Bicycling is an extremely popular activity throughout Colorado. While this can be a great form of exercise and way to enjoy the beautiful state, bike accidents can lead to devastating injuries, financial upheaval, and ongoing challenges. 20 bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2023, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. This represented a 33% increase in such traffic fatalities from the year before. Many more were seriously injured in bicycle accidents.

If you were one of these unfortunate accident victims, you have legal rights and options. An experienced Lakewood personal injury lawyer from Dulin McQuinn Young can discuss them with you during a free consultation. Call us today for your free case review.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Many factors can contribute to bicycle accidents. Some of them are the natural terrain, as many bicyclists enjoy cycling in more remote areas. Bicyclists can also be harmed in crashes due to loose gravel, potholes, or other defects in the roadway.

Some drivers have downright animosity toward bicyclists, viewing them as a nuisance and in the way of them getting to where they want to go faster. Some drivers deliberately run cyclists off the road or hit and run.

The growing population in the area is also a factor, as cyclists must share narrow roads with cars. Additionally, recent legislation allows motorists to pass a bicycle even when a double yellow line is present, a risky maneuver.

Many bicycle accidents occur when a bicyclist turns right, not keeping a lookout for bicyclists. Others occur when motorists turn left in front of the oncoming path of a bicyclist, failing to yield the right of way.

Additional factors that contribute to bicycle accidents include:

Speeding, as drivers take longer to come to a stop at elevated speeds
Lack of visibility at an intersection
Heavy traffic and rush hour
Distracted driving, including using a cell phone or texting
Following too closely
Making unsafe passes
Driving in bike lanes
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Running red lights or stop signs
Opening a car door into the path of a bicyclist

Common Bike Accident Injuries

When a bicyclist is hit by a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds, severe injuries often occur. This is even more likely because cyclists are exposed, lacking the steel frame, airbags, and seat belts that protect the occupants of vehicles. These collisions between bikes and passenger vehicles often result in serious injuries, such as:

Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
Injuries to the eyes, mouth, or teeth
Back and shoulder injuries
Fractures in the ribs, skull, arms, or legs
Lacerations
Road rash
Severe burns

If you have lost a loved one, our Lakewood wrongful death attorney can help your family seek justice.

Who Is Responsible for a Bicycle Accident in Lakewood?

Colorado operates under an at-fault insurance system for traffic accidents. Whether you were involved in a Lakewood car accident or a bicycle collision, the party found at fault is responsible for paying for the damages they cause.

In many situations, motorists are found at fault for accidents involving bicyclists. Colorado drivers have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent accidents. Law enforcement, insurance companies, and personal injury lawyers can conduct investigations to determine fault by:

Reviewing accident reports
Interviewing witnesses
Extracting video from helmet cameras, dash cameras, or traffic cameras
Analyzing photos that were taken at the scene of the accident
Assessing medical records
Gathering cell phone records if distracted driving was suspected
Working with accident reconstruction experts

In some situations, both the bicyclist and driver are determined to be at fault. Colorado operates under a modified comparative negligence law, so accident victims can only recover compensation if they are determined to be less than 50% responsible for the accident. If they are, they can recover compensation, but their damages are reduced by their degree of fault.

Financial Damages That Can Be Recovered After an Accident

Bicycle accidents can cause considerable damages for which accident victims may be able to recover compensation, such as:

Medical expenses: Bicycle accident victims can incur a lot of medical costs due to the serious injuries they suffer. These damages can cover medical bills for emergency medical treatment, ambulance rides, and hospital bills. It can also cover ongoing medical care costs, such as rehabilitation and physical therapy. It also covers future medical expenses for anticipated costs in the future.
Lost wages: Serious injuries can result in significant time off work to recover. Accident victims have a right to seek compensation for their lost income, including lost hourly wages, salary, tips, commissions, and benefits.
Reduced earning capacity: If the injury causes the victim to be unable to work or to take a less-demanding and lower-paying job, they can seek compensation for their diminished or lost earning capacity. Expert witnesses may need to review the injury victim’s salary history, occupation, skills, and education to determine their expected earning capacity and compare this to new income projections.
Property damage: Accident victims can seek compensation for their damaged personal property, such as their bike, helmet, and cell phone.
Pain and suffering: In addition to economic damages, accident victims can seek compensation for their physical pain and suffering.
Emotional distress: Bicycle accidents can be very distressing, and victims can seek compensation to acknowledge this fact.
Loss of enjoyment of life: Accident victims can also seek compensation to recognize that they cannot enjoy the same types of activities they could when they were not injured.

Filing a Bike Accident Claim in Colorado

If you were injured in a bike accident, you may have various options to recover the compensation that you deserve, such as:

Filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance: You can ask the driver for their insurance information and file a claim with their insurance provider.
Uninsured motorist coverage: You may be able to use your uninsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver was uninsured or could not be identified after a hit-and-run accident.
Suing the at-fault driver: You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Our bike crash lawyers can help you navigate insurance claims and litigation.

Contact Our Lakewood Bicycle Accident Lawyers for Legal Assistance

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, turn to the experienced Lakewood bicycle accident lawyers from Dulin McQuinn Young for legal guidance and representation. We have over 20 years of experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients. Contact us today for a free consultation.