1. Dan Caplis Law
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, truck accidents, bus collisions, wrongful death involving motorcyclists, severe personal injury cases throughout Colorado
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car collisions, motorcycle versus truck accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions involving motorcycles, drunk driver motorcycle accidents, wrongful death motorcycle cases
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence gathering, accident reconstruction, insurance negotiation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Dan Caplis has over 40 years of experience representing catastrophic injury victims in Denver. He is the only attorney in Colorado history to win five consecutive multi-million-dollar jury verdicts in crash cases, including the largest accident verdict in Colorado history at $26.6 million (following a $2 million insurance settlement offer). Recognized as a Colorado Super Lawyer. Named one of Denver’s 25 most powerful people by 5280 Magazine. Legal analyst and host of a daily syndicated talk show on the iHeart Radio network with appearances on Fox News, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and BBC. Serves on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities and named Humanitarian of the Year. Personal experience operating motorcycles.
Location: 4704 N Harlan St, Suite 205, Denver, CO 80212
Contact: (303) 770-5551 | https://www.dancaplislaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
2. Rider Justice
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents exclusively. The firm specializes in motorcycle crash litigation and biker rights advocacy throughout Colorado since 1998.
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car accidents, motorcycle versus truck accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, road defect motorcycle crashes, wrongful death motorcycle cases, animal versus motorcycle accidents, multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents
Legal Services: Motorcycle accident investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, evidence preservation, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Rider Justice has specialized in motorcycle accident cases since 1998. The firm focuses exclusively on representing injured motorcycle riders and their families. Active in the Colorado riding community with involvement in motorcycle events and biker advocacy organizations. The attorneys understand motorcycle dynamics and rider perspectives in crash cases.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Contact: (877) 562-9425 | https://riderjustice.com
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis with no payment unless case is won.
3. Boesen Law
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death throughout Denver and Colorado
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car accidents, motorcycle versus truck accidents, left-turn accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle crashes, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents
Legal Services: Case evaluation, evidence gathering, accident investigation, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, future earning capacity calculation, pain and suffering claims
Background: Attorney Jon Boesen leads the motorcycle accident practice. The firm secured a $2.2 million result for a client injured in a motorcycle accident. Multiple attorneys on staff including Dennis P. Walker, Joseph J. Fraser III, Stephen A. Justino, Barry I. Dunn, and Bradley R. Unkeless. The firm has experience with Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rules and helmet law implications in motorcycle cases.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Contact: https://boesenlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
4. Donaldson Law, LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death throughout the greater Denver area including Boulder, Longmont, Lakewood, Arvada, Aurora, Thornton, Westminster, Centennial, and Littleton
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car accidents, motorcycle versus truck accidents, left-turn accidents, intersection motorcycle crashes, highway accidents, drunk driver motorcycle accidents, defective motorcycle cases, road hazard accidents
Legal Services: Accident investigation, police officer interviews, witness interviews, accident reconstruction expert consultation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery
Background: Attorney Jennifer L. Donaldson handles motorcycle accident cases with thorough investigation including hiring investigators and accident reconstructionists to examine debris, skid marks, vehicles, and other evidence. The firm works to overcome prejudice and perception challenges that motorcycle accident victims often face at trial.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Contact: https://donaldsonlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
5. Frank Azar Car and Truck Accident Lawyers
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death. The largest personal injury law firm in Colorado with offices throughout the state.
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car accidents, motorcycle versus truck accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, drunk driver motorcycle crashes, distracted driver accidents, multi-party liability motorcycle cases, wrongful death motorcycle accidents
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence gathering, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Frank Azar Car and Truck Accident Lawyers is the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado with offices in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton. The firm has handled hundreds of motorcycle claims and employs experienced trial attorneys. The firm has resources to pursue complex motorcycle accident cases including multi-party liability situations.
Location: 4704 N Harlan St, Suite 205, Denver, CO 80212
Contact: (303) 562-1442 | https://www.fdazar.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation available.
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Colorado
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Colorado provides three years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for motor vehicle collisions. If the accident involved defective design or construction of the motorcycle, the statute of limitations is two years.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Three years from the date of the accident.
Fault System: Colorado is an at-fault state for insurance claims. The party found negligent in causing the motorcycle accident is responsible for covering damages to the injured victim.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. Contributory negligence does not bar recovery if the injured party’s negligence is not as great as the negligence of the defendant. If the injured motorcyclist is 50% or more at fault, they cannot recover damages. If found less than 50% at fault, compensation is reduced proportionally by the fault percentage. For example, if found 30% responsible for an accident with $100,000 in damages, recovery would be $70,000.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Colorado requires minimum liability insurance for motorcycles. Specific coverage amounts apply similar to automobile insurance requirements.
Helmet Laws: Colorado has a partial helmet law. Riders and passengers under age 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet. Riders 18 and older are not legally required to wear a helmet, though the state recommends helmet use. Eye protection is mandatory for all motorcyclists regardless of age. Goggles, eyeglasses made of safety glass or plastic, or helmet visors satisfy this requirement. A motorcycle windshield alone does not constitute adequate eye protection.
Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering Laws: Lane splitting (riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic) is illegal in Colorado. Motorcyclists may not pass vehicles in the same lane. However, two motorcycles may ride side by side in a single lane (co-riding).
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements: Colorado requires a motorcycle endorsement on the driver’s license to legally operate a motorcycle. This endorsement requires passing written and riding skills tests.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles must have footrests, and passengers are required to use them. Motorcycles must have functional lights and signals. Attaching a motorcycle or rider to another vehicle while riding on public roadways is illegal and constitutes a class A traffic infraction with fines ranging from $5 to $100.
Passenger Requirements: Passengers may only ride on motorcycles designed to carry more than one person. Proper seating and footrests must be available for passengers.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Colorado allows optional uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to protect riders when at-fault drivers lack adequate insurance.
Damage Caps: Colorado does not impose caps on economic damages. Non-economic damages may be subject to certain limitations in specific case types.
Helmet Use as Evidence of Comparative Negligence: Although adult riders are not required to wear helmets, insurance companies and defense attorneys may argue that head injuries would have been less severe with helmet use. This argument can increase the motorcyclist’s assigned fault percentage under comparative negligence, potentially reducing compensation for head-related injuries.
Wrongful Death Claims: Colorado allows surviving family members to pursue wrongful death claims when a motorcycle accident results in a fatality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Colorado law provides three years from the date of a motor vehicle motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the accident involved a defective motorcycle design or construction, the deadline is two years. Missing this deadline typically results in permanent loss of the right to seek compensation. Exceptions may apply for minors or legally incapacitated individuals through a process called tolling, which can extend the deadline until a minor turns 18 or an incapacitated person regains capacity. Consulting with an attorney promptly after an accident ensures evidence preservation and timely filing.
How does Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule affect motorcycle accident claims?
Colorado follows modified comparative negligence, meaning you can recover damages if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. If found 50% or more responsible, you cannot recover any compensation. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if found 30% at fault with $100,000 in damages, you would receive $70,000. Insurance companies often attempt to assign higher fault percentages to motorcyclists, so documentation and legal representation are important for minimizing fault attribution.
I was not wearing a helmet during my motorcycle accident. Can I still recover compensation in Colorado?
Yes, adult riders (18 and older) in Colorado are not legally required to wear helmets, so choosing not to wear one is not negligence per se. However, defense attorneys may argue that your head injuries would have been less severe or prevented with helmet use. This argument can increase your assigned fault percentage under comparative negligence, reducing compensation for head-related injuries. An experienced attorney can counter these arguments by emphasizing that Colorado law permits adult riders to forgo helmets and by demonstrating the primary cause of the accident was the other party’s negligence.
Is lane splitting legal in Colorado, and how does it affect accident liability?
Lane splitting is illegal in Colorado. Riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic violates state law. If you are involved in an accident while lane splitting, insurance companies and defense attorneys will likely argue your illegal conduct contributed to the accident. This can significantly increase your assigned fault percentage, potentially exceeding the 50% threshold that bars recovery entirely under modified comparative negligence. However, if another driver’s negligence also contributed to the accident, partial recovery may still be possible with appropriate legal representation.
What types of compensation can motorcycle accident victims recover in Colorado?
Colorado allows motorcycle accident victims to recover economic damages including medical expenses (emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment), lost wages during recovery, reduced future earning capacity, and property damage to the motorcycle. Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, disfigurement, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can recover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and compensation for the emotional impact of the loss. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct.