Call Us!Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Colorado
Colorado helmet laws work to encourage vulnerable road users to wear protection that could save their lives if they’re in a collision. If you ride a motorcycle, you may wonder: Do you have to wear a helmet every time you ride, and what happens if you don’t and you get hurt?
At Bachus & Schanker, our team of motorcycle accident lawyers can assist if you’ve sustained injuries in an accident, whether you were wearing a helmet or not.
Who Is Required To Wear a Helmet in Colorado?
Helmet laws in Colorado state that anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when they ride a motorcycle. Once the rider turns 18, they are no longer required to wear a helmet, though it is still highly recommended.
Are Motorcycle Passengers Required To Wear Helmets in Colorado?
Colorado motorcycle passenger laws require that passengers younger than 18 wear a helmet every time they get on the bike. As with motorcycle operators, once a passenger is 18 or older, a helmet is no longer a requirement.
What Eye Protection Requirements Apply to Colorado Motorcyclists?
The motorcycle protective equipment you must have in Colorado includes eyewear. This means you need to wear goggles or eyeglasses made of safety glass or plastic to keep debris and insects from your eyes. Passengers must wear eye protection, too.
What Are the Penalties for Violating Colorado Helmet Laws?
Violating Colorado motorcycle helmet laws is a Class A traffic infraction. This will typically involve a fine. Since helmet laws apply to people under 18, it’s possible for their parents to be held responsible, too. There may be further fines imposed on them.
How Can Helmet Use Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Colorado?
Although you cannot technically be prevented from recovering compensation if you weren’t wearing a helmet in an accident, you can expect insurance companies to try to hold you partially liable for your motorcycle injuries. They may claim that the lack of a helmet caused more severe injuries.
Can You Recover Compensation if You Were Not Wearing a Helmet During a Crash?
If you are an adult, you’re not legally required to wear a helmet. So, if you’re in a collision, you can still recover losses.
This is because Colorado has modified comparative negligence laws. You may be able to receive compensation if you were partly responsible for your own injuries to a degree, but your settlement can be greatly reduced.
What Types of Injuries Can Helmets Help Prevent?
Motorcycle helmets can help prevent traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions or worse. When combined with appropriate eyewear, helmets can also protect you from suffering facial injuries that could result in scarring.
How Does Colorado Law Impact Liability and Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases?
Modified comparative negligence laws allow you to receive compensation, as long as you are 50% or less to blame for your injuries. If your percentage of liability is greater than 50%, then you may be barred from recovering your losses.
Also, even if you can receive compensation, your fault percentage will reduce your winnings.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado?
The first thing you should do after a motorcycle accident in Colorado is seek medical attention. Doing this right at the scene of the accident is often the best option. Ensure that law enforcement gets to the scene, too, so there is an official record of the collision.
Follow all medical instructions. If paramedics suggest that you need to go to the hospital, do so. This can protect your well-being as well as your future claim.
Gather evidence from the site if you can as well. Take pictures and speak with eyewitnesses, so you can present a clear outline of everything that led to the crash.
As soon as you’re able, you should also contact one of our attorneys to begin the process of filing a claim. You don’t want to wait very long to start, as evidence can disappear quickly.
How Can Bachus & Schanker Help Injured Motorcyclists Protect Their Rights and Pursue Compensation?
Suffering an injury in a motorcycle accident can leave you with significant medical bills, along with the inability to work while you recover. If another party was responsible for the crash, you should not have to handle all of these losses yourself. By filing a personal injury claim, you have a chance to receive fair compensation.
At Bachus & Schanker, we provide the comprehensive legal support you deserve. We understand what you’re going through as you navigate the aftermath of an accident while trying to heal. Let our team lighten your burden and fight for your rights on your behalf.
Legal Support Across Colorado and Nationwide
Serving Clients Nationwide
Kyle Bachus & Darin Schanker
Top-rated Colorado-based personal injury lawyers and co-founders of Bachus & Schanker, Kyle Bachus and Darin Schanker, have represented personal injury victims and families across Colorado for more than 30 years, earning a reputation as some of the best civil litigation attorneys for serious injury cases. The firm is structured to handle motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death cases of all types and severities, with a team organized to provide focused support and guidance throughout the entire legal process. Kyle and Darin guide victims through the system with the support of a dedicated team of personal injury specialists and Victim Advocates, ensuring care and advocacy from start to finish so clients can stay focused on healing.
Their firm is widely recognized for legal excellence, ethics, and results. Bachus & Schanker has earned distinctions, including:
- Membership in the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States.
- Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
- Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Colorado by America’s Best Advocates.
- Extraordinary Attorneys for Personal Injury – 2025 by Law Leaders.
- Best of the Best: Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Colorado – 2025.
- ColoradoBiz Media 2026 Colorado 500 Power List
Additional recognitions include honors from Super Lawyers, Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers, 5280 Magazine Top Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell AV ratings, Lead Counsel verification, American Association for Justice leadership, and A+ Better Business Bureau ratings across Colorado. Collectively, their attorneys have recovered over $1 billion for injury victims.
Beyond the courtroom, they support the Colorado community through the Bachus & Schanker Cares Foundation, which sponsors local nonprofits and initiatives. See Kyle Bachus and Darin Schanker on Super Lawyers.
Notable Settlement Results
$20 Million
$15 Million
$7 Million
Related Motorcycle Accidents Resources
#1 Amazon Best Seller in the Legal Industry
Attorney Kyle Bachus knows first-hand how difficult it can be to suddenly lose a loved one in an accident. It’s also devastating when you or a family member suffers severe injuries that forever change your lives. Kyle wrote this book as a resource from his personal experience for families who have suffered a traumatic loss.
A Spanish edition of the book is also available, offering the same support and guidance to Spanish-speaking families.
You Deserve Fair Compensation
Don’t let the insurance companies intimidate you into accepting less than you deserve. We’re ready to fight for you.