Bicycle Accidents

It's 5 pm and you are just leaving work after a long day. You unlock your bicycle and put on your helmet ready to ride home and enjoy a hot meal and some well-deserved rest. Biking home helps you feel happier, free, decreases your stress and anxiety levels and just puts you in a better mood. You always look forward to your ride home. As you enjoy the beginning of your ride, suddenly a car traveling at 40 mph is driving erratically and crosses into the bicycle lane, colliding into you and smashing you and your bicycle to the ground.

While this sounds like a terrible scenario, it is unfortunately what many people experience as they are enjoying a relaxing bicycle ride. And as you might expect, when a car and a cyclist get into an accident, the latter is the one who is often subjected to the most pain and suffering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2018, over 850 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the US.

NHTSA also found those bicyclist deaths:

• Most often occurred between 6 pm and 9 pm, regardless of the season
• Occurred 75% of the time in urban areas as compared to rural areas (25%) 
• More often involved a male cyclist than a female cyclist (eight times more likely)
• Involved alcohol in 37% of all 2017 bicycle fatalities

In 2018 in Colorado, there were 22 bicycle fatalities, the highest number since 2002, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT.) There are numerous reasons why bicycle accidents are on the rise.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Among the many causes of bicycle accidents, the most common ones include:

Distracted Driving: All it takes is a second of inattention for something catastrophic and irreparable to happen while driving. Despite the plethora of advice and conveniences drivers are given on safe driving practices, many still allow themselves to be distracted by their phone (texting, calling, using social media), their navigation system, their radio, their passengers or any other outside influences.

Speeding: Speeding is one of the leading causes of accidents among all types of vehicles. Therefore, one would think that people would practice better defensive driving, obey the numerous posted speed limit signs, and reduce speed for problematic road conditions. But unfortunately, many drivers frequently engage in reckless driving, which end up causing crashes. 

Unsafe Lane Merging: Most intersections are equipped with rules that all drivers must follow to ensure everyone's safety. They include things such as stop signs, traffic lights, road markings and turn signals. However, many people fail to follow these rules, therefore endangering those around them, including cyclists. All states require bicyclists on the roads to adhere to the same rules and responsibilities as all motorists.

Failure to Yield: Another common cause of bicycle accidents is failing to yield. It is an act of carelessness and negligence in which some drivers often engage. But whether you are at an intersection, a roundabout, or even just changing lanes, drivers must yield to oncoming traffic, including cyclists. Motorists should yield to bicyclists just as they would another vehicle and not underestimate the speed of a bicyclist. 



Impaired driving: With all the laws and regulations put into place regarding drunk and drugged driving, many people still decide to get behind the wheel when impaired. The major problem with this decision is that they put everyone in danger: both themselves and other drivers. The other problem with this is it is illegal.

What can a Denver Bicycle Accident Attorney do for you?

As experienced Denver bicycle lawyers, we know the unique dangers bicyclists can face when riding on the road alongside other drivers. And it is this knowledge that helps us better understand your situation, as well as the mental, physical, and financial burden such an accident can cause. People on bicycles have the same legal rights and responsibilities as the people behind the wheel of a car.

So while you focus on getting better, our team at Lapham Law Firm will take care of:

Ensuring you are receiving quality medical treatment: We care about your health and well-being, so we make it a point to connect you with experienced medical providers, if necessary. They will take the time to assess your injuries and do a comprehensive examination to determine which treatment plan is best suited for you to help you recover from your injuries.

Dealing with insurance companies on your behalf: It can be exhausting trying to determine your policy details, your damage costs all while you are in pain from an accident you did not cause. We will be the force to work alongside the insurance companies to answer their questions, negotiate, understand your policy details and the at-fault driver’s policy and handle their requests for paperwork submittal and requirements of documentation. We are fully knowledgeable of Colorado Bike Laws. You can be confident that no insurance company will take advantage of you. We will work diligently to get you fully compensated for all the injuries, damages, and losses you suffered.

Filling a claim or lawsuit on your behalf: Although our goal is to work with both you and the involved insurance companies to agree on a settlement, if necessary, we are prepared to go to trial. Our team of highly experienced, skilled, and determined trial attorneys is the best as our success rate in the courtroom exceeds 95%.

Our firm can answer questions about pursuing compensation from dangerous, distracted, and/or aggressive drivers who hit and injure cyclists. So if you need a Colorado bicycle accident attorney,  call us now at 303.815.1587 and schedule your free consultation. With Lapham Law Firm by your side, your only focus will be on recovering your health and well-being.