Colorado Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle encourages cycling, but the roads can be dangerous for cyclists. Whether you’re riding on city streets, suburban roads, or mountain trails, accidents can occur for many reasons, including poor road conditions, driver negligence, or equipment failure.
No matter why you think your accident occurred, if you suspect that negligence may have played a role, contact the Denver office of Flaxman Law Group at 970-999-0530 for a free consultation. Consulting with Colorado bicycle accident lawyers soon after your injury helps you understand and protect your rights, so you can seek the financial recovery you may need.
Common Causes of Bike Accidents in Colorado
Bicycle accidents can be caused by many reasons, and not all of them are obvious. The most common causes of bike accidents include:
- Vehicle crashes. The most common and most dangerous cause of bicycle accidents is collisions with motor vehicles. Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way, run red lights, make unsafe lane changes, or fail to notice cyclists cause crashes. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable because they have little protection compared to drivers of cars and trucks.
- Unsafe road conditions. Uneven road surfaces, potholes, debris, or poorly marked bike lanes can lead to accidents, especially when cyclists are unable to avoid hazards in time. In some cases, the government or private property owners may be responsible for maintaining safe roads and bike lanes, and their failure to do so can result in liability for any accidents that occur.
- Car doors. A common type of accident happens when drivers park on the side of the street and open the car door suddenly. A bicyclist riding on the street or in the bike lane may not have enough time to stop suddenly.
- Cyclist error. While drivers and road conditions are often responsible for accidents, cyclists can also make mistakes. This can include riding the wrong way on the road, running red lights, failing to signal, or not wearing proper safety gear. However, even when a cyclist is partially at fault, they may still have a right to compensation, depending on the circumstances.
- Equipment failure. Bicycle malfunctions, such as brake failure or tire blowouts, can cause accidents. In these cases, the manufacturer or seller of the defective bicycle or parts could be held responsible.
It’s important not to assume the cause of an accident or to admit fault at the scene of an accident, because an investigation can show what really happened. For example, your personal injury lawyer may uncover that a government-contracted repair crew failed to address potholes or that the driver of the car that hit you was texting while driving.
Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries in Colorado
Bicycle accidents can result in injuries that range from minor to life-threatening. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Broken bones. Fractures can especially affect the arms, legs, and collarbone.
- Head injuries. Even with a helmet, cyclists can sustain concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or skull fractures if they are struck by a vehicle or fall off their bike.
- Road rash. This refers to the abrasions caused by sliding on the road after a fall. While mild road rash can heal on its own, it can also lead to infections and scarring.
- Spinal injuries. Hitting the road hard can result in spinal cord injuries, which may lead to paralysis and other permanent disabilities.
- Soft tissue injuries. These can include strains and sprains, which may happen if you twist your body as you fall from the bike.
- Facial injuries. Even if you’re wearing a helmet, your face isn’t fully covered, putting you at risk of a broken nose, bruising, dental injuries, eye injuries, broken facial bones, and scarring.
- Internal injuries. Blunt force trauma from collisions with vehicles can cause injuries to internal organs.
- Fatal injuries. When a bicyclist is thrown from their bike or hit directly by a car, the internal injuries and head injuries can be fatal.
- Psychological injuries. The mental toll of a bicycle accident can be just as deserving of consideration as physical injuries. A bike accident can cause emotional distress, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions that may require treatment.
After a bike accident, it may be obvious that you’ve been seriously injured or you may feel fine. In either case, seek immediate medical attention. Some very serious injuries, including life-threatening head trauma, may not be obvious right away, and the sooner you see a medical professional the sooner you can get the right diagnosis and treatment.
What Compensation Is Available for a Bicycle Accident in Colorado?
In Colorado, you may be entitled to compensation if your injuries were caused by negligence. You may be able to seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses. This includes compensation for the cost of immediate medical treatment, ongoing care, and rehabilitation. It also includes possible future medical costs. In addition, you can seek compensation for any mental health support you need, so your visits to a therapist may be covered if you suffer trauma because of your accident.
- Lost wages. If the accident causes you to miss work or affects your ability to earn an income, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, including future lost earnings capacity.
- Pain and suffering. You may also be eligible for emotional distress and a diminished quality of life.
- Property damage. If your bicycle, phone, or other property was damaged in the accident, you can pursue compensation for repairs or replacement.
- Wrongful death damages. If you have lost a family member in a bicycle accident, you may have a wrongful death claim and may be able to seek compensation to cover final medical bills, financial support, pain and suffering, burial costs, and more.
- Punitive damages. In rare cases, a court may award punitive damages to send the message that a liable party’s actions were especially egregious. For example, this can happen if a motorist hit you deliberately.
It’s very easy to underestimate the costs of your bike accident. After a crash, you may be contacted by the insurance company of the at-fault driver, for example, and they may offer you a cash amount very quickly. The amount may seem fair. Generous, even. However, once you sign any paperwork or accept any offer, you will likely have signed away the right to seek further compensation. If you find out that your costs are higher than you expect, you will need to pay the difference out of your savings.
Colorado bicycle accident lawyers can protect you from this common mistake. They can explain how much cases like yours are worth and they encourage you to think of your likely future costs. Your attorney will negotiate with any insurers or liable parties, ensuring you don’t get a lowball offer.
You can help maximize your compensation by taking these steps immediately after your accident:
- Seek medical attention. Even if you don’t feel injured immediately, it’s essential to get checked by a healthcare professional. Some injuries, such as internal injuries or concussions, may not be immediately apparent. Seeing a medical professional also starts the process of documenting your injuries and establishes a link between the bike crash and your injuries.
- Report the accident. Contact local law enforcement to report the accident. This creates an official record, which can be important for filing insurance claims or pursuing a lawsuit later.
- Document all you can. If you can, take photos of the site where you were injured, your bicycle, any visible injuries, and the surrounding area. If another vehicle is involved, collect the driver’s contact and insurance information. Ask any potential witnesses for their contact information and note any security cameras in the area. Write down everything you remember as soon as you can and keep a running list of everything related to your accident and injury—including your symptoms, your doctors’ appointments, your expenses, time you’ve lost at work, and everything else that may be relevant.
- Consult an attorney. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help you with filing insurance claims, investigating the accident, and pursuing compensation for your injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident and would like to speak with a Colorado bicycle accident lawyer, you can reach out to Flaxman Law Group at any time for a free consultation. You can schedule a consultation in our Denver office or we may be able to speak with you by phone or come visit you if you’re too injured to travel.
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Colorado Bicycle Accident Stats
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, cyclist fatalities increased from 15 in 2022 to 20 in 2023, a rise of 33%. In 2002, cyclists made up only 1.2% of all Colorado roadway deaths, but by 2023 that number had more than doubled to 2.8%.
In addition, there is a gender disparity. In 2023, of all the cyclists killed in Colorado, all but one were men. This may be because men bicycle more. Five of the 20 deaths affected young people under the age of 20. The majority of fatally injured cyclists (12) were over the age of 51. Most of the fatalities also happened in urban areas, where cyclists share space with drivers, pedestrians, and other road users. As Colorado’s cities grow, these areas can become more congested, paving the way for more accidents.
Another factor that could affect bike accidents in Colorado is the rise of e-bikes, or electric bikes, which are bicycles with electric motors. Advocates have been promoting e-bikes as a greener alternative to cars, and the state has created incentives and rebates to encourage residents to give e-bikes a car. According to the non-profit People for Bikes, between 2022 and 2023 alone more than 5,700 people in Colorado bought e-bikes using these programs.
E-bike accidents have also been on the rise. According to the American College of Surgeons, head trauma associated with e-bike accidents increased more than 49-fold between 2019 and 2024. In Colorado, there were 53 collisions reported to police involving e-bikes or electric scooters in just the first half of 2023. In the first 6 months of 2024 there were 84 collisions. Police believe that the numbers are much higher, since many collisions go unreported.
E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes and can go at speeds of up to 28 mph. The speed and weight can cause more serious accidents when crashes do happen. In addition, the design of e-bikes includes lithium-ion batteries, which can malfunction, leading to overheating and fires.
If you’re injured by an e-bike, your rights are the same as if you were injured by a traditional bike. You may have a claim against the rider and other liable parties if you have been injured. Since your injuries may be more serious due to the speed and weight of an e-bike, it becomes especially important for you to consult with Colorado bicycle accident lawyers to get the compensation you need to pay for wage losses, pain and suffering, medical bills, and more. In addition, if your e-bike catches fire, you may have a product liability claim against the bike manufacturer, especially if the fire causes damage to your home or injuries to you and others.
Whether you ride an e-bike or traditional bike, or share the road with riders, remember that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers on the road in Colorado. This means they have the right to share the road and should be treated with respect by other drivers.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the responsible party. This could include a negligent driver, the manufacturer of faulty equipment, or even government entities responsible for unsafe road conditions.
To find out whether you qualify for a claim, call Flaxman Law Group at 970-999-0530 for a free consultation with a Colorado bicycle accident lawyer at our Denver office. Our boutique law firm serves the entire state and we’re committed to standing up for bicyclists who have been injured through no fault of their own.
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