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If you were recently injured or lost someone you love in a motorcycle accident, contact the Thornton motorcycle accident attorneys at Dormer Harpring, LLC for a free legal consultation. We understand that you are going through a traumatic time and can help you get your life back to normal as much as possible. We can represent you in the fight for justice and the compensation that you deserve for serious losses. We will provide continued and compassionate support while working to get the best results possible for your case.
A Thornton motorcycle accident lawyer will be with you through every phase of an injury claim, answering your questions and providing guidance along the way. Your lawyer will make sure that an auto insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you. An attorney is capable of negotiating for the compensation that you deserve through the use of aggressive legal strategies.
In addition, a motorcycle accident lawyer will take over complicated tasks on your behalf so that you can focus all of your energy on healing. These tasks include crash investigation, filling out and filing court paperwork, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, locating all sources of compensation, and helping your claim reach a settlement. If your case has to go to trial, an attorney’s representation in court can be invaluable.
Motorcyclists are at a higher risk of serious and fatal injuries in traffic accidents than typical motor vehicle drivers. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2019, motorcyclists were 29 times more likely than passenger vehicle drivers to pass away in accidents and 4 times more likely to be injured, according to the NHTSA. A motorcycle accident can inflict serious injuries on an unprotected motorcyclist, including:
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any type of injury after a motorcycle accident, including catastrophic injuries, Dormer Harpring, LLC can help. We understand how much serious injuries can impact victims and their families. Our accident attorneys in Thornton also know how to fight for fair and full financial compensation for any kind of damage.
Liability, or financial responsibility, for a motorcycle accident, will go to the at-fault party in Colorado under the state’s tort-based insurance system. Before an insurance company will offer a settlement, however, the injured victim must prove fault using a preponderance of the evidence. This is evidence that the defendant is more likely to be at fault than not at fault. The liable party may be the other driver for a careless or reckless act, such as:
Driving while tired. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. If a driver falls asleep behind the wheel, he or she may crash into a motorcyclist without hitting the brakes – causing a serious high-speed collision.
However, it could be the manufacturer of your motorcycle for a defective part, the government in charge of roadway maintenance or a third party. Identifying multiple parties can lead to greater financial compensation available. Determining liability and proving fault may take assistance from an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Thornton.
Colorado is a fault car insurance state. This means that after a motorcycle accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company of the at-fault driver or party. Determining liability for your collision is one of the first steps you must take to recover from a motorcycle accident.
A lawyer can investigate your crash to determine fault and search for evidence of liability, such as proof that the driver wasn’t paying attention to the road or was in violation of a traffic law at the time of the crash. The most common party liable for a motorcycle accident in Thornton is a negligent driver. However, a third party could also be liable, depending on the facts of the case.
If your motorcycle had a defective part that caused a dangerous equipment breakdown, for example, the manufacturer of the part could be liable. Another common scenario is the city or state being held liable for a motorcycle crash caused by a road defect, such as a pothole or obscured traffic sign.
Don’t assume that you are ineligible for financial compensation if you are partially responsible for a motorcycle accident. Thanks to Colorado’s comparative negligence law, you may still be entitled to at least partial compensation. As long as you are found to be less than 50 percent responsible for the crash, you can still collect compensation from the other at-fault driver or party.
If you are allocated a percentage of fault, however, your settlement or judgment award will be reduced by an equivalent amount. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages for your medical bills and motorcycle repairs but are given 10 percent of the blame, your award will be reduced to $90,000. If you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault for the crash, your recovery will be reduced to $0. This is why it is important to have an attorney defend your rights if you contributed to your motorcycle accident.
“Damages” is legalese for the financial compensation that is available in a civil lawsuit. If it is determined that your motorcycle accident claim against a driver or another party is valid, that party’s insurance company will be responsible for paying for your related economic and noneconomic losses.
Economic losses can include:
Noneconomic damages include:
If your loved one passed away in a fatal motorcycle accident in Thornton, your family may also be entitled to wrongful death damages. These can pay for the reasonable costs associated with your loved one’s funeral and burial, as well as lost earnings and inheritance. Discuss the value of your motorcycle accident case with one of our lawyers for more information before accepting an insurance settlement.
Motorcyclists are subject to all of the same laws and responsibilities as other motorists in Colorado. For example, they have a right to take up a full lane on the road and are not allowed to lane split, or ride on the line between two lanes. They must obey all of the same traffic signs and control signals as other drivers, including speed limits and stop lights.
In addition to traditional traffic laws, motorcyclists are also subject to special rules reserved for them. Motorcyclists under the age of 18 must wear helmets. All riders and passengers, regardless of age, must also wear eye protection. In addition, motorcyclists in Colorado must have a special motorcycle endorsement on their drivers’ licenses to operate this type of vehicle.
Motorcyclists should only carry passengers if their motorcycles were designed for passengers, with a designated seat and footrests. If a motorcyclist breaks any of these state laws, he or she can be held partially or wholly responsible for a related accident. The same is true if a driver violates a traffic law and causes a collision.
Don’t wait if you believe you have grounds for a motorcycle accident claim in Thornton. Colorado law places a three-year deadline on your right to file a lawsuit, in most cases. While the general statute of limitations is two years for a personal injury case, this deadline is extended by one year (for three years total) if the case involves a motor vehicle accident.
For the most part, there are no exceptions to the statute of limitations; if you wait too long to file and miss your deadline, you will be barred from making a financial recovery. This is why you should contact an attorney right away.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Thornton, Colorado or the surrounding areas, contact Dormer Harpring, LLC. We will help you understand and defend your legal rights when going up against a driver, an insurance company or another party. Our personal injury attorneys care about our clients and are committed to justice. Find out how we can help you today. Request a free motorcycle accident consultation at (303) 747-4404. We are here for you during this difficult time.