Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Denver and Throughout Colorado

Why Injured Motorcyclists in Denver Choose Pushchak Law

Pushchak Law has developed a reputation as one of the top motorcycle accident attorneys in Denver. Motorcycle accident victims regularly turn to Mr. Pushchak for expert legal guidance for a variety of reasons:

• Motorcycle Accident Specialist – Pushchak has made motorcycle accident cases a primary area of specialization. He’s handled hundreds of these cases, and this specialized expertise provides you with a variety of benefits, including an improved ability to accurately calculate the total value of your damages (both current and future expenses associated with your accident), a strong grasp on the legal concepts that impact the outcome of your case, and an understanding of the most effective tactics to achieve your desired outcome.
• Proven Track Record of Success – Pushchak has secured lucrative verdicts and settlements for many motorcycle accident victims, including several multi-million dollar damage awards.
• Our Approach – Pushchak’s unique Informed Decisions™ Approach has been designed to deliver the best possible outcome and keeps you in control of the case at all times.
• Personalized Attention – Pushchak personally handles every aspect of your case, and he is always available to answer your questions or provide a status update.
• Trial-Ready Preparation – Pushchak knows how to negotiate with insurance companies to ensure your settlement reflects the value of your loss. If a settlement can’t be reached, he is prepared to take your case to trial to secure the compensation you deserve.
• No Fees Unless You Win – Pushchak handles all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means he only gets paid if you recover compensation for your damages.

Our Approach to Motorcycle Accident Cases

At Pushchak Law, we understand that the best results occur when we’re truly aligned with your needs and goals for the case. That’s why we’ve created our unique Informed Decisions™ Approach focused on helping you achieve the best possible outcome to your case. This approach keeps you in control of your case at all times and arms you with all the information you need to understand your legal rights and options.

We start by discussing your case with you in detail. Mr. Pushchak will listen carefully to your story to understand the details of your accident and the ways in which it has impacted your life. He will also discuss your goals for your outcome of the case with you to understand what is most important to you from the legal process.

Mr. Pushchak will then recommend the legal strategy that will most effectively achieve your desired outcome. He will spend as much time as necessary answering any questions you may have to ensure you are equipped to make an informed decision about how we approach your case. While we provide strategy recommendations, you will always have the final say on how we handle your case. This ensures Mr. Pushchak remains aligned with your goals throughout the entire process.

Once we’ve collaboratively agreed upon the legal strategy for your claim, Mr. Pushchak will engage in a meticulous process to ensure we build the strongest possible case to maximize the value of your compensation:

• We conduct a comprehensive accident investigation and gather as much evidence as possible to prove the other driver was at fault
• We work with accident reconstruction experts who can support our evidence and prove fault
• We work with medical experts who can provide testimony regarding the extensiveness of your injuries and all necessary treatments, including future procedures, that will be required
• We factor all current and future expenses, as well as non-economic damages, to arrive at an accurate calculation of the compensation to which you are entitled
• We negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to achieve the best possible settlement
• In the event that a settlement isn’t in your best interest, we will be prepared to fight for your compensation in court

Not a Volume Firm or a Settlement Mill

Many high-volume law firms rush motorcycle accident cases toward early settlements, but this approach often fails to account for long-term medical needs. Pushchak Law limits caseloads, prepares every case for trial, and will never pressure you into fast resolutions before we have all the information to understand the long-term impact of your injuries. Our approach ensures your compensation will provide the financial relief you need both now and in the future in the event that ongoing treatments are required.

View Our Case Results

At Pushchak Law, we’re committed to building a strong case that clearly documents the evidence associated with your crash, indicates who was at fault for your injuries and delivers the best possible outcome to your motorcycle accident case. Over the years, Mr. Pushchak’s proven track record of success has helped our clients maximize their compensation. We encourage you to look at our case results to see how we’ve helped previous clients move on with their life after a devastating injury.

View Our Case Results

Meet Our Denver Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Personal Injury Attorney Brian Pushchak

Brian Puschak is a top-rated Denver motorcycle accident attorney who has been representing riders and their families in catastrophic injury cases since 2011. He was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2017-2026, a prestigious honor highlighting the top 2.5% of legal talent under the age of 40 in their state. During his career, he has resolved hundreds of personal injury cases through both litigation and settlement negotiations, earning lucrative verdicts and settlements for his clients.

Mr. Pushchak prioritizes personalized attention as part of his approach. He returns calls quickly and is always available to answer questions or clarify the legal process for his clients. While he always strives to settle cases whenever possible, he has the litigation experience to fight for fair compensation in court.

View Mr. Pushchak’s licensure information.

“After my motorcycle accident, my life was turned upside down. From day one, this firm had my back. They kept me informed through every step — from investigating the crash scene and attending the defendant’s court hearings, to negotiating a fantastic settlement with the insurance company. They handled everything for me which helped me focus on healing my injuries and getting back to work. The level of care, communication, and skill they showed made all the difference. I can’t thank them enough for what they did for me.” –David

Motorcycle Accidents in Denver and Colorado

Colorado consistently ranks among states with rising motorcycle fatalities. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), motorcycle accident fatalities have risen 57% over the past ten years, and the 165 motorcyclist fatalities in 2024 were the highest number ever recorded in Colorado. In addition, riders represent an outsized proportion of traffic deaths – motorcyclist fatalities make up 24% of all Colorado road fatalities despite accounting for only 3% of vehicles on the road.

While riding on Colorado mountain roads presents its own set of unique challenges, urban riding is associated with a larger number of accidents. According to CDOT crash data, over 40% of motorcycle accidents each year take place in Denver and the surrounding areas of Jefferson, Adams and Arapahoe counties. Within the Denver metro area, the highest risk locations for motorcycle accidents include:

• Major intersections such as Colfax Avenue at Federal Boulevard
• Interchange areas such as I-70 at Peña Boulevard
• Major streets with heavy, fast-moving traffic such as Speer Boulevard during rush hour

Why Motorcycle Accident Victims in Colorado Need an Experienced Lawyer

Colorado has enacted a variety of laws to protect your rights in the event that you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver. But in order to get the full protections afforded to you by the law, you’ll need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney by your side.

You’ll experience a variety of benefits when you work with a Denver motorcycle accident lawyer such as Brian Pushchak:

• Protection from Long-Term Financial Burdens – Motorcycle accidents often result in devastating injuries that require expensive medical treatment. We’ll fight for compensation to cover both your current medical expenses and any future medical bills related to your accident to help you avoid serious financial hardship.
• Experience Negotiating with Insurance Companies – Insurance companies are not on your side. They will often go to great lengths to unfairly reduce or deny your claim. We understand the tactics used by insurance companies, and we’ll fight to ensure your settlement offer reflects the true value of your damages.
• Local Expertise – Motorcycle accident cases in Denver often involve complex intersections, multi-vehicle collisions and high volumes of traffic. We understand how these dynamics impact your case, and our legal strategy is designed to address these considerations throughout the entire process, from our initial investigation through all settlement negotiations and trial preparation.
• Better Outcomes – A study conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) found that accident victims who hire a lawyer receive settlements an average of 5 times higher than those who negotiated settlements on their own.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Colorado

The actions you take after a motorcycle accident will play an important role in protecting your rights and ensuring you don’t jeopardize your ability to maximize your compensation in a future lawsuit. The following tips will ensure you know what to do.

While you’re still at the accident scene, make sure to take the following actions:

• Request Emergency Medical Treatment for Critical Injuries – If anyone has been seriously injured, call 911 to request emergency medical assistance right away.
• Exchange Information with Other Drivers – Important information to exchange includes the other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle make/model/license plate number, and insurance information.
• Document the Accident Scene – Gather as much evidence as possible while you’re still at the accident scene. Take photos and videos of the damage to all vehicles, the positioning of vehicles (if they aren’t moved out of traffic), any indicators (such as skid marks) that can shed light on the cause of the accident, and any visible injuries you’ve sustained.
• Call the Police – Before leaving the scene, call the police and request that an officer be dispatched to file an accident report. This police report can provide critical evidence supporting your claim, including the officer’s assessment of fault and any citations issued to the other driver.

There are still several important steps to take once you’ve left the accident scene:

• Seek Medical Attention – Get examined by your doctor within 48-72 hours, even if you don’t appear to be injured. Sometimes it can take days or weeks for symptoms to appear, and prompt treatment is often critical to prevent more serious issues from developing. Seeking medical attention will also help you document your injuries for a future lawsuit.
• Contact Your Insurance Company – Call your insurance company to inform them of the accident. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t admit fault or provide an official statement without speaking to a lawyer first.
• Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer – Hiring a Denver motorcycle accident lawyer right away will ensure your rights are protected throughout the entire legal process.
• Document Your Expenses – In a safe location, store all financial records associated with medical bills, assistive equipment required at your home (if necessary), rehabilitation costs, repair bills for your bike, and lost wages.

For a more detailed discussion of the actions you should take, please read our full What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident blog post.

Why Timing Matters After a Motorcycle Accident

Time is of the essence after you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney right away is critical to the achieving the best possible outcome for your case. It gives your lawyer an opportunity to investigate the accident while all the evidence is fresh. Over time, witnesses may forget important details and evidence may get misplaced. Building the strongest possible case requires prompt action from your lawyer.

Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Different

Motorcycle accident cases are different than other types of motor vehicle accident claims. There are certain unique challenges associated with them that require the expertise of an attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents.

Greater Injury Severity

Motorcycles lack the protective cabin provided by a car, so crashes often involve serious, life-altering injuries. These catastrophic injuries can result in higher medical bills, longer recovery times, greater lost wages and a greater likelihood of future medical procedures. As a result, damages in motorcycle accident cases are typically larger than in car accident claims. This requires more detailed documentation, expert testimony and an attorney with a more sophisticated understanding of complex medical-legal principles.

Bias Against Motorcycle Riders

Motorcycle riders often have a harder time getting a fair settlement from insurance or a fair jury award due to bias against riders that isn’t present with drivers of other vehicles. Most jurors have never ridden a motorcycle and form their opinions of riders based on news media, which often promotes misleading statistics and information about motorcyclists. This often leads jurors to believe motorcycle riders are inherently more likely to engage in reckless behavior such as speeding, unsafe maneuvers and failing to follow the rules of the road than drivers of cars.

Insurance companies are aware of this bias and will often make lowball offers as a result. It’s critical to work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who understands the specific strategies to overcome this bias and ensure your settlement reflects the facts of the case, not the perceptions of motorcycle riders held by the general public.

Learn more about the documented bias against motorcycle riders.

Disputed Liability

Fault is more hotly disputed in motorcycle accidents. It’s common for insurance companies to argue the rider was engaging in dangerous behavior that contributed to the crash, such as speeding, lane splitting or making sudden maneuvers. In addition, motorcycles are less visible than other types of vehicles, and this often leads to crashes involving blind spots where other drivers claim they “didn’t see” the motorcycle. These claims can create conflicting accounts of what happened, requiring more concrete evidence to prove fault compared to accidents involving two cars.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Colorado

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Denver and throughout Colorado include:

• Left-Turn Accidents – One of the most frequent and deadly types of motorcycle crashes occurs when a car turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. This often happens at intersections when the driver misjudges the bike’s speed or simply doesn’t see it at all.
• Right-of-Way Violations – Roughly one-third of all motorcycle accidents happen at intersections, often due to other drivers failing to yield the right of way to the rider.
• Illegal or Unsafe Lane Changes – Because motorcycles take up less space, drivers may assume a lane is clear when it isn’t. Making unsafe lane changes without checking blind spots can lead to sideswipe collisions or situations where riders are forced off the road.
• Speeding or Aggressive Driving – Drivers who are speeding or driving aggressively have reduced reaction time, and the increased speed will magnify the impact severity in the event of an accident.
• Driving Under the Influence – Alcohol and drug impairment contribute to a significant number of fatal motorcycle crashes. Drunk or high drivers have slower reaction times, impaired depth perception, and poor awareness of smaller vehicles like motorcycles.
• Distracted Driving – Cell phone use, paying attention to the video screens on modern vehicles, and other in-car distractions reduce a driver’s ability to react quickly and contribute to a large number of motorcycle accidents.

At Pushchak Law, we’ve handled hundreds of motorcycle accident cases, including many associated with these common causes. Mr. Pushchak knows how to prove fault in all of these situations, giving you the edge you need when seeking to maximize your compensation.

Serious Injuries in Motorcycle Accident Cases

The lack of protection afforded by motorcycles means that motorcycle accident injuries are often catastrophic in nature. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle accidents account for 14% of all traffic fatalities despite comprising only 3% of all registered vehicles. In addition, data released by the Insurance Information Institute found that there are 992 injuries per 100,000 registered motorcycles.

At Pushchak Law, we’ve witnessed the devastating nature of motorcycle accident injuries firsthand, and we understand the ways in which they can affect your life in both the short and long term. Some of the serious motorcycle accident injuries we’ve helped our clients receive maximum compensation for include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries – Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most serious motorcycle accident injuries you can suffer. In cases of a severe brain injury, you may experience permanent disabilities. Wearing a helmet has been proven to significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of brain injuries during a motorcycle accident, making them an essential piece of safety gear.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Your spine is one of the areas of your body most susceptible to injury in a motorcycle accident. While the thoracic spine is the most common area to be damaged in a motorcycle accident, you can potentially injure any region of your spinal column during a high-speed crash. Spinal cord injuries during a motorcycle accident are often very severe, resulting in chronic pain, nerve damage or paralysis.
• Internal Injuries – It’s common to sustain damage to internal organs or suffer internal bleeding from a motorcycle accident. These injuries are typically caused by blunt-force trauma (trauma that doesn’t penetrate the skin) or penetration trauma which occurs when a sharp object penetrates the skin.
• Abdominal Injuries – Common abdominal and chest injuries occurring during a motorcycle accident include fractured ribs, lung lacerations, heart lacerations and other vascular injuries.
• Road Rash – Road rash is a skin abrasion that develops when riders come into contact with the surface of the road during an accident. Road rash can range in severity from mild to extremely severe and will require medical attention in serious cases. It’s common for road rash to result in serious infections, nerve damage or permanent scarring.
• Injuries to Your Extremities – It’s common to suffer injuries to your arms, legs, hands and feet during a motorcycle accident. Some of the most common include broken bones, biker’s arm, and muscle and soft tissue injuries.
• Psychological Trauma – Not all motorcycle accident injuries are physical in nature. It’s also common for victims to experience debilitating psychological trauma related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which may require lifelong therapy and support.

What Compensation Is Available After a Motorcycle Accident?

There are several different types of damages that may be available to you depending on the circumstances associated with your motorcycle accident. In general, damages in a motorcycle accident case can be divided into two separate categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for any financial losses you’ve experienced due to the motorcycle accident. These are relatively straightforward to calculate and may include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Hospital expenses
• Physical therapy and other forms of ongoing rehabilitation treatments
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Property damage to your motorcycle and other gear
• Prescription medications, medical equipment and assistive devices

Non-economic damages compensate you for any non-monetary losses you’ve suffered due to the motorcycle accident. These are more subjective since there are no bills or invoices to provide proof of your loss, making them harder to calculate. Common non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life/reduced quality of life
• Loss of companionship
• Permanent disfigurement
• Permanent Impairment

The goal of the law is that you should be “made whole” for injuries caused by another person’s negligent actions. At Pushchak Law, we have extensive experience calculating the value of damages after a motorcycle accident, and we’ll leverage all possible economic and non-economic damages available to you to ensure your compensation covers the full impact the crash had on your life.

Discover the factors that impact your compensation in a motorcycle accident case.

Learn how damages are calculated in a motorcycle accident case.

Understanding Colorado Motorcycle Laws

Riders in Denver must adhere to Colorado’s motorcycle laws. These comprehensive laws establish clear guidelines regarding how motorcycles are used, the equipment required, licensure requirements, and more. Some of the most important Colorado motorcycle laws to be aware of include:

• Required equipment:
  • You must have at least one side-view mirror to drive on main roads.
  • Headlights and taillights are mandatory at night. For your headlight, you must use a white light that projects at least 500 feet in front of the motorcycle.
  • You must have mufflers on your motorcycle in order to ride on highways, interstates and other major roads in Colorado.
• Protective gear requirements:
  • Wearing a DOT-approved helmet is mandatory for all riders and passengers under the age of 18. Helmets are optional for riders age 18 and over.
  • Eye protection is required for all motorcycle riders and passengers. Acceptable eye protection includes visors on a helmet, or goggles/eyeglasses with lenses made from plastic or safety glass.
• Lane splitting laws:
  • Lane splitting is illegal in Colorado. This refers to riding your motorcycle between two lanes of moving vehicles.
  • Lane filtering is legal in Colorado during a three-year trial period from August 7, 2024 through September 1, 2027. This refers to riding your motorcycle past a stopped vehicle in the same lane. Learn more about the strict conditions that must be met for lane filtering to be permitted.
• Laws governing motorcycle passengers:
  • Motorcycle passengers must either ride on the seat behind the driver and use the footrests, or ride in a side car or an enclosed cab
  • There are no age restrictions for motorcycle passengers
• Colorado motorcycle license requirements:
  • To operate a motorcycle in Colorado, you must have a valid state driver’s license and then add a motorcycle endorsement to your license. This isn’t a separate license; it’s just an addendum to your regular driver’s license that demonstrates you’ve completed the requirements to safely operate a motorcycle.

How Colorado’s Comparative Negligence Law Affects Motorcycle Accident Claims

You can’t always get compensation for a motorcycle injury. Colorado adheres to a modified comparative negligence doctrine when determining compensation after a motorcycle accident. This means you can only get compensation for a motorcycle accident injury if other driver’s negligence is 51% or more responsible for your injury. In other words, you have to be less than 50% responsible for your accident to get compensation. In addition, your compensation will be reduced by the degree to which you are deemed responsible for your injury.

Insurance companies will try to shift blame onto motorcyclists to reduce payouts. This is why it’s critical to work with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who can conclusively prove the other driver was at fault.

How Insurance Companies Try to Undervalue Motorcycle Accident Claims

It’s important to understand that the insurance company isn’t on your side. Their goal is to minimize the amount of money they pay on your case. Some of the most common tactics insurance companies will use to undervalue your claim include:

• Bias and Blame Shifting – Insurance companies will often lean on common biases against motorcycle riders which depict them as inherently reckless in order to argue you were partially or mostly at fault.
• Attacks on Medical Causation and Severity – Insurance companies will often argue that your injuries were associated with a pre-existing condition, exaggerated or completely unrelated to the accident, especially when there is a prior medical history, delayed symptoms or a delay in seeking medical treatment after the accident.
• Complicated Documentation Requirements and Claims Processes – Insurance companies will often demand broad or unnecessary medical records and other paperwork, then say you failed to provide the required documentation. These tactics are used to prolong the claims process to wear you down and make a smaller settlement look more attractive.
• Lowball Settlement Tactics – Insurance companies will often offer lowball settlements early in the process, sometimes even before the full diagnosis and long-term costs are known, in order to lock you into an undervalued settlement at a time when you’re feeling immense financial pressure.
• Narrow Valuation of Damages – Insurance companies may focus exclusively on initial medical bills while ignoring future medical costs and minimizing the impact caused by non-economic damages.

Mr. Pushchak has seen these tactics used many times, and he knows the proper strategies necessary to ensure they don’t negatively impact your compensation. His approach focuses on thorough investigation, expert witness support and trial-ready preparation to ensure you maximize the value of your compensation.