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Motorcyclist Accidents

Motorcycles are incredibly fun vehicles to ride, but when another driver fails to take proper care on the road, they can be very dangerous to the rider. Unlike cars or trucks, a motorcyclist is not protected by metal, seat belts, or airbags. Instead, motorcyclists are left to the mercy of their helmets, gear, and other drivers. All too often, other drivers do not pay proper attention to motorcyclists, and this can result in their injury or even death.

Motorcyclists deserve the same protection from harm as do any other drivers on Colorado roads. When a rider is injured, he or she deserves to be financially compensated for the injuries he or she suffers as a result of another driver's negligence. 

If you or someone you care about was injured in a motorcycle accident in Colorado, you have the right to fight for financial compensation for your injuries. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com, you can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

When you are involved in an accident involving a motorcycle in the greater Denver, Colorado area, you need an experienced legal team to fight for you. Injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident can negatively affect your life in both the short term and long term. If you suffered as a result of another person's negligence, you are entitled to financial compensation.

Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients. No matter how small or how big your case may be, the accidentdenver.com team will keep you informed every step of the way throughout the process and they will handle every detail seamlessly to put you on the road to recovery.

Accidentdenver.com takes cases on a contingency basis. This means that you pay nothing until your case has reached a favorable resolution. Let us put our years of experience to work for you and your loved ones.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Accidents involving motorcyclists can be caused by any number of things, but some of the most common that occur in Colorado help illustrate the danger a motorcyclist faces every time he or she gets on the road.

Driving Under the Influence

When other drivers are under the influence of an intoxicating substance, such as drugs or alcohol, the likelihood that a motorcycle accident can occur goes up greatly. Intoxicated drivers do not see as well, making it harder to spot a motorcyclist. They also have slower reaction times, or may even become aggressive or careless.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, intoxicated drivers account for nearly 25% of all motorcycle accidents that involve death or serious injury.

When another driver is drunk or "high," and causes an accident, he or she should be held responsible for your injuries, or the death of your loved one.

Speeding

The most common cause of motorcycle accidents, and all accidents in general, is related to speeding. However, speeding vehicles are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists on Colorado roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 33% of all motorcycle crashes were speeding, or speeding of another vehicle was considered the cause of the accident.

High speeds can be dangerous for both the motorcyclist traveling too fast or another driver being unable to control a vehicle that results in injuries to the motorcyclist. Because motorcyclists are left relatively unprotected by their vehicles, other drivers who choose to speed represent a very significant threat.

Failure to Maintain Lane

When other drivers fail to stay in their lane, it can result in a serious motorcyclist accident. In Colorado, it is illegal to ride between two lanes. Many times, drivers think they can pass another vehicle by moving into the lane occupied by the much skinnier motorcycle. This can result in an impact that can send the motorcyclist flying into busy or even oncoming traffic, simply because the other driver was too impatient to pass properly.

Illegal and Unsafe Lane Changes

Similar to failure to maintain lane, many vehicles do not properly change lanes, resulting in accidents with motorcyclists. This can happen for a number of reasons. Many times other vehicles do not properly check their mirrors and do not see the motorcycle's slimmer profile. Failure to see the motorcycle is not an excuse, and moving into a motorcyclists lane is illegal and negligent conduct.

Some drivers fail to signal, or even fail to look at all. This can easily result in a very serious accident.

Dangerous Road Conditions

Motorcycles are much more vulnerable to poor road conditions than drivers of other types of motor vehicles. Issues such as potholes, uneven surfaces, or other bad road conditions can leave a motorcyclist on the ground, with the possibility of further injury as the result of an impact with a vehicle. Weather conditions can also affect the road, and motorcyclists are more vulnerable to these types of conditions as well.

In certain types of cases, when the dangerous road condition is another entity's fault, including the government in limited circumstances, an injured motorcyclist can file a personal injury lawsuit to fight for the financial compensation he or she deserves.

Motorcycle Defects

Sometimes, the cause of the motorcycle accident is the motorcycle itself. When a part or system on your bike fails, and that failure is the fault of the manufacturer or a part manufacturer, you can file a personal injury and products liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. This area of law can be incredibly complex, but the experienced attorneys at accidentdenver.com have the years of experience needed to properly try these kinds of cases.

Common Injuries Arising From Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are uniquely dangerous because of the lack of protection afforded by the rider's vehicle. Without seat belts, airbags, or the surrounding metal of a car, a motorcyclist can be thrown, crushed, run over, or even skid long distances on the road. The injuries riders suffer can be incredibly severe, and common injuries that occur include the following:

Broken Bones

Bones are very commonly broken as the result of a motorcycle accident. The crushing impact of a collision with another vehicle or the impact of the body against the road can easily snap bones. Broken bones may be less severe, like a simple fracture, or can result in broken bones that pierce outside the body. 

Broken bones can also cause other health complications, but in any case, are very expensive to fix. Even simple breaks that will eventually heal 100% can cost tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills. The negligent driver who caused your accident should pay, not you.

Paralysis

A broken spinal cord or injury to your head can result in partial or complete paralysis. Those who suffer paralysis are unable to move parts of their body, either temporarily or permanently. When this is the case, you can sue for damages as a result of your injury.

Head Trauma

With or without a helmet, head trauma or traumatic brain injury is a common injury that arises from motorcycle accidents. A simple concussion may result, or a person could be left with permanent brain damage, loss of cognitive ability, or even be left in a vegetative state (such as a coma). Head trauma is also one of the leading causes of death in motor vehicle accidents.

Road Rash

"Road rash" occurs as a result of the skin being scraped along the road. Depending on the accident, it can be relatively minor or may shred the skin to pieces. In every case, road rash is extremely painful, and in many others, it leaves permanent damage and scarring. Road rash is much more likely to occur if a rider is not wearing full body protection, and is thrown from the motorcycle.

Mental Trauma

A motorcycle accident can be a terrifying ordeal. Serious injuries can leave a person with post-traumatic stress disorder, or other like mental conditions that change that person's life forever. Even the strongest person can have debilitating fear and mental anguish as the result of an accident, and this type of injury is compensable through a personal injury lawsuit.

How to File Your Personal Injury Lawsuit

When it comes time to file your personal injury lawsuit following a motorcycle accident, you may feel lost in how to proceed. The first step is determining who the proper party or parties are to hold responsible for your damages. This is the party who you will sue, and your experienced personal injury lawyer will investigate your case to help determine the party or parties who should be named in the lawsuit.

In a motorcycle accident, this can include, but is not limited to:

  • The other driver,
  • The actual owner of the vehicle,
  • The employer of the driver that caused the accident,
  • A city, state, or township,
  • An insurance provider,
  • Brake manufacturer,
  • Truck or car manufacturer, and
  • Repair company.

Your lawsuit is best filed with the assistance of a qualified and competent personal injury attorney who is familiar with the unique aspects of a motorcycle accident. As part of the personal injury lawsuit process, you and your attorney will investigate the cause of the accident, and sue the appropriate parties.

The case may go to a judge or jury to decide the case, including how much in damages you are owed. Settlement, or an agreed amount of damages, often occurs in these types of cases, rather than the case going to trial. Whether you want to settle or go to trial is ultimately your choice, but you will have the help of your attorney in getting to an appropriate number.

Statute of Limitations

A person is required to file a personal injury lawsuit arising from a motor vehicle accident within three years of the date of the accident. Failure to file within that time will almost certainly result in dismissal of your case. This is true even if your claim is otherwise valid, and you are entitled to compensation. It is crucial to avoid this possibility by consulting with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you have the right to seek financial compensation from the responsible party or parties. The money damages that you can recover include:

  • medical expenses
  • future medical expenses
  • loss of income
  • loss of future earning capacity
  • pain and suffering
  • loss of consortium
  • loss of support
  • disfigurement
  • property damage

Your case may also warrant punitive damages, which are damages specifically designed to punish the responsible party for extreme reckless conduct or intentional actions that caused you harm. These do not occur as often, but your attorney can consult with you on whether punitive damages are available in your particular case. 

Wrongful Death Actions

If another driver causes the death of a loved one while he or she was riding a motorcycle, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. While only certain family members may file a wrongful death claim, this type of claim can help to compensate those family member for their losses suffered as the result of the death of a loved one.

The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years, one year shorter than a typical personal injury claim. This means that it is even more important to quickly consult an experienced wrongful death lawyer. You should not wait to near the date of the statute of limitations, as it takes time to properly investigate and create a case.

Damages in a wrongful death claim may include:

  • Loss of income,
  • Loss of services,
  • Loss of support the deceased would have provided,
  • Funeral expenses, and
  • Medical expenses before the individual died.

Consult an Experienced Denver Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accidents can result in incredibly severe injuries. This means high medical costs, great amounts of pain and suffering, and incredible damage to you and your family's financial health. When another driver is the one responsible for your injuries, you should not have to bear the burden of paying, the other driver should.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any sort of motorcycle accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.

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