Fort Collins Bicycle Accident Lawyers

How Our Fort Collins Bicycle Accident Attorneys Can Help

Recovering compensation after a bicycle accident can involve complicated legal and insurance issues. 

Determining fault, documenting injuries, and negotiating with insurance companies are often challenging tasks for injured victims who are already focused on recovery. Hand your case to us, and we can take care of everything, leaving you free to rest and take care of other parts of your life.

Our legal team is able to help bicycle accident victims by:

• Conducting detailed investigations into how the crash occurred
• Reviewing accident reports, witness statements, and available video evidence
• Consulting with medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts when necessary
• Identifying all liable parties, including drivers and potentially other responsible entities
• Attempting to negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement
• Preparing cases for litigation if a fair settlement cannot be reached

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Many bicycle crashes occur because drivers fail to properly watch for cyclists or respect their right to share the road. Even careful cyclists can be seriously injured when motorists act negligently.

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Distracted driving, including texting or phone use
• Drivers failing to yield to cyclists at intersections
• Unsafe passing or failing to provide adequate space
• Sudden turns in front of bicyclists
• Drivers opening vehicle doors into a cyclist’s path (“dooring”)
• Rear-end collisions involving bicycles
• Impaired or intoxicated driving

How did your bicycle accident in Fort Collins happen? Was it one of the reasons listed above? No matter your answer, you can rest easy knowing that our team can take care of your case and investigate what went wrong and who should be liable for your losses.

Serious Injuries Often Result From Bicycle Collisions

Common injuries suffered by bicyclists include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Amputations or permanent disability
• Broken or crushed bones
• Skull fractures and head trauma
• Internal injuries
• Road rash and severe lacerations

These injuries may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long recovery periods. Some victims may never fully regain their previous physical abilities or return to their prior occupations.

We know that our work as bicycle accident attorneys is too important to take lightly because we often represent people who have suffered such life-changing injuries. Our goal is to secure the most compensation possible, so our client can live as comfortably as possible after a terrible bicycle accident changed their life unexpectedly.

The Duty Drivers Owe to Cyclists

Under Colorado law, drivers must operate their vehicles with reasonable care and remain aware of others using the roadway, including bicyclists.

This duty includes:

• Obeying traffic laws and speed limits
• Yielding when cyclists have the right of way
• Maintaining safe passing distances
• Watching for cyclists before turning or opening doors
• Avoiding distracted or impaired driving

When a driver violates this duty and causes a crash, they may be held legally responsible for the injuries that result. Proving negligence in a bicycle accident case often involves gathering evidence such as accident reports, witness testimony, expert analysis, and medical documentation. Our experienced team can help assemble the evidence needed to support your claim and present it in a convincing manner to the opposition, either during settlement talks or courtroom proceedings.

Compensation Available After a Bicycle Accident

Injured cyclists may be able to demand compensation for both economic and non-economic losses resulting from an accident that someone else caused. Determining the full value of a claim often requires careful evaluation of both current and future losses. Let us use our resources and insight to dig into the details of your losses, so we can pursue the right amount of compensation. Whether your case is worth thousands of dollars or millions of dollars, we’ll be ready.

The damages in a bicycle accident claim can be sorted into two main categories:

• Economic damages: Economic damages compensate victims for financial losses, which may include medical bills and rehabilitation expenses, future medical treatment costs, lost wages and lost earning capacity, and property damage to the bicycle or other equipment.
• Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages address the personal impact of injuries, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Colorado law may put limits on certain non-economic damages, although courts may allow higher awards in specific circumstances.

Comparative Negligence in Colorado Bicycle Accident Cases

Colorado follows a legal rule known as modified comparative negligence when determining liability in bicycle accidents. Under this rule, an injured cyclist may recover damages as long as they are less than 50% responsible for the accident. If the cyclist shares some fault, their compensation may be reduced by their percentage of responsibility.

Insurance companies sometimes attempt to shift blame onto cyclists to reduce the amount they must pay. The ultimate goal of an insurance company is to make your liability at least 50%, so you can be barred from making any recovery. We’ll be ready to challenge any of their arguments, though, just as we have for countless bicycle accident clients in the past.

Colorado Deadlines for Bicycle Accident Claims

In most bicycle accident cases in Colorado, a claim must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. 

However, shorter deadlines may apply if a government entity is involved, such as an accident involving a city vehicle or a hazardous roadway condition. Because important evidence can disappear over time, contacting an attorney from Tenge Law Firm LLC soon after a bicycle accident should be a priority.

FAQs About Bicycle Accident Claims

When should I contact a lawyer after a bicycle accident?

You should speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a bicycle accident. Even if you think you might have partially caused the crash, you should at least talk to our team about what happened.

What if the driver who hit me left the scene?

If a driver hit you while you were riding your bicycle but then fled the scene, you might still be able to file a claim if you have uninsured motorist insurance coverage. Such cases are highly complicated, so we recommend that you speak with our team to learn more about your options.

How is fault proven in a bicycle accident case?

Fault may be established through evidence such as police reports, witness statements, accident reconstruction analysis, traffic camera footage, and medical records.

Don’t Wait – Call Our Law Office 24/7 for a Free Consultation

Tenge Law Firm LLC proudly represents local cyclists who have been injured due to negligent drivers and other parties. Our legal team is prepared to investigate the crash, gather the necessary evidence, and pursue compensation for the full extent of your losses. With an office right here in Fort Collins, it is convenient to work with us, so reach out at any time.

Dial (970) 510-8077 and ask for your free, initial case review with our bicycle accident lawyers in Fort Collins, CO.