Helping Bicycle Accident Victims in Colorado Get the Compensation They Deserve
Cycling is a form of recreation and transportation for thousands of people throughout the state of Colorado.
There are undeniable benefits to using a bicycle to get from place to place enjoyed by people who use pedal-powered transportation in lieu of driving or taking public transit.
Bicycling can be a form of exercise, is better for the environment than using fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and costs nothing to operate.
Unfortunately, riding a bike for any reason also puts people at significant risk of being involved in an injury-causing accident.
In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that there were approximately 48,000 bicyclists injured in accidents during 2013 in the United States.
When bicycle accidents are caused by the negligence of another party, victims are entitled to recover significant compensation under Colorado law. It is critical, therefore, for anyone who has been hurt in a bicycle crash to have their case reviewed by an experienced Colorado bicycle accident lawyer.
Our bike injury attorneys will review your case for free and, if you choose to retain us, you will not owe us any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
Contact us online or call (888) 668-1182 today for a free consultation.
Bicycle Accidents can be Caused by Dangerous Road and Parking Lot Conditions
Many bicycle accidents are caused by the failure of a government agency or private business to adequately design and maintain its property.
When this occurs, bicyclists may be able to bring a legal claim against the party responsible for the maintenance of the roadway or other surface on which an accident took place.
Some common types of road surface hazards that can cause serious Colorado bicycle accidents include the following:
- Potholes,
- Accumulations of snow or ice,
- Standing water due to improper drainage,
- Shoulder drop-offs,
- Inadequate signage,
- Missing or faded lane markers,
- Overgrown foliage,
- Poor road design,
- Unmarked hazards, and
- Poor parking lot designs.
It is important for Colorado bicyclists who are injured in accidents that occur on public roads or highways to be aware of the fact that legal actions against government agencies are subject to a special set of legal rules, which require victims to go through certain procedural steps before they can actually file a lawsuit.
In addition, there are significant limitations as to how long accident victims have to file their injury claim and how much compensation they may be able to recover.
For this reason, anyone injured on a public roadway should speak with an attorney familiar with bringing claims against a government agency as soon as possible.
Negligent Drivers can Also Cause Serious Bicycle Accidents
In many parts of Colorado, bicycles and motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles operate in close proximity with one another on a regular basis. When motor vehicles collide with bikes, the results can be devastating, most often for the bicyclist.
Unlike people inside of vehicles, bicyclists have no protection and can easily be thrown from their bikes or be struck directly by an approaching vehicle. As a result, the injuries are often severe.
Some common types of driver negligence that often lead to serious bicycle accidents include:
- Speeding,
- Failing to signal lane changes,
- Failing to stop at a stop sign,
- Failure to yield the right of way,
- Following too closely,
- Failure to properly maintain a vehicle,
- Distracted driving,
- Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol,
- Failure to stay in a lane, and
- Improper turns.
After an accident, there are certain things that bicyclists can do to protect their right to recover compensation. Our Colorado bicycle accident lawyers will explain.
If possible, take pictures of the aftermath of the accident and collect information from the driver of the vehicle involved, including his or her name, insurance information, address, and license plate number of his or her vehicle.
In addition, try and obtain contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the accident.
Common Colorado Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle accidents are capable of causing extremely serious injuries, regardless of whether a cyclist was wearing a helmet or other protective gear.
Some of the more common serious injuries sustained in Colorado bicycle accidents are detailed below.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, occur when a person hits his or her head against another object or when the head is jolted with enough force to cause a disruption in normal brain function.
In a Colorado bicycle accident, this can often occur when a bicyclist is thrown headfirst over his or her handlebars and strikes another vehicle or the ground head-first.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to a person’s spinal cord can result in significant issues, including loss of sensation and movement below the site of the injury.
There are many ways in which a bicycle accident could result in a spinal cord injury, many of which involve a bicyclist being thrown from his or her bicycle in a way that places significant stress on the spinal column.
Broken Bones
Broken bones, medically referred to as “fractures,” are among the most commonly sustained injuries in bicycle accidents.
These injuries occur when a bone is subjected to force that is sufficient to break its continuity. While often treatable, these injuries can leave victims with significant medical expenses, chronic pain, disfigured limbs, and significant scarring.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Case with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Colorado
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be able to recover significant financial compensation.
The kinds of losses that are often compensable in a Colorado bicycle accident case include a victim’s medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Since 1995, we’ve been representing the legal rights of individuals injured in preventable accidents and have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
To schedule a consultation with one of our skilled Colorado bicycle accident attorneys, call our office today at (888) 668-1182 or send us an email through our online contact form.