What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize Safety and Call 911: Your first step is to move out of traffic if possible and call 911. This brings both medical help and law enforcement to the scene, creating an official record of the accident.
• Document Everything: Use your phone to take photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries. Exchange only essential information with the other driver and avoid admitting fault.
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Adrenaline can mask serious injuries. Getting checked by a doctor creates a medical record that links your injuries directly to the crash.
• Be Cautious with Insurance Adjusters: Their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible. Avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting an early settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
• Understand Colorado Law: Your claim is affected by Colorado's comparative fault rules and strict filing deadlines. Consulting an attorney ensures you protect your right to compensation.

The moments after a motorcycle crash in Colorado are a blur of confusion, adrenaline, and often, pain. If you find yourself in this situation in Denver or the surrounding areas, knowing what to do after a motorcycle accident is critical. Your first instinct must be to get safe. If you can, move out of the flow of traffic, then call 911.

This is the most important call you can make, getting both medical help and law enforcement on the way. The adrenaline rush is powerful and can easily hide serious injuries. You might feel fine, but you need a professional medical opinion right away to protect your health and your potential claim.

Your First Moves After a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado

Knowing what to do after a crash in Denver, Colorado Springs, or on any Colorado road can make a significant difference. The steps you take in the first few minutes and hours build the official record of what happened. This documentation is essential for any future insurance claim or legal action.

The top priority is always your physical well-being. Riders often refuse medical treatment at the scene, only to discover a serious concussion or internal injury later. Waiting not only risks your health but also gives insurance companies a reason to argue your injuries were not caused by the crash.

Prioritize Safety and Medical Help

Move yourself out of harm's way if you are able. Get to the shoulder or a nearby sidewalk to avoid another collision. However, if you are seriously hurt, stay put and wait for EMTs to arrive, as moving could worsen a neck, back, or internal injury.

Once you are in a safer spot, check on yourself and anyone else involved. Then, make the 911 call. This summons paramedics for medical care and brings police to secure the scene and create an official accident report, a cornerstone of your case.

Document Everything at the Scene

If your injuries allow, use your smartphone to start gathering evidence. Memories fade, and accident scenes are cleared quickly, so capturing details on the spot is vital.

• Photograph the entire scene: Get wide shots of the road or intersection. Capture traffic signs, signals, and road conditions like potholes.
• Document vehicle damage: Take close-up photos of the damage to your bike and the other vehicle from multiple angles.
• Capture your injuries: Photograph any visible cuts, bruises, road rash, or torn gear. These images provide a powerful record of the trauma you suffered.

While these steps are similar to any traffic incident, the stakes are higher for riders because injuries are often more severe.

Exchanging Information and Speaking with Police

When you talk to the other driver, keep the conversation brief and professional. Exchange only the essentials: name, address, phone number, driver's license number, and insurance details. Do not discuss what happened or who was at fault, as a simple "I'm sorry" can be used as an admission of guilt.

When the police arrive, provide clear, factual answers. Stick to what you know for sure and avoid guessing about speeds or distances. Your statement becomes part of the official record, so precision is important.

Immediate Post-Accident Checklist

Action	Why It Is Important
Get to Safety	Prevents further injury from traffic and secures your immediate well-being.
Call 911 Immediately	Dispatches essential medical help and ensures a law enforcement officer creates an official accident report.
Take Photos and Videos	Creates an undeniable visual record of the scene, damage, and your injuries before anything is moved.
Exchange Information	Gathers the necessary contact and insurance details from the other driver for your claim.
Do NOT Admit Fault	Protects your legal rights; simple apologies can be used against you by insurance adjusters.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention	Ensures injuries are diagnosed and treated, and creates a medical record linking them to the crash.

Following these steps provides a strong foundation for both your physical recovery and any financial compensation you may need to seek.

Remembering this straightforward process—Safety, 911, Photos—is your best defense in the disorienting aftermath of an accident.

Documenting Your Case and Handling Insurance Calls

Once you have addressed your immediate health and safety, the focus shifts to gathering information. This documentation becomes the foundation of your claim and tells the story of how the motorcycle accident has impacted your life.

Start Your Evidence File

The police report is the first official piece of evidence. You can request a copy from the agency that responded, such as the Denver Police Department or Colorado State Patrol. This report contains the officer’s findings, witness contacts, and often a preliminary opinion on fault.

At the same time, start your own personal log. Use a notebook or computer file to track your daily experience after the accident.

• Your Medical Journey: Note every doctor’s visit, physical therapy session, and prescription.
• Pain and Symptoms: Describe your daily pain levels, sleep difficulties, or new headaches.
• Life Impact: Document missed workdays, family events you could not attend, and hobbies you can no longer enjoy.
• Every Single Expense: Keep receipts for medical bills, co-pays, gas money for appointments, and over-the-counter medical supplies.

This log paints a clear picture of your damages beyond just a stack of bills.

Dealing With Insurance Adjusters

An insurance adjuster will likely call you soon after the crash. It is crucial to remember their job is to protect their company's bottom line by paying out as little as possible. They are trained to sound friendly, but their goal is to close your claim quickly and cheaply.

Protecting your rights is essential. Strong evidence like witness statements, photos, and the police report is vital for proving fault, particularly since many motorcycle crashes involve other vehicles. You can discover more insights about motorcycle accident trends and their legal implications.

Protecting Yourself During Insurance Calls

When the adjuster calls, remember that you control the conversation. You only need to provide basic information to start the claim process.

1. Be Polite but Firm: You can confirm your name and the date of the accident.
2. Decline a Recorded Statement: Simply say, "I am not prepared to give a recorded statement at this time." You are not legally obligated to do so.
3. Do Not Accept an Early Offer: Never accept a settlement until your medical treatment is complete. An early offer is almost always a lowball offer.
4. Keep it Brief: The less you say, the better. You can end the call by stating that your legal representative will be in touch.

Handling these calls correctly is a key part of what to do after a motorcycle accident.

How the Process Works in Colorado

Navigating an insurance claim in Colorado Springs or Fort Collins involves understanding specific state laws. These rules can dramatically influence your ability to get compensation for your injuries. Three key legal concepts are comparative fault, helmet laws, and the statute of limitations.

Colorado’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule

Colorado operates under a legal doctrine called modified comparative fault. This means you can still recover money even if you were partially to blame for the crash. However, your final compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if a jury decides you were 20% at fault for a collision and your total damages are $100,000, your award is cut by 20%, leaving you with $80,000. But there is a major catch. If you are found to be 50% or more at fault, Colorado law says you get nothing. You can read more about how Colorado's fault system works to see how this impacts injury cases.

How Helmet Laws Can Affect Your Claim

In Colorado, any rider 18 and over can choose whether to wear a helmet. While this gives you freedom, it can unfortunately complicate an injury claim. The at-fault driver's insurance company may argue that your decision not to wear a helmet contributed to the severity of your head or brain injuries.

This is a classic tactic used to assign blame back to you. An adjuster will point to the lack of a helmet to try and reduce what their company has to pay.

Deadlines for Filing a Lawsuit

Every personal injury case is governed by a strict legal deadline known as the statute of limitations. This is the time window you have to formally file a lawsuit. While the general deadline for most motorcycle accidents in Colorado is three years, you should never assume that rule applies to your specific case.

Timelines vary and can be much shorter, especially if a government entity is involved. If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to seek compensation forever. We encourage calling a lawyer to confirm the exact timeline for your situation.

When to Call a Lawyer

Many riders in Colorado ask if they really need a lawyer. For a minor tip-over with a scraped fairing, you probably do not. But there are moments when handling things yourself is a mistake.

If your injuries are more than minor bumps and bruises, it is time to get legal advice. Broken bones, serious road rash, or any head trauma mean long recoveries and high medical bills. The insurance company will likely fight to avoid paying the full amount.

Another major red flag is any dispute over who was at fault. Insurance adjusters are trained to find excuses to blame the motorcyclist to reduce or deny a claim. An experienced attorney can launch an independent investigation to find the truth.

Red Flags That Signal You Need Legal Help

You should consider calling an attorney if:

• The other driver was uninsured or underinsured. Your own insurance policy may be the only source of compensation, which creates a conflict of interest.
• Your injuries are severe or require long-term care. Calculating the true cost of future surgeries and lost earning potential requires expertise.
• The insurance company offers a quick, lowball settlement. They want you to sign away your rights before you realize your case's true value.
• You are being unfairly blamed for the crash. A lawyer can gather evidence like traffic camera footage to prove the other driver's negligence.

If any of these sound familiar, an attorney can step in to protect your rights and fight for what you are owed.

How a Contingency Fee Works for You

People often worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. We understand that the last thing you need when injured is another bill. That's why we use the contingency fee model, which means you do not pay anything upfront.

Our firm only gets paid if we successfully recover money for you. This "No Fees Unless We Win" promise ensures everyone has access to legal help. We handle the investigation, evidence gathering, and communications with insurance adjusters, freeing you to focus on your recovery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After a motorcycle crash, certain actions can harm your ability to get fair compensation. Avoiding these common mistakes is crucial.

• Not Seeking Medical Care: Delaying treatment gives the insurance company an opening to argue that your injuries are not serious or were caused by something else.
• Admitting Fault: Apologizing or admitting any fault at the scene can be used against you, even if you were not to blame.
• Giving a Recorded Statement: You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. They can use your words out of context to weaken your claim.
• Accepting the First Settlement Offer: The first offer is almost always too low and does not account for future medical costs or long-term impacts.
• Posting on Social Media: Insurance companies will review your social media accounts for any posts that contradict your injury claims. It is best to avoid posting about the accident or your recovery.

What Compensation Covers

The financial fallout from a motorcycle wreck can be overwhelming. When we file a claim, we pursue compensation, called damages, for every way the crash has impacted your life. Knowing what you are entitled to recover is the first step in fighting a lowball insurance offer.

Compensation is generally broken into two categories. Economic damages cover direct financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate for the intangible, human costs of the collision.

Tallying Up Your Economic Losses

Economic damages are the most concrete part of a claim and can be proven with bills, receipts, and pay stubs.

These damages typically include:

• Current Medical Bills: All charges from the ambulance ride, ER visit, surgeries, and prescriptions.
• Future Medical Needs: Calculated costs for physical therapy, future operations, and long-term care.
• Lost Wages: All income you lost because you were unable to work.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: Compensation if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or limit future earnings.
• Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle.

Accounting for the Human Cost: Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are harder to calculate but often represent a significant part of a serious injury claim. This is compensation for how the accident has impacted your quality of life.

These personal losses can include:

• Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries stop you from doing things you love.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: For permanent scars or other physical changes.
• Emotional Anguish: This addresses mental health impacts like anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

In cases where a rider does not survive, our attorneys help families pursue wrongful death claims in Colorado. This helps recover funeral costs and lost financial support. We fight for maximum compensation to ensure every part of your loss is recognized.

What to Bring to a Free Consultation

To make your first meeting with an attorney as productive as possible, try to gather the following items if you have them:

• The Police Report: The official record of the accident.
• Medical Records: Any bills or notes from doctors or the ER.
• Photos and Evidence: Pictures from the scene of your bike, the other vehicle, and your injuries.
• Insurance Information: Your policy details and any communication you have had with an adjuster.
• Contact Information: Names and phone numbers for any witnesses.

Do not worry if you cannot find everything. Part of our job is to help you track down missing documents.

Why Conduit Law

Picking the right attorney after a motorcycle crash is a personal decision. At Conduit Law, LLC, we know that riders in Colorado face unique challenges, from unfair biker stereotypes to complex insurance battles. Our firm was built to handle these hurdles.

We have seen how insurance companies try to pin blame on motorcyclists to avoid paying a fair claim. Our focus is on fighting that bias with facts and a solid investigation. We fight for the maximum compensation you need to get your life back.

Our Commitment to You

Conduit Law provides dedicated support when you need it most. We do not promise outcomes, but we commit to giving your case the aggressive advocacy and detailed attention it deserves. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no fees unless we win.

When you are figuring out what to do after a motorcycle accident, having the right partner changes everything. Learn more about Conduit Law and see how we put our clients first.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you are recovering from a serious motorcycle wreck, you likely have many questions. Here are answers to some common concerns we hear from riders in Denver, Aurora, and across Colorado.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Colorado?

Colorado's statute of limitations generally gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, this deadline can be much shorter if a government vehicle was involved. It is a mistake to assume you have three years. The only way to know your exact timeline is to have an attorney review the specific details of your crash.

What if the other driver was uninsured?

If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy is designed to cover your losses. Filing a claim with your own insurance company can be complicated. A lawyer can help you navigate the process and ensure your insurer honors the policy you paid for.

The insurance adjuster says the crash was my fault. What now?

Do not accept what the insurance adjuster tells you. Their goal is to protect their company's money, and blaming the motorcyclist is a common tactic. Fault is a legal conclusion based on evidence. An independent investigation can uncover the truth through traffic camera footage, witness interviews, or expert analysis. Never agree that you were at fault until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Call (720) 432-7032 or request a free consultation. No fees unless we win.