DENVER BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

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How Can a Bicycle Accident Attorney Help?

A bike accident attorney can help with all the steps to get financial compensation for your accident. A skilled injury lawyer will assist with:

• Determining if you have a case
• Preserving evidence
• Thoroughly documenting your medical issues
• Valuing damages
• Filing the claim
• Negotiating with the insurance company
• Speaking on your behalf in court

As an injured cyclist, you’re up against the insurance company and their team of lawyers. But when you work with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer, you have a professional to manage your case and fight on your behalf to get the compensation you deserve.

What Types of Compensation Can You Recover in a Bicycle Accident Case?

In a bicycle accident case in Colorado, the compensation you can recover includes both monetary damages and pain and suffering. You can ask for damages relating to:

• Emergency medical bills, including the ER and ambulance
• Hospital costs such as surgery, diagnostic tests, nursing care and medication
• Mobility devices
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Mental health treatment
• Damage to your bike and other property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Anguish, embarrassment, loss of society, loss of lifestyle
• Mental health damages and emotional anguish

Damages are in proportion to your actual injuries and losses. Our attorneys work on your behalf to identify, value, and prove your right to all of these types of compensation. Learn what your case may be worth by contacting our attorneys specialized in bicycle accident cases for a free consultation today.

What Are Common Causes of Bike Accidents?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)¹, more than 1,000 people in the United States lose their lives each year due to bicycle accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety² reports that 78% of fatalities occur in urban areas.

The most common causes of accidents include:

• Alcohol and drugs
• Failure to yield, turning when the bicyclist is in the way
• Not leaving enough following distance
• Texting and distracted driving
• Improper lane change
• Driving while tired or fatigued

Bicyclists have a right to use the roads. When drivers aren’t sufficiently careful, they may be liable for damages in the event of an accident. If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, you’re not alone. Our Colorado injury attorneys can help you get justice and hold the responsible party accountable.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Bicycle Accident?

Several parties may be held liable in a bicycle accident, including:

• Driver
• Insurance company of the driver
• Employer of the driver
• Government agencies for poor road repair
• Someone else who distracts or obstructs the driver
• Vehicle manufacturer if the vehicle is defective
• Restaurant or bar that overserved patrons

Let our Colorado lawyers for bicycle accident cases help you determine who may be held liable in your case. We know how to collect evidence and build a strong case to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

What Are the Most Common Injuries From a Bike Accident?

Because the person on a bike doesn’t have the protection of a heavy motor vehicle, bike accident injuries can be severe. Some of the most common bicycle accident injuries are:

• Head injuries, traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones, fractures
• Paralysis, spine and neck injuries
• Cuts, bruises, and burn marks from the road
• Broken teeth
• Internal organ damage, ruptured spleen
• Disfigurement, scars

According to the National Safety Council³, one-third of non-fatal bike injuries are head injuries. Not all injuries are immediately apparent after an accident, but they can be life-threatening. Get prompt medical attention if there is any possibility that you are injured.

What Should You Do if You Are in a Bicycle Accident?

If you are in a bicycle accident, it’s crucial to take the right steps to ensure your safety. You should:

1. Move to immediate safety.
2. Call 911. If there are no injuries, call the non-emergency police line.
3. Tend to injuries until someone with more professional training can take over.
4. Get the name, address, license, and vehicle information for all drivers involved.
5. Talk to witnesses and get their contact information.
6. Take photographs of the accident scene, damage to the vehicle and bike, and injuries.
7. Preserve evidence.
8. Document what happened as soon as you can.
9. Follow doctor’s recommendations for medical care and attend follow-up appointments.

As soon as you can, talk to a bicycle accident attorney. You must promptly notify the insurance company of the accident. An attorney can help you build your case and get a fair settlement for your damages.

What Are the Bicycle Laws in Colorado?

Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1412⁴, a bicyclist has all of the rights and duties of motor vehicle drivers on the road, except where exceptions apply. That means vehicle drivers have a duty of care to operate safely with respect to bikes. They must use due caution, leave enough room for bicyclists and allow them to ride peacefully on the roads.

In turn, bicyclists must comply with the rules of the road and take reasonable measures for safety. Bicyclists in Colorado must:

• Ride in the bike lane or right-hand lane as close to the right side as possible.
• Keep one hand on the handlebars at all times.
• Adhere to rules for hand signals for turning.
• When on a sidewalk, yield the right of way to a pedestrian.
• Give an audible signal before passing pedestrians.

When an accident occurs while riding a bike, the victim may claim compensation from a driver who is negligent, reckless, or intentional in their actions in a way that leads to the crash. Criminal charges may also be possible for a driver in violation of the law. However, the victim may bring a civil claim for compensation regardless of criminal charges under Colorado bicycle laws.

Free Consultation – Colorado Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Your case begins with a free consultation with our legal team, which includes experienced bicycle accident attorneys. We are conveniently located at 5 Colorado locations near you in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Englewood. Our attorneys are ready to serve you and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Why Work With Bachus & Schanker?

The bicycle accident attorney team at Bachus & Schanker is passionate about protecting your rights. It can be devastating if your injuries prevent you from riding, working, and living a normal life. Contact us today to learn how we can help you get the support you need after a bike accident in Colorado. Our experienced Colorado bike accident lawyers are taking new cases now.

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Sources:

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bicycle Safety. Retrieved 3 December 2021.

²Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2019 Bicyclists. Retrieved 3 December 2021.

³National Safety Council (NSC). (6 May 2019). Bicycle Safety Statistics May Surprise You. Retrieved 3 December 2021.

⁴CRS 42-4-1412

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