Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

You’re riding Colorado Boulevard past Glendale’s shops and restaurants when an oncoming SUV swings left across your lane. Then, you slide across the pavement and into a crowd. Such incidents are not uncommon in Colorado; CDOT reported 165 motorcycle deaths statewide in 2024, the highest count Colorado has ever recorded. Unfortunately, riders often feel judged before a single piece of evidence is reviewed, and that can make a hard week even harder. 

You shouldn’t have to defend the way you ride while you’re still in pain. At Levine Law, a Glendale motorcycle accident lawyer can review the crash, walk you through your rights, and help you choose a next step. A few facts stand out, and there’s more when you learn about our firm:

• A motorcycle result, with the facts attached. Founder Jordan S. Levine and the Levine Law team have spent more than 20 years handling Colorado motor-vehicle claims. A rider who rolled over the hood of a car that pulled out in front of him received a $545,000 settlement, one of the firm’s case results and verdicts. Clients describe the process in their own words in client reviews.
• No upfront fees, like any other crash case. A motorcycle claim follows the same fee structure as a car accident claim: the firm takes a share of any money the claim brings in as its fee. Court costs and case expenses are separate.
• Three years to file, but evidence fades faster. Colorado generally gives riders three years to sue after a crash with a vehicle. Business cameras and witness memories often fade much sooner, and the first talk is free when you contact our Denver office.
• Honored by other lawyers. Jordan S. Levine’s top peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell and his Super Lawyers honors are listed under awards and recognition.

Who turned, who had the light, and each vehicle’s speed tend to decide a left-turn case. The proof usually sits in video and in witness memories, and neither lasts long. Here’s where to start.

What should you do after a motorcycle accident in Glendale?

Adrenaline can make you want to pick up the bike and ride home. Before you do, get checked by a medical professional, confirm that police have a report, and save what you can from the scene. Inside city limits, the Glendale Police Department usually responds, while Denver officers may handle a crash a block away on the Denver side of a boundary street. Steps that help most:

• Call 911 and stay put. Colorado’s crash-reporting law (C.R.S. § 42-4-1606) generally requires every driver in an injury crash, or one that damages property, to alert police at once. That duty applies to riders, too.
• See a doctor soon, even after a walk-away crash. Even with a helmet on, a concussion may not show right away, and road rash can mask deeper injuries. HCA HealthONE Rose on East 9th Avenue runs an emergency room a few minutes from Glendale.
• Photograph the bike before anyone moves it. Pictures of where the motorcycle and the car came to rest, plus skid marks and the signal, can show the turning path. Take close-ups of your helmet and gear.
• Collect names and numbers. Other riders, drivers, and people on the sidewalk may have seen the light change. A neutral witness can matter when accounts differ later.
• Save the damaged gear. Keep the helmet, jacket, and boots you wore, even if they’re ruined. Scuffs and cracks can reveal how hard you hit.
• Go slow with the insurers. You can wait before giving a recorded statement, and “I’m not sure” is an honest answer about your speed.

What happens after a motorcycle crash in Glendale?

The first weeks can feel like waiting on everyone else. Most motorcycle claims move through the police report, medical treatment, a traffic case if someone was cited, and then negotiation. In Glendale, a citation usually goes to Glendale Municipal Court, while an injury lawsuit goes to Arapahoe County District Court, so the two can move on different schedules. Stage by stage:

• The police report. An officer notes where the vehicles ended up, what each person said, and any ticket. Copies usually come from the Glendale Police Department or through Colorado DMV crash records for reports filed with the state. 

Why it matters: An adjuster often forms a first view on fault from that report.

• Treatment. You follow your doctors’ plan, which may include surgery, therapy, or wound care. 

Why it matters: A steady treatment record connects each injury to the crash. To make sure you get compensated for all the injuries caused by the crash and not just the visible or obvious ones.

• The traffic case. If the turning driver was ticketed, that case moves through municipal court on its own calendar.

Why it matters: An adjuster may notice how the ticket turns out, but it doesn’t settle the injury claim.

• The demand and negotiation. Once your recovery levels off, your lawyer sends the insurer a demand with medical bills, treatment notes, and pay stubs. 

Why it matters: The strength of that file tends to set the range for settlement talks.

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What causes motorcycle crashes in Glendale?

It’s natural to replay the moment and wonder what you could have done. Most crashes start with a driver who misjudged a rider’s distance or speed, and a motorcycle’s narrow shape is easy to miss in a mirror. Impairment plays a role, too. According to CDOT, 20% of the state’s 2024 motorcycle deaths involved impairment. Crashes that come up often:

• Left turns in front of a rider. A driver looking for a gap in oncoming traffic may see the cars and miss the motorcycle. Any busy signal can set up this crash, including those along Colorado Boulevard.
• Lane changes into a rider. Leetsdale Drive, a state highway that meets Colorado Boulevard at Glendale’s edge, carries steady traffic. A driver who skips a head check can drift into a rider’s lane.
• Drunk driving crashes. Late-night traffic near Glendale’s bars and restaurants can include impaired drivers, whose reaction time and judgment are slower.
• Rear-end crashes at signals. A driver who doesn’t stop behind a rider at a red light can push the rider into the intersection.
• Road hazards. Potholes, gravel, and rough pavement can throw a motorcycle off balance. A car might roll right over the same spot.
• Distracted driving. Drivers texting or using phones behind the wheel may fail to notice a motorcycle stopping or changing lanes ahead.
• Blind spots. Motorcycles easily disappear into a passenger car’s or truck’s blind spot, leading to side-swipe collisions during lane changes.
• Weather conditions. Rain, snow, and ice drastically reduce traction for two-wheeled vehicles, making sudden stops or turns hazardous for riders.

What injuries are common after a Glendale motorcycle crash?

A rider has almost nothing between the body and the road, so injuries are often more severe than in a car crash. For the most serious cases, Denver Health and HCA HealthONE Swedish in Englewood both run Level I trauma centers. Injuries riders often face include:

• Traumatic brain injuries. These can be mild, like a concussion that fades, or severe enough to change memory, mood, or focus for years.
• Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spine can cause numbness, weakness, or paralysis, and it may call for years of care.
• Broken legs, ankles, and wrists. A leg pinned under the bike or a hand thrown out to break a fall often breaks, and some fractures need several surgeries.
• Road rash. Deep abrasions can become infected and sometimes need skin grafts or leave permanent scars.
• Internal injuries. Bleeding inside the body may not be obvious at the scene. That’s one reason an early exam matters.

Some riders also live with anxiety about getting back on a bike, and a claim can account for that change in daily life, too.

Who can be held liable for a Glendale motorcycle accident?

It can be frustrating when others assume the rider caused the crash. Legally, responsibility falls on whoever had a duty to watch for the rider, failed to meet it, and caused the injury. That’s most often another driver, though the facts can point to others as well:

• A turning driver. Under Colorado’s left-turn law (C.R.S. § 42-4-702), a turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic that’s close enough to be an immediate hazard. A driver who turns anyway can be responsible for the injuries that follow.
• A business the driver worked for. If the driver was delivering goods or doing other work, that business may share responsibility, and its insurance may apply.
• A public agency. Colorado Boulevard and Leetsdale Drive are both state highways. That can bring CDOT into questions about road design, signals, or upkeep. A public agency may share the blame when the legal requirements for governmental liability are met. The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act governs claims against a public agency, and its notice rules are shorter.
• A parts maker. A tire, brake, or other part that failed because of a defect can shift some of the responsibility to the company that made it.

What if the insurer says you were speeding?

Adjusters often start a motorcycle claim by asking about speed. Under Colorado’s comparative fault law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), your recovery can be reduced according to your percentage of fault. The law bars recovery when your negligence is equal to or greater than the negligence of the person or parties you’re seeking recovery from.

A hypothetical shows how the math works. Imagine a jury puts your losses at $170,000 and finds you were going 5 mph over the limit when the driver turned. If it puts 10% of the fault on you, you’d recover $153,000.

Whether you were speeding at all is a question of evidence, not assumption. Skid marks, video, crush damage on both vehicles, and crash reconstruction can each help show how fast you were really moving.

What can you recover after a Glendale motorcycle accident?

Money can’t undo a crash, but a claim can cover what it has cost you and what it may cost later. Under Colorado’s damages law (C.R.S. § 13-21-102.5), compensation can include economic losses, non-economic losses, and damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, depending on the injuries and evidence. 

What fits in each category:

• Economic losses. These can include emergency care, surgeries, physical therapy, future treatment, missed paychecks, and a lower earning ability. Fixing or replacing your motorcycle and gear can count, too.
• Non-economic losses. These can include pain, stress, and losing the rides and other things you used to enjoy.
• Physical impairment or disfigurement. Road-rash scars or a lasting limp can fall in this category, which Colorado treats separately.

Under HB 24-1472, non-economic damages are capped at $1.5 million for civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, subject to the statute’s terms and future inflation adjustments beginning in 2028. The cap applies to non-economic losses and does not eliminate the ability to seek supported economic damages. That is the cap for injury claims. Deaths fall under their own wrongful death cap.

Why calculating damages can be complicated

Motorcycle injuries often change over months, not days. A broken leg may heal and still leave arthritis, and a head injury may affect work in ways no one sees at first. Doctors’ opinions on future care, pay records, and sometimes an economist’s projection help put numbers on those losses. There’s no formula for pain and lost enjoyment, so a jury in Centennial would rely on your medical records and on how your life has changed since the crash.

Levine Law can help build a clearer picture of your damages by reviewing medical records, consulting with treating providers about future care, and examining wage history or changes in earning capacity. When necessary, financial experts can help estimate the long-term costs of an injury. Pain, emotional distress, and lost enjoyment of life also deserve careful consideration, supported by evidence showing how the crash has changed your day-to-day life. By bringing these details together, the firm can help present a more complete account of your losses during settlement negotiations or, if needed, in court.

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How long do you have to file after a Glendale motorcycle crash?

It’s easy to lose track of dates during recovery. Under Colorado’s car accident deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-101), which covers crashes involving motor vehicles, the filing window is generally three years from the crash. Settlement talks don’t stop that clock. A few situations follow different timing:

• A crash that caused a death. Two years is the usual limit for a family’s claim under Colorado’s wrongful death deadline (C.R.S. § 13-80-102).
• A public agency. A claim against one generally requires notice in writing within 182 days. That’s far sooner than three years.
• A rider under 18. Colorado’s disability statute (C.R.S. § 13-81-103) can change the timing for a minor, depending on whether a legal representative has been appointed.

Glendale sits entirely inside Denver, but it belongs to Arapahoe County. So a Glendale injury lawsuit usually lands in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, not in a Denver court. Every Glendale address falls under that one court.

Pitfall alert

It’s tempting to get the motorcycle fixed or sell it for parts as soon as the insurer pays for the damage. The bike itself can be key evidence, though. Crush patterns, scrape marks, and bent parts can show the angle and speed of the impact, and once repairs start, that proof may be lost. It usually helps to photograph the motorcycle and ask a lawyer whether an expert should inspect it before anything changes.

Why might you need a lawyer after a Glendale motorcycle accident?

Some riders ask if hiring a lawyer makes sense when the other driver’s fault seems obvious. A clear-fault crash with minor injuries can sometimes be settled directly. The important questions may include how fault will be split, whether your recovery is still unfolding, and which policies can pay. Having someone who knows how motorcycle claims are handled in Colorado can help bring those pieces together.

Where the claim can become complicated

• Assumptions about riders. In the firm’s experience, an adjuster may assume a rider was going too fast or cutting between cars before the evidence says so.
• A missing helmet. CDOT found that 44% of the riders killed in 2024 weren’t wearing helmets. Insurers may raise the issue with any head injury, although Colorado’s helmet rule covers only riders under 18.
• Serious injuries that keep changing. Surgeries and therapy can stretch across a year or more, and an early offer may arrive before the full cost is known.
• Too little insurance. Many drivers carry low limits, so your own underinsured motorist coverage may become part of the claim.

Most of these disputes come down to evidence, and much of it is easiest to collect early.

How can a Glendale motorcycle accident lawyer help?

A lawyer can collect the proof, handle the insurers, and value the claim on documented facts. Early work often includes the police report, letters asking businesses to keep their video, and an inspection of the motorcycle.

A lawyer may also:

• Rebuild how the crash happened. A Glendale motorcycle accident attorney can bring in a crash expert to test the turning driver’s story against the physical proof.
• Find every policy that may pay. A motorcycle crash lawyer can check the driver’s policy, any employer’s policy, and your own coverage for a driver with too little insurance.
• Show the long-term cost. An Arapahoe County motorcycle accident lawyer can work with your doctors to show what future care and lost work may cost.
• Handle the insurance calls. A lawyer can answer the insurer’s questions about your speed and lane with evidence, and weigh each offer before you decide.

You can focus on healing. With the evidence, deadlines, and insurance questions handled, you can make decisions about the claim with clearer information.

What are the steps in a Glendale motorcycle accident claim?

A claim can feel longer than it is when the next step isn’t clear. Most motorcycle claims follow a similar path, although the timing turns on your injuries and on whether the insurer disputes fault. If a lawsuit is needed, the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial would usually hear it. The usual steps:

1. Free consultation. We start by hearing about the crash, then go over your injuries, your coverage, and your options.
2. Investigation. Our team gathers the police report, your medical records, photos, and what witnesses saw. We also ask for any video.
3. Demand. Once your treatment has leveled off, we send a written demand, supported by your records.
4. Negotiation. We weigh each offer against the documented losses and negotiate for a fair number.
5. Lawsuit and discovery, if needed. If negotiations stall, we can file suit. Both sides then exchange evidence and take testimony.
6. Settlement or trial. Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare each case as if a jury may hear it.

What if the driver who turned in front of you has too little insurance?

It’s unsettling to learn the other driver carries only the legal minimum. Colorado’s minimum-coverage law (C.R.S. § 10-4-620) requires only $25,000 per injured person. Serious motorcycle injuries can pass that quickly. Your own underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference, up to its limit. Under Colorado’s UM/UIM law (C.R.S. § 10-4-609), insurers must include that coverage unless you declined it in writing, so your policy’s declarations page is worth a look early.

How do you choose a motorcycle accident lawyer in Glendale?

Choose a motorcycle accident lawyer in Glendale by looking at their experience with motorcycle injury claims, knowledge of Colorado law and local courts, fee structure, communication practices, and readiness to take a case to trial. Comparing these factors can help you find a firm that understands the challenges riders face and can explain how it would approach your claim. Here is how Levine Law addresses these considerations.

• Has the firm handled motorcycle accident claims?

Look for experience with crashes involving serious injuries, disputed liability, and drivers who fail to see motorcyclists. Levine Law’s case results include a $545,000 settlement for a rider injured when a car pulled out in front of him. Although past results cannot predict the outcome of another case, they can help you understand the firm’s experience handling similar claims.

• Does the firm understand local courts and procedures?

A lawyer should understand which court has jurisdiction over your case and how Colorado’s legal procedures may affect your claim. Glendale traffic tickets go to the city’s municipal court. Injury suits from Glendale belong to Arapahoe County District Court, located in Centennial. The firm tracks both when they overlap.

• How do the firm’s fees work?

Before hiring a lawyer, ask how attorney fees are calculated and whether case expenses are handled separately. Levine Law works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning our attorney fees are based on an agreed percentage of any recovery. Court costs and other case expenses may be separate, so ask how those costs are handled. Your initial consultation is free.

• Will you be able to communicate with your legal team?

Ask who will handle your questions, how frequently you can expect updates, and how to reach someone when concerns arise. At Levine Law, a team works on each case, and the firm’s hotline is answered around the clock. Clear communication can help you stay informed about your claim while you focus on treatment and recovery.

• Is the firm prepared to take the case to trial?

Not every motorcycle accident claim settles easily. If an insurer disputes fault or challenges the value of your injuries, litigation may become necessary. Levine Law prepares cases with the possibility of trial in mind, helping ensure that the evidence, damages, and legal arguments receive careful attention throughout the process.

Choosing the right lawyer means finding someone who can explain your options, address the specific challenges of your case, and keep you informed along the way. If you were injured in a Glendale motorcycle accident, Levine Law can review your circumstances and help you understand the next steps toward pursuing compensation.

What do clients say about working with Levine Law?

A firm’s own claims only go so far, and reviews come from the people it represented. Levine Law has no published review from a motorcycle client, so this one speaks to the experience of working with the firm in general.

“Levine Law was nothing short of amazing to me! The whole process was smooth, easy, and quick!” — Anna, five-star review.

More experiences are collected in client reviews.

Disclaimer: Client reviews reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee a particular result.

What results has Levine Law obtained in motorcycle and crash cases?

The firm has recovered compensation for riders and drivers hurt in crashes, including:

• $545,000 settlement — A rider rolled over the hood of a car that pulled out in front of him and broke his left leg, which needed several surgeries.
• $1.3 million settlement — A driver ran a red light and collided with the client, breaking his leg.
• $770,000 verdict — A truck crash caused neck, back, and abdominal injuries.

The Cases & Verdicts page lists outcomes in other practice areas.

Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is decided on its own facts.

What areas does Levine Law serve near Glendale?

Levine Law helps riders in Glendale, the Denver neighborhoods around it, and towns across the Front Range, including:

• Cherry Creek
• Belcaro
• Hilltop
• Virginia Village
• Washington Virginia Vale
• Denver
• Aurora
• Lakewood
• Boulder
• Fort Collins

Riders often cross between Glendale and Denver several times on a single trip, and the firm handles crashes on both sides of the line.

Local Resources

Emergency and trauma care

• HCA HealthONE Rose — full-service hospital with an emergency room near Glendale — 4567 E. 9th Ave., Denver, CO 80220
• Denver Health Medical Center — Level I Trauma Center — 777 Bannock St., Denver, CO 80204
• HCA HealthONE Swedish — Level I Trauma Center — 501 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood, CO 80113

Police and crash reports

• Glendale Police Department — the city’s police, who respond to crashes in Glendale — 950 S. Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246, non-emergency line 303-759-1511
• Colorado DMV Crash Records — crash report copies and online reports when no officer responded.

Courts

• Arapahoe County District Court, 18th Judicial District — injury lawsuits from every Glendale address, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center — 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112
• Glendale Municipal Court — traffic citations written inside city limits — 950 S. Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246

Rider safety and crash data

• CDOT Lane Filtering Guidance — when Colorado riders may pass stopped traffic
• CDOT Crash Data — statewide crash data and dashboards

Disclaimer: These resources are provided for informational purposes only. Levine Law does not endorse or have an affiliation with any listed organization or service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter if I was lane filtering when I was hit in Glendale?

It can. Since August 7, 2024, Colorado’s lane filtering rules let a rider pass stopped vehicles going the same direction, at speeds up to 15 mph, if there’s room to pass safely. Riders can’t pass on the right shoulder or cross the center line. A Glendale motorcycle accident lawyer can compare those limits with the evidence.

Who pays if a Glendale driver hits a motorcycle and leaves?

Report it to 911 or the Glendale Police Department right away. Colorado’s leaving-the-scene law (C.R.S. § 42-4-1601) requires drivers in injury crashes to stop and stay at the scene. If the driver isn’t found, your policy’s uninsured motorist coverage may pay, and a Glendale motorcycle accident attorney can help open that claim.

Can a passenger on my motorcycle bring a claim, too?

Yes, generally. A passenger can bring a claim against whichever driver caused the crash, and sometimes against the rider’s policy. Colorado’s comparative fault rule decides how the blame is split. For a Glendale crash, a passenger’s lawsuit would usually go to Arapahoe County District Court. The same three-year deadline applies.

How long does a Glendale motorcycle claim usually take?

It depends on your injuries and whether fault is disputed. A claim with clear fault may settle within months after treatment ends. A case that goes to court in Centennial often runs longer than a year. Colorado’s car accident deadline keeps running during talks, so earlier planning helps.

What records help at a first meeting with a Glendale motorcycle accident lawyer?

Bring the Glendale police report number, photos of the scene and your gear, your insurance card, and any medical records or bills. A list of witnesses helps, too. If you don’t have everything yet, that’s fine, since the firm can help gather records before Colorado’s three-year deadline gets close.

Get help from a Glendale motorcycle accident lawyer

You don’t have to argue with an insurer about your riding while you recover. Share what happened, and we’ll walk you through how fault may be split, which policies may pay, and what your claim could involve. A first conversation costs nothing. If the claim recovers money, the attorney fee is an agreed share of it. If it doesn’t, no attorney fee is owed.

Contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Attorney Reviews and Office Information

This content has been reviewed by Colorado-licensed attorneys at Levine Law for accuracy and compliance with applicable Colorado law. Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

Denver Office

Levine Law LLC
4500 Cherry Creek S Dr #400
Denver, CO 80246
24/7 Hotline: (303) 333-8000

Colorado Springs Office

Levine Law LLC
102 S Tejon St #1100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 642-6220

Other Cases We Handle in Glendale

Levine Law’s Glendale work also covers:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Rideshare Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Wrongful Death
• Catastrophic Injuries

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts