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Colorado Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Colorado pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities combined have risen 78% since 2015, and the state has one of the highest shares of intersection pedestrian/cyclist deaths in the country (Colorado Department of Transportation)

Colorado bicycle accident attorney

Mile High Legal Resource Center
By Grant Grosgebauer, Mile High Legal · Last reviewed October 2026

Colorado’s cycling culture is part of why people move here — and part of why bicycle accidents are a real and growing problem on our roads. A driver who fails to yield, passes too closely, or simply does not see a cyclist can cause life-altering injuries, since a bike offers no protection in a collision with a vehicle.

As a bicycle accident law firm, Mile High Legal represents injured cyclists across Colorado, from commuters hit in bike lanes to recreational riders struck on mountain roads. We know insurance companies often try to blame the cyclist for “not being visible enough” — we counter that narrative with real evidence of the crash.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Colorado

  • Failing to yield when turning across a bike lane — one of the most common causes of serious bicycle crashes.
  • “Dooring” — a parked car door opened into a cyclist’s path.
  • Following too closely or passing without enough clearance — Colorado requires a safe passing distance [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — confirm current statute].
  • Distracted driving — a cyclist can be harder to notice than another vehicle.
  • Poor road or bike-lane design — a factor in a meaningful share of intersection crashes.

What Compensation Can Cover

  • Medical expenses, including surgery and rehabilitation
  • Lost income and diminished earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage to the bicycle and gear

What To Do After a Bicycle Accident in Colorado

  • Get medical attention right away, even if you feel capable of riding home.
  • Photograph the scene, your bicycle, gear, and any visible injuries.
  • Get the driver’s information and any witness contacts.
  • Avoid accepting blame for “not being visible enough” before speaking with a bicycle accident attorney.

Why Choose Mile High Legal

We push back on the narrative that cyclists are to blame for being hit. Our bicycle accident lawyers build cases on the actual traffic violation involved — a failure to yield, a dooring, an unsafe pass — not an insurer’s assumptions about visibility or fault.

What to do next

If you were injured while cycling in Colorado, call Mile High Legal at (720) 853-5779 for a free consultation.

Call (720) 853-5779

Quick Answers

Do cyclists have the same rights as drivers on Colorado roads?

Generally, yes — Colorado law treats cyclists as operators of vehicles with a right to the road, subject to specific rules like Colorado’s safe passing distance requirements for drivers overtaking a cyclist [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — confirm current statute].

What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet when I was hit?

Colorado does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — confirm current law and any local ordinances]. Not wearing one does not automatically bar a claim, though it is an argument insurers sometimes raise regarding injury severity.

Who is usually at fault in a bicycle accident?

It depends on the crash, but common causes of driver fault include failing to yield when turning across a bike lane, dooring, following too closely, or distracted driving. Identifying the specific traffic violation is often central to proving the claim.

What damages can I recover after a bicycle accident?

Typically medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage to the bicycle and gear. Because cyclists have minimal protection, injuries are frequently more severe than in a comparable car-on-car crash.

What is “dooring” and who is liable?

Dooring happens when someone inside a parked car opens a door into a cyclist’s path without checking for oncoming riders. The person who opened the door is typically at fault, and many jurisdictions specifically prohibit this under traffic law [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — confirm current Colorado statute].

Does a bike lane guarantee my safety in a legal claim?

Riding in a marked bike lane strengthens a cyclist’s position when a driver fails to yield or crosses into that lane, but fault still depends on the specific facts of how the crash happened.