Colorado’s recently enacted legislation (HB 24-1472), which significantly increases damages caps for tort actions, is now in effect. Given the legislation’s January 1, 2025, effective date, an early-2025 increase in new filings is anticipated for cases that otherwise could have been filed in 2024.

The increases include:

• For noneconomic damages in tort actions (other than against medical professionals), more than double the previous cap to $1.5 million (with future inflation adjustment).[1]
• In wrongful death actions (other than against medical professionals), a greater than threefold increase from the previous limit to $2.125 million (with future inflation adjustment).[2]
• In medical professional actions for wrongful death, a 50% increase from the previous overall cap to $1.575 million in 2029 (with future inflation adjustment). For injury claims, more than double the previous cap for noneconomic damages to $875,000 in 2029 (with future inflation adjustment).[3]