Colorado Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Colorado has no shortage of awe-inspiring roads, and many riders would be hard-pressed to give up the freedom they feel from riding, despite the many dangers they face from negligent motorists, road hazards, and other common causes of serious crashes.

The Colorado Department of Transportation reported that there were 54 fatal motorcycle accidents. Because motorcycles offer little to no protection for the rider, most accidents result in injury or death. Tragically, many accidents occur due to a motorist failing to notice motorcyclists, a hazardous road condition, or other reasons that were not the biker’s fault.

In an instant, you could lose your bike, your health, your livelihood, and in severe cases, your life. If someone else’s negligence caused your crash, you don’t have to suffer the consequences alone. You deserve justice and financial compensation to help make you whole again.

Experienced Colorado motorcycle accident attorney Sean Olson and Olson Personal Injury Lawyers fight for motorcyclists who have been seriously hurt in accidents. Our firm provides an unwavering client experience and delivers outstanding results for crash victims and their families. Sean will personally review the details of your case and answer any questions you have in a free consultation. Call (720) 730-9996 or contact us online to tell us your story.

Why Are Colorado Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complicated?

It would be a mistake to treat your motorcycle crash like any other vehicle accident. Motorcycle crashes are more complicated than passenger vehicle accident claims for a few specific reasons:

• Catastrophic injuries that cause serious financial strain: One challenge for motorcycle accident victims is the serious and often catastrophic injuries they sustain in accidents. The best protective gear might not be enough to prevent severe and life-altering injuries, and victims could incur overwhelming medical expenses, lose wages from significant time missed from work, or find themselves unable to work due to a disability. These financial challenges can be far greater than those of victims of regular car accidents.
• Understanding the riders’ perspective and proving fault: Another unique challenge in motorcycle accident cases is the fact that not everyone knows how to ride a motorcycle, and not everyone has been in the position of the rider. Proving negligence often requires explaining how a motorcycle is operated, how crashes occur, and why a motorcyclist acted the way they did. A knowledgeable Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer can be invaluable in building a strong case and demonstrating to a jury what happened if a case goes to trial.
• Overcoming stereotypes: Another issue motorcycle crash victims face is that insurance representatives and juries often hold unfair and inaccurate biases against those who ride motorcycles. Whether it is fueled by movies, TV, or media portrayals of bikers, it can be challenging to get a fair shake when negotiating or fighting for compensation for someone else’s negligence. Attorney Sean Olson will work hard to dispel those incorrect notions and demonstrate how the other party’s negligence was the key factor in the crash. We believe that motorcyclists should not be blamed simply for their decision to ride.

Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Colorado

Olson Personal Injury Lawyers fiercely fights to protect motorcycle accident victims and their families. We will deal with the insurance company representatives and will negotiate for a fair settlement that takes into account the expenses you’ve incurred due to the crash, as well as any future expenses you will be forced to deal with.

Insurance companies are known to fight against claims, even when valid, and they may refuse to settle for an acceptable amount. We are not afraid to fight back. As a respected trial attorney, Sean will stand up for you and demand what you are rightfully owed, and he will present a persuasive case to a jury if that is what is necessary.

It is our goal to fight for every bit of compensation you need, including payment for:

If you have lost a family member in a motorcycle accident, our team can also explain your right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Ultimately, your family should not suffer financially due to someone else’s tragic mistake.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado

• Call 911 and get medical treatment. If you are hurt in a motorcycle accident, your first action should be to contact emergency services and go to the emergency room, or if your injuries seem less severe, visit a doctor of your choosing for an evaluation and treatment. Some injuries have delayed symptoms, so you’ll want to visit a doctor to detect them as soon as possible for proper treatment.
• Get a copy of the accident report. When police respond to the scene of your motorcycle crash, they will conduct an investigation. A police officer could also issue a citation to a negligent driver. Always make sure to get a copy of the accident report from the local law enforcement agency that responded to the scene. It will likely play a significant role in your case.
• Talk to witnesses. People who saw your accident could be potential witnesses, and you should try to get their names and phone numbers. Such testimony will be very valuable if there is any dispute about liability.
• Take photos. While you are at the scene of the crash, take pictures or have someone close to you take pictures of the scene to show the damage to the vehicles, skid marks, crash debris, road signs and conditions, and other vital pieces of evidence that will change, be cleaned up, or will disappear over time.
• Reach out to a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer in Colorado. Finally, you should contact a Colorado personal injury attorney as soon as you can to discuss your legal options. Do not talk to anybody else about your accident, particularly the at-fault driver’s insurance company, and be especially careful not to post anything on social media that could harm your injury case.

Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Crash in Colorado

You should generally avoid speaking to another driver’s insurance company until you have hired a lawyer to represent you. Remember that representatives are interested only in their company’s best interests, not yours.

The insurance company will inform you when a claims adjuster has been assigned to your case and they have begun investigating the crash. The claims adjuster will very likely try to get you to provide a recorded statement. You should always politely refuse to give a recorded statement, as these are usually used to get victims to admit fault without being aware of it.

When you have Sean Olson on your side, you can simply refer all communication from the insurance company to your attorney. We will handle everything from there.

Catastrophic Injuries in Colorado Motorcycle Accidents

Colorado requires all minors (people under 18 years of age) operating or riding on motorcycles to wear helmets. While helmets are certainly encouraged for all riders, the truth remains that they do not offer enough protection.

Motorcyclists are susceptible to an enormous number of serious injuries. Many of these injuries will require long-term hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and some victims will be permanently unable to return to work because of the severity of their injuries.

Some of the most common kinds of injuries motorcyclists can sustain include, but are not limited to:

In addition to the injuries listed above, motorcyclists are also much more likely to suffer fatal injuries in crashes. Family members of the deceased person such as their spouse, children, parents, or other dependents can file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue compensation for their losses.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Colorado

Most motorcycle accidents in Colorado involve other motor vehicles, and crashes are commonly caused by another driver’s negligence. Some of the common causes of motorcycle wrecks include:

• Lane Change Accidents — Drivers may not check their blind spots before attempting lane changes, or motorcycles might be difficult to see even when some drivers do a shoulder check. Lane change crashes can frequently crush motorcycles and may pull motorcyclists underneath vehicles.
• Rear-End Collisions — Drivers who fail to stop in time or are distracted can hit a motorcycle from behind. These types of accidents are especially dangerous for motorcyclists because even collisions at low-speeds that would be “fender benders” for traditional automobiles can be enough to throw motorcyclists several feet from their bikes.
• Left- or Right-Turn Accidents — Left-turn accidents are some of the most common kinds of motorcycle crashes and involve a driver turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Motorcyclists are powerless to avoid these collisions. Right-turn accidents stem from drivers turning into or in front of motorcyclists traveling the same direction.
• Distracted Driving — Motorists can be distracted by talking or text messaging on a cellphone while driving, adjusting the GPS, eating, drinking, smoking, or a number of other activities. Removing your eyes from the road for any amount of time always increases the likelihood of an accident. When a cellphone is suspected, an attorney can subpoena that driver’s phone records to prove their activity.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Drugs or Alcohol — Some drivers may face criminal charges if law enforcement determines the motorists were drunk driving or drugged driving. A criminal case will be completely separate from your own civil action though, so a driver who avoids a conviction can still be held civilly liable through a personal injury claim.
• Driver Fatigue — While driver fatigue is commonly associated with commercial truck accidents, every motorist is susceptible to exhaustion. People who are driving while they are too tired are not capable of responding as quickly as possible in emergencies, but they are also at risk of simply falling asleep at the wheel.

Not all motorcycle accidents involve other automobiles. Some crashes are entirely isolated incidents. Motorcyclists are again primarily assumed to be at fault for these crashes. In truth, many other factors could cause single-vehicle accidents. Some crashes are caused by defective motorcycle parts, while others may be caused by poor road conditions.

Manufacturers could be liable for defective parts, and maintenance companies might be responsible if a motorcycle malfunctioned because of improper repairs. If an accident was caused by a defect in the road or hazardous condition, a municipality or other government entity may be held liable.

How Our Colorado Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

Were you hurt in a motorcycle accident in Colorado? Olson Personal Injury Lawyers will help you pursue the compensation you are owed and will do everything in our power to help you get back on your feet and move on with your life.

Reach out to attorney Sean Olson today by calling (720) 730-9996 or contacting us online. Sean will personally meet with you to listen to your story and go over your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Do I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Getting hit while on your motorcycle can be a scary experience. You don’t have as much protection as drivers and passengers in cars have.

So what should you do after a crash with injuries? Motorcycle accident lawyer Sean Olson weighs in here:

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident you may be wondering what the next steps are. The very first thing you should do is to contact the police to ensure that a proper investigation is done to see who is at fault for the motorcycle accident. The second thing you must do if you haven’t already, seek medical attention for the injuries that you’ve suffered. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on the roads and it’s important if you haven’t received medical attention for those injuries already to seek out a medical professional to treat you for those injuries to make sure that those aren’t lifelong injuries that you’re looking at.

Thirdly, it’s important to contact the legal professional, the legal professional who’s experienced in motorcycle accidents and often help guide you through the process of getting medical bills paid and making sure that the party responsible for your accident is held responsible for your injuries and damages. At Olson Personal Injury Lawyers, we know motorcycle accidents and we know the process that needs to be followed after a motorcycle accident to make sure that you receive justice and compensation for your injuries.

If you need to talk to someone about your case, please reach out to Sean today.