Knowledgeable Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Ready To Serve You
Motorcycles are incredibly popular in Boulder due to the incredible scenery immediately surrounding the city as well as within a few hours’ drive. For the most part, riders enjoy all that the area has to offer without incident.
However, Boulder motorcycle accidents still occur with startling frequency. In fact, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation, motorcyclists made up about 22% of all fatal traffic accident victims in 2020. However, even non-fatal motorcycle accidents have life-changing consequences, not only for the riders involved but also for their families.
The Boulder motorcycle accident lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. proudly represent motorcycle accident victims, helping them obtain much-needed compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience representing injury victims and their families.
Why Choose Us
- We have decades of combined experience
- We provide personalized attention
- We offer free initial consultations
- We hold insurance companies accountable
- We have recovered over $230 Million for our clients
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle collisions are called “accidents” because they are almost always unintentional. However, just because a collision is classified as an accident doesn’t mean that someone isn’t to blame. The fact is, that almost every Boulder motorcycle accident is entirely preventable.
When it comes to the causes of motorcycle accidents, they largely mirror the causes of other traffic accidents. For example, drunk driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving are all responsible for a significant number of accidents.
However, one of the primary causes of many preventable motorcycle accidents is the other driver’s failure to notice a rider.
“Start Seeing Motorcycles” is real advice, not just a bumper sticker. Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, and it’s easy for a driver who is only paying half attention to the road not to see a motorcycle occupying the space they are about to enter.
If drivers gave the road their full attention—as they should—the number of motorcycle accidents would decrease significantly.
Another common cause of motorcycle accidents relates to other drivers’ inability to accurately assess the speed of a motorcycle. Most motorists do not spend a lot of time driving around motorcycles. Perhaps they see one or two motorcycles for every fifty cars. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, many drivers rely on instinct when behind the wheel.
Over time, motorists can gauge how quickly an oncoming car is approaching, because they deal with that situation countless times per day. However, it is harder for drivers to estimate the speed of a motorcycle. Part of this is because motorcycles have a smaller profile, but also because most motorists lack experience driving around motorcycles.
Of course, this isn’t an excuse for an accident. Drivers who are unsure about the speed of a motorcycle should err on the side of caution.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles offer riders a lot less protection than cars and trucks. Unlike occupants involved in a car or truck accident, motorcyclists do not have a steel cage surrounding them.
Helmets go a long way in protecting riders from some of the most serious injuries after an accident. However, even when motorcyclists wear a helmet, there is a significant risk of serious injury or death.
Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Road rash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones, and
- Burns.
Regardless of the nature of your injuries, a dedicated Boulder motorcycle accident lawyer at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. can help. We work closely with you and your medical providers to identify the full extent of your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
First, seek medical help. Then, if possible, document the accident scene, take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and injuries, gather witness information, and contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney before dealing with insurance companies.
Yes, under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence law, you can recover damages if you were less than 50% at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
You may be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and future medical costs. Every case is unique, and we can help determine the compensation you deserve.
Motorcyclists lack the protection that car passengers have, making them more vulnerable to serious injuries like fractures, head trauma, spinal cord damage, and road rash. Even with a helmet, the impact can be life-altering.
No. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize payouts. It’s best to consult a lawyer before making statements or accepting any settlement offers.
The statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Colorado is three years from the date of the accident. However, waiting too long can make it harder to gather evidence.
Injured Motorcyclists Deserve Justice
If you’ve been injured in a Boulder motorcycle accident, you face a long, uphill road to recovery.
Initially, your focus is solely on recovering from your physical injuries. This may mean spending weeks or months in and out of the hospital and going to doctor and physical therapy appointments.
However, even after your physical injuries have healed for the most part, you may still deal with chronic pain, limited range of motion, and other potentially lifelong consequences. Your injuries necessarily dictate when you can get back to work, what recreational activities you can enjoy, and how you live your life.
While motorcycle accident victims face tremendous hurdles on their recovery journey, help is available. Through a Boulder motorcycle accident lawsuit, injured riders can pursue meaningful compensation that can make the recovery process less burdensome—at least financially.
To successfully bring a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident, a motorcyclist must prove that the other driver was negligent. “Negligence” is a legal term consisting of four elements:
- Duty— Did the other driver owe the rider a duty of care?
- Breach— Did the other driver violate the duty owed to the rider?
- Causation— Were the other driver’s actions the cause of the rider’s injuries?
- Damages— Did the rider suffer legally recognizable damages as a result of the accident?
If the answer to each of these questions is “yes,” you may have a claim against the driver responsible for the collision. However, bringing a motorcycle accident claim isn’t always as easy as it would appear. For example, the other driver and their insurance company may dispute your version of events leading up to the accident or the extent of your injuries.
Do I Need a Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we pride ourselves not only on our ability to win cases but also on our integrity. So we’re not going to tell you that you absolutely need an attorney to bring a motorcycle accident lawsuit. You don’t.
However, the reality is that having a lawyer’s assistance not only makes the process much easier on you but also increases your chances of success. Here’s why: insurance companies are always looking for reasons to pay as little as possible in the face of an accident claim. Insurance companies hire teams of skilled lawyers whose sole job is to either reduce the value of your claim or defeat it entirely.
To do this, an insurance company may argue that you caused the accident, that another unnamed party caused the accident, or that your injuries were the result of something other than the accident.
Often, an insurance company will approach an injury victim with a settlement offer shortly after the accident. While this may feel like a “win,” it rarely is. An insurance company’s initial offer is a “hail Mary” attempt at getting the victim to settle their claim for as little as possible.
When you retain a Boulder motorcycle accident lawyer, the insurance company is required to communicate with your lawyer. This gives your lawyer the opportunity to effectively advocate on your behalf during settlement negotiations in hopes of securing a more favorable award. Additionally, should the insurance company fail to make a reasonable offer, a motorcycle injury attorney will have the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to take your case in front of a jury.
more about our services
3 Reasons Why You Need a Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorney
While you may feel confident in your ability to handle your case without professional help, you’ll soon realize that presenting an injury claim requires a lot of hard work and legal expertise.
When you should be working your way back from painful disabilities, you’ll have to comply with insurance adjuster requests. Before you see a single dime of settlement money, there is a long list of procedures and issues to follow through. It will be your job to contact doctors for bills and reports.
Taking care of a serious injury case on your own involves focus on investigation, evaluation, and negotiation. Instead of taking on these new challenges, you should be working on your personal recovery.
When you are seriously injured, your financial future depends on obtaining adequate compensation for your injuries. You have a lot at stake. That’s why it’s important to seek help from a Boulder Bicycle Accident Lawyers before you make a critical mistake. Here are 3 additional reasons to consider.
Liability Issues
Accidents often involve liability issues that can be difficult to resolve. Colorado’s comparative negligence statute plays a key role in liability assessments. You must determine whether or not you contributed to the circumstances which caused the accident and how it may affect the compensation you receive for your injuries.
Dealing with Insurance Companies and Adjusters
When you have a serious injury claim, the other driver’s insurance company adjuster will call and may want to visit your home. It’s an adjuster’s job to clear up any liability issues, so they must record your statement.
Calculating Damages
When you’re injured, you know the pain, disabilities, and scarring you are forced to endure, but do you know their economic value? Injury claims don’t have one-size-fits-all evaluations. If two different people sustain the same injury, the settlement value will be different due to a wide range of factors. Attorneys research your injuries to understand how they affect you.
Contact a Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has recently been hurt in a Boulder motorcycle accident, don’t make the mistake of thinking the insurance company is looking out for your best interests.
Instead, reach out to the motorcycle injury attorneys at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. From the moment you bring us on board your case, we will immediately begin developing a compelling claim designed to get you the compensation you need and deserve.
Regardless of the cause of the accident or the extent of your injuries, we will provide you with our full attention, taking the time to get to know you and the facts of your case. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation, give Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. a call at 720-796-8169 today. You can also reach us through our online contact form.
Our experienced legal team also handles clients with other types of cases, including:
- auto vehicle accidents,
- bike accidents,
- brain injuries,
- dog injuries,
- drunk driver accidents,
- pedestrian injuries,
- ski accidents,
- trip and fall,
- spinal cord injuries,
- trucking accidents, and
- wrongful death claim.
ATTORNEY ROBERT S. HOOVER
Robert S. Hoover is a seasoned personal injury trial attorney and managing partner at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. in Boulder, Colorado. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in complex and catastrophic cases, including brain injuries, wrongful death, and serious vehicle accidents. He is known for his compassionate, client-centered approach and meticulous trial preparation. Influenced by personal experiences and mentorship from top litigators, he has secured numerous multimillion-dollar recoveries and remains actively involved in legal organizations and community leadership. [ ATTORNEY BIO ]
If you are injured in a rental car accident, you will likely need to deal with multiple insurance policies to seek compensation, as the at-fault driver, your own insurance, and the rental company’s coverage may all be involved. The insurance process can seem complicated. A collision in a rented vehicle indeed adds extra layers to an already stressful situation. But knowing the basics can help you protect your rights and focus on your recovery. Key Takeaways f[...]
