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The Bike Denver Initiative, which aims to make Denver a leader in bicycle-friendly policy, sought to provide protected bike lanes for Denver’s many cyclists. The Active Bike Corridor aims to increase cycling in and around Denver. Yet, some people who ride bicycles are still injured or killed in Denver. Cyclists need an experienced accident attorney to help them understand their rights after a Denver cycling accident.
Denver’s cyclists expect to enjoy a day of cycling, whether going to work, taking a day trip on their bicycle, or going for a leisurely afternoon ride around Denver. Negligent motorists are often the cause of cycling accidents in Colorado, and in Denver, which can result in serious injuries or fatalities to innocent cyclists.
The skilled injury lawyers at the Morgan Law Group have more than 25 years of experience helping clients to understand their rights after they are involved in a Denver cycling accident. Contacting a caring, experienced bicycle injury and accident lawyer can help you learn whether you have a claim and to pursue compensation for your losses.
Cycling Accident Statistics
You are not alone if you were injured or if your loved one died in a cycling accident. The number of cycling accidents that occur with injuries and deaths is likely to be shocking to many people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nearly 1,000 cyclists die every year in the U.S. Another 130,000 cyclists are injured in bicycle accidents every year.
The state of Colorado ranked the 6th highest state for bicyclist deaths over time, between 2012 and 2021. The information, listed by the League of American Bicyclists, also shows that there was a 38 percent increase in the number of cyclist fatalities from 2012 to 2021. Bicyclist fatalities during this period accounted for 12 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in the state of Colorado.
An Axios reporter revealed that the number of cycling deaths in Denver declined slightly between 2017 and 2021. The city still ranks number 30 on the list of cyclist fatalities in major cities. The number of cycling fatalities in Denver is also still above the national average.
Denver’s bicyclists need an experienced, honest law firm on their side that has injury attorneys who will provide personalized attention to every client’s legal needs. If you were injured in a cycling accident, or if you are an eligible family member of a loved one who died in a cycling accident, the Morgan Law Group accident attorneys are here for you.
Understanding Your Rights as a Denver Cyclist
The state of Colorado envisions having a state that is safe for all cyclists. The vision includes having cyclists experience the positive benefits of cycling and the value of cycling. It is important for all cyclists in Colorado, and in the city of Denver, to understand their rights. Cyclists need to know that there are laws that protect them when someone else causes a cycling accident.
Bicyclists have the right to ride their bicycles on the road. Colorado’s cycling laws provide that every cyclist has the same rights and duties that apply to the driver of any other motor vehicle. Although most Denver cyclists follow the laws outlined in 42-4-1412, Operation of Bicycles and other Human-Powered Vehicles, negligent motorists often cause Denver cycling accidents that result in injury and death of bicyclists.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that one leading cause of cycling accidents involves the use of alcohol. Motorists who are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs pose a substantial safety risk to Denver’s cyclists. Speeding, failure to yield the right of way, driving too close to bicycle lanes, and distracted driving are some other leading causes of cycling accidents.
Cyclists may not fully understand their rights and may think that they do not have a claim against a negligent party or parties who caused a cycling accident in Denver. Contacting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident provides cyclists with the legal information that they need to start the process of filing a claim. The Morgan Law Group has extensive knowledge and understanding of Colorado’s cycling laws and the rights of Denver’s cyclists.
What Steps Should I Take After a Denver Cycling Accident?
Cyclists are likely to experience initial shock in the immediate aftermath of a cycling accident. They may want to just go home and rest after someone else causes their cycling accident.
Cyclists must stay at the scene. Do not move the bicycle, unless it is obstructing traffic, or if a law enforcement officer tells you to move it. Leaving the bicycle where it was at the time of the accident helps to preserve evidence.
Contact the police or have someone do it for you. Explain what happened in detail. Stick to providing the facts, not providing opinions.
Take photos of the scene before going to the hospital if you can or have someone take the photos for you. Let Denver’s law enforcement officers know that you have the photos of the accident scene.
Calling a personal injury lawyer or using the contact form on the website is a crucial step for a cyclist who is injured and for the eligible family member of a cyclist who died in a cycling accident in Denver. The Morgan Law Group has a team of accident attorneys who provide aggressive representation to their clients who have a Denver cycling accident claim.
How Can a Denver Cycling Accident Attorney Help Me?
Cyclists who are involved in an accident that was caused by someone else need to have an experienced, honest law firm with a proven track record of success representing them. The other party may try to claim that the cyclist caused the accident. The other party’s insurance company may try to blame the cyclist or may initially refuse to compensate the cyclist for their injuries or other losses.
Cyclists in Denver do not have the legal expertise that experienced injury lawyers have at the Morgan Law Group. Contact the Morgan Law Group today to schedule a free consultation. Learn about your rights and the remedies that may be available to you when you file a claim seeking compensation for your losses after having a cycling accident in Denver.
