Denver Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcyclists on the roads of Colorado may enjoy the unique thrill of riding through mountain passes essentially free and out in the open atop their motorcycles. Vern Ready knows exactly that feeling as a past motorcyle enthusiast. Still, there is also a significantly greater risk involved. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), while motorcycles make up just 3% of all the registered vehicles in Colorado, they represent an alarming 21% of traffic fatalities.

Being in a motorcycle accident can lead to long-term, life-altering injuries. If another person or entity caused the accident, you could file a claim to recover compensation. Connect with a Denver motorcycle accident lawyer from Ready Law for support and guidance through the process, and read on to learn more.

Motorcycle Accidents in Colorado

As detailed by CDOT, in 2025, 148 motorcyclists were killed on the roads of Colorado. A slogan offered by CDOT to promote motorcyclist safety and help reduce the prevalence of fatal accidents is appropriate: “Motorcycles are hard to see. Memorials are harder. Save a life. Look twice.”

The reality that, compared to cars, motorcyclists can be more difficult for motor vehicle drivers to see highlights the importance of all drivers on the road being safe and attentive. While motorcycle drivers who cause their own accidents will be liable for their damages, more often than not, they are caused by other drivers.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

When another driver causes a motorcycle accident that leads to your injuries, they will be liable for the damages. Identifying every factor for why the other driver caused an accident can be difficult, as you are not likely able to see inside the vehicle’s cabin in the moments before you were hit. You might need to find out whether or not the driver was sober, paying attention, on their phone, or even if they had a legal right to drive. Your Denver motorcycle accident lawyer at Ready Law can help collect the evidence you need to build your claim or case.

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are:

• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Drunk or intoxicated driving

Since motorcyclists are subject to different laws in Colorado (such as lane splitting) and can often be seen by other drivers as reckless, you may also need help to establish your behavior at the time of the crash and to prove liability. In some cases, accident reconstruction, black box data, and witness testimony can be critical to overcome prejudices about motorcyclists and to prove liability for your injuries.

Drowsy Driving

When a driver has not had sufficient rest before getting behind the wheel, their ability to drive safely and attentively can be negatively impacted. The Colorado State Patrol encourages drivers to consider their fatigue level before getting behind the wheel and not drive if they are too tired.

According to Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, “Fatigue physically and mentally impacts the abilities of a driver – it has effects on a driver’s attention span, judgment, coordination and reaction time.” When a driver decides to get behind the wheel while drowsy and hits a motorcyclist, they’ll be liable for the damages.

Distracted Driving

Drivers on the road have a responsibility to pay attention, especially so when it comes to motorcycles. A driver is distracted when they are impaired in any of the following ways:

• Mentally – when a driver’s mind is not on their driving, they are less capable of responding to changes in road conditions, making them more likely to fail to notice motorcyclists
• Manually – any activity that takes the driver’s hands off of the wheel, like texting while driving, playing with the radio or center console, or applying makeup
• Visually  – any activity that takes the driver’s eyes away from the road is visually impairing

One of the most common forms of distracted driving, and an increasingly common reason behind car accidents, is texting while driving. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) asserts that sending a single text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, which when driving at 55 miles per hour means that the driver failed to pay attention to their driving for the length of a football field, far more than enough room to hit a motorcyclist without noticing.

Aggressive Driving

CDOT data cited by Westword noted that aggressive driving is on the rise in Colorado, resulting in an increasing number of accidents leading to injuries and deaths. In Colorado, four in 10 fatal collisions involved aggressive or careless driving in 2024, which accounts for 255 of our state’s 642 fatal crashes. Aggressive driving includes speeding, unannounced lane changes, failing to leave other drivers enough room on the road, and a variety of other risky driving behaviors.

Drunk or Intoxicated Driving

When a driver decides to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, they will be liable for any damages that result. Drunk drivers can be especially dangerous for motorcyclists, who can already be hard to see for sober drivers. Drunk or intoxicated drivers may be less attentive or less aware of their surroundings, or they may weave or stop suddenly. Your Colorado motorcycle accident lawyer from Ready Law will help you collect evidence to determine if the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Losing a Loved One to a Motorcycle Accident Could Entitle You to a Wrongful Death Claim

When a person is lost in a tragic accident caused by someone or something else, their surviving loved ones may have the right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. One purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is direct financial compensation for financial loss, including financial and contributions to a household, the value of household labor, as well as healthcare and funeral expenses. More importantly, a wrongful death lawsuit may be the only way for grieving loved ones to seek any form of justice at all for the personal trauma and loss they have experienced.

The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is, in part, to help provide the coping family with financial stability and compensation for financial loss after a fatal motorcycle accident. However, it also serves as a means of bringing wrongdoers to some accountability for the consequences of their actions. You are without your loved one, for the rest of your life, and have had to suffer the consequences of the tragedy alone. With pursuit of a wrongful death claim, we can help shift, in a small way, the consequences to the person or party at fault.

Connect with a Denver Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Help on Your Claim

Motorcyclists are at increasing risk of severe injury and death on the roads of Colorado and across the United States. Even with the safest operation of your motorcycle, it is not possible to predict or control the behavior of other drivers, which can leave the safest riders injured and in need of help. We are located conveniently in Centennial, Colorado, near IKEA and Park Meadows Mall, but can come to you if that is more convenient, especially if you or a loved one is recovering in a hospital.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, reach out to Ready Law by calling us at 303-339-8846, or visit our site to schedule a consultation.