Boulder Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Colorado has a lot to offer bicyclists, whether they want to ride the trails in the mountains or use their bikes for commuting. As cycling has become more popular around the state, more people are getting injured in bicycle accidents. In a college town such as Boulder, where many young people ride bicycles and share the roads with motorists, bike accidents are common.

The Wilhite Law Firm can help if you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver. Our experienced Boulder bicycle accident lawyers have more than 40 years of personal injury claim experience, seeking justice for injured people. The Wilhite Law Firm has recovered millions in settlements and jury verdicts and established a legacy of justice.

With our help, you’ll have a much better chance of getting the money you need to cover your medical bills, lost income, damaged personal property, and other losses from a serious bike accident. If you’re a victim of a cyclist accident, our legal team can help you seek fair compensation and hold the at-fault party accountable. For a free initial consultation with one of our trusted personal injury attorneys, contact our office.

What Are Common Injuries Experienced in Bicycle Accidents?

Helmets and other protective equipment can help protect cyclists involved in a crash. But bicycle riders are still more vulnerable to suffering major injuries than people in cars and trucks. A typical passenger car weighs several thousand, while pickup trucks and SUVs weigh even more. Even at low speeds, a car or truck can cause serious injury to a cyclist in a collision.

This risk of serious injury or death only increases if a bicyclist is struck by a semi-truck or another commercial motor vehicle. Contact our Boulder bicycle accident attorney today.

Because of how vulnerable bicyclists are compared to drivers and passengers in cars, they frequently suffer major injuries, such as:

Major injuries in bicycle accidents frequently lead to expensive medical expenses for crash victims. Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may need rehabilitation or ongoing care for many years. Lengthy recoveries can limit your ability to work and reduce your income, which can cause financial strain. You should not face financial hardship because someone else wasn’t paying attention and hit your bike. With the help of an experienced attorney, you may demand compensation from the at-fault driver for the losses you’ve incurred.

What Are the Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

There are many causes of Boulder bicycle accidents, including:

What Compensation Is Available in Bicycle Accidents?

Bicycle accident victims frequently find themselves dealing with significant medical bills after an accident. Paying the bills can be a challenge if the injured individual is unable to work. The situation may become even more stressful if the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies the claim. A Boulder bicycle accident attorney can help you build a strong claim, negotiate with insurers, and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.

Colorado law gives bicyclists the chance to seek compensation for their injuries if they can prove the driver who hit them was negligent. Drivers have a responsibility to share the roads with bicyclists and take reasonable precautions to avoid hitting cyclists. Motorists can be held liable if their carelessness or recklessness results in injuries to a cyclist.

As part of a bike accident claim, an injured cyclist may pursue compensation for:

• Medical expenses such as ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, hospital stays, follow-up doctors’ visits, and physical therapy
• Future medical care
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Is a Cyclist Ever at Fault in Bike Accidents?

Bicycles have a right to use the roads and the responsibility to obey traffic laws and traffic signals when riding. Bicyclists may be at fault for an accident if the cyclist disregards traffic rules. Some important Colorado laws for bicyclists include:

• Cyclists should always ride in the right lane unless they’re passing another cyclist, preparing to make a left turn, or need to avoid a hazard in the road.
• Cyclists should generally ride single-file, though riding two abreast in a single lane is permitted in bike-only lanes or when riding two abreast will not impede the normal flow of traffic.
• Cyclists must always keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
• Cyclists should use proper hand signals when turning.
• Cyclists should not ride while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• Cyclists riding in a crosswalk or on a sidewalk must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing pedestrians.

If a cyclist breaks any Colorado traffic laws, the rider could potentially be found fully or partially liable for a crash. This can hurt their chances of recovering maximum compensation.

When it comes to determining fault in a bicycle accident case, insurance companies and the courts rely on the concept of comparative negligence to apportion fault. They decide if one or more of those involved in the accident have responsibility for the accident. Talk to a Boulder bike accident attorney at The Wilhite Firm today.

If it’s determined that a cyclist is partially at fault for a crash, the cyclist may still be able to recover compensation for his or her injuries. However, if the injured cyclist is found partly liable for a crash, the cyclist’s compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault. If you bear 50 percent or more of the responsibility for an accident, you won’t be able to recover compensation for your losses.

Contact Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Boulder Today!

Being injured in a bicycle accident is a traumatic event. If someone else caused the accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for your medical expenses and accident-related losses. A Boulder bicycle accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process and help you seek the financial recovery you deserve. For more information about how The Wilhite Law Firm can help you after a bicycle accident, contact our office today.