Colorado Wrongful Death Attorneys
When a police encounter or jail turns fatal, families have a right to answers.
When a police encounter or jail turns fatal, families have a right to answers.
The most devastating civil rights cases are the ones where someone does not survive — a fatal police shooting, a person who dies restrained or in custody, or a death that follows ignored medical needs in a jail. In these cases, families are often left with grief, unanswered questions, and an official narrative that may not match what really happened. The civil justice system is one of the few places that can compel the truth.
A fatal use of force is judged by the same constitutional standards as other excessive-force cases: under Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor, deadly force is only justified when an officer has probable cause to believe the person poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily harm. A death from neglect in custody is judged under the deliberate-indifference standard. Either way, the family may bring a federal claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, often alongside a Colorado wrongful death claim and a claim under the state civil rights act, C.R.S. § 13-21-131.
These cases require fast, thorough investigation: securing body and dash camera footage, autopsy and medical records, scene evidence, and witness accounts before they are lost or shaped by the official account. We work with experts in use of force, forensic pathology, and police practices to reconstruct what happened.
No outcome can undo the loss. But holding the responsible officers and agencies accountable can provide answers, financial security for the family, and pressure for the kind of change that prevents the next death.
Fatal cases we handle
- Fatal police shootings
- Deaths from restraint or positional asphyxia
- In-custody deaths in jails and prisons
- Deaths following denied medical or mental health care
- Deaths involving Tasers or 'less-lethal' force
- Cases where the official account doesn't add up
The right firm for a civil rights case in Colorado.
Trial-First Practice
We prepare every case as if it will be tried. That preparation is what makes opposing counsel — and insurers — take our clients seriously.
Federal Civil Rights Focus
Section 1983 cases live or die in federal court. We know the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, its judges, and the qualified-immunity landscape.
Contingency Fee
You pay nothing up front. We only get paid if we recover money for you, and initial consultations are free and explained in writing.
How We Handle Your Case, Step by Step
- 01
Consultation
A free, confidential conversation to understand what happened and what you hope to accomplish.
- 02
Investigation
We preserve footage, gather records, interview witnesses, and consult experts to build the factual record.
- 03
Demand & Negotiation
We present the case to opposing counsel and pursue resolution where the facts support one.
- 04
Litigation
If a fair settlement is not on the table, we file in federal court and prepare the case for trial.
Wrongful Death questions answered.
Jason Kosloski
Every wrongful death case is handled directly by an attorney — not a case manager or intake service.
Meet Jason →Where we handle wrongful death cases
Kosloski Law represents clients in every corner of Colorado — and some of the most important civil rights cases come from its smallest counties. Federal civil rights cases from anywhere in the state are litigated in the U.S. District Court in Denver, so wherever you are, you get the same firm and the same fight.