How Many Bicycle Accidents Occur Each Year in Denver?

Colorado consistently ranks as the most active state in the U.S., with less than 17% of people reporting no physical activity outside of their jobs. We are an outdoor state, with skiing, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, and bicycling among our favorite activities.

However, recent bicycle safety statistics in Colorado paint a troubling picture. The number of bicyclists injured and killed on Colorado roads, especially in Denver, continues to rise. In fact, cycling casualties have reached a level that Denver authorities consider a public health crisis.

Here, we’ll examine the number of bicycle accidents that occur each year in Denver, where, why, and how they happen, their impacts on individuals and families, and legal solutions for anyone struck and injured by a negligent driver. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash, a bicycle accident lawyer in Denver can help you pursue compensation and protect your rights.

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How Is Denver Addressing Bike Safety?

Denver is in the early stages of a major planned expansion of bicycle routes throughout the city. The project will add about 230 miles of bikeways throughout Denver. The new, protected lanes will connect key neighborhoods, allowing residents to get where they need to go on two wheels more safely.

The project would involve extensive road modifications and reconfigurations that include lowered speed limits and speed bumps in addition to dedicated bike lanes.

By creating more protected lanes and easier connections throughout Denver, city officials aim to make cycling a more appealing option for commuting, recreation, and everyday errands, potentially reducing traffic congestion, boosting safety, and paving the way for more environmentally friendly methods of getting around town.

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) spearheads the Denver Moves: Bikes Update project. The city plans to expand the network of bike routes in phases over the next couple of decades.

Most Common Causes of Denver Bicycle Accidents

Negligent drivers cause many bike accidents in the Mile High City, with other significant contributing factors.

• Speeding: Speeding is the number one cause of traffic fatalities in Denver and in Colorado in general. It shortens reaction and braking time and worsens the outcome of accidents.
• Distracted driving: Texting, adjusting GPS, or grabbing food at a drive-through – all take attention off the road. A driver who diverts their eyes for a moment can collide with a cyclist before they realize it.
• Impaired driving: Drunk driving and driving under the influence of prescription or illicit drugs slows reaction times and drastically lowers a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
• Greater number of SUVs and pickup trucks: Large vehicles with high hoods can strike cyclists at chest level, causing even more severe harm. Heavier vehicles also require more stopping distance.
• Insufficient bike-friendly infrastructure: While Denver has grand plans to become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., many Denver roadways lack dedicated bike lanes or safe shoulders, forcing cyclists to share space with fast-moving automobiles.
• Traffic congestion: Urban intersections, arterial roads with multiple lanes, and busy commercial corridors have more cars, bikes, and pedestrians, increasing the risk of collisions.
• Poor visibility: Faded lane markings, insufficient lighting, and adverse weather can make it harder for drivers to notice cyclists in time to prevent an accident, especially when the driver fails to compensate for poor road conditions and weather.

Denver’s Bicycle Crash Hot Spots

You can ride your bike pretty much anywhere in Denver, but certain areas pose greater risks. Heavier traffic, narrower roadways, and more complicated intersections all heighten the chance of a bike crash. Local authorities and CDOT track collisions throughout the region, casting light on the recurring problem zones.

Especially dangerous parts of Denver include:

• Central Denver
  • Colfax Avenue and Broadway intersection
  • 12th Street
  • 16th Street Mall and Tremont Place intersection
  • Speer Boulevard
  • Lincoln Street
• Northwest Denver
  • Federal Boulevard
  • The intersection of Federal Boulevard and Alameda Avenue
• East Denver
  • Colorado Boulevard
  • The intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue
  • The intersection of Quebec Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
• Lakewood
  • The intersection of U.S. 6 and Wadsworth Boulevard
  • Union Boulevard
• Aurora
  • Havana Street
  • The intersection of Havana Street and Alameda Avenue
  • Colfax Avenue through Aurora
• Southwest Denver
  • Santa Fe Drive
  • The intersection of Santa Fe Drive and 6th Avenue
• Westminster
  • Federal Boulevard corridor
• Arvada
  • Wadsworth Bypass
• Littleton
  • Broadway Street
  • Santa Fe Drive

Some local bicycle safety advocates also point to parts of the Cherry Creek area—particularly in Glendale—as additional spots where cars and bicycles often compete for limited space. Intersections with multiple lanes, fast-moving traffic, and frequent turns can heighten the chance of collisions.

Common Causes of Denver Bicycle Collisions

Sharing the road with motor vehicles always presents risks for cyclists, but most collisions are preventable and arise from driver negligence and aggression. While both drivers and cyclists must follow traffic laws, drivers often fail to recognize cyclists’ right to share the road.

Some of the most frequently reported bike accident causes involve:

1. Left-hand turns: Motorists turning left across oncoming lanes may glance for cars but fail to notice a cyclist approaching.
2. Right hook: Drivers may pass a bicyclist, then immediately turn right, cutting the cyclist off.
3. Failure to yield: Whether at stop signs, traffic lights, or merging from driveways, failure to yield remains a leading cause of all traffic accidents.
4. Dooring: People in parked cars may open their doors without looking for cyclists in the bike lane or street, causing the cyclist to crash.
5. Impaired driving: Alcohol and drug use lower reaction time and impair decision-making.
6. Road rage: Some frustrated drivers may aggressively tailgate or swerve near cyclists, thinking they’re moving too slowly.

Bicycles are no match for a car or truck. The disparity between a bike and a motor vehicle means that the cyclist almost always suffers far more in an accident. When you ride a bike, a simple mistake on the driver’s part can result in life-altering consequences.

Where Do Bike Accidents Occur Most?

About three out of four bicycle crashes occur in urban areas. Higher population density means more cars, bikes, and the potential for traffic accidents. Denver’s growth contributes to this, escalating the dangers for bicyclists.

High-risk areas for Bicyclists

• Intersections: Multiple lanes of traffic, turning drivers, and hurried pedestrians create a chaotic environment.
• Arterial roads: These major throughways often have speed limits of 40 mph or more, short turn lanes, and heavy traffic.
• Construction zones: Shifting lanes, poor signage, and large vehicles moving in tight spaces can endanger cyclists.
• Poorly lit streets: Lack of visibility makes it harder for drivers to spot individuals riding bikes, particularly at night or in foul weather.

Common Bike Crash Injuries

When a car collides with a bicycle, the cyclist endures the brunt of the impact. Without the built-in protections that vehicle occupants enjoy, such as airbags and sturdy frames, accidents often throw the rider onto the hood of the car or the pavement.

Common bicycle accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Even when wearing a helmet, the impact of a bike accident can cause concussions, skull fractures, permanent cognitive changes, and other traumatic brain injuries.
• Spinal cord damage: If a cyclist lands awkwardly on their neck or back, they may sustain partial or full paralysis.
• Fractures: Arms, legs, collarbones, and ribs are especially vulnerable. Multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation often follow.
• Internal bleeding: A powerful force against the torso can puncture or crush organs, leading to life-threatening complications.
• Road rash: Sliding across asphalt can result in deep abrasions that scar or become infected.

Large trucks and SUVs often compound these dangers. Their height can directly impact a rider’s head, chest, or spine. Drivers of larger vehicles may not see cyclists from an elevated vantage point. These factors create an environment where a seemingly “minor” traffic incident gravely injures a cyclist.

Filing a Claim After a Denver Bicycle Accident

Anyone who has spent time in the hospital knows that medical bills can soar into the tens or hundreds of thousands. However, your costs probably don’t end there. Ongoing treatments, physical therapy, and follow-up exams may occupy your time for weeks, months, or years.

Serious injuries come with a mental and emotional price tag, too. Pain, frustration, and the struggle to stay positive through an uncertain future weigh heavily on many accident survivors. If you can no longer play with your kids in the backyard or cycle to the coffee shop with friends, the grief for the life you enjoyed before the accident can devastate you.

While no amount of money can undo these losses, it can provide you with the time and resources you need to focus on healing and moving ahead.

If a driver’s negligence caused your bicycle crash, Colorado law allows you to pursue a personal injury claim. Compensation can come from insurance settlements or, in some cases, a court verdict.

Damages in personal injury cases generally fall into two categories:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills
• Lost wages or income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Out-of-pocket costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Permanent disability
• Reduced quality of life
• Emotional distress

Wrongful Death Claims for Fatal Bicycle Crashes

As we’ve seen, bicycle accidents in Denver sometimes result in fatal injuries. While no amount of money can ease the shock and pain of losing a loved one unexpectedly, compensation can restore a little part of your life and give you better means to cope with your loss.

Your family might seek compensation for:

• Funeral, cremation, or burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of care and companionship
• Emotional suffering for surviving spouses, children, or dependents

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

After a bicycle crash, your health and well-being come first. Always seek prompt medical attention after an accident. Injuries that appear minor at the moment can worsen if left untreated. If you haven’t received medical attention after an accident, you may lack grounds for a personal injury claim.

Medical records link your injuries to the accident and the damages you seek.

If you’re physically well enough, you can take other important measures to protect the value of your claim:

1. Contact the police: An official report helps establish key details such as where, when, and how the collision occurred.
2. Consult an attorney: An injury lawyer can fight for your rights and challenge the insurance company’s attempts to downplay or deny your claim.
3. Avoid posting on social media: Insurance companies may use any photos or statements you make publicly online against you.
4. Gather information: Take pictures of the scene, your bike, and any visible injuries. Exchange details with the driver, including insurance and contact information.
5. Speak to witnesses: Collect phone numbers or emails from anyone who saw what happened. Their statements could be vital for your claim.
6. Preserve evidence: Keep your helmet, damaged bicycle, and any clothing or gear in the same condition they were right after the crash.

Having an attorney on your side frees you to focus on your recovery. Insurance representatives may push for a quick settlement that doesn’t come close to covering your ongoing medical needs or other losses. A lawyer will advocate for you, ensuring you receive fair compensation.

How to Contact Fuicelli & Lee for a Free Consultation

If a negligent driver injured you or someone you love in the Denver area, call Fuicelli & Lee today to speak with an experienced Denver personal injury attorney. We are committed to advocating for bicyclists and other individuals who face tremendous medical challenges, emotional trauma, and financial hardship due to someone else’s negligent actions.

We’ll guide you through the legal process, have your back when insurance companies undervalue your claim, and help you pursue full, fair and complete compensation.

Call us at (303) 444-4444 and learn more about your legal rights and the best way forward. You may also contact us online for your free, no-obligation consultation.

We work with our clients on a contingency fee basis, so you will never pay out-of-pocket expenses or up-front costs. You only pay for our service as a percentage of your recovery if we win your case.

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