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Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Fort Collins, CO

We are experienced attorneys serving motorcycle accident victims in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, and we produce the results to back it up.

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Motorcycle Accident

$1m +

Our client was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by a car. He sustained serious injuries and we were able to recover over a million dollars without filing a lawsuit.

About Us We are a collaborative team with the ability to deliver for you.

All of our lead attorneys have extensive litigation experience against insurance companies. Our attorneys have secured multi million-dollar judgments and settlements. Many of our attorneys previously worked defending insurance companies. Now we use their experience and insight to advocate for our clients against those same insurance companies.

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FAQs

We know how confusing it can be after an accident. Who will pay for your medical treatment? Should you talk with the insurance company? Here’s some common questions and answers as a starting point.

  • Dealing with a property damage claim is frustrating and time consuming. Sometimes insurance companies take too long to inspect your vehicle and provide you with an estimate. Ultimately, the at-fault person’s insurance should pay for your vehicle. However, there are times when you may want to use your own insurance, if you have coverage. For example, if the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance, you may need to use your insurance. Other times, the at-fault insurance may refuse to pay while they are investigating the crash and determining who is at fault (even if law enforcement has already cited the other driver). If you need a vehicle to get to work, you may not have time to wait for the investigation, so you may use your own insurance. In these cases, you may have a deductible, so your insurance will pay you the amount of the damage less the deductible amount. If the other insurance company eventually agrees its driver was at fault, then it will repay your insurance company and you will get a check for your deductible amount.

  • Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage, also called UM/UIM Coverage, is insurance coverage that you purchase to protect yourself from being in an accident with someone who has no insurance, or only very little insurance. UM / UIM Coverage is especially important in Colorado, where some liability policies only total $25,000 and there are many uninsured motorists. UM / UIM coverage must be offered to purchasers of liability insurance. The amount of UM / UIM coverage can range from $25,000 to over $300,000.

    UM / UIM typically works as follows. If a motorist with only $25,000 in insurance coverage causes you $50,000 in medical expenses, then you would first collect the $25,000 from the at-fault motorist. Once those funds were collected, you would then submit a claim under your UM / UIM coverage for the rest of your damages.

  • This is one of the most frequently asked questions. It can be answered, but the answer depends on the specific facts of your case. In meeting with many people over many years, we’ve often heard people say that they’ve read that their case is worth some multiple of the amount of their medical bills. They ask things like, “Should pain and suffering be three times (3x) the total medical bills?” or “What is the non-economic to economic damages ratio?”

    But determining the amount you are owed actually has nothing to do with any kind of multiplier or factor. The amount of your pain and suffering and changed quality of life are completely independent from the amount of your medical bills. Consider these two cases as examples.

    In Case 1, a person is in a high-speed crash. The car rolls several times and looks like a crushed tin can. The driver is immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance. The driver is shaken up, has some sore spots and is understandably in shock. Because of the powerful forces in such a crash, the emergency room doctor orders a full set of CT scans or MRIs to make sure there are no serious internal injuries. Fortunately, the driver has escaped any serious or lasting injury. She feels better and doesn’t seek any follow-up care. She takes it easy for a few days and continues to feel better. Within a week, she’s pain free and back to normal. We’ve seen folks in this scenario many times. Her medical bills are relatively high because expensive scans and emergency room care were provided. She also has a non-economic damages claim for pain and suffering, but how great is that compared to her relatively expensive medical bills? Her pain and suffering damages may be less than her total medical bills.

    In Case 2, a person suffers a severe, permanent injury that cannot be repaired, such as paralysis or traumatic amputation of a limb. He receives initial medical treatment, but the treatment is mainly to stabilize the condition. There are no long-term medical expenses because the injury cannot be healed. He must live with the permanent impairment for the rest of his life. He struggles to care for himself day-to-day. He cannot do the hobbies and other activities he enjoyed for recreation. His medical bills are relatively low compared to the severity of the injury. But his damages for permanent impairment, disfigurement, permanently changed quality of life and pain and suffering are immense. They will be many, many times greater than his total medical bills.

    An accurate determination of what your case is worth requires knowing the details of how your life was affected, the severity and duration of your pain, your long-term prognosis and medical needs, and whether you have any permanent impairment. The truth is, no one knows exactly what your case is worth unless you go through a trial and a jury decides it for you. But by applying our experience to the specific facts of your case, we can provide you with the likely range of outcomes.

Overview Your Northern Colorado Personal Injury Attorney

Northern Colorado is a beautiful place to ride motorcycles. The unfortunate truth is that motorcycle accidents do occur. When you need a personal injury lawyer for a motorcycle accident, contact the team at Hadfield Stieben Doutt. The scenery near Fort Collins is fantastic, whether you’re cruising through winding mountain roads or commuting to work on the Front Range. While motorcyclists enjoy a lot of freedom and fresh air, they also have to deal with distracted drivers and congested traffic. Riding on the I-25 during rush hour is a nightmare, and even surface streets get crowded with drivers who don’t give motorcyclists the distance and respect they deserve.

Assisting with Motorcycle Accident Claims

With the conditions in Northern Colorado, there are far too many motorcycle accidents. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that you are 27 times as likely to suffer a fatal accident while riding a motorcycle than compared to a passenger car. Motorcycles make up 3% of the vehicles on the roads of Colorado, but they are involved in 15 to 20% of the fatal accidents in our state. Our goal is not to scare anyone away from motorcycling. In fact, some of our lawyers are lifelong riders, so we get it. We treat motorcycle accident claims very seriously and fight for your rights.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Looking out for You

Our motorcycle accident law firm wants to ensure that motorcyclists don’t pay the high price of injury or death while the at-fault driver walks away without a scratch. We strive to give injured motorcyclists the respect they deserve while holding distracted drivers accountable. In many cases, injuries from a motorcycle accident are far more severe than those associated with car accidents. Our motorcycle injury lawyers have helped clients involved in low-speed motorcycle accidents who have suffered significant injuries to the head and spine. We hope you’ll ride smart, but we’re here for you if you are injured by a careless driver and want to fight for you and protect your rights.

What Are Some Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Injuries from motorcycle accidents are often more severe than those suffered by drivers or passengers of cars, trucks, or SUVs. Some common injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents include:

  • Head & Traumatic Brain Injuries – Almost every motorcycle accident leads to head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.
  • Back Injuries – A motorcycle accident can cause damage to your spinal cord, with many of these injuries being life-changing.
  • Fractures – Motorcycle accidents often lead to fractured bones, including broken arms, legs, ribs, and shattered pelvises.
  • Scarring – Road rash can be extremely painful and require surgery to repair.
  • Permanent Disfigurement – Some scars from motorcycle accidents remain and cannot be fixed through medical treatment.
  • Wrongful Death – More than 100 motorcyclists are killed in Colorado each year.

What Are the Colorado Motorcycle Helmet Laws?

The state of Colorado does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Even though you are not required to wear a motorcycle helmet by law, insurance companies can hold it against you if you choose not to wear one and are injured in an accident. Even if the accident is not your fault, the insurance company might try to blame you for not wearing a helmet. The good news is that Colorado courts tend to be on the side of motorcyclists who don’t wear helmets. You likely will not be penalized for not wearing a helmet. However, statistics show that wearing a helmet and other protective gear such as helmets, gloves, armor, and riding boots can prevent severe injuries or fatalities. Riding safe goes a long way.

When Should I Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

Contact our law firm if you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident and believe someone else is responsible for the crash. As soon as you are safe and away from any danger, give our team a call.

What Damages Can I Recover?

Being injured in a motorcycle crash in Northern Colorado means you could be owed compensation, including for medical bills, lost wages and future earnings, pain, suffering, and mental anguish, property damage, permanent disability or disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life. Families who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.

Contact us for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation

At Hadfield Stieben & Doutt, every personal injury case begins with a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. We will answer any questions you have and learn how you or your loved one was injured. We have many options, including meeting you at our office in Fort Collins, talking with you over the phone, or meeting you at your location if you are unable to travel. Contact us today to schedule a good time to go over your case.

970.221.2800