Medical Malpractice Payouts in Colorado
In Colorado, the typical payment was $72,500, based on 5,238 payments from the National Practitioner Data Bank. That is 26% less than the national figure of $97,500, the 44th highest of 51 states.
- $72,500typical (median)
- $224Kaverage
- 5,238payments
- 44thof 51 states
What the Records Show for Colorado
Each public source on its own, with the typical amount, the middle half of all payments and the trend by year.
National Practitioner Data Bank · 1990–2025
$72,500typical payment (median). Half of all payments were between $22,500 and $235,000.
- Payments
- 5,238
- Total paid
- $1.2 billion
- Top 10% above
- $645,000
- All states
- $97,500
Typical amount by year 2025: $195,000 typical, 48 payments
$100K$200K$300KTap or drag across the chart to read a year. Years with at least 5 payments.
Malpractice payments made for doctors and other licensed practitioners, reported to the federal data bank.
The National Practitioner Data Bank records payments made for individual doctors and other licensed practitioners, in the state where they worked. Payments a hospital makes on its own behalf, and claims that ended without a payment, are not in it.
In total, $1.2 billion was recorded across 5,238 payments. One in ten was $645,000 or more.
Payouts in Colorado by Injury
How badly the patient was hurt, as the data bank records it for payments since 2004.
| Injury | Typical in Colorado | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Death458 payments | $195,000 | $225,000 |
| Brain damage, paralysis or lifelong care80 payments | $935,000 | $565,000 |
| Major permanent injury227 payments | $495,000 | $395,000 |
| Significant permanent injury382 payments | $295,000 | $245,000 |
| Minor permanent injury407 payments | $97,500 | $97,500 |
| Major temporary injury262 payments | $105,000 | $115,000 |
| Minor temporary injury451 payments | $32,500 | $32,500 |
| Emotional or insignificant injury168 payments | $35,000 | $22,500 |
Payouts in Colorado by What Went Wrong
The data bank's allegation group. It is not the doctor's specialty: a surgery claim can involve a doctor who is not a surgeon.
| What went wrong | Typical in Colorado | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis1,263 payments | $125,000 | $175,000 |
| Surgery1,338 payments | $87,500 | $105,000 |
| Treatment1,426 payments | $32,500 | $52,500 |
| Childbirth and pregnancy (obstetrics)256 payments | $225,000 | $245,000 |
| Medication314 payments | $42,500 | $77,500 |
| Anesthesia223 payments | $115,000 | $145,000 |
| Monitoring119 payments | $165,000 | $135,000 |
| IV and blood products56 payments | $750 | $87,500 |
| Equipment or product41 payments | $67,500 | $27,500 |
| Behavioral health23 payments | $52,500 | $72,500 |
| Other179 payments | $22,500 | $42,500 |
Settled or Decided in Court in Colorado
A court judgment is a payment after a trial or court decision. Everything else was settled.
| How it ended | Typical in Colorado | All states |
|---|---|---|
| Settled5,144 payments | $72,500 | $97,500 |
| Court judgment94 payments | $160,000 | $205,000 |
How Colorado Compares With Other States
Typical amount in every state from the same source. Across all states: $97,500.
- under $78K
- $78K–$98K
- $98K–$140K
- $140K and up
- 1Illinois$195,000
- 2Pennsylvania$195,000
- 3Massachusetts$185,000
- 4Connecticut$155,000
- 5Delaware$145,000
- 42North Dakota$77,500
- 43South Dakota$77,500
- 44Colorado$72,500
- 45Michigan$72,500
- 46Minnesota$72,500
- 47Washington$67,500
- 48Wisconsin$67,500
- 49Vermont$62,500
- 50Utah$47,500
- 51California$27,500
All 51 states, ranked
- 1Illinois$195,000
- 2Pennsylvania$195,000
- 3Massachusetts$185,000
- 4Connecticut$155,000
- 5Delaware$145,000
- 6District of Columbia$145,000
- 7Florida$145,000
- 8Georgia$145,000
- 9New Jersey$145,000
- 10New York$145,000
- 11Rhode Island$140,000
- 12New Hampshire$135,000
- 13Alabama$125,000
- 14Arizona$125,000
- 15Maine$125,000
- 16Maryland$125,000
- 17Virginia$125,000
- 18Missouri$115,000
- 19Arkansas$110,000
- 20North Carolina$105,000
- 21Alaska$97,500
- 22Hawaii$97,500
- 23Kansas$97,500
- 24Mississippi$97,500
- 25Nebraska$97,500
- 26Nevada$97,500
- 27New Mexico$97,500
- 28Ohio$97,500
- 29Oklahoma$97,500
- 30South Carolina$97,500
- 31Texas$97,500
- 32West Virginia$97,500
- 33Oregon$92,500
- 34Louisiana$87,500
- 35Montana$87,500
- 36Tennessee$87,500
- 37Kentucky$82,500
- 38Wyoming$82,500
- 39Idaho$77,500
- 40Indiana$77,500
- 41Iowa$77,500
- 42North Dakota$77,500
- 43South Dakota$77,500
- 44Colorado$72,500
- 45Michigan$72,500
- 46Minnesota$72,500
- 47Washington$67,500
- 48Wisconsin$67,500
- 49Vermont$62,500
- 50Utah$47,500
- 51California$27,500
About These Numbers
Where the figures come from, how we counted, and how to use them.
- National Practitioner Data Bank: Malpractice payments made for doctors and other licensed practitioners, reported to the federal data bank.
- Typical is the median: half of the records are below it, half above. The average is the total divided by the number of records; a few very large amounts pull it up.
- Not adjusted for inflation. Each amount is counted in the year the source gives for it.
How the explorer counts, source by source
Download the full data set (CSV)
Public records as of October 15, 2026. You can use these figures; please link to this page. $73K is rounded on the map; the tables show exact amounts.
Questions About Medical Malpractice Payouts in Colorado
Answers from the same records.
What is the average medical malpractice payout in Colorado?
The typical payment, the median, was $72,500 across 5,238 payments reported for practitioners in Colorado from 1990 to 2025. The average, $224,486, is higher than the typical amount because a few very large payments pull it up. Half of all payments were between $22,500 and $235,000.
How much do malpractice cases involving a death pay in Colorado?
In 458 payments where the patient died, the typical payment was $195,000, against $225,000 across all states. The data bank records injury severity for payments since 2004.
How does Colorado compare with other states?
Colorado ranks 44th highest of 51 states for the typical amount. Across all states it was $97,500, so Colorado is 26% lower.
Have amounts in Colorado changed over time?
In 2025, the typical amount was $195,000 (48 payments), compared with $105,000 in 2015. Amounts are not adjusted for inflation.
What is not included in these numbers?
The National Practitioner Data Bank records payments made for individual doctors and other licensed practitioners, in the state where they worked. Payments a hospital makes on its own behalf, and claims that ended without a payment, are not in it.
More Records for Colorado
Other kinds of cases in this state, a calculator for your own case, and the studies behind the numbers.
Other records for Colorado
Calculators and studies
- Medical malpractice calculator for this stateEstimate a case of your own from the same kind of records
- Malpractice payments in all 50 statesA deeper study built on the same public records
- Why a death settles for less than a severe injuryA deeper study built on the same public records
- Settlement Data ExplorerEvery kind of case, state and source side by side