Colorado Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Colorado law gives accident victims the right to pursue compensation, and it doesn’t just cover what’s easy to add up.

Economic Damages

They’re usually the easiest to calculate because they have receipts, invoices, and statements backing them up.

• Medical Expenses: From the ambulance ride to surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments, these numbers escalate fast. If an accident left you with a traumatic brain injury or broken bones, these costs increase even more with rehabilitation and ongoing treatment. Colorado personal injury law allows victims to recover for past and future medical expenses.
• Lost Wages: If injuries kept you from returning to work, you can claim lost income. This includes wages you missed during recovery and, if you can’t return to your old job, potential future earnings. Lawyers will often work with vocational experts to assess whether injuries prevent you from resuming your profession, and if so, calculate the difference in lifetime earnings.
• Property Damage: Your bike isn’t cheap. If your carbon-fiber frame is now scrap metal, property damage claims cover repairs or replacement, plus gear that got wrecked in the crash—helmets, clothing, phone mounts, you name it.

Non-Economic Damages

Some losses don’t fit neatly into a dollar figure. Colorado law calls these non-economic damages, and they recognize how an injury affects your life, relationships, and mental health.

• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain matters. Chronic headaches from a concussion or nerve damage from a spinal injury stays with you long after the bruises fade. Colorado caps these damages under C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5, with a standard cap of $642,180 (adjusted for inflation), unless there’s clear and convincing evidence to increase it.
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common after serious accidents. Cycling might have been your daily escape; now it triggers panic attacks. The law acknowledges these very real struggles.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If injuries stop you from doing things you once loved—whether that’s biking, skiing, or playing with your kids—you can seek compensation for that loss. It’s the stuff that makes life worth living, and Colorado juries take it seriously.

Punitive Damages

Colorado doesn’t hand out punitive damages lightly. These exist to punish the wrongdoer, not to compensate the victim. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-102, punitive damages are available if the driver acted with fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct.

Picture a driver who was texting and speeding through a school zone when they plowed into a cyclist. Or a drunk driver who had three prior DUIs. Those cases may justify punitive damages.