A bicycle accident in Denver can leave a rider with serious injuries, because a cyclist has almost no protection against a moving vehicle. With heavy traffic along I-25, I-70, Colorado Boulevard, and Speer Boulevard and many cyclists sharing the road, crashes happen far too often. A Denver bicycle accident lawyer fights for injured riders and makes sure drivers are held accountable.
Colorado law gives cyclists the right to use the road, yet drivers often fail to respect that right. When a careless motorist causes a crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and the pain you have endured.
Why Do You Need a Denver Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
A Denver bicycle accident lawyer understands the rights cyclists have under Colorado law and how to prove a driver was at fault. Insurers sometimes argue the cyclist was not visible or was riding unsafely, hoping to shift blame. Your lawyer gathers witness accounts, traffic camera footage, and the police report to show what really happened and to pursue the full compensation you deserve.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Denver?
Bicycle Accidents in Denver happen for many reasons, but most trace back to driver negligence or unsafe conditions. The most common causes our Denver bicycle accident lawyers see include:
- Drivers opening car doors into the bike lane, known as dooring
- Motorists making right turns across a cyclist’s path
- Failure to yield at intersections and crosswalks
- Unsafe passing that violates Colorado’s three-foot rule
- Distracted drivers who never see the cyclist
- Speeding in residential and campus areas
Colorado recorded 13 bicycle fatalities through October 2024, and many more riders suffered serious injuries in collisions with motor vehicles (CDOT, 2024).
What Should You Do After A Bicycle Accident in Denver?
The steps you take after a bicycle accident in Denver can protect both your health and your claim. Follow this checklist as closely as your condition allows:
- Call 911 and get medical attention right away, even if your injuries feel minor at first.
- Report the bicycle accident to law enforcement and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report.
- Take photos of the scene, the damage, your injuries, road conditions, and any traffic signs or signals.
- Collect names, phone numbers, and insurance details from everyone involved and from any witnesses.
- Do not admit fault or apologize at the scene, since those words can be used against you later.
- Notify your insurance company, but avoid giving a recorded statement until you have spoken with a lawyer.
- Contact a Denver lawyer before you accept any settlement offer or sign paperwork from an insurer.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Compensation in a Colorado bicycle accident claim, known as damages, is meant to cover both your financial losses and the harm that is harder to put a price on. The table below shows the types of compensation an injured person may pursue.
Types of Compensation in a Colorado Bicycle Accident Claim
| Type of Damage | What It Covers |
| Medical expenses | Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment |
| Lost wages | Income lost during recovery plus reduced future earning capacity |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life |
| Property damage | Repair or replacement of your bicycle and personal belongings |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Prescriptions, medical devices, and travel to medical appointments |
How Does Colorado’s Fault Rule Affect Your Claim?
Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) lets you recover compensation as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for what happened. Your award is then reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total 100,000 dollars and you are found 20 percent at fault, you would receive 80,000 dollars. Because even a small shift in fault can cost you thousands, insurers often try to assign you more blame than you deserve. A Denver bicycle accident lawyer works to keep that percentage as low as the facts allow.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Denver?
Colorado gives you three years from the date of a motor vehicle crash to file a bicycle accident lawsuit, under C.R.S. 13-80-101. That is longer than the two-year deadline for most other injury claims, but you should not wait. Witnesses move, memories fade, and physical evidence disappears. If your claim is against a government entity, you may have as little as 182 days to file a formal notice.
Do not wait to get legal help. Missing Colorado’s filing deadline almost always means losing your right to recover anything, no matter how strong your case is.
What Are Your Rights as a Cyclist in Colorado?
Colorado law treats a bicycle as a vehicle with a legal right to the road. Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing, and Colorado’s Safety Stop law lets riders treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs under certain conditions. These laws matter in a claim because a driver who ignored them is far more likely to be found at fault. A Denver bicycle accident lawyer uses these rules to strengthen your case.
How Much Does a Denver Bicycle Accident Lawyer Cost?
Most Denver bicycle accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront and no hourly bills arrive while your case is ongoing. The attorney fee is a percentage of the compensation recovered, and you owe it only if your case is successful. We also offer a free consultation, so you can learn where you stand at no cost and with no obligation.
Contact a Denver Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Denver, do not face the insurance companies alone. Our team is ready to review your case, answer your questions, and fight for the compensation you deserve. We serve clients throughout downtown Denver and the surrounding metro area and offer consultations in both English and Spanish. Call today for a free, no-obligation case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my bicycle accident case take?
Bicycle claims in Denver vary with the severity of your injuries. Minor cases may settle in months, while serious injuries that need long-term care take longer because we account for future medical costs.
What if the driver says I was not visible?
Drivers often claim they did not see the cyclist, but Colorado law still requires them to share the road safely. We use witness statements, video, and the crash report to counter that claim.
Does Colorado law protect cyclists?
Yes. Cyclists have the right to use the road, drivers must pass with at least three feet of space, and the Safety Stop law gives riders specific protections. A driver who breaks these rules can be held liable.
How much is my bicycle accident case worth?
It depends on your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and how the crash affects your life. Collisions between bikes and cars often cause severe injuries, which can raise the value of a claim.