Longmont Motorcycle Accident Attorney
The last thing any motorcycle enthusiast wants to think about is being involved in an accident. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents in Longmont and surrounding areas in Boulder County are not uncommon. If you or a loved one have been injured and need a Longmont motorcycle accident attorney, the team at Cannon Law is ready to help. We will investigate your case and work to secure maximum compensation for your claim.
Why Choose Cannon Law for This Case?
After sustaining a serious motorcycle crash injury, let an attorney with extensive experience help you secure compensation for your claim. Cannon Law is ready to help.
- Our personal injury attorneys take the time to get to know every client’s unique situation and goals as we develop a personalized strategy to win your case.
- We have extensive resources that we can bring to a motorcycle crash investigation, and we regularly work with other lawyers, medical professionals, and expert witnesses for our cases.
- We take Longmont motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients will pay no legal fees until after we secure a favorable settlement or verdict on their behalf.
Do You Need an Attorney for a Motorcycle Accident Case?
Most motorcycle accident victims do not have the resources necessary to properly obtain maximum compensation for their personal injury claims. A skilled Longmont motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to obtain any evidence related to the incident, including available video footage, statements from eyewitnesses, police reports, photographic evidence, and more.
A motorcycle accident lawyer will work with trusted medical experts and accident reconstruction experts if necessary to properly prove liability and to secure the compensation their client deserves.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries Are Often Devastating
Motorcyclists have very little protection from the force of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds slamming into them. Unfortunately, a motorcyclist also commonly bears the brunt of two impacts – one with a vehicle and one with the ground.
Data available from the Colorado Department of Transportation shows us that there were 103 motorcyclist fatalities during the latest reporting year across the state, which accounted for 17.3% of the total traffic fatalities that year. Many other motorcycle riders and passengers sustained severe injuries, including the following:
- Spinal cord trauma (possible paralysis). Damage to the delicate spinal cord can range from nerve damage and herniated disks to a severed spine. A complete spinal cord injury will result in irreversible paralysis, or the loss of feeling and function below the point of injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury can also be life-changing for a victim, although it may be treatable.
- Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries. Damage to a motorcyclist’s head, skull and brain is common, although this risk can be reduced by wearing a helmet. Many brain injuries, such as bleeding or swelling in the brain, can cause long-term or permanent brain damage. These injuries can result in symptoms such as cognitive dysfunction, memory loss and mobility problems.
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding. These injuries can occur if the motorcyclist gets crushed beneath a motor vehicle or if the organs collide with one another in a crash. Internal injuries may not be discovered right away, but may quietly cause damage within the body. This can include damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart and other organs. Internal injuries can be fatal if not promptly treated.
- Broken or dislocated bones. Bone fractures are one of the most common injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents, but this doesn’t make them any less devastating. A fractured skull can cause a severe brain injury, for instance, and a fracture in the cervical spine can be deadly. Even minor broken bones can be painful and temporarily debilitating for a motorcyclist.
- Severe lacerations or road rash. Skin and soft-tissue injuries are also common in motorcycle accidents. In the most severe cases, these injuries can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Road rash can lead to traumatic tattooing, for example, where debris and gravel get embedded in the rider’s skin and cause irreversible scarring.
Obtaining financial compensation for your severe or catastrophic injuries takes understanding who or what caused your motorcycle accident. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents revolve around the actions of other drivers on the roadway. In many cases, drivers in traditional passenger vehicles do not give motorcyclists the space they deserve on the roadway, and regularly follow them too closely or pass them unsafely.
Can Multiple Parties Be Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
Yes. It is possible to hold more than one party financially and legally responsible for your motorcycle accident in Colorado in certain circumstances. Two or more parties can share fault for a single traffic accident if they both contributed. In these cases, each liable party will be responsible for paying an amount equivalent to his or her percentage of fault.
For example, if two different drivers share fault for a multi-vehicle accident involving a motorcycle, one may be made to pay for 60 percent of a victim’s losses while the other will pay the remaining 40 percent. The liable parties in your motorcycle accident case could include:
- A motor vehicle driver
- A driver’s employer or company
- Uber or Lyft in an accident with a rideshare vehicle
- The manufacturer of your motorcycle or a defective vehicle part
- The government entity in charge of roadway repairs and maintenance
- The owner of private property, such as a parking lot or driveway
If you are also held responsible for contributing to the crash as a motorcycle rider, this will reduce your compensatory award accordingly. In this scenario, Colorado’s comparative negligence law can reduce your settlement. This law states that a plaintiff can still recover partial financial compensation as long as he or she is less than 50 percent responsible for the crash. However, your monetary recovery will be reduced by an amount equivalent to your percentage of fault. This is why it is important not to admit fault for your crash and to contact an attorney.
What Kind of Compensation Is Available for a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a motorcycle crash caused by the negligence of another driver, there may be various types of compensation available for your case. At Cannon Law, we have extensive experience helping clients in these cases obtain the following:
- Coverage of all crash-related medical bills
- Recovery of lost wages if a victim cannot work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
It is important to discuss the value of your motorcycle accident case with an attorney in Longmont before accepting an insurance settlement. Insurance companies do their best to avoid large payouts. This makes a lowball settlement offer likely, especially in the early stages of your case. Rather than rushing into a fast settlement, make sure you fully understand the value of your case by speaking to an attorney.
Contact our Longmont Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you need a Longmont motorcycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling (970) 471-7170. Our attorneys are here to help victims of personal injury recover in Northern Colorado. We understand how impactful a motorcycle accident can have on not only the victim, but also the family of the victim, and our attorneys are here to recoup what was lost from an accident.