If you are riding a motorcycle through Colorado’s mountain passes and open highways, you feel true freedom. But in an instant, a careless driver or a little negligence can end your ride in a bad disaster.
When that happens, you absolutely need to hire a Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer because this is the only way for you to get justice.
However, most riders never hear these secrets that some lawyers and insurance companies like to keep hidden. These secrets could help save you from bankruptcy or medical debt.
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Secrets That Only The Top Colorado Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Know
Here are 10 powerful truths that only the top Colorado motorcycle accident lawyers know and now you will too.
Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Judged Differently Than Car Accidents
Most riders think an accident is just an accident. But in reality a motorcycle accident is far more dangerous than an ordinary crash. This is because the rider does not have any protection as they have when they are driving a car.
They are more likely to get seriously injured and in some cases their motorcycle can also be completely destroyed.
This is why insurance companies treat motorcycle claims with extreme suspicion. And they often assume rider recklessness even without proof. Most importantly the adjusters are trained to look for ANY reason to deny or reduce your claim.
They know that the injuries in this will be far more severe than in the other accidents as people have some sort of protection there. But here, they don’t have any sort of airbag that will deploy or any other thing that will protect them from the crash.
Unlike cars, motorcycles have:
Shorter stopping distances
Different impact dynamics
Different type of injuries like from ejection and sliding
A Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer knows how to defend your side and also prove that you were not at fault simply for riding.
Your Bike Gear Could Be Grounds for Additional Claims
You already know that good gear can save lives. But did you know that defective helmets or boots etc can lead to third party product liability claims?
For example:
A helmet that cracks at a normal impact force
Riding boots that fail to protect ankles even though they have DOT ratings
Gloves that expose your palms to road rash and tear open easily
Most personal injury lawyers don’t check your gear for defects. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can also consult with gear experts to see if the manufacturers failed you and then you can even sue them for compensation along with your original claim.
Weather Conditions Will Not Automatically Void Your Claim
Colorado weather is unpredictable. Insurance companies sometimes say:
“Snow or rain caused this accident. We are not paying.”
But in some cases:
The driver who was at fault still drove too fast for conditions
The cities did not manage to clear the ice on the road.
There were flaws in the road design that worsened the crash impact
An experienced Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer can prove that poor weather was not the true cause and in this way he can make sure that you will still get a fair compensation.
Eyewitnesses Are Often Wrong About Motorcycle Accidents
Studies have shown that car drivers misjudge motorcycle speed and distance by up to 50 percent. In crash reports, the witnesses might say “The motorcycle came out of nowhere”.
And sometimes this makes the police to record that the rider was speeding based on the impressions of the people.
Your lawyer knows how to:
– Hire accident reconstruction experts
– Analyze impact points and most importantly the surveillance footage
– Prove actual speed of the vehicle when the crash happened
This is critical in Colorado, where even a little fault can reduce your settlement.
Pain and Suffering is Often Your Largest Damage If Calculated Properly
Most riders focus on hospital bills and the bike repairs. But what about:
– The crushing anxiety you feel while riding after the crash
– Nightmares of the impact and the pain caused by it
– The depression caused from the incident
A Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer uses psychological assessments to prove:
– Emotional trauma
– PTSD
– Loss of life enjoyment (including inability to ride confidently again)
These often make up for 50 percent or more of the total settlement value but only when they are argued properly with evidence.
Colorado Has Strict Filing Deadlines You Might Miss
The statute of limitations in Colorado for motorcycle accident injury claims is normally about three years.
However the claims against the city or the state agencies for poor road conditions have to be filled within 180 days under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.
And if a person fails to file this on time then this could completely void their right to compensation.
Your motorcycle accident attorney will make sure that all the filings are done within these deadlines and your rights are protected.
Many Lawyers Won’t Go to Trial and The Insurance Companies Know It
Some lawyers advertise heavily but then settle nearly every case for quick fees. Insurance companies keep databases of these “settlements” and offer their clients lower payouts because they know that many people will not risk court.
A good motorcycle accident lawyer will builds your case in such a way as if they were going to trial from day one. He can use this as a leverage to negotiate for higher settlements and he is always ready to argue in court if the insurers remain unfair
This approach often results in two to five times higher settlements as compared to the attorneys who settle without any negotiation.
Future Costs Are the Most Overlooked Part of Your Claim
When you get immediate medical bills, then they will obviously feel overwhelming after the crash, but the future expenses are often quite larger, as they include:
– Physical therapy
– Additional surgeries years later
– Lost income
– Home or vehicle modifications if the injuries were disabling
– Mental health counseling
A rider in Colorado who settled for $50,000 without a lawyer might face over $100,000 in future therapy and surgery costs and this would be all out of his pocket.
Another guy with a top Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer, secured $320,000 to cover everything.
This is just an example to summarize this point that a person should always hire a lawyer and calculate the full extent of the medical cost and other bills that will come due to the accident.
Social Media Posts Can Destroy Your Claim
If you post photos of yourself smiling at a BBQ weeks after your crash, then this might seem harmless. But insurers will sometimes monitor your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They might argue that you are not really injured.
Your lawyer will always advise:
– Never post about your accident
– Avoid photos or activities that suggest full recovery
– Let them handle all communications about your condition
They Don’t Just Fight for Money
A great motorcycle accident lawyer does not only help you to get fair compensation but they also help you:
– Access top medical specialists
– Find mental health professionals to address trauma
– Negotiate medical liens to keep more of your settlement
– Rebuild confidence to ride again if you choose
Because motorcycle crashes don’t just break bones, they can literally destroy your freedom and safety.
Final Thoughts
Motorcycle crashes are not just normal accidents. They are life changing and when your know these 10 secrets then this can play a good role in protecting your rights and receive full compensation.
Important Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not include any legal advice. Please consult a qualified Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer before doing anything.
Again, NONE of this is legal advice. The whole point of these articles is to make you aware that a lawyer will help you in every step of your journey. So always consult them with everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is using a helmet mandatory in Colorado?
Well, not for riders over 18, but the insurance companies can still use this to reduce payouts for head injuries.
As they can say that the rider was himself not following the law by not wearing any helmet and also put himself into danger. This can be greatly used against you.
How a motorcycle accident attorney gets paid?
Most lawyers have contingency fees. This means that you will pay nothing upfront and they only get paid if they win your case.
They will get a certain percentage of the total compensation you get. And this is worth the money because this will make the lawyer to work even harder for you.
What if I was partially at fault in the motorcycle accident?
You can still recover damages if under 50% at fault, but your payout is reduced. Your lawyer can tell you more details and this basically depends on how much of a fault your were at.