Member of the Colorado Bar Association since 2014. Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in Colorado car accidents, other auto accidents, and Colorado personal injury incidents.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Springs Law Group and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, Christopher Nicolaysen, you can do so here.
Springs Law Group does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
In Pueblo, traffic laws apply to motorcyclists in the same way they apply to other drivers using public roads.
The only laws that are specific to motorcyclists are regulations that are exclusive to the operation of a motorcycle, such as helmet laws and helmet endorsements.
Otherwise, all the same regulations regarding traffic patterns, traffic lights, yielding, and other driving behaviors apply equally to motorcycles and other motor vehicles on the roads.
However, knowing the specific laws applicable to motorcyclists, as well as how to abide by universal traffic laws while riding, can be important to mitigate the risk of a serious accident.
The most important reason a motorcyclist should follow traffic laws in Pueblo is that motorcycles are harder to see than the typical commuter car.
Because of this, motorcyclists need to make sure they do not ride where other drivers may not be able to see them or engage in risky behaviors with the same result.
For example, motorcyclists should not drive between lanes, or lane-split, to pass multiple vehicles at once.
That being said, while driving safely and maintaining visibility is a good decision for a motorcyclist in terms of their health and safety, being extra careful is not specifically required of motorcyclists by law.
Traffic officers in Pueblo enforce traffic infractions against motorcyclists in the same way they enforce other traffic infractions against drivers on public streets.
In Colorado, when someone is partially at fault for an accident, the degree to which they are at fault may reduce their damages regardless of whether they were driving a car, motorcycle, or truck.
Therefore, if someone is 25 percent at fault for an accident, they may only recover 75 percent of their total damages.
However, it is important to note that under state law, a plaintiff’s damages are only reduced down to 50 percent.
If a plaintiff is 50 percent at fault or more, they cannot get any compensation at all.
Because of this, insurance companies can be aggressive at assigning fault to injured claimants in an attempt to reduce the amount they have to pay.
For instance, if someone riding a motorcycle drives through an intersection and a driver turns left in front of them and hits them, the insurance company of the at-fault driver may claim that the motorcyclist should have seen the vehicle coming, or that they went through the intersection too fast.
Their objective is to pay the motorcyclist as little money as possible, which is why representation from a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer is helpful.
When a traffic law that applies to the operation of a motorcycle changes, local law enforcement is not required to announce the changes.
A motorcyclist should know the law when they are operating a motor vehicle in Colorado.
People in Pueblo looking to keep up to date on new motorcycle laws that could impact them can check for changes in the law through the Colorado Secretary of State’s website or the state government’s website.
News outlets and media are other good sources to utilize.
One of the best ways for a motorcyclist in Pueblo to avoid complicating their accident claim is to follow all applicable traffic laws.
While wearing a helmet is not required by law, adhering to all the same rules as normal drivers most certainly are.
Knowing what rules apply to you as a motorcyclist can both help you avoid accidents and, if one does occur, give you a stronger case for compensation.
Get in touch with a seasoned motorcycle accident lawyer if you have any questions about which rules and regulations may be relevant to you or your case.
Partner
Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
The personal injury matters include auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and trucking accidents.
Chris truly enjoys helping clients through a difficult time and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
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I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
