Colorado Motorcycle Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, riders over the age of 18 do not have to wear helmets in Colorado. Operators and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear DOT-approved helmets while riding. It is still a good idea for all riders to wear a helmet since they have been proven to save lives and prevent traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the event of a motorycle crash.

Typically, you should report an injury crash to a local law enforcement agency. You should call 911 at the scene of the accident. After a police officer responds to the scene and collects information from the parties involved in the motorcycle crash, the officer will prepare an accident report. Colorado also allows drivers to report accidents through the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles website when a crash involves:

• No fatalities or injuries
• Drives who stay on the scene and share information
• No public property damaged
• No parties involved under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

You can order a copy of the report later on from the agency which prepared it such as the Denver Police Department or Colorado State Patrol.

You should contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer if you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, and you believe someone else’s negligence caused the crash. After a serious injury accident, you have the right to expect that the person who was responsible will compensate you for your medical expenses, lost wages and any short or long-term costs that you incur because of the crash.

Typically, you will file a claim through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. However, insurance companies will try to keep as much money in their own pocket as possible. An insurer may try to claim that you were at fault for the crash, or it may try to offer you a settlement that is far less than the actual costs you have paid or will have to pay in the future.

When this happens, you need the knowledge and skill of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to help you to pursue what you are rightfully owed. Your attorney will calculate the actual cost of your injuries and other damages, negotiate for a full and fair settlement or pursue compensation for you in court.

The earlier you contact a lawyer, the stronger your case will likely be. Don’t let critical evidence and eyewitnesses disappear after a motorcycle crash. Call an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and your future.

Determining fault after a Denver motorcycle accident is crucial. An attorney can investigate your crash, determine why it happened and identify any and all parties who might be liable for the harm you suffered. In some motorcycle crashes, more than one person can be responsible for what happened to you. So, make sure to work with an attorney with the skills and experience it takes to identify precisely who should be held accountable. Responsible parties often include:

• The other driver involved in the crash
• The driver’s employer (if the driver was working at the time of the accident)
• A store, bar or restaurant that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated or underage minor
• A motorcycle mechanic who made shoddy repairs to the bike
• The manufacturer of a defective motorcycle or motorcycle part
• A government agency that negligently designed or maintained a road.

If you are hurt in a motorcycle crash in Denver, Colorado, you could be owed significant compensation if another party was negligent in any way and caused the accident. Accident victims may be eligible to recover compensation for:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages and future earnings
• Property damage (repairs or replacement)
• Pain, suffering and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability
• Permanent disfigurement.

Families who lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident could be eligible to pursue a wrongful death action against the person or entity responsible. Spouses, children and dependents, or parents or other family members, could be eligible to recover compensation that includes funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and other damages.

It is natural for accident victims and their families to worry about the cost of quality legal representation. Fortunately, the experienced Denver motorcycle attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t pay anything unless our law firm recovers compensation for you.