Additional Information on Motorcycle Accidents and Insurance

Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Denver

Motorcycle accidents in Denver can be attributed to various factors including speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving and driving under the influence. Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents seen in Denver are left turn collisions, rear-end collisions and lane splitting accidents.

Understanding these types of accidents and their causes is critical to determining liability and successfully pursuing compensation for your injuries.

Left Turn Collisions

Left turn collisions occur when a vehicle turning left is hit by an oncoming vehicle. These accidents are often the result of underestimating the speed of oncoming traffic, incorrectly assessing the distance across the intersection, or failing to yield the right of way. Generally, the driver or rider making the turn will be held liable for the accident as they have the duty to yield.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions involving motorcyclists are often the result of driver negligence, inattentive driving, tailgating, distracted driving, speeding, hazardous conditions on the road or vehicle defects such as faulty brakes or transmission issues. For a motorcyclist, being rear-ended by a car, even at a low rate of speed, can result in significant property damage and devastating injuries.

Lane Splitting Accidents

Lane splitting accidents occur when motorcyclists ride between two lanes of moving traffic. While lane splitting is illegal in many states, including Colorado, many motorcyclists still elect to split the lanes to escape traffic and congestion on the roadways. The most frequent causes of lane splitting accidents are unsafe lane changes, driving at excessive speeds, driving while intoxicated, inattentiveness and hazardous road conditions.

Each of these common types of traffic accidents can lead to serious injuries for motorcyclists who lack the protection offered by cars. While some may be avoided by keeping a safe distance from other vehicles on the road, observing speed limits and remaining vigilant, there is no way to fully protect yourself against other drivers’ carelessness or negligence.

Understanding Motorcycle Insurance in Denver

Navigating the world of motorcycle insurance in Denver can be confusing and overwhelming, but to protect your rights, it is essential to have an understanding of your coverage options and requirements.

Minimum Coverage Requirements

In Denver, the minimum coverage requirements for motorcycle insurance are bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and property damage coverage of $15,000 per accident. These amounts are designed to provide a basic level of financial protection in the event of an accident. However, considering the potential severity of injuries in a motorcycle accident, obtaining coverage beyond these minimum limits is critical to ensure that you are adequately protected.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is an optional form of insurance coverage that provides additional protection should you be in an accident with an uninsured motorist or a motorist carrying only the minimum required coverage limits. Uninsured/underinsured coverage can help pay for medical bills, lost wages and other damages from the accident that are not covered by the other driver’s auto insurance. While not mandatory in Colorado, it is highly recommended that riders obtain uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect themselves from the financial consequences of an accident with an at fault driver who lacks adequate insurance coverage.

Additional Insurance Options

Motorcycle riders in Denver may also consider additional insurance coverage options such as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage and medical payments coverage. Collision coverage provides coverage for damages to your motorcycle caused by an accident, while comprehensive coverage provides coverage for damages due to theft, vandalism, and other non-accident related incidents. Medical payments coverage covers medical bills and other expenses arising out of your injuries in an accident.

By exploring and obtaining these additional insurance coverages, you can ensure that you have the best protection in place to safeguard your financial well-being in the event that you are involved in a motorcycle accident.

Navigating the Claims Process After a Motorcycle Accident

After a motorcycle accident, it is critical to take the right steps to ensure your safety and protect your rights. You need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side from the start to be sure that you take all of the necessary steps from reporting the accident, to gathering evidence from the scene, to effectively navigating the claims process, to negotiating with the insurance companies and to filing your case in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Reporting the Accident

Immediately after the accident, it is essential to try to move to a safe place out of the traffic lanes and to call the police and emergency services to report the accident and request help. You will need to provide accurate information about the incident and the circumstances surrounding the accident including the location, time and any injuries you believe you may have sustained. Prompt reporting is critical in ensuring accurate and detailed documentation of the incident which your motorcycle accident lawyer will then use to support your claim.

Even if you were not at fault, you will also want to promptly inform your insurance company of the accident so that they too can open a claim.

Gathering Evidence

Collecting evidence following a motorcycle accident is also critical to supporting your claim and establishing liability. Relevant evidence may include witness statements, police reports, photographs of the scene, medical records, and any other available documentation of your medical expenses or lost wages. Properly gathering and preserving this evidence can significantly impact the strength of your claim and help you get the most available compensation for your injuries.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Negotiating with insurance companies can be challenging and confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the many tactics and strategies that they employ to minimize the amounts they have to pay. At Fisher & Associates, before beginning any negotiations, our motorcycle accident team will work with you to estimate what your claim might be worth. We will help you to gather and preserve the medical records, police reports, witness statements and other information necessary to support a fair settlement. We will tell your story, present all of the evidence that supports your claim, and fight with the insurance companies to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Common Injuries Sustained in Denver Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can result in a wide range of injuries including severe head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, paralysis, loss of limbs, bone fractures, road rash/skin injuries, and other forms of disfigurement, many of which can be severe and life altering. Having a lawyer who understands these injuries and their potential consequences is critical to pursuing a claim for fair compensation.

Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, are the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents. Even less severe motorcycle accidents can result in concussions, hemorrhaging, brain swelling, seizures, paralysis and comas. Any head injury can also result in devastating long-term effects including physical, cognitive and psychological impairments. Accident statistics show that helmets can significantly increase the likelihood of surviving a motorcycle accident and can also lessen the chances that a rider who survives a collision will sustain a devastating head injury with permanent or long term effects. Although many states including Colorado do not have helmet laws, riders who truly wishes to protect themselves from devastating head injuries would be wise to wear helmets whenever they ride.

Victims of motorcycle accidents, particularly high-speed collisions, also frequently suffer from neck injuries and spinal cord injuries. Even minor neck injuries can result in limited range of motion due to damage to the bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves and muscles of the neck. Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is compressed or otherwise compromised leading to a loss of sensation and/or mobility and even paralysis. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries may include pain, numbness, tingling, paralysis and loss of sensation. Depending on the degree of damage, treatment for spinal cord injuries may include medication, physical therapy, surgery or other interventions to assist victims with pain management and to promote mobility.

Bone fractures and abrasions or friction burns (road rash/skin injuries) often result from a rider’s impact with the road when they are either thrown from their motorcycle or dragged as a result of an accident. If skin injury is severe, skin grafts or other surgery may be required. If the rider suffers irreparable damage to their arms or legs, their injuries may result in the loss of a limb. Burns, severe lacerations and facial injuries can result in scarring and other permanent disfigurement.