Also Handling Bicycle, Scooter, and Non-Licensed Vehicle Accidents
If Someone Injured You as a Pedestrian, on a Bicycle, Scooter, or Non-Licensed Vehicle, You Need The Strong Arm®
Traffic accidents involving motor vehicle drivers and someone using another mode of transport — such as a pedestrian, a skateboarder, or someone riding an electric scooter — are among the toughest cases to sort out in the legal arena. Pedestrian accident injuries can be catastrophic, but crash victims involved in bicycle or electric scooter accidents can also face devastating medical complications.
In these cases, a skilled pedestrian accident attorney who also handles other non-licensed vehicle crashes can be a valuable partner for a pedestrian or unprotected rider who requires extensive treatment and rehabilitation. The legal issues that arise in pedestrian, bike, or electric scooter accidents can be complicated and extensive.
The dedicated legal team at Franklin D. Azar & Associates can help you sort out questions about issues such as:
- Who had the right of way
- How to determine liability
- Whether the at-fault driver was distracted or intoxicated and
- Whether other issues regarding road conditions or faulty equipment may have played a role in these motor vehicle accidents
Don’t try to go alone if you have been involved in a pedestrian or non-licensed vehicle accident. Partner with Colorado pedestrian accident lawyers who are well-versed in the applicable state laws. We can help protect your rights and recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Colorado Pedestrian Accident Guide
- How Can a Pedestrian Accident Claim Arise
- How Common are Car-Bicycle Accidents?
- Car-Electric Scooter Accidents Are On the Rise
- Do I Need a Lawyer?
- If You’re Injured While on Foot, Bike, or Scooter, Contact the Pedestrian, Bike, and Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers at FDAzar Today
- Frequently Asked Questions About Accidents Involving Bicycles, Electric Scooters, and Pedestrians
- When You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Bicycle Crash Attorney, or an Injury Law Firm With Electric Scooter Accident Experience to File a Personal Injury Claim, Trust Franklin D. Azar & Associates
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Claim Arise?
There’s no disputing that cars are built better and safer now than they were twenty years ago. But that only holds true if you’re inside the car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,388 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in the U.S. in one recent year. This averages out to about one death every ninety minutes.
The mortality rate of car-pedestrian accidents has been increasing steadily in recent years and has reached the highest figure since 1990. Sadly, more than 100,000 pedestrians are involved in pedestrian accidents every year.
What’s causing these all-too-preventable encounters? Driver inattention, including increasing smartphone use, is one factor. Speeding and running red lights are also cited as frequent causes.
But there in a few situations a pedestrian may contribute to an accident — for example, by jaywalking, crossing against the light, or not allowing motorists sufficient time to react. Across the country, three-fourths of all pedestrian fatalities occur in poor lighting conditions.
If you or a loved one were hit by a car while walking, turn to the pedestrian accident attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates for a free consultation where we can answer all your questions.
How Common are Car-Bicycle Accidents?
The good news is that overall, accidents involving bicycles are decreasing. The bad news is that riders who sustained severe injuries and fatalities are increasing.
According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center maintained by the University of North Carolina, 783 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in the U.S. in one recent year. That number jumped to 857 in the following year.
Collectively, traffic fatalities involving bikes or pedestrians increased by nearly a third over a ten-year period — a decade in which overall traffic fatalities actually decreased slightly. Why are fatalities among these most vulnerable populations on the rise?
Bicycle advocate groups cite various reasons, including:
- Distracted driving by motorists
- Insufficient bike lanes
- Motorists’ failure to yield or share the roadway and
- Drunk drivers (alcohol is involved in 30% of bike-car accidents)
As in pedestrian accidents, lighting conditions play a major role, too. Many serious bike accidents happen at night, away from intersections. If you were struck by a vehicle while riding your bike, our dedicated legal team can help you navigate a bicycle accident injury claim from start to finish.
Car-Electric Scooter Accidents Are On the Rise
The influx of rentable electric scooters and other short-term mobility options has surprised officials in many cities, and rules governing their use vary widely.
For example, California requires scooter riders to wear helmets, while Colorado does not. Some municipalities want to keep scooter rentals in bike lanes and off sidewalks; others are trying to ban them altogether.
In the meantime, scooter use raises many liability issues. Read the fine print of scooter rental agreements. You’ll discover that the rider typically “assumes all responsibilities and risks for any injuries” that might result from using a scooter.
What happens if you injure yourself or a pedestrian while scooting — or worse, end up in a collision with a much faster, much heavier automobile? The e-scooter company will tell you that’s your problem, not theirs.
Your personal auto insurance policy may not help you here, either — unless you have uninsured motorist coverage, which is required in Colorado. However, some people intentionally reject this coverage to save premium costs.
If you’re operating an electric scooter and have an encounter with a reckless auto driver, and that driver was uninsured, in most instances, your own uninsured motorist coverage will provide some protection, just as it would if you were a motorist or a pedestrian.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Accidents involving pedestrians, electric scooter riders, non-licensed vehicles, or bicyclists raise a wide spectrum of legal questions that may require the services of a knowledgeable accident attorney. Especially if serious injuries are involved, hire an experienced legal professional who can address questions of right of way, liability, comparative fault, road conditions, adequate equipment, liability waivers, and other considerations.
If You’re Injured While on Foot, Bike, or Scooter, Contact the Pedestrian, Bike, and Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers at FDAzar Today
For more than thirty years, the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people recover the compensation they deserve for their losses.
We handle many types of accidents beyond straightforward car collisions. Contact our team of professionals to learn more.
Our proven track record and expertise have allowed us to grow into the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Aurora, Denver, Thornton, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Fort Collins, Greeley, and Grand Junction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accidents Involving Bicycles, Electric Scooters, and Pedestrians
Many Colorado cities are making significant strides toward becoming more environmentally friendly.
Denver, for example, added 31 miles of protected bike lanes (lanes that feature a physical barrier between bicycles and adjoining car lanes) since 2018. But as bike use increases, so does the frequency of bike-car collisions — and bicyclists are far more likely to suffer serious injuries in such encounters than motorists.
Here are some of the most common questions we receive about these crashes and safety on the roads.
What rights do bicyclists have when riding in city traffic?
Generally speaking, bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of other vehicles on the road. However, they are also considered “vulnerable road users.” Other drivers who fail to exercise due care around bikes (or pedestrians or electric scooters) can incur stiff penalties for any injuries they cause.
In the absence of a dedicated bike lane, bikes are expected to use the right-hand lane if moving slower than prevailing traffic but are not expected to ride through hazards or without a reasonable safety margin; auto drivers are required to provide at least a three-foot margin of safety when overtaking them.
Are bicyclists required to wear a helmet?
In Colorado, adult cyclists are encouraged but not required to wear helmets. Electric scooter riders should also seriously consider using a helmet.
What is the Colorado Safety Stop?
Effective April 2022, Colorado allows cyclists to perform a Safety Stop at intersections. Bikes and other low-speed conveyances can ride slowly through stop signs without coming to a complete stop as long as they yield when required to pedestrians and other road users with the right of way.
At red lights, bicyclists can proceed after coming to a stop as long as there is no oncoming traffic.
What actions should I take after a bike or scooter accident?
Given the serious nature of many bike-car collisions, seek immediate medical attention. If you have a cell phone and can do so, take pictures of your injuries, your bike or scooter, and the vehicle that hit you. File a police report, obtain contact information for the other driver and any witnesses, and avoid making any statements about who’s to blame for what happened.
What if the accident was caused by another party, but they didn’t actually hit me? Do I still have a claim?
If another driver forced you out of your lane or was otherwise responsible for the crash, you may well have a claim against that party. Call our personal injury law firm for more information.
How should I deal with the insurance company after a bike or scooter accident?
You should report the crash to the insurance company, but it’s best to consult an experienced bicycle or scooter accident lawyer before speaking to an adjuster.
Your attorney can communicate with the insurance company and ensure that your rights are protected and that your claim accurately reflects the extent of the injuries and losses you have incurred.
Will my pedestrian or bike accident case go to trial?
The vast majority of personal injury cases, including most pedestrian accidents and car-bike collision cases, are settled out of court. However, in cases involving disputes over liability or the extent of the injuries received, it may be necessary to file a civil lawsuit and ask a jury to award a fair resolution.
When You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Bicycle Crash Attorney, or an Injury Law Firm With Electric Scooter Accident Experience to File a Personal Injury Claim, Trust Franklin D. Azar & Associates
When a motor vehicle crashes into you while you are walking, bike riding, or cruising around on an electric scooter, the chances are good that you will suffer more extensive injuries than the negligent driver who hit you.
Franklin D. Azar, Colorado Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C. can help guide you through the confusing insurance claim process and protect you from aggressive, low-balling insurance adjusters.
If we can’t reach a reasonable settlement, we can take your claim to court to fight for your legal rights.
Call our compassionate team at (303) 757-3300 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation today.
Franklin D. Azar Accident Lawyers – Colorado Office
14426 E Evans Ave
Aurora, CO 80014
P: (303) 757-3300
