5 Common Causes of a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado
If you’re recovering from a motorcycle accident in Colorado, you’re probably still dealing with the pain, the paperwork, and the stress of lost income and growing medical bills. You may not even remember exactly how the crash happened. Understanding the cause could be key to protecting your rights.
Most motorcycle accidents aren’t caused by careless riding—they’re caused by other drivers who fail to share the road safely. Whether you were hit by a turning vehicle or ran into debris left behind in a construction zone, the reason behind the wreck plays a major role in whether you can file a motorcycle accident claim.
At Heuser & Heuser, L.L.P., our Colorado personal injury lawyers have worked with injured riders across Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado, helping them seek fair compensation for everything from medical expenses to missed time at work. If you’re wondering whether another driver, a road hazard, or a mechanical failure caused your crash, this blog breaks down the most common causes, and what they could mean for your case.
1. Drivers Who Fail to See Motorcyclists
Many motorcycle crashes happen because drivers simply don’t look. Whether they’re checking their phone, making a rushed turn, or failing to check their blind spots, these motor vehicle accidents often stem from another person’s carelessness—not yours.
It’s common for drivers to make a left-hand turn into a rider’s path, merge into a lane without noticing a motorcycle, or suddenly change lanes without warning. These moments can result in devastating injuries and wrecks that leave motorcycle accident victims with serious damage and few answers.
If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash because another driver failed to see you, a personal injury law firm can investigate whether the at fault party acted negligently, and help you pursue a motorcycle accident claim.
2. Speeding and Reckless Driving
Speeding plays a role in many serious accidents involving motorcycles. When a car or truck is going too fast, the driver has less time to react, and the damage at impact is often catastrophic for motorcycle riders.
Under Colorado law, drivers must operate their vehicles in a “reasonable and prudent” way based on road and traffic conditions (C.R.S. § 42-4-1101(1)).
But reckless behavior like speeding through intersections, weaving through traffic, or tailgating puts everyone at risk, especially motorcyclists who don’t have the same protection as those in larger vehicles.
If you were hurt at an accident scene where another driver’s speeding played a role, you may be able to file a motorcycle accident case against the at fault party. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help determine whether the driver’s actions violated traffic law and contributed to the injuries you sustained.
3. Hazardous Road Conditions
As a motorcyclist, you’re far more exposed to road hazards than drivers in enclosed vehicles. A patch of gravel or a poorly marked construction zone might not affect a car, but it can cause a motorcycle crash that leaves you seriously injured.
In Colorado, some of the most common road hazards that lead to crashes include:
- Loose gravel or sand
- Uneven pavement or drop-offs
- Pooled water or oil slicks
- Unmarked or poorly managed construction zones
These conditions often result in property damage and common motorcycle accident injuries, like skids, high-side crashes, or collisions with stationary objects. If poor road maintenance contributed to your crash, the at fault party may not be another driver—it could be a government agency or private contractor. A personal injury lawyer can determine who should be held accountable under Colorado law.
4. Drivers Who Follow Too Closely
Rear-end auto accidents involving motorcycles can be devastating, even at low speeds. When a driver tailgates a motorcycle, there’s almost no time or space to stop safely, especially in traffic or at intersections.
These types of crashes often result in:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Permanent disability
For injured victims, these outcomes lead to far more than pain. You may be dealing with ongoing medical treatment, missed work, and the financial pressure of rising medical bills. Even with a helmet, traumatic brain injuries can still occur. Your medical records can help show the full extent of the harm. If you received care after the crash, that documentation can support your motorcycle accident claim and help establish the impact the accident has had on your life.
5. Driving Under the Influence
Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents in Colorado. Whether it’s alcohol, marijuana, or another substance, drivers under the influence pose a serious threat to everyone on the road, and motorcycle accident victims often suffer the worst outcomes.
If your crash involved an at fault party who was impaired at the time, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim or, in tragic situations, a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases often involve steep medical bills, missed work, and long-term emotional tolls.
A successful claim may allow you to pursue financial compensation for emergency treatment, hospital stays, damage to your motorcycle and gear, and lost income from time away from work. But be cautious. Insurance companies often move quickly after a DUI-related crash, offering low settlements before you understand the full impact of your injuries. Skilled Colorado personal injury lawyers can evaluate your motorcycle accident case and help you pursue a resolution that reflects the full extent of your losses.
How Motorcycle Accidents Differ from Other Vehicle Crashes
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident before, you might expect the process to be similar, but motorcycle accidents tend to lead to far more serious consequences. Riders are fully exposed to the force of a crash without the protection of a car frame, airbags, or seat belts.
Compared to other auto accidents, a motorcycle crash is more likely to cause serious injuries, long-term disabilities, and significant property damage. These factors often make it harder to reach a fair settlement, especially when insurance companies try to minimize your claim or shift blame. That’s why it helps to work with a legal team that understands the unique challenges of personal injury cases involving motorcycles under Colorado law.
What You Can Still Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’re already dealing with injuries from a motorcycle accident in Colorado, you may be wondering whether you’ve missed a step or said the wrong thing. The truth is, most injured motorcyclists don’t know what to do right after a crash—and that’s okay. You still have options.
Here’s what you can focus on now:
- Get copies of your accident report and medical records. These documents can help show how the crash happened and the injuries sustained.
- Write down what you remember. Even small details about the accident scene like the weather, location, or what the other driver said can support your motorcycle accident claim.
- Keep track of medical bills and lost wages. These show the financial impact of the crash and help calculate your potential compensation.
- Avoid speaking directly with insurance adjusters. If they call, you’re not required to answer questions right away. Their job is to protect the insurance company—not you.
- Reach out to a legal team that understands motorcycle accident cases. A personal injury attorney can step in to collect witness statements, build your case, and deal with the parties involved.
Even if you weren’t able to gather evidence right after the crash, your attorney can still investigate and pursue a fair outcome on your behalf.
Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash? We’re on Top of It!
Recovering from a motorcycle accident is hard enough without the added pressure of dealing with insurance companies, paperwork, and medical bills. You might be wondering who’s really on your side or if you even have a case. That’s where we come in.
At Heuser & Heuser, L.L.P., we’ve stood beside injured motorcyclists in Colorado Springs and across Southern Colorado for nearly three decades. You can count on our team to deliver clear advice and professional support because that’s what our clients deserve.
If someone else caused your crash, we’re ready to look into your case, speak with the insurance adjusters, and fight for the compensation that accounts for your injuries, losses, and recovery needs.
If you were searching online for “auto accident attorneys near me” and found us, you’re in the right place. We’re ready to help you understand your options and take the next step. Call us at (719) 520-9909(719) 520-9909 to schedule your FREE case review or fill out our confidential online form today.
Injured? Give us a call! It’s just that easy.
Copyright © 2025. Heuser & Heuser, LLP. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
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Questions Or Schedule A Free Appointment? Click To Call (719) 520-9909
No Fee Unless You Win
Questions or Schedule A free Appointment? Click to Call (719) 520-9909
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know What My Case Is Worth?
There are a variety of things we look at when evaluating your case and determining its value. We look at how the accident occurred. We look at what sort of injuries you sustained. Do you have a permanent injury that will last the rest of your life? Are you going to have future medical bills? We look at lost wages. Did you lose your job? If you have permanent work restrictions as a result of the accident, you may not be able to find a job very easily in the future. These are some of the factors that we look at in evaluating a claim. Every case is unique and different. That’s why at our law firm, every case gets personal attention from the lawyer when it comes time to evaluate.
Why is it Important to Hire a Lawyer?
Insurance companies are in business for a reason: to make money. Anytime they are paying money on a claim, it means less money to their bottom line. They have literally hundreds of adjusters and hundreds of lawyers who are on their side trying to figure out how to prevent money from leaving their checkbooks. Quite frankly, you do need a lawyer to help you through this because your lawyer will make sure you’re properly compensated.
Do Cases Settle Without Going to Court?
Cases settle before going to trial 80 to 90 percent of the time. However, that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work involved in getting a case settled outside of court. Sometimes you have to file a lawsuit and do a lot of what I call “legal maneuvering” to get a case settled. That means we take depositions from witnesses to the accident, from police officers, and from your doctors. But, yes, most cases will settle prior to trial.
Do You Get Good Results for Your Clients?
We do get good results for our clients. We have settled hundreds, if not thousands, of cases where we’ve had large settlements. We’ve had substantial verdicts. We go to the mat for our clients if necessary. We’ll appeal cases. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure our client is taken care of.
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Gordon J. Heuser, Esq.
As a Colorado Springs native, Gordon has been practicing in Southern Colorado for 35+ years.…
Brennan D. Heuser, Esq.
Brennan Heuser is a Colorado Native who graduated from the University of Miami, Fl with…
Shannon R. Colt, Esq.
Shannon’s journey to becoming an attorney at Heuser & Heuser in Colorado Springs began six…
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