Colorado Workers' Compensation Settlement Calculator
Estimate Colorado workers' comp — Max TTD Rate, PPD Impairment Caps, Competitive State Fund
Colorado workers' compensation claims are governed by C.R.S. § 8-42-105 / DOWC Max Benefits Order 2026-27 (Max TTD Rate): 66⅔% of AWW, capped at 91% of the state average weekly wage — $1,464.12/wk for injuries 7/1/26-6/30/27 (up from $1,396.85 the prior year). Of the 3 landmark Colorado workers' compensation awards documented on this page, the largest is $145.3M (Salguero-Quijada v. NorGUARD Insurance Co. (Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary) — bad-faith workers' comp claims-handling, Denver District Court jury verdict ($85M compensatory + $60M punitive), beat a pre-trial $750K settlement offer — the underlying ladder-fall injury occurred on a job in Utah; the bad-faith claims-handling case was tried to a Denver jury; 2025).
🏔️ COLORADO: Max TTD Rate | Exclusive Remedy + Statutory Employer | Competitive State Fund
Your Injury
Your Estimated Settlement
$6,000 — $6,000
Pain and suffering = $15,000 in medical bills × 0.0 severity multiplier. Your bills are already included in that figure, so they are not added again.
Workers' compensation is a no-fault system: your benefits are not reduced because you were partly or fully responsible for the accident.
Workers' compensation does not pay pain and suffering. Unlike a personal injury claim, it covers medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages only — so no pain-and-suffering amount is included above.
This figure does not include a permanent impairment award. If your injury leaves lasting limitations, most states add a separate payment based on a doctor's impairment rating and a statutory schedule.
If someone other than your employer caused the injury — a subcontractor, a driver, a defective machine — you may also have a separate personal injury claim against that party, and that claim can include pain and suffering.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
Workers' Compensation Wage Benchmark — New York State claims only
Across New York State claims only, this benchmark is based on 5,586,588 real payments totaling $139.7B from official New York State workers' comp claims.
Average
$25K
Median
$20K
25th %ile
$13K
90th %ile
$44K
Source: New York State Workers' Compensation Board (via data.ny.gov). These figures come from New York State claims only and do not describe benefit levels in other states. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Colorado Workers' Compensation Law
Colorado workers' compensation benefits is governed by C.R.S. § 8-42-105 / DOWC Max Benefits Order 2026-27 (Max TTD Rate): 66⅔% of AWW, capped at 91% of the state average weekly wage — $1,464.12/wk for injuries 7/1/26-6/30/27 (up from $1,396.85 the prior year). Requires wages of at least $2,196.18/wk to hit the cap. There's a 3-day waiting period (day of injury excluded) — no pay for the injury day + first 3 days unless disability continues past day 7, in which case the first 3 are paid retroactively.
PPD — Scheduled & Medical Impairment Caps (C.R.S. § 8-42-107 & § 8-42-107.5): Scheduled body-part injuries pay $459.45/wk × the statutory week-count (loss of an arm at the shoulder = 208 weeks ≈ $95,565.60; a hand below the wrist = 104 weeks ≈ $47,782.80). Non-scheduled (whole-person) injuries pay Medical Impairment Rating % × an age factor (1.80 at age ≤20, sliding to 1.00 at 60+) × 400 weeks, at the TTD rate, min. $150/wk — but combined PPD benefits are capped at $202,297.46 under 19% whole-person impairment, or $328,049.94 at 20%+.
PTD — Lifetime Pension (C.R.S. § 8-42-111): 66⅔% of AWW, paid for life, capped at the same $1,464.12/wk TTD maximum. Continues until the claimant's death — no lump-sum commutation by default. A claimant found capable of vocational rehabilitation who refuses training or a suitable job offer can be denied PTD status.
Key Colorado Workers' Compensation Statutes
Colorado workers' compensation benefits operates under these critical legal rules:
C.R.S. § 8-42-105 / DOWC Max Benefits Order 2026-27
Max TTD RateStandard: 66⅔% of AWW, capped at 91% of the state average weekly wage — $1,464.12/wk for injuries 7/1/26-6/30/27 (up from $1,396.85 the prior year). Requires wages of at least $2,196.18/wk to hit the cap.
Scope: 3-day waiting period (day of injury excluded) — no pay for the injury day + first 3 days unless disability continues past day 7, in which case the first 3 are paid retroactively. Compensation paid at least every 2 weeks. Ends at MMI, return to any work, physician release to regular duty, or refusal of an offered modified-duty job with a release.
C.R.S. § 8-42-107 & § 8-42-107.5 / DOWC Max Benefits Order 2026-27
PPD — Scheduled & Medical Impairment CapsStandard: Scheduled body-part injuries pay $459.45/wk × the statutory week-count (loss of an arm at the shoulder = 208 weeks ≈ $95,565.60; a hand below the wrist = 104 weeks ≈ $47,782.80). Non-scheduled (whole-person) injuries pay Medical Impairment Rating % × an age factor (1.80 at age ≤20, sliding to 1.00 at 60+) × 400 weeks, at the TTD rate, min. $150/wk.
Scope: Combined PPD benefits are capped regardless of the formula above: $202,297.46 for whole-person impairment under 19%, or $328,049.94 for 20%+ impairment (2026-27 order).
C.R.S. § 8-42-111
PTD — Lifetime PensionStandard: 66⅔% of AWW, paid for life, capped at the same $1,464.12/wk TTD maximum.
Scope: Continues until the claimant's death — no lump-sum commutation by default. A claimant found capable of vocational rehabilitation who refuses training or a suitable job offer can be denied PTD status.
C.R.S. § 8-41-102 & § 8-41-401
Exclusive Remedy + Statutory EmployerStandard: A complying employer/insurer faces no liability beyond workers' comp — "all causes of action...for...death of or personal injury...are abolished except as provided" in the Act.
Scope: Immunity runs UP the contracting chain: any business that contracts out work becomes a "statutory employer" for its subcontractors' crews (§8-41-401) and is immune from suit if the sub carries its own WC coverage — common on Colorado construction sites. Third-party claims against non-employer defendants (equipment makers, other drivers, property owners) survive.
C.R.S. § 8-43-102 & § 8-43-103
Notice & Filing DeadlinesStandard: Written notice to the employer within 4 days of the accident; claim must be filed with the Division within 2 years of the injury or resulting death.
Scope: Occupational-disease claims (radiation, asbestosis, silicosis, anthracosis, related malignancies) get 5 years from disability onset or death. Late notice can forfeit up to 1 day's pay per day late. The 2-year deadline can stretch to 3 years for a "reasonable excuse" if the employer isn't prejudiced — and doesn't start at all if the employer never filed its own accident report.
C.R.S. § 8-44-101 & § 8-45-101
Competitive State FundStandard: Employers choose Pinnacol Assurance, any licensed private carrier, or self-insurance — Colorado is NOT a monopolistic state.
Scope: Pinnacol Assurance (created by §8-45-101, a political subdivision, not a private company) is a market participant, not the sole option — it competes with Travelers, Liberty Mutual and others. Self-insurance needs a permit from DOWC's executive director (or an insurance-commissioner certificate for public-entity pools). Unlike monopolistic-fund states, Colorado employers are never forced into one state carrier.
Recovery Structure
Medical treatment (typically unlimited/open while the claim stays active), lost wages at 66⅔% of average weekly wage (AWW) up to the state max, permanent impairment awards via the scheduled or medical-impairment system, vocational rehab, and death/survivor benefits. No pain and suffering under WC — that trade-off is what makes the exclusive remedy doctrine possible.
Key Colorado Doctrines
Exclusive Remedy + Statutory Employer: A complying employer/insurer faces no liability beyond workers' comp — immunity runs up the contracting chain, so a general contractor is a "statutory employer" for its subcontractors' crews and is immune from suit if the sub carries its own WC coverage (common on Colorado construction sites). Third-party claims against non-employer defendants survive. Competitive State Fund: Employers choose Pinnacol Assurance, any licensed private carrier, or self-insurance — Colorado dropped its monopolistic fund decades ago, so injured workers aren't stuck with one state-run insurer's claims-handling.
Damage Structure + Caps
Medical benefits (open while the claim is active), lost-wage replacement at 66⅔% AWW up to $1,464.12/wk, PPD combined-benefit caps of $202,297.46 (under 19% whole-person impairment) or $328,049.94 (20%+), disfigurement benefits up to $15,499.23 for extensive scarring, and death benefits (min $366.03/wk, funeral/burial up to $14,891.25).
Colorado Workers' Compensation Verdicts + Averages
Recent Colorado outcomes — one record bad-faith verdict plus the official 2026-27 DOWC statutory PPD ceilings (marked as statutory examples, not individual cases):
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $145.3M | 2025 | Salguero-Quijada v. NorGUARD Insurance Co. (Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary) — bad-faith workers' comp claims-handling, Denver District Court jury verdict ($85M compensatory + $60M punitive), beat a pre-trial $750K settlement offer — the underlying ladder-fall injury occurred on a job in Utah; the bad-faith claims-handling case was tried to a Denver jury — Traumatic brain injury from a 15-foot fall off a ladder while working as a painter — insurer delayed/denied treatment for over 2 years |
| $328K | 2026 | Statutory maximum example — combined PPD cap at 20%+ whole-person impairment (C.R.S. § 8-42-107.5, 2026-27 DOWC Max Benefits Order) — Illustrative ceiling, not an individual case — any non-scheduled impairment rated 20%+ |
| $202K | 2026 | Statutory maximum example — combined PPD cap under 19% whole-person impairment (C.R.S. § 8-42-107.5, 2026-27 DOWC Max Benefits Order) — Illustrative ceiling, not an individual case — any non-scheduled impairment rated under 19% |
Colorado Workers' Compensation FAQs
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Colorado for 2026?
For injuries between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, Colorado's max is $1,464.12/week (C.R.S. § 8-42-105; 91% of the $1,608.91 state average weekly wage). This applies to TTD and PTD alike. Your actual benefit = 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, up to this cap — you need to earn at least $2,196.18/week to hit it.
How long do I have to report my work injury in Colorado?
Written notice to your employer is due within 4 days of the accident (C.R.S. § 8-43-102) — miss it and you can forfeit up to a day's pay for each day late. You then have 2 years to file your actual claim with the Division of Workers' Compensation (5 years for specified occupational diseases like asbestosis or silicosis). Report in writing and keep a copy even if your supervisor already knows.
Can I sue my employer in Colorado in addition to workers' comp?
Generally no — C.R.S. § 8-41-102 makes workers' comp your exclusive remedy against a complying employer, and that immunity extends up the chain to general contractors under the "statutory employer" doctrine (§ 8-41-401). What survives: third-party claims against non-employer defendants (equipment makers, other drivers, property owners) — these often run in parallel with your WC claim and aren't subject to the WC caps.
How is a Colorado workers' comp settlement calculated?
Most Colorado settlements combine two pieces: (1) a permanent-impairment payout — scheduled injuries pay $459.45/week × the statutory week-count for that body part, non-scheduled (whole-person) injuries pay your Medical Impairment Rating % × an age factor × 400 weeks, both subject to the $202,297.46 / $328,049.94 combined caps — and (2) a negotiated value for closing out future medical treatment. Full and final settlements need Division approval; you can also settle everything except future medical (open medical).
Should I accept the first settlement offer from the insurer or Pinnacol Assurance?
Almost never right away. Initial offers typically undervalue your permanent impairment rating and future medical needs. Before signing anything, get an independent medical exam and talk to a Colorado workers' comp attorney — most work on contingency, with fees capped by statute, so a second opinion rarely costs you anything upfront.
Pending Colorado Workers' Compensation Issues
Active legal developments (as of April 2026):
- Only ONE fully-dated, independently cross-verified landmark verdict was confirmed (Salguero-Quijada v. NorGUARD, April 2025). A Colorado WC firm (Mintz Law Firm) publishes several other real-dollar settlements ($340K-$2.7M) but discloses no settlement dates — excluded from landmark_verdicts and listed only in `unconfirmed` rather than assigning a guessed year.
- 2026-27 rate figures ($1,608.91 SAWW, $1,464.12 max TTD/PTD, $459.45/wk scheduled rate, $202,297.46/$328,049.94 combined PPD caps, disfigurement/death figures) were extracted via an indirect text rendering from Colorado DOWC's official Box-hosted Maximum Benefits Order PDF (linked from cdle.colorado.gov/dwc/dowc-updates) — the PDF itself could not be visually rendered to double-check formatting. The SAWW figure was independently cross-checked against Colorado FAMLI's official July 2026 announcement (also $1,608.91), which increases confidence.
- Whether C.R.S. § 8-46-101 (Subsequent Injury Fund) still accepts NEW claims, or only administers legacy pre-closure claims, has not been confirmed from the statute text alone — omitted from key_statutes rather than asserting an active benefit.
- cdle.colorado.gov/2026-legislative-update exists but was not reviewed for pending 2026 session bills that could still amend these benefit structures before this page's next refresh.
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-42/section-8-42-105
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-42/section-8-42-107
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-42/section-8-42-111
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-41/section-8-41-102
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-41/section-8-41-401
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-43/section-8-43-102
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-43/section-8-43-103
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/article-44/section-8-44-101
- cdle.colorado.gov/dwc/dowc-updates
- codwc.app.box.com/s/9def89oiq7q4z24v2y4axffrgfuehf5g
- famli.colorado.gov/news-article/colorados-new-average-weekly-wage-and-how-it-affects-famli-claims-0
- blog.cvn.com/berkshire-hathaway-hit-with-145m-workers-comp-bad-faith-verdict-beating-750k-pre-trial-settlement-offer
- www.claggettlaw.com/2025/04/28/denver-jury-awards-record-145m-in-workers-comp-bad-faith-case
- www.vidahr.com/post/colorado-workers-compensation-benefit-maximums-for-2025-2026-hr-alerts
- www.personalinjuryincolorado.com/blog/colorado-workers-comp-rates-2025-2026
- www.mintzlawfirm.com/about-our-firm/case-results
Other State Workers' Compensation Calculators
Washington
L&I state fund + self-insure, PPD dollar-amount schedule, $2,303.31/wk equiv
California
SIBTF reform 2026, $1,764/wk max, QME + SB 636
New York
$1,281.50/wk max, LWEC non-schedule PPD, 2025 Protection in Workplace Act
Texas
Non-subscriber option, $1,271/wk, IBR
Illinois
Lifetime uncapped medical, $2,045.63/wk (2026)
Florida
$1,358/wk, 104-week TTD cap, narrow catastrophic definition
Michigan
PIWEC phantom wages, 80% after-tax AWW, $1,201/wk max 2026
New Jersey
Second Injury Fund, 400/450-wk caps, $1,199/wk max 2026
Ohio
BWC monopoly fund, Industrial Commission PTD, $1,281/wk
Pennsylvania
Act 111 (2017), 500-wk partial cap, $1,394/wk max 2026
Alabama
Max $1,219/wk TTD, but non-scheduled PPD (back injuries) capped at just $220/wk
Arizona
$6,131/mo max AMW (66⅔% TTD/PTD), PPD paid in months not weeks
Connecticut
Max $1,716/wk (2026), 28-day contest deadline, SIF closed since 1995
Georgia
Exclusive remedy, $800/wk TTD cap, catastrophic designation unlocks lifetime benefits
Iowa
80% spendable earnings, $2,431/wk max, active Second Injury Fund
Indiana
$877/wk max (66⅔% AWW), 8-day wait, Second Injury Fund
Kentucky
Impairment-factor PPD formula, $1,277.99/wk max, coal black-lung claims
Louisiana
Second Injury Fund, SEB to 520wks, $903/wk max (Sept 2026)
Massachusetts
Opt-out exclusive remedy, $1,922/wk max rate, PPD paid in statewide-wage multiples
Maryland
Exclusive remedy, $1,537/wk max (2026), Uninsured Employers' Fund safety net
Minnesota
Private-carrier market, $1,536.84/wk max, PTSD presumption for first responders
Missouri
Strict-construction state, TTD/PTD capped 105% SAWW, PPD capped 55% SAWW
North Carolina
500-week TTD/PPD cap, $1,446/wk max (2026), 66 2/3% AWW
Oklahoma
TTD/PTD capped at $1,128.66/wk, opt-out struck down, Multiple Injury Trust Fund
Oregon
3-way market (SAIF+private+self-insure), $1,943/wk max, CDA keeps medical open
South Carolina
Exclusive remedy, $1,189.94/wk max (2026), 500-wk TTD cap, lifetime for TBI/spinal
Tennessee
$1,488.30/wk max (FY26-27), 15-day notice, PPD = rating × 450 wks, no jury trials
Virginia
500-week comp cap (PTD lifetime), $1,507/wk max, 66 2/3% AWW
Wisconsin
Dual-track cap: $1,375/wk TTD (110% SAWW) vs just $454/wk PPD; 6/12-yr SOL
Alaska
PPI = $273K × WPI%, TTD/PTD 80% of wage, max $1,627/wk (2026)
Arkansas
Max $953/wk (85% SAWW), odd-lot doctrine barred, 450-wk wage-loss cap
Washington DC
Max $1,852.07/wk (Jan 2025), 30-day notice, LHWCA-style weeks-based PPD schedule
Delaware
Max $962.72/wk (2026), 90-day notice, Medicare-based HCPS fee caps
Hawaii
66⅔% AWW, $1,240/wk max (2026), Special Compensation Fund after 104wks
Idaho
Max $1,021.50/wk (90% ASW), 500-week whole man, ISIF second-injury fund
Kansas
$905/wk max TTD/PTD, 415-wk PPD cap, SB 430 (2024) raised PTD cap $155K→$400K
Maine
Max $1,561/wk (125% of SAWW), 7-day wait, no statutory minimum, exclusive remedy
Mississippi
Max $654.63/wk, 5-day wait, Second Injury Trust Fund
Montana
$1,192/wk max, 400-week PPD formula, 60-mo medical closure
North Dakota
Monopolistic state fund (WSI), $1,614/wk max, no private insurance or self-insurance
Nebraska
Max $1,166/wk (2026), Espinoza multi-member LOEC rule, exclusive remedy
New Hampshire
$2,309/wk cap (150% SAWW); Second Injury Fund; 3-yr claim filing deadline
New Mexico
100% SAWW cap, $1,146.66/wk max, $36/wk min since 1975
Nevada
Privatized market, monthly PPD annuity (0.6%/1% WPI), max $5,691.79/mo (FY27)
Rhode Island
62% AWW formula, $1,622/wk max, dedicated Workers' Compensation Court
South Dakota
No insurance mandate • $1,152/wk max (2026) • Subsequent Injury Fund repealed 1999
Utah
Max $1,376/wk (2026), 6-yr/12-yr filing window, narrow intentional-injury exception
Vermont
Max $1,914/wk (2026), 6-mo. filing deadline, whole-person PPD schedule
West Virginia
Deliberate-intent exception, $1,150.91/wk max, no punitive damages, privatized market
Wyoming
Monopolistic state fund, no private insurance; PTD capped at 80 months, not lifetime
Main Workers' Comp Calculator
Nationwide WC benefits overview
All Workers' Compensation Calculators by State
Other Calculators for Colorado
Each Colorado calculator reflects state-specific laws (caps, statutes of limitations, comparative-negligence rules) and uses Colorado verdict data where available.