At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we understand that motorcyclists are vulnerable to being hit by other vehicles when riding on Colorado’s roads. Even with a helmet, because motorcyclists are not protected by the same size and structure found in cars and trucks, a motorcycle crash can have a devastating impact to the rider. If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash we encourage to you call an experienced Boulder motorcycle accident lawyer who can help you protect your rights and get you full compensation for your injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one.
It goes without saying that rider safety is the most important concern for motorcyclists and their passengers. As experienced Boulder motorcycle accident attorneys, we are all too aware that according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Colorado motorcycle traffic deaths hit an all-time high of 125 in 2016, up from 105 in 2015. A common factor in motorcycle accidents is that motorcycles are difficult for drivers to see, because drivers are often distracted or not paying enough attention to the road. For this reason, as experienced Boulder motorcycle accident lawyers we understand that involving an expert in accident reconstruction and/or human factors may be necessary when a driver has blamed a motorcyclist for causing a collision. While accident reconstruction deals with the re-creation of the scene prior to the crash, human factors is a more nuanced area. Human factors is the study of how a person responds physically and psychologically to things happening in the environment. For example, given speed and visibility, how much time would a driver have to react to the actions of a motorcycle? Was it enough time so that the driver should have been able to take evasive action to avoid the collision? As experienced Boulder motorcycle accident attorneys, we have worked with established human factors experts who can provide answers to these types of questions and help prove a case.
Because distracted driving and inattentive drivers are commonplace, numerous law enforcement agencies have taken action to address this problem. For instance, an experienced Boulder motorcycle accident attorney can confront distracted or inattentive drivers and their insurance carriers with materials produced by CDOT in their “Drop the Distraction” campaign. On the other hand, as experienced Boulder motorcycle accident lawyers we strongly believe that riders should equip themselves with as much training as possible to ride safely on Colorado’s roads. A great place for new riders to start and for experienced motorcycle riders to stay updated is CDOT’s Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) class. If you have not taken the MOST class already, here is a YouTube video to give you a flavor of what to expect if you decide to take the class.
If it sounds like we are devoting a big part of our discussion about motorcycle crashes on the issue of liability, it is because motorcycle riders are often blamed for causing their crashes. According to CDOT, motorcycle riders are found at fault in 70% of motorcycle crashes. An experienced Boulder motorcycle accident attorney knows that just because you may have been issued a citation does not necessarily mean you are at fault for the crash. We do whatever is necessary to fight the issue of liability to protect our injured motorcyclist clients. Additionally, in Colorado, experienced Boulder motorcycle crash lawyers understand that as long as a motorcyclist is not more than 50% at fault for the crash, they can still recover for their damages including lost wages, past and future medical bills, physical impairment and pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, we encourage you to reach out to an experienced Boulder motorcycle accident attorney to protect your rights. Please call us today at 303-543-1000.