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If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a cycling accident, call the Denver bicycle accident attorneys at Dormer Harpring. We understand the exposure to injuries bicyclists face every day in Denver. Even when cyclists follow all state traffic laws, drivers do not always show the same courtesy and respect. We also understand how important compensation can be after a serious injury in a bicycle accident.
Our Denver bicycle accident attorneys offer injured cyclists legal help that is:
Our cycling accident attorneys will take the time, effort, and energy to learn about you and your legal goals. Call or contact our office today and schedule a free consultation. Our fees are contingent on the amount we recover.
An experienced bicycle accident lawyer will explain the injury claims process to you and keep you updated throughout your case. Dormer Harpring will pay any upfront costs to investigate and file your claim as well as hire any necessary expert witnesses.
Additionally, our Denver bicycle accident lawyers will:
At Dormer Harpring, we want to take away as much of the legal stress and strain of your accident as possible. By doing this, we hope that you can regain your overall health and well-being. Speak with our team to find out about our services and what sets us apart from other law firms.
Motorists should always drive courteously and obey traffic laws. One of these laws is that when passing a bicyclist, a motorist is to allow at least three feet of space between the widest point of their vehicle and the widest point of the bicyclist. A motorist can cross a double yellow center line if there is no oncoming traffic to pass a bicyclist.
When people fail to follow the law or behave courteously, accidents happen. Most often, motorists cause bicycle accidents when driving:
When motorists do hit a bicyclist, they do so by:
Motorists and cyclists need to operate most safely and respectfully possible. To avoid accidents altogether, it is crucial everyone learn the laws governing interactions between cyclists and motor vehicles before setting out on the roads.
Driver error is the number one cause of bicycle accidents in Colorado. However, historically, many fatal accidents and injuries have also been caused by product defects. A defective bicycle may experience a failure with its frame, wheels or brakes during a ride that causes a harmful accident. In addition, bicycle helmet defects can contribute to serious and deadly traumatic brain injuries in bicycle accidents. Dormer Harpring has experience litigating defective bicycle helmet cases against well-known bicycle and helmet manufacturers and winning.
Motor vehicle drivers can put bicyclists at risk when they fail to pay attention to the road or are careless behind the wheel. Unfortunately, these are common mistakes that lead to a high number of bicycle accidents each year. The National Safety Council reports that preventable deaths from bicycle accidents increased by 16 percent from 2019 to 2020, and 44 percent over the last decade. Nonfatal bicycle accident injuries also increased by 5 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
In 2021, 961 bicyclists were killed in the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In Colorado, the Department of Transportation reported 15 bicyclist fatalities in 2020, with preliminary data for 2021 and 2022 also showing 15 bicyclist deaths per year. These deaths account for just over 2 percent of the total death toll in Colorado traffic accidents annually. The highest number of fatal bicycle accidents in Colorado occur in the summertime, peaking in August.
The human body is not built to withstand the forces exerted upon it when hit by a car. Even on a bicycle, you are barely protected from the full impact of the collision. Unfortunately, this can lead to devastating physical injuries, as well as significant psychological harm from the trauma of the event. Due to the mechanics of the average bicycle accident, the most common injuries suffered include:
Serious injuries can significantly impact the quality of life for a cyclist. Some may never fully heal from their injuries or be able to ride a bike ever again. Even minor injuries can result in a great deal of pain, inconvenience and medical costs. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with any type of injury after a bike accident in Denver, our lawyers can help you demand justice.
Victims of bicycle accidents often face extensive injuries and enormous accident-related medical bills. Accident rehabilitation is costly and may take years to accomplish physically. Compensation for bicycle accidents should pay for current and future estimated costs to cover all of an injured cyclist’s mental, physical, and emotional recovery.
While bicycle accident compensation amounts vary, the kinds of damages available include:
A common defense to bicycle accident claims that could reduce the financial compensation you receive is the modified comparative negligence defense. This argument could diminish your financial award by an amount that matches your percentage of fault for the accident. If the other driver can prove that you contributed to the accident, such as by running a stop sign or failing to pay attention to where you were riding, this can reduce your monetary recovery accordingly.
Your financial recovery will be reduced by an amount that is equivalent to your degree of fault, but only to a maximum amount. Under Colorado’s modified version of this law, a plaintiff can only be found up to 49 percent responsible for an accident to still remain eligible for compensation. With an equal or greater share of fault as the defendant, a plaintiff is barred from recovery entirely. This is why it’s important to have an attorney represent your side of the case if you believe you contributed to your accident.
While motor vehicle drivers are responsible for causing most bicycle accidents in Denver, there are things that you can do as a cyclist to decrease your risk of getting into a collision. Being proactive about your safety as a biker could save your life. Use these safety tips for bicyclists in Colorado to protect yourself from being hit by a car as much as possible:
If you get injured in a bicycle accident despite your best efforts to stay safe, you have legal rights. Discuss your options for seeking financial compensation and holding a driver accountable with a lawyer at Dormer Harpring for more information. We offer free initial consultations and are passionate about improving the safety of Denver’s bicyclists.
If you get injured in a Denver bike accident, check yourself for injuries and move out of harm’s way. Leave your bicycle where it is until photographs can be taken of the crash scene. If you are unable to move due to serious injuries, wait for paramedics to arrive. Otherwise, take the following steps:
When you are ready to pursue financial compensation for your bike accident, start by consulting with an attorney. Do not negotiate with insurance companies on your own. Hire a bicycle accident attorney in Denver to negotiate on your behalf to prevent an insurer from taking advantage of you.
It is imperative to settle a bicycle accident claim with the help of an experienced attorney. A bike accident lawyer will help ensure you do not accept less than you need and deserve. Contact Dormer Harping to see how our Denver bicycle crash attorneys can prove invaluable to your accident claim.