Motorcycle Accident Lawyers | Brighton, CO
After a motorcycle accident, you’re likely facing more than physical pain. The medical bills, lost income, and pushback from insurance companies can leave you feeling powerless. At Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C., we’ve helped countless Brighton, CO residents take control of their situation and secure the compensation they need to move forward. You deserve an advocate who will fight for you every step of the way. Let our Brighton motorcycle accident lawyers take on the legal stress so you can focus on getting your life back.
Brighton’s roads see everything from open stretches of Highway 85 to stop-and-go traffic near Prairie Center. No matter where they ride, motorcyclists always face the highest risk. A driver drifts into another lane without looking, a truck merges without checking, or someone speeds through a red light, assuming they have the right of way. Riders pay the price for these mistakes, often with injuries that take months or longer to recover.
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
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Brighton?
Brighton’s mix of busy intersections, local streets, and high-speed roadways creates risks for motorcyclists. Our Brighton motorcycle accident attorneys have identified several recurring causes of motorcycle crashes in the area:
- Left turns across traffic,
- Lane changes without looking,
- Drivers following too closely,
- Speeding and aggressive driving,
- Drunk and impaired driving,
- Loose gravel and uneven pavement,
- Distracted driving,
- Failure to yield,
- Dooring incidents, and
- Poor visibility.
Motorcyclists know how to ride defensively, but defensive riding doesn’t stop careless choices from causing harm. We know what it takes to hold drivers accountable when their decisions injure riders.
What Injuries Do Motorcyclists Suffer in Brighton Crashes?
Motorcycle crashes leave riders exposed to direct impact, often leading to severe injuries. Without the protection of a car’s frame, even a low-speed collision can cause lasting harm. Some of the most common injuries we see in Brighton include:
- Head and brain trauma,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Fractures,
- Road rash,
- Damage to organs or internal bleeding,
- Dislocated joints,
- Nerve damage,
- Facial fractures and dental injuries,
- Severe lacerations, and
- Crush injuries.
These injuries often require long-term medical care, force riders to take time off work, and lead to permanent lifestyle changes. Riders should never have to fight for basic medical treatment or compensation, but insurance companies make them do just that.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
Brighton’s roads can turn dangerous fast. A car cuts into your lane, a truck rolls through a stop sign, or a distracted driver sends you to the pavement. What happens next is just as important as what led to the crash. We recommend the following steps:
- Call 911. Emergency responders document the scene and assess injuries. That report can be critical later.
- Get checked by a doctor. Internal injuries don’t always show symptoms right away. Medical records link your injuries to the crash.
- Photograph everything. Skid marks, damaged vehicles, road hazards, and visible injuries all help paint the complete picture.
- Exchange details. Collect names, contact numbers, and insurance information from everyone involved.
- Speak to witnesses. Bystanders may have seen what happened and can confirm the facts if the other driver disputes them.
- Stay off the record with insurance. Adjusters may reach out fast, looking for a statement where you accept fault or an early settlement that falls short. A motorcycle crash lawyer can ensure they don’t pressure you into taking less than you deserve.
Taking these steps immediately after a crash helps prevent insurance companies from twisting the facts. The more evidence you gather, the harder it becomes for them to downplay injuries or avoid responsibility.
Do You Need a Motorcycle Crash Lawyer?
Colorado law gives motorcyclists the right to seek compensation after a crash, but insurance companies determine how those claims proceed based on the circumstances. Insurance companies will look for reasons to pay less, whether arguing over helmet use, disputing liability, or making a low offer before the full impact of the crash is known.
Hiring a lawyer for a motorcycle accident ensures riders have someone looking out for their interests, not the insurance company’s bottom line. Colorado laws that impact motorcycle claims include:
- Helmet laws. Only riders under 18 must wear a helmet, but insurance companies often argue that not wearing one worsens injuries.
- Lane sharing. Two motorcyclists can ride side by side, but lane splitting between vehicles is prohibited.
- Filing deadlines. Colorado law sets a three-year limit to file a claim. Waiting too long means losing the right to pursue compensation.
- Comparative fault. If a rider is found to be less than 50% at fault, they can recover damages. Any percentage of fault they receive lowers their compensation.
Without legal representation, insurance companies control the conversation, aiming to pay as little as possible. Brighton motorcycle accident lawyers at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. take over the legal fight, ensuring injured riders get the full compensation they’re entitled to.
What Compensation Can Injured Riders Recover?
A motorcycle crash causes more than just wreckage on the road. Riders deal with hospital bills, missed work, and a long recovery that no one plans for. Under Colorado law, injured motorcyclists can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses—emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment;
- Lost income—paychecks missed due to recovery or injuries that limit future work;
- Pain and suffering—the toll of physical injuries and the emotional weight of recovery; and
- Motorcycle damage—repairs or replacement costs for a wrecked bike.
Insurance companies rush to close cases before riders understand the extent of their damages. A motorcycle crash lawyer helps riders reject low offers and secure what they need.
3 Reasons Why You Need a Motorcycle Car Accident Lawyers
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 Brighton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers before you make a critical mistake. Here are 3 additional reasons to consider.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Why Work with Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C.?
Brighton has a strong motorcycle community, and riders here know the risks. Defensive riding and visibility gear help, but they don’t stop drivers from making careless decisions that endanger motorcyclists.
Our Brighton motorcycle accident attorneys have represented riders forced off the road, cut off in traffic, and left with serious injuries because someone else wasn’t paying attention. We know the excuses drivers make to shift blame, and we don’t let them go unchallenged.
Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. doesn’t take cases just to push for a quick settlement. We build cases that hold up in court because that’s what gets results. We work directly with injured riders to ensure their losses are accounted for and their voices are heard. Call today for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident law firm that stands up for motorcyclists.
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 ]
Colorado's 50% fault rule, also known as modified comparative fault, directly impacts a personal injury claim by allowing for the recovery of damages only if the injured person is found to be less than 50 percent responsible for the incident. After an accident, understanding how Colorado comparative negligence works is a significant part of[...]
