amended, p. 1443, � 32, effective July 1. L. 2000: (4)(b) amended, p. 709, � 44, effective July 1. L. 2004: (1) amended and (1.5) added, p. 606, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2008: (2)(c) amended, p. 850, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2012: (1) and (2)(b) amended, (HB 12-1084), ch. 261, p. 1354, � 1, effective August 8. L. 2017: (3) amended, (HB 17-1277), ch. 337, p. 1803, � 2, effective January 1, 2018. L. 2019: IP(4) amended, (SB 19-175), ch. 331, p. 3072, � 3, effective May 29.