All motorcycle riders must follow the Colorado guidelines and laws in order to maintain responsibility on the road whether you’re the one operating the vehicle, or are simply a passenger. If you would like more information regarding Colorado motorcycle laws, please visit the Colorado Department of Transportation page to better understand the laws behind your motorcycle injury case. 

Although the Colorado Department of Transportation does not require motorcyclists over the age of 18 to wear a helmet, it is in your best interest to consider how this may affect you in court if you or a passenger were not wearing a helmet during your motorcycle collision. Oftentimes, a defending lawyer or court will determine not wearing a helmet as comparative negligence, meaning you are partially liable for your own injuries. In this case, a defendant may not be liable for medical expenses regarding brain and head injuries. 

Despite there being no helmet law in Colorado, it is essential for motorcycle operators to wear some sort of eye protection. Windshields are not a reliable source of eye protection, so the state of Colorado recommends goggles or a helmet with a visor to avoid eye injury when riding your motorcycle.

• It is illegal to pass or overtake a vehicle in the same lane.
• No lane sharing or splitting is allowed, unless between two motorcyclists.
• You cannot attach or “cling” onto another vehicle while riding a motorcycle.
• All motorcycles must be equipped with footrests for passengers.
• All passengers must ride on the seat directly behind the motorcycle driver or in a sidecar. It is illegal for a passenger to ride in front of the driver.

Motorcycle crashes are some of the most lethal vehicular accidents in Denver, and we want to make sure we cover all the bases in order to ensure that your motorcycle injury is managed effectively. Although there are a variety of different ways that a motorcycle accident can occur, our Denver attorneys are experienced and prepared to help, no matter the cause of your motorcycle wreck.

Some common types of motorcycle accidents include:

• Sudden or unpredictable stops on the road,
• Drivers operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
• Drivers operating a vehicle while texting or calling, 
• Car or truck drivers failing to spot a motorcyclist before making a lange change,
• Car or truck drivers hitting a motorcyclist at a red light or stop sign,
• Car or truck drivers hitting a motorcyclist while turning in an intersection,
• Road hazards such as potholes, debris, missing warning signage,
• Car drivers opening a door without seeing an approaching motorcyclist,
• Defects in motorcycle design and/or manufacture.

In your motorcycle wreck claim, a defending attorney may attempt to argue that motorcyclists can be deemed reckless and negligent, as juries often reduce motorcycle injury settlements to a much lower amount compared to other vehicular injury cases. Despite these biases, motorcycle injuries are often the most severe as drivers are not protected from outside collisions as car and truck drivers are. Our Denver motorcycle accident attorneys frequently see injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, other internal injuries, and road rash, though this list is not exhaustive.

Given the nature of motorcycle driving (the ability to split lanes, pass other vehicles in between lanes, and the lack of a helmet law in Colorado), it is easier for insurance companies to deny compensation to a motorcycle injury insurance claim. That’s why hiring a Denver motorcycle injury lawyer is in your best interest, as our motorcycle crash attorneys are experienced and ready to help you seek justice and compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

In order to have a motorcycle injury claim, you must be able to prove that the party causing your injury or motorcycle crash practiced negligence in some way, disrespecting their duty of care towards others. Perhaps you were hit by a driver who failed to see you while switching lanes, or there was a defect in the model of motorcycle you drive. These are examples of causes that can prove negligence and get your motorcycle injury case moving in the right direction.

1. Mount Evans Scenic and Historic Byway, from Idaho Springs to Mount Evans;
2. Trail Ridge Road Scenic and Historic Byway, from Estes Park to Grand Lake;
3. Unaweep and Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway, from Whitewater to Placerville;
4. Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway, from Sterling through Fort Morgan to Ault;
5. Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway, from Twin Lakes to Minturn;
6. Independence Pass on Highway 82 from Glenwood Springs to Twin Lakes; 
7. San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway, ranging from Cortez through Telluride, Placerville, Ridgeway, Ouray, Silverton, and Durango;
8. Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway, from Pueblo to Westcliffe to Colorado City;
9. Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway, from Trinidad to Lamar; 
10. Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway, from the border of New Mexico to Alamosa.

Motorcycle accidents are most common on these routes in Colorado; however, our Rocky Mountain Personal Injury Lawyers understand that accidents happen anytime, anywhere. Even if your motorcycle crash happened on a city street, a residential area, or on your way to work, we’re here to help resolve your motorcycle injury case.