Motorcycle injuries often range from extremely serious to catastrophic. Without the benefit of the protective frame of a car, and without a seatbelt, motorcycle riders often take a direct strike during a crash. Specifically, motorcycle riders may suffer from the following injuries after a crash:
These injuries can be painful, stressful, and expensive. Some can lead to permanent disabilities and some may even be fatal. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in Colorado, and someone else was at fault, you may be owed compensation for damages, including:
At Zaner Harden Law our team of Colorado motorcycle accident attorneys is committed to making certain that the victims of motorcycle accidents and their families get what they need and deserve in the wake of a wreck. Take a few moments to watch a video below of just one of many clients we have represented after their motorcycle accident.
In January 2016, a deadly brawl broke out between two motorcycle clubs in Denver, the Iron Order and the Mongols Motorcycle Club. During the melee, one man was shot and killed, while seven others were injured by gunshot wounds or knife wounds.
But while these biker gang stories make the front page of our papers, the stereotype of the grizzled and troubled biker is just that: a stereotype. In reality, there are 157,000 registered motorcycles in Colorado (as of 2007) and the vast majority of these riders are regular, law-abiding citizens who simply love to ride bikes. Most were males over the age of 44 who had well-paying jobs and who just like riding as a hobby. While some are involving in motorcycle clubs, most clubs engage in safe, peaceful, and community-minded activities.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), 2015 was the deadliest year for Colorado motorcyclists on record: 106 riders died on highways, interstates, and roads across the state. Denver County, along with Jefferson County and El Paso County, made up 40 percent of the fatalities.
Here are some other recent motorcycle accident statistics from Colorado:
State authorities are unsure of why this steep increase in fatal motorcycle accidents is taking place. To combat the rise in crashes, they are promoting helmet safety as well as encouraging both seasoned and new bikers to take a motorcycle riding training course.
After a motorcycle accident and injury, it is vital to find out who or what caused the accident–keeping in mind that more than one party could be responsible for the collision.
Keep in mind that Colorado is a comparative fault state. That means that even if you were partially at fault for the motorcycle accident, you can still collect a percentage of the compensation, based proportionally on how responsible you were for the crash and how responsible other parties were for the crash.
It’s a big misconception that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents are the fault of reckless motorcyclists who don’t ride by the rules. In fact, motorcycle riders are only at fault in about 50 percent of motorcycle-car collisions. What are the most common causes of motorcycle wrecks?
In order to minimize your chances of a motorcycle accident or motorcycle accident injury, as well as to avoid traffic violations, it is important to follow all Colorado laws regarding motorcycle riding. While motorcycle riders are generally asked to follow the same rules of the road as other vehicles, there are a few specific laws that pertain only to them:
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, or if your loved one has been killed in a motorcycle accident, it is imperative to know why the crash occurred and who is responsible for its consequences. It’s also important to understand that the at-fault parties may not be who it may seem.
Motorcycle accident and injury cases are different than other traffic accident cases: motorcycle collisions have different common causes, different common injuries, and different liable parties. It is important that your attorney is intimate with these differences.
At Zaner Harden Law, our team of attorneys has specific experience with motorcycle accident and injury cases as well as motorcycle wrongful death cases. To schedule a private, free consultation with one of our attorneys today, please contact our office.
Back in the spring I got into a pretty serious wreck on my motorcycle. A Kia took a left turn right in front of me and I didn’t have a chance. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks (1 week in ICU) for 8 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and cracked sternum. After initial recovery (I’m sooooo lucky) I am now faced with shoulder surgery and possible knee surgery. While in ICU, my parents got in touch with Kurt Zaner based on his history with helping motorcycle riders. That night he personally came to my ICU room and met with me and my family. And he and his staff have not left my side since. I know Zaner Harden Law takes care of many different cases. But, if you ride motorcycles and, God forbid, something has happened to you, Kurt Zaner and his team truly understand the ins and outs of motorcycles injury cases. Thank you, Kurt, Monica, and all the folks at Zaner Harden Law that worked hard on my case. It has been great getting to know you and I can’t express how much my family and I appreciate all that you’ve done for us.