Many people have turned to bicycles as a means to cut back on their carbon footprint, save money on gasoline, and even get in shape. However, as useful as these vehicles are for getting around, they do not offer the same amount of protection as a car or truck. Additionally, many motorists do not treat bicyclists with the respect and attention they deserve.
The fact is, cyclist-on-motorist accidents and deaths are on the rise, and they’ve been going up steadily since 2002.
You should not be endangered on the road because of your choice of vehicle. If you have been injured by a driver while riding your bike, learn more about your legal options and contact the experienced bicycle accident lawyers of Hull & Zimmerman at (303) 710-8906 today.
Although some cities and towns are taking steps to make their roads safer for bicycle traffic, the addition of bike lanes and safety laws do not change the fact that accidents between cars and bikes are often devastating to the cyclist. Consider the following accidents that cyclists may experience as a result of driver negligence:
• Clipping- even a slight clip can cause a lot of damage
• Crosswalk accidents
• Failure to slow down or speeding collisions
• Failure to follow right-of-way in Colorado, the driver must always yield to the cyclist when on the same side of the road
• Direct collisions
• Failure to use turn signals- if a cyclist is unaware of the driver’s turn, they can’t act accordingly
• Driving on the shoulder of the road
Many times, a lack of understanding or care regarding a bike’s place on the road can be to blame for accidents between motorists and cyclists. In particular, right-of-way problems can cause drivers to believe their vehicle always takes precedence over bicycles.
Additionally, many areas have laws concerning the space required between bikes and cars. Still, drivers may not be aware of them, or the laws may not be adequately enforced by authorities.
There’s no foolproof way to avoid these dangerous accidents; however, being proactive will help. Here are things you can do and look out for to avoid hitting a cyclist:
• Pay attention to your surroundings at all times
• Use your mirrors often, especially in highly populated areas of cyclists and pedestrians
• Don’t use your mobile devices
• Stop entirely at stop signs and don’t run yellow and red lights
• Respect bike lanes even when no cyclists are present (they can come up fast and go unnoticed until it’s too late)
• Don’t succumb to road rage or aggressive driving tactics
• Keep your distance from cyclists and other vehicles, so there are no surprises you can’t handle
• Don’t drive under the influence of medication, illicit drugs, or alcohol
• Don’t drive while tired or emotionally upset
• Follow driving rules and etiquette
Cyclists have the most to lose when in a collision with a motorist, so stay vigilant at all times. Here are some tips:
• Don’t drive distracted
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Use the appropriate signaling methods
• Keep your distance from other vehicles when possible
• Wear easily noticeable clothing
• Be respectful of motorists
• Don’t make assumptions (you may be in the bike lane and know you have the right-of-way, that doesn’t mean the car behind you will take notice)
Always keep your safety and the safety of others first when involved with any kind of collision. It’s important to get as much information and detail you can on-scene in case you need it later. Doing this provides a more complete and accurate relay of events.
Immediately after an accident involving a cyclist and a motor vehicle:
• Pull your vehicles out of harm’s way if possible
• Call the police and report the incident
• Take any pictures or videos of the damages if possible
• If witnesses have stopped, get their contact information for future use if necessary
• If emergency responders are sent to the scene, let them take a look at you
• Visit with the necessary medical advisors after the incident, as you can have a delayed reaction to your pain or injury
• Contact a bicycle accident attorney in Denver
You can call your insurance provider after the accident, but we recommend waiting until you’ve spoken to an attorney to complete this task. Know that the insurance agency is looking out for their own best financial interest, not yours.
No matter who’s determined to be at fault, the insurance providers will only offer a minimal amount of compensation. Let us walk through this part of the process for a better outcome.
If you’ve been involved in a bike-on-motor vehicle accident, the damage can be extensive. Colorado law allows you to fight for three types of compensation, and we’ll work hard to get the fair amount you’re due.
These damages are easily provable and provide specific financial details regarding your expenses and hardships due to the accident. They consist of:
This kind of compensation is harder to prove and usually requires a legal expert’s skill set and expertise. They include:
When a driver is accused of being intentional, excessively harmful, or of gross negligence, they may need to do more than just pay the victim. The motorist may need to be punished more severely for their behavior. This may be due to:
It’s important to note that the cyclist often also plays a role in the accident. The extent of your compensation will depend on determining how at-fault each party is.
Our Denver cyclist accident lawyers are here to guide you through the legal process. We want to help get you the compensation you deserve, which often equates to more than your tangible medical and loss of property costs.
The compassionate attorneys at our law firm will fight for you. We will:
Not only are we skilled and experienced at getting results for our bike accident victims, but our team is dedicated to a speedy determination of your rights and fair compensation. You don’t need to go through this challenging time alone.
Contact the bicycle accident lawyers at Hull & Zimmerman today to learn more.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More