Accident attorneys in Colorado help motorcyclists’ family members file wrongful death claims when a tragic motorcycle accident occurs. Fatal motorcycle accidents may be the result of various causes.
Accident attorneys may handle Colorado motorcyclists' claims if they are injured, as well as wrongful death claims in the event of a fatality. Sadly, motorcycle accidents rose overall throughout the course of the previous decade, as made evident by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) findings.
Statistics from the NHTSA report indicate motorcycle accident fatalities have:
• increased from 3,197 in 2001 to 4,502 in 2010;
• marked a highpoint of the decade in 2008, when there were 5,312 fatalities;
• an injury rate that rose since 2001 (estimated 60,000), to an estimated 82,000 in 2010;
• marked a high point in 2007 with an estimated 103,000 injuries; and
• dropped in fatality and injury rates since 2001 (33.19 fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles in 2001, to 24.39 fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles in 2010; 625 injuries per 100,000 vehicles in 2001, to 444 injuries per 100,000 vehicles in 2010).
Possible Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Head-on motorcycle-passenger vehicle accidents may be especially dangerous and fatal for the motorcyclist. Making a left turn may also be very dangerous for motorcyclists. A motorcycle’s relatively small size makes it more vulnerable to accidents, particularly due to decreased visibility.
Likewise, lane splitting – where motorcyclists drive between two lanes of traffic – can be dangerous largely because the bike has less room to maneuver, and other drivers don’t anticipate motorcycles passing while they’re stopped, in slow traffic, or are driving next to another vehicle.
Some other possible contributing factors to motorcycle accidents, on behalf of the motorcyclist or the other driver, include alcohol consumption, speeding violations, inexperienced motorists, disobeying traffic laws, and road hazards (slick pavement, debris, potholes, uneven lanes, etc.).
Losing a Family Member to a Motorcycle Accident
It’s difficult to express in words the pain of losing a loved one to a tragic accident. During this difficult time, consider looking for local grief support resources. The HeartLight Center in Denver has compiled a list of community resources to help anyone through the process of grief, which you may find helpful.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Your accident attorney in Colorado, who is familiar with motorcyclist accident claims, can help assist you with showing the courts that your loved one’s death caused you financial hardship.
The amount of compensation you may be eligible to recover varies on a number of factors, such as the degree of negligence of the other party, your loved one’s age, and how many dependents are involved in the claim.
Another important factor to take into consideration is the statute of limitations, or time limit, on filing a claim. In Colorado, most personal injury cases must be filed within two years. For cases involving fatal motor vehicle accidents, victims may have up to three years to file a claim.
It is important to contact an accident attorney that handles Colorado motorcyclists’ wrongful death cases as soon as you can to ensure you abide by state laws and avoid doing anything that could wind up hurting your case.
