Fort Collins Bike Accident Attorneys

CALL (800) 863-5312 to speak to a bike accident lawyer in fort collins for free

Biking accidents may seem relatively minor, but people of all ages enjoy riding bicycles for recreation, for exercise, or simply as a means of transportation. Many communities across the United States have sought to make biking more accessible and practical for their citizens. Unfortunately, accidents occur, especially as more and more bicyclists share roads with automobiles.

While offering many benefits to riders and communities, such as improving public health, improving air quality and the quality of life, and reducing traffic congestion, bicycles offer little protection to riders in the event of an accident or collision with an automobile.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident in Fort Collins, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation. If we are not able to win your case, you will not owe us anything.

bicycle accident statistics

Bicycle accidents often involve serious, life-threatening, or even fatal injuries, especially when automobiles are involved. Indeed, about 857 bicyclists were killed in 2018, making up approximately 2.8 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  This increase caused 2018 to be the deadliest year in the United States for bicyclists and pedestrians since 1990, with about 17 pedestrians and two bicyclists being killed every day on average in 2018.

According to the NHTSA, about 79 percent of these fatalities occurred in urban areas, while 29 percent occurred at intersections, and 19 percent occurred at other locations such as roadsides or shoulders, parking lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, medians, or other sites. In Colorado, bicyclist fatalities made up 3.5 percent of total fatalities in Colorado for 2018, while ten percent of total fatalities in Denver were bicyclist fatalities.

common causes of bicycle accidents

Bicycle accidents in Fort Collins occur as a result of a variety of causes, such as:

• Vehicle rear-ending a bicyclist
• Bicyclist entering a roadway without yielding to traffic
• Vehicle running a red light or stop sign, colliding with a bicyclist in the intersection
• Bicyclist failing to use proper hand signals when turning
• Bicyclist colliding with a parked car door when riding close to a parked vehicle
• A driver fails to judge the proper speed of a bicyclist and turns in front of the rider
• Bicyclist or vehicle driver is intoxicated
• Bicyclist is riding on a sidewalk primarily meant for pedestrian use
• Bicyclist fails to obey traffic signals or signs
• Bicyclist rides against traffic instead of with the flow of traffic
• Bicyclist does not see an approaching vehicle when riding out of a driveway or a side road
• A driver turns right and collides with a bicyclist who may be going straight instead of turning

If you have been involved in an accident while biking, you should contact an experienced bike accident lawyer in Fort Collins as soon as possible to help you understand your legal options and who may be liable for your accident, based on how your accident was caused.

common injuries suffered in bicycle accidents

Bicyclists generally have very little protection aside from a helmet. This lack of protection together with the size and force of a vehicle, may lead to serious or catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Brain bleeding
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Fractured or broken bones
• Amputated limbs or crushed limbs that may require surgical amputation
• Punctured organs
• Internal bleeding
• Soft tissue damage
• Road rash
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Lacerations and bruises
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident in Fort Collins, you should contact an experienced attorney from Zinda Law Group as soon as possible to help you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to.

How you can help prevent some bicycle accidents

If you are riding your bicycle in Fort Collins, there are some proactive steps you can take on your own to potentially reduce the risk of being involved in a biking accident. These suggested steps include:

Be Sure to Obey All Traffic Rules

In Fort Collins, as in most areas, bicyclists are generally treated similarly to vehicle operators. Bicyclists are required to obey the same traffic laws as most other vehicle operators, such as obeying lane markings, traffic signs or signals, and crosswalks. Many bicyclists make the dangerous and potentially fatal mistake of attempting to run a stop sign or failing to yield the right of way to a vehicle at an intersection or other area. If the bicycle rider is riding in the street, the bicyclist must generally ride in the same direction as other traffic in that lane is traveling. Bicyclists must also yield the right-of-way to joggers or other pedestrians when possible.

Always Wear a Helmet

According to the NHTSA, every bicyclist should always wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted to their head, every time they get on a bicycle. Bicyclists generally have very little protection in the event of an accident, but a good helmet may be able to save your life in some accidents. Wearing a helmet may protect your brain, especially if your head slams into a vehicle, another object, or the ground. Bicycle helmets can help protect you from suffering a traumatic brain injury or brain bleeding, which may help prevent a life-threatening, permanently disabling, or even fatal head injury.

Be Mindful of the Weather and Hazardous Conditions

Bicyclists should always stay mindful of weather conditions when biking. For example, the sun may block drivers’ visions in the morning, making it difficult for drivers to see bicyclists, especially in crosswalks or in the same lane when the vehicle would not be coming to a stop on its own such as at a red light. However, sun is not the only danger, as rain often causes additional hazards for everyone on the road by increasing the risk of skidding as well as reduced visibility. As a result, vehicles may be unable to stop in time when a bicyclist is crossing at an intersection or in a crosswalk. Similarly, ice and snow make it difficult for vehicles, in addition to bicycles, to maintain proper traction while riding over icy or snow-covered roads in Fort Collins.

Avoid Engaging with Hostile Drivers

Bicyclists should always avoid engaging with a hostile or aggressive drivers on the road. Even if a driver yells profanities, repeatedly honks the horn, makes rude gestures, or otherwise attempts to antagonize you, it is crucial that you maintain your calm and refuse to respond in kind. Road rage is too significant of a risk, as some drivers may even have firearms or other weapons in their vehicle. If you have been involved in an accident with a driver who is acting aggressively toward you, you should be careful not to engage; wait for law enforcement to arrive. While you may feel an urge to respond in the moment, doing so could add unnecessary complications for your Fort Collins bike accident lawyer later, when they are helping you pursue compensation from the driver.

Keep Your Cell Phone With You

If possible, you should always keep your cell phone with you in case you have an accident or otherwise need to contact an ambulance, the police, or family. You may be able to share your location with others if you have an iPhone or otherwise make periodic stops to text your location to a family member or friend. If you are involved in an accident, you may be able to quickly call 911 for an ambulance to seek immediate and potentially life-saving medical attention.

Group bike excursions in fort collins

As a Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community—awarded by The League of American Bicyclists—Fort Collins places a significant emphasis on encouraging people to increase their usage of bicycles for recreation, exercise, and transportation; one of the ways they do this is by providing safe accommodations for bicyclists. The city prioritizes the use of bicycles to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and improve the quality of life for residents.

The establishment of a bicycle-friendly community in Fort Collins has likewise led to an increasing frequency of group bike excursions, often as part of a race or competition, exercise group, or recreational outing. When riding as part of a group bike excursion in Fort Collins, each bicyclist should obey all traffic rules at all times, such as by remaining within designated bicycle lanes even if doing so forces your group to temporarily separate or ride in single file or pairs.

If you are injured in a biking accident while participating in a group bike excursion in Fort Collins, you should contact a skilled Platinum Level Biking accident lawyer from Zinda Law Group. We can help you consider your options and decide whether you should file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.

how can a personal injury lawyer near me Help?

The skilled attorneys at Zinda Law Group can provide local expertise based on years of helping other victims of bicycle and other accident victims in Fort Collins seek the maximum compensation they may have been entitled to. Our experience may be invaluable in helping you file your own claim, for we are well acquainted with Colorado personal injury law, the best methods of negotiating with insurance companies, and how to settle personal injury claims.

We also have experience taking cases to trial to win verdicts in favor of our clients. Hiring a personal injury lawyer near you may be the difference in your claim being successful or unsuccessful, and whether or not you receive maximum compensation for your injury.

Your bicycle accident lawyer may begin by helping you better understand your legal options after the accident; they will handle your case as you focus on recovering from your injuries. Your lawyer may also conduct a thorough investigation of the bicycle accident, how the accident was caused, and who may be liable for your injuries. The evidence and documentation gathered in this investigation, such as medical records, eyewitness statements, photographs, video recordings, police reports, or other evidence may will be invaluable in proving that the other party’s negligence was responsible for causing the accident and your injuries. This evidence may also be needed to prove the full extent of your injuries, especially if disputed by the other party or their insurer.

consult a bike accident lawyer in fort collins today

At Zinda Law Group, we have an experienced team of personal injury lawyers with years of experience helping the victims of bike accidents in Fort Collins and in Colorado seek compensation from those responsible for causing the accidents and their injuries or damages. Our bike accident lawyers may be able to help you pursue the maximum compensation you may be entitled to by handling your case every step of the way. By scheduling a free consultation as soon as possible after your accident, your attorney can help you better understand your legal options, whether you may have a claim, and how Zinda Law Group can help you file a bicycle accident lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.

Call (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers near you. You will not pay anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.