Motorcycle Accidents Lawyers in Aurora, Colorado (CO)

The unique characteristics of a motorcycle combined with their lack of safety equipment render riders especially susceptible to the negligent conduct of others who share Aurora roadways. While motorcycles offer benefits that include fuel economy, they provide virtually no protection from careless or distracted drivers. Although recent decades have seen enormous advances in traffic safety based on technological innovations, these advances have not made motorcycle riders safer. Developments in terms of extensive airbags, collision warning systems, and even autonomous driving vehicles constitute a stark contrast to motorcycle safety where a helmet remains the exclusive safety alternative to prevent significant injuries.

When traveling on the most dangerous roads throughout the State of Colorado, motorcyclists face limited options for avoiding disaster during encounters with unsafe and inattentive motorists. Motorcycles pose a greater risk of being involved in a collision because of the instability of a two-wheeled vehicle. Riding enthusiasts also tend to experience permanent, life-altering injuries. Our Aurora motorcycle accidents lawyers at Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC represent injury victims harmed by negligent motorists in Denver and other areas of Colorado.

Motorcycle Accident Safety Poses a Serious Problem

Motorcycle safety statistics provide a grim picture of the danger to riders created by dangerous drivers. If you have questions about the magnitude of the threat to riders from unsafe drivers, consider the following:

• Motorcycles claimed the lives of nearly 5,000 people during the most recent one-year period for which government data is available.

• The risk of a rider being involved in a fatal motorcycle collision is 28 times greater than for passenger vehicles occupants on a miles traveled basis.

Leading Causes of Deadly Motorcycle Collisions in Colorado

Despite the inherent risks associated with riding a motorcycle, experienced riders who are alert and cautious can mitigate the threat of devastating injuries. Unfortunately, the most skilled motorcyclist can be limited in response to a careless motorist because of the small size, instability, and braking limitations of a motorcycle. The kinds of unsafe practices by other drivers that often force riders into unavoidable collisions include:

Lack of Attention: Although distracted driving constitutes a major traffic safety problem, the danger increases exponentially for motorcycle enthusiasts. Generally, the diminutive size of a motorcycle in relation to a passenger car means that riders can be harder to see. Bikes also can maneuver into spaces between cars where other drivers might not expect to find a vehicle. These physical challenges intensify the threat of drivers eating, drinking, texting, or engaging in other forms of multitasking behind the wheel.

Excessive Speed: Whether the driver of a passenger car disregards the posted speed limit or fails to adjust his or her speed to account for weather, traffic, visibility, and road conditions, speeding violations increase braking distance and compromise response time. Speeding also accentuates the force of impact, which could lead to more serious injury.

Substance Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drugs can adversely impair reflexes, decision-making, visual sharpness, coordination, and other physical and mental driving skills. Drivers impaired by intoxicating substances pose a greater threat to motorcyclists than passenger car occupants because riders have a smaller margin for error.

Failing to Look When Changing Lanes: While changing lanes without looking endangers any other driver on the roadway, this mistake sometimes results in only a minor sideswipe impact if the other vehicle is a passenger car.

Following at an Unsafe Distance: When drivers fail to allow a sufficient following distance behind a motorcycle, the result can be a devastating rear impact collision.

Failure to Stop at a Red Light or Stop Sign: Because cars and motorcycles cross paths in intersections, failure to properly observe right of way at an intersection can provide a basis for imposing liability.

Unsafe Turn: When drivers fail to comply with the right of way rules when executing turns, intersections constitute the most dangerous area of the roadway.

Causes of Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Involving Third-Parties in Aurora, Colorado

Although negligent motorists will be the at-fault party in most motorcycle accident lawsuits, negligent third-parties also cause these potentially fatal collisions. Some of these parties include:

Government Entities: While potholes and other defective roadway surfaces might not have much impact on a passenger car, the inherent instability of a two-wheeled vehicle can make these hazards extremely unsafe for motorcycles.

Vehicle Owners: When vehicle owners entrust their car to a driver they know or should know is incompetent, the owner can be financially responsible for resulting injuries.

Vehicle Manufacturers: When defects in a motorcycle or another vehicle play a substantial factor in causing a collision, the company that designs, manufacturers or sells the faulty vehicle or part might be liabile.

Repair Facilities: When a repair facility does not perform maintenance properly, this deficiency could provide a basis of liaility if the the poor work causes an accident.

Special Challenges When Pursuing a Aurora Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit

Although certain issues arise in most lawsuits that involve motor vehicle injuries, motorcycle collisions cases raise some unique challenges. These issues range in scope from the lack of firsthand experience most jurors and judges have with the handling of a motorcycle to negative attitudes toward riders. The results of a motorcycle accident lawsuit frequently will be affected by the effectiveness of a plaintiff in handling these special issues.

Outlaw Biker Stereotypes: While motorcycle popularity has spread to an expanding number of demographic groups, prejudices and stereotypes focused on the “outlaw biker” image still endure among many potential jurors and witnesses. These negative views can unfairly distort perception of witness credibility, damages, and fault.

Unbalanced Law Enforcement Investigation Reports: While law enforcement officers might not harbor this type of anti-rider bias, traffic accident reports tend to favor the driver of a passenger vehicle involved in a motorcycle collosion. Accident investigators rely heavily on witness accounts when analyzing a traffic collision. Passenger cars often have multiple occupants who are conscious and able to provide their version of events. Since motorcycles usually have only a single rider who frequently suffers serious injuries, the officer might not have any witnesses to interview at the scene who can provide the rider’s point of view.

Handling Characteristics of Motorcycles: Many judges and jurors lack experience with the handling limitations of motorcycles. This lack of firsthand knowledge of braking, steering, and acceleration dynamics of bikes makes effective communication to a judge and jury especially important. Our attorneys work closely with knowledgeable experts who understand these issues and have experience providing understandable explanations of these limitations.

Comparative Negligence Defense: A common defense strategy employed by insurance companies seeking to deny the liability of their insured involves shifting blame to the motorcycle rider. The insurance company will contend that the collision resulted from the rider’s excessive speed, inexperience, or other unsafe conduct. Because Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC has obtained a successful outcome in prior motorcycle accident cases, we have the ability to anticipate these strategies and develop effective responses.

Distorted Perception of Speed: Many people consider motorcycle riders “daredevils,” which can distort their perception of a motorcycle collision. Studies have shown that people often overestimate the speed of a motorcycle based on such stereotypes.

The Process of Pursuing a Motorcyle Accident Claim in Colorado (CO)

While every motorcycle accident claim will be unique, the process of pursuing compensation in these types of cases includes a number of stages.

Immediate Aftermath of Accident: Prompt diagnosis and treatment from healthcare professionals can lead to an improved prognosis. Diagnostic evaluation through medical exams, imaging, and blood tests also will provide evidence of the severity of injury in a legal claim. By immediately seeking treatment, motorcycle injury victims also preempt insurance company attempts to claim that any injuries resulted from causes other than the motorcycle accident.

Retaining a Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer in Aurora, CO: The insurance company for the other driver has extensive advantages during the entire time an injury victim proceeds without legal advice or representation. The insurance company for the defendant will take full advantage of a team of experienced ltigators, crash reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and enormous financial resources. Our law firm brings a reputation of recovering millions for bodily injury victims and their families. Our lawyers bring a national reputation of proven Aurora motorcycle accident injury litigators. We also work closely with private investigators and renowned experts to maximize our clients’ recoveries.

Pre-Litigation: Our attorneys and staff at Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC investigate the facts, interview witnesses, gather medical and payroll records, and coordinate with appropriate experts. During this stage, the plaintiff’s attorney will prepare and file the complaint while conducting ongoing negotiations. Skilled and experienced lawyers also can deal with insurance company communications and counter any bad faith or sharp practices. This stage also involves navigating critical deadlines like the statute of limitations.

Discovery Process: Once the lawsuit has been filed, the defendants will file their initial pleadings. Both sides will now engage in discovery which involves using tools like interrogatories (written quesions), depositions (an interview under oath), requests for documents, and other legal tools to narrow the issues and obtain relevant information.

Trial: Discussions to subtle the legal claim continue through all of these steps. Although most cases settle before trial, experienced Aurora motorcycle accidents lawyers can craft compelling contentions, anticipate insurance company defenses, and present a persuasive case for our clients.

The Basis of Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC’s Reputation

Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC has earned a reputation among judges, peers, and former clients for providing outstanding legal services to clients and impressive financial recoveries. Our law firm has received acclaim and acknowledgement from highly regarded legal publishers and organizations, such as:

• 2017 “10 Best for Client Satisfaction” by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  
• 2018 “Lawyers of Distinction”
  
• 2016-2017 “Best Female Attorney for Client Satisfaction” by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle Accident Injuries and Financial Compensation

The severity and nature of injuries experienced in a motorcycle accident will depend on many factors like the angle of the collision, force of impact, type of vehicles, and other factors. However, research reveals that certain injuries occur with a higher frequency. According to the CDC, head and neck trauma constitute the most common injuries in fatal motorcycle accidents while injuries to the lower extremities amount to the most frequent non-fatal motorcycle injuries.

Although helmets can significantly mitigate the risk of fatal head injuries, some riders elect to disregard Colorado’s helmet law because of concerns about neck and spinal injuries. An abundance of evidence establishes the efficacy of helmets in reducing head injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that motorcycle helmets are 37percent effective in preventing fatalities and 67 percent effective in preventing traumatic brain injuries. Some riders elect not to wear a helmet based on concerns about increasing the risk of a spinal cord or neck injury, but multiple studies indicate these concerns are unwarrented.

Other common injuries experienced in motorcycle collisions include the following:

• Torn tendons and ligaments

• Joint dislocation

• Lacerations, abrasions, and road rash

• Compound fracturers, broken bones, and bone crush injuries

• Severe burns
• Amputation or loss of sensation and use of limbs

• Impairment of internal organs

• Wrongful death

Motorcycle injuries tend to be serious and debilitating, so maximizing financial compensation becomes essential to obtaining the most complete physical and emotional recovery, full reimbursement for financial losses, and the highest quality post-injury quality of life. Although the specific facts and circumstances of a motorycle accident will dictate the appropriate categories of compensation, varieties of damages (compensation awarded in lawsuits) might include:

• Costs of hospitalization, medical expenses, rehabilitation, medical devices/appliances, prescription medications, supportive care, modification to home to accommodate disabilities

• Repair/replacement of the vehicle or other property

• Lost salary/wages and compromised earning capacity

• Compensation for emotional distress and loss of companionship of a spouse, pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life experience

• Burial and/or funeral expenses

• Exemplary/punitive damages

While our motorcycles accidents lawyers in Aurora, Colorado offer a free consultation to analyze your situation and evaluate your claim, strict timing requirements apply to filing a civil lawsuit, which makes it urgent that victims of motorcycle accidents seek prompt legal advice. When our law firm represents motorcycle injury victims, we conduct a thorough investigation, consult with appropriate experts, and tenaciously protect our clients from insurance company tactics.

If you or a loved one suffered a debilitating injury in a motorcycle accident in Aurora, Colorado, Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden, LLC invites you to contact us to learn about your legal rights and discuss your legal rights to financial recovery. We represent injury victims throughout Aurora, Denver and surrounding counties. Call us at 1-720-487-1050 today.