Your Boulder bicycle accident attorneys

Protecting Colorado’s cyclists

Whether for commuting or for exercise, riding a bicycle is a popular mode of transportation here in Colorado. Despite an abundance of laws designed to protect cyclists, our state still sees a disturbing number of bike accidents every year. With more cars and trucks on our roads, even the safest and most experienced cyclist is at a higher risk of getting struck. Dedicated bicycle accident attorneys, like those at the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson, have years of experience getting injured cyclists the justice they deserve.

Bicycle crash statistics in Colorado

In Colorado alone, there were more than 8,000 bicycle crashes between 2010 and 2019 where the riders were found to be not at fault, per accident reconstruction, witnesses and police reports. Looking deeper into these metrics: during the time frame, the number of cyclists killed in car crashes on Colorado roads more than doubled. With more bicycles sharing the roads with larger and larger SUVs and trucks, the likelihood of Boulder accident cases rises – both in urban environments and on back roads and winding mountain passes. 

The Bicycle Colorado initiative was started back in 1992 to address just these concerns, using advocacy and education to make Colorado one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the nation. Yet, their safety work (i.e. new bicycle laws, better signage, more dedicated bike lanes) must continue as the above statistics illustrate. The rising tide in bicycle-car accidents isn’t problematic only in Colorado; at the national level, these types of crashes are increasing too. 

National cycling safety statistics

• In 2015 in the United States, over 1,000 bicyclists died and there were almost 467,000 bicycle-related injuries. (Source: CDC, Bicycle Safety)
• Data from 2010 show fatal and non-fatal crash-related injuries to bicyclists resulted in lifetime medical costs and productivity losses of $10 billion. (Ibid.)
• There were 846 bicyclists killed in collisions with vehicles in 2019, up from 718 bicyclist deaths in 2008. (Source: NHSTA, Share the Road: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility)
• Bicyclists injured increased by 2,000, a 4.3-percent increase from 2018.(Source: NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2019)
• Bicycle fatalities in urban areas increased by 49 percent since 2010; they increased by 4.6 percent in rural areas. (Ibid.)
• Bicycle-related deaths increased between 2009 and 2018, primarily among adults; there were nearly 597,000 bicycle-related traumatic brain injuries treated in hospital emergency departments (ED) in the United States. (Source: CPSC: New CDC Report Finds More Adults Are Dying from Bicycle-Related Accidents)
• Men are three times more likely than women to end up in an emergency room with traumatic brain injuries from a cycling injury. (Ibid.)

Common injuries from cycling accidents

Cycling accidents are not like car-on-car accidents. A cyclist struck by a vehicle has limited protective gear; as would be expected of car-related cycling crashes, sustained injuries will be worse for the cyclist than for the driver. That is why we always push for cyclists to wear helmets, even though not required by Colorado bicycle law.  Even one measure of protection might help in the case of a crash, which can result in a broad reach of injuries: 

• Traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) – even with a helmet
• Spinal cord injury
• Paralyzation
• Broken bones or fractures
• Road rash 

In the wake of a cycling accident, problems can pile up fast. Medical bills start pouring in, future treatment may strip time away from work, and getting back on the bike may induce anxiety, or even cause PTSD. The list of both financial and physical ramifications of a crash can be overwhelming, which is why our bicycle accident lawyers advocate for drivers to make every effort to mitigate risk for cyclists.

Watch out for cyclists (driver tips)

Under its “Share the Road, Friend” campaign, The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reminds drivers of their responsibility to be courteous and alert when encountering cyclists on the road. The CDOT makes the following recommendations:

• Never drive while distracted by a phone or electronic device.
• Always leave at least a three-foot cushion when passing cyclists.
• Watch for cyclists in their rearview mirrors and never merge closely into a lane where a cyclist is riding.

The Bicycle Colorado Initiative has even more in-depth rules of the road, including:

• When passing a bicyclist, you are required to allow at least 3 ft of space between the widest point of your vehicle and the widest point of the bicyclist, even when they are in a bike lane. You may cross a double yellow center line when oncoming traffic is clear to pass a bicyclist safely.
• Only enter the oncoming travel lane to pass a bicyclist when it is fully visible and free of oncoming traffic. If the oncoming travel lane is not fully visible or free of oncoming traffic, wait until it is to pass. 
• Do not drive, park, idle, open doors without looking for bicyclists, or otherwise obstruct a bike lane. You may maneuver across a bike lane to turn after checking for people on bikes.
• Pay special attention at intersections and driveways.

Injured on your bike? We’ll help you get back in gear.

We have years of experience working with the local cycling communities, pushing for more road awareness, signage and better community outreach to understand the needs of both the cyclists and drivers on the road. Cyclists need not feel that they are at a disadvantage, both on the road and in the courtroom. As local Boulder bicycle accident lawyers, we are willing to fight for those who have been injured through no fault of their own, as bicyclists are most often hit by negligent or reckless drivers… along with instances of road rage. In the unfortunate event that you require a bicycle accident attorney, please feel free to call our office at 303-444-1505 for a free consultation.