Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Last updated on May 29, 2026

Colorado recorded 165 motorcycle fatalities in 2024, the highest number ever reported in the state. Even more concerning, motorcycle registrations fell while fatalities rose by 60% since 2018. These numbers show how dangerous motorcycle crashes can be for riders in Boulder and across Colorado.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by a careless driver, the Boulder personal injury lawyers at Daniels & Scriven, P.C., can assist you. We have helped clients recover millions over more than 50 combined years of representing injured victims, and we’re ready to offer our compassionate, skilled representation to you throughout your case.

Give us a call today at 720-303-8591 to schedule a free consultation with a Boulder motorcycle accident lawyer.

Types Of Motorcycle Collisions

Because motorcycles are smaller, lower to the ground and two-wheeled, riders are more vulnerable to accidents than occupants in passenger vehicles. Motorcycle accidents can occur in various scenarios, but some of the most common types of motorcycle collisions include:

• Turning accidents: Many motorcycle accidents occur when a motorcyclist is traveling straight and a car turns left in front of them. These crashes often occur because the driver of the passenger vehicle does not notice the smaller motorcycle or misjudges its distance. The car may hit the motorcycle, or the motorcyclist may have to apply the brakes quickly to try to avoid a collision, which can cause them to be ejected from the bike.
• Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions can occur when a motorist passes a vehicle without noticing a motorcycle approaching in the other direction. They can also happen when a driver is drunk, tired or distracted.
• Rear-end crashes: Rear-end accidents are among the most common types of motor vehicle accidents. However, they can be deadly for motorcyclists. These accidents often occur because other drivers are distracted or following too closely.
• Intersection accidents: Intersections are a common site for motor vehicle accidents. Motorists may be rushing through a light or running a stop sign, putting other motorists at risk.
• Lane-change crashes: These crashes occur when a motorist fails to check or monitor their blind spot and collides with a motorist already occupying the lane.
• Dooring accidents: These crashes happen when someone opens a parked car door directly into the path of an approaching motorcyclist.

If you were injured in any of these types of motorcycle accidents, you may have the right to compensation. Many of these collisions also apply to bicyclists (more vulnerable to cars, etc.), so we encourage you to contact a bicycle accident attorney in Boulder today if that is the case for you.

Boulder’s Most Dangerous Routes & Intersections

Some parts of Boulder create more risk for motorcycle riders than others. Local crash and traffic safety data point to major corridors like 28th Street, Broadway and the Table Mesa area as places where serious crashes and enforcement concerns cluster. The city’s traffic enforcement locations also highlight corridors such as 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard, 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue, Broadway and Pine Street, and Table Mesa Drive and Foothills Parkway.

For riders, a few Boulder motorcycle accident hotspots deserve special attention:

• 28th Street (U.S. 36 corridor): Heavy traffic, frequent lane changes, turning vehicles and retail access points make this one of the most dangerous stretches for riders.
• Broadway (CO 93 connection): This route mixes local traffic, student traffic, cyclists and drivers making quick turns near neighborhoods and campus areas.
• Table Mesa Drive area: Busy intersections, highway access and changing traffic patterns can create sudden hazards for riders.

Boulder also has a traffic pattern that differs from Denver’s. In Boulder, the 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. window can be especially dangerous because of student traffic near CU Boulder, afternoon class changes, rideshare pickups and heavier movement through key intersections. That mix of drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, buses and motorcycles raises the risk of a serious crash.

Boulder Crash Response Guide

From the moment immediately after the accident, it is important that you understand you are involved in an adversarial process. The other driver and their insurance company will fight aggressively to try to get out of paying the money they owe you. Motorcycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, so responsible parties want to avoid having to make significant payouts to third parties.

Keep this in mind while you complete the following steps:

• Call 911 and report the crash: If the crash happens inside Boulder city limits, the Boulder Police Department usually handles the response. If the crash happens in Boulder Canyon, on Highway 93 or in unincorporated parts of the county, the Boulder County Sheriff or Colorado State Patrol may respond. Colorado State Patrol also covers Boulder County through District 1, and Troop 1E serves the Golden and nearby metro area.
• Get emergency medical help: If you have serious injuries, ask for an ambulance. In Boulder, riders often receive emergency treatment through Boulder Community Health’s Foothills Hospital, which operates a 24-hour emergency department and a Level II Trauma Center. Riders coming from the south end of the county along U.S. 36 may also receive emergency care through UCHealth Broomfield Hospital.
• Exchange information: Get the other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license details, license plate number and insurance information.
• Watch what you say: Answer the officer’s questions honestly, but do not guess, argue or say anything that sounds like you are accepting blame.
• Photograph the scene: Take photos of your motorcycle, the other vehicle, skid marks, debris, traffic lights, road conditions and visible injuries.
• Talk to witnesses: Get names and contact information from anyone who saw the crash.
• Do not rush repairs: Keep your motorcycle in its post-crash condition until your lawyer or an expert has a chance to inspect it.

Finally, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner we can evaluate the case, investigate the accident and collect evidence to establish your legal claim. We offer a free, no-obligation case review, so you can contact us at no risk.

Understanding Colorado’s 51% Fault Rule & Your Rights In Boulder County

Motorcycle riders can make a claim against those who cause them harm if they can show another driver on the road was at least 51% responsible for the accident. That’s because Colorado follows something called a “modified comparative fault rule” under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-111.

If the other driver caused most of the crash, you can still recover money even if you were partly at fault. But your compensation drops by your share of fault. If you are 51% at fault or more, you recover nothing.

Here is a simple example:

• If your damages equal $100,000
• And the insurance company or jury says you were 20% at fault
• You can still recover $80,000

But if they say you were 51% at fault, Colorado law bars recovery.

This rule matters in Boulder because insurance companies often try to blame riders for speeding, changing lanes or taking risks. We push back with the facts.

Boulder County cases may also play differently from cases in other parts of Colorado. Boulder jurors often take traffic safety seriously and understand that roads are shared by drivers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians. That can help when your case shows that a driver failed to look for all road users before turning, merging or opening a door.

When you make your motorcycle accident claim, you generally must also do so within three years to comply with the three-year statute of limitations imposed in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101 when injuries are caused by motor vehicles.

How To Make A Boulder Motorcycle Accident Claim

Motorcycle accidents often occur as a result of:

• Driver inattention
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Unsafe left turns by drivers

In order to make a claim and hold a driver accountable for the crash, you’ll need to “establish the existence of a legal duty, breach of the duty, causation and damage,” as explained in Perreira v. State, 768 P.2d 1198 (1989).

This involves showing the other driver had a duty to drive safely, was unreasonably careless and behaved less responsibly than the hypothetical average driver, and caused you harm as a result. Witness statements, police reports and other evidence from the crash scene can help you prove your case.

In addition, contact a Boulder Social Security Disability attorney if you believe you are entitled to any disability benefits from Social Security after a motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle Accident Claims Based On Defective Parts And Product Liability

Defective parts or assemblies can cause motorcycle accidents. Brakes may fail or lock, tires can blow out, and the motorcycle may not handle as designed. These flaws can make it impossible to avoid an accident at a critical moment.

In these cases, you may have a claim against the manufacturer of the bike or part that injured you on the basis of product liability. Those involved in the making and selling of products are required to ensure their products are safe to use as designed. You may have a claim based on a manufacturing or design defect. A manufacturing defect occurs when there is a problem during the manufacturing process that affects a certain number of products or batches. For example, the wrong screw may have been used to secure bike pieces together. A design defect involves an inherent safety issue in the vehicle’s design.

If you suspect your bike accident involved a defective part, it’s crucial that you work with a lawyer experienced in handling product liability claims. There are special rules and procedures related to these cases that your lawyer can help you navigate.

Compensation For A Boulder Motorcycle Accident

You should be entitled to full compensation for losses resulting from a motorcycle accident. Often, this compensation is substantial, as motorcycle riders are more likely to sustain serious injury in a collision.

The damages you should receive payment for include:

• Actual financial losses resulting from medical bills, wage loss and reduced capacity to work.
• Noneconomic damages are defined in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-102.5 as “pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional stress, and impairment of the quality of life.” These damages are capped by this statute in Colorado, with annual limits varying due to inflation.

In rare cases, punitive damages may also be available but are limited to three times actual damages by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-102.

Motorcyclist Bias, Helmets And Filtering Laws

Insurance companies still lean on old stereotypes about motorcyclists. They may try to paint the rider as reckless before they even look closely at the facts. That tactic can affect settlement talks, and if the case goes to trial, it can shape how the defense presents the story.

The “Boulder Juror” Profile

The old “reckless biker” stereotype does not fit many riders in Boulder. Boulder riders include professionals, students, commuters and outdoor enthusiasts who use motorcycles to get to work, school and home. Boulder also puts major focus on Vision Zero and multimodal safety. That means drivers should watch for all vulnerable road users, not just other cars.

The Helmet Defense

Colorado law only requires helmets for riders and passengers under 18. For adults, helmet use is optional. Colorado courts have also held that the defense cannot use the lack of a helmet to prove the rider was negligent or reduce damages.

That matters in a Boulder courtroom. A driver who caused the crash should not escape responsibility by shifting the focus to whether the rider wore a helmet.

New 2024 Lane Filtering Rights

Colorado changed the law in 2024. Senate Bill 24-079 allows a two-wheeled motorcycle to pass stopped vehicles in the same lane if:

• Traffic is fully stopped
• The lane is wide enough to pass safely
• The rider is traveling 15 mph or less
• Conditions allow safe and careful movement

The law took effect on August 7, 2024. Riders still cannot use the shoulder, pass on the far right in prohibited situations or split lanes through moving traffic. Lane splitting remains illegal in Colorado.

Insurance adjusters may still try to label legal filtering as “illegal lane splitting.” We know the difference, and we use evidence like helmet cam footage, GoPro video, GPS data, witness statements and crash reconstruction to show when a rider was operating within the law.

Getting Help From A Boulder Motorcycle Accident Attorney

A Boulder vehicle accident lawyer at Daniels & Scriven, P.C., can help you if you have been hurt or someone you love was killed in a motorcycle accident. We’ll work with you to understand your rights, negotiate a fair settlement or fight for fair compensation in court. Give us a call today at 720-303-8591 or send us an email to learn more.