Boulder Bicycle Accident

Boulder Bicycle Injury Lawyers Fighting for Justice Across Boulder County

Bicyclists in Boulder face daily dangers, despite the city’s pro-cycling reputation. While Boulder’s extensive trail system and bike-friendly infrastructure attract thousands of daily riders, high-speed traffic corridors and careless drivers still pose serious threats. From Broadway to 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard to Baseline Road, one distracted motorist can turn a peaceful ride into a catastrophic crash. At Jordan Levine, we fight aggressively for Boulder bicycle accident victims and hold negligent drivers accountable, backed by evidence, not excuses.

Even in a city known for its progressive bike policies and protected lanes, cyclists remain vulnerable. Intersections near Pearl Street Mall, the University of Colorado campus, and Foothills Parkway continue to see close calls and preventable collisions. Some drivers speed, others turn without signaling, and many fail to yield when merging or opening car doors. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, bike crashes statewide have increased in recent years, particularly in urban zones like Boulder. Read more from CDOT’s statewide safety data.

At Jordan Levine, we do not wait for insurance companies to play fair. We act immediately. Our team gathers helmet cam footage, traffic surveillance, and physical evidence before it disappears. Whether you were injured during your morning commute, while riding trails near Chautauqua Park, or while crossing a downtown intersection, we are prepared to launch an aggressive investigation and prove liability. Boulder’s cycling community deserves justice, not delays or denials.

Where Bicycle Accidents Commonly Happen in Boulder

Boulder’s mix of bike lanes, foot traffic, and high-speed arterial roads puts cyclists in frequent danger. Even in bike-forward areas, painted lines and signage are often not enough to stop serious collisions. At Jordan Levine, we know the critical accident locations in Boulder and how to investigate them thoroughly. We combine traffic code violations, physical evidence, and local crash data to prove fault and demand full compensation.

From campus corridors to business zones and highway connectors, serious crashes occur in areas where infrastructure falls short and driver awareness is low. The following locations are among the most dangerous for cyclists in Boulder.

Broadway and University Hill Corridor

This corridor connects the University of Colorado Boulder with residential and commercial zones. During peak hours, the area becomes congested with student cyclists, parked vehicles, rideshare drop-offs, and commuter traffic. Drivers regularly make turns without signaling and fail to check their blind spots. Many block bike lanes when parking or unloading.

Jordan Levine’s legal team has investigated multiple injury claims along Broadway. These include dooring incidents, sideswipes, and rear-end crashes. We gather street footage, compare crash location to vehicle movement patterns, and review city enforcement records. We use Boulder’s municipal code to show how driver behavior violated cyclist protections.

28th Street and Canyon Boulevard Interchange

The intersection of 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard remains a frequent site of serious bicycle crashes. Complex lane transitions, irregular signal timing, and limited visibility contribute to high-impact collisions. Vehicles merging into traffic or rushing left turns often cross bike lanes at dangerous angles.

Our investigators obtain timing sequence records from city traffic systems and use vehicle trajectory mapping to demonstrate fault. We show how poor signaling and careless driving combine to create risk. Cyclists in these zones often suffer concussions, spinal trauma, and broken limbs. We build claims around injury type, driver error, and intersection design failures.

Pearl Street and Central Business District

Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall and adjacent downtown district present unique risks to cyclists. Visitors unfamiliar with local road laws frequently stop in bike lanes, block intersections, or open car doors without checking. These actions lead to dooring crashes, sudden swerves, and direct side impacts.

Jordan Levine obtains video from nearby businesses, public cameras, and client helmet cams to reconstruct the crash. We confirm how the driver failed to observe safety rules and show how dense street design contributed to the incident. These collisions often result in long-term injuries that demand expert valuation and detailed evidence to justify full recovery.

Foothills Parkway and Valmont Road Connection

This stretch connects northern Boulder with key residential and light industrial areas. It also remains one of the most dangerous routes for high-speed bike travel. Although lanes are marked, cars frequently drift over lines, make sudden right turns, or misjudge cyclist speed when exiting onto side roads.

Our firm works with crash reconstruction professionals to create visual demonstrations of vehicle and cyclist positions. We match skid mark analysis with damage points on the bike to prove direction and impact force. These cases often involve emergency surgeries, loss of mobility, and extensive rehabilitation costs. We include every medical, physical, and emotional damage in your legal demand.

What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in Boulder

Bicycle crashes in Boulder are rarely accidents. They are preventable events caused by reckless behavior, unsafe conditions, or failure to follow traffic laws. At Jordan Levine, we analyze every case in detail. Our attorneys examine how and why the crash happened, not just where it occurred. We combine local road data, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence to show the driver’s actions led to your injury.

We also work with transportation experts and engineers to expose infrastructure flaws and traffic patterns that contribute to cyclist harm. Below are the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Boulder and how we prove fault in each case.

Drivers Failing to Yield at Crosswalks and Intersections

Many Boulder drivers do not yield to cyclists at crosswalks or signal-controlled intersections. They assume the rider will stop or slow down to avoid a crash. This results in dangerous left-turn impacts and cross-traffic collisions. These incidents are common around 30th Street, Iris Avenue, and school zones near North Boulder.

Our legal team reviews intersection design, braking distances, and helmet cam footage. We match vehicle behavior to city yield laws and Colorado’s right-of-way statutes. When necessary, we use accident reconstruction software to show how the driver’s failure to yield directly caused the impact.

Unsafe Turning Maneuvers into Bicycle Lanes

Unsafe left or right turns account for a high percentage of bike crashes in Boulder. Drivers often turn without signaling or checking mirrors. Some swing wide or cut sharply across bike lanes without regard for rider position. These fast-turn collisions are frequent on Arapahoe Avenue, Table Mesa Drive, and streets near the University of Colorado campus.

We retrieve intersection light logs, witness accounts, and GPS cycling data to reconstruct the event. Our team overlays this evidence on traffic flow maps to illustrate fault. We present this package to the insurer or, if needed, in court to show the violation and its direct consequences.

Cell Phone Use and Other Driving Distractions

Distracted driving remains a major threat to Boulder cyclists. Drivers who text, use GPS, or adjust digital dashboards often miss hand signals or lane shifts. These distractions reduce reaction time and make it more likely that a cyclist will be struck, sideswiped, or forced off the road.

At Jordan Levine, we subpoena phone records, interface logs, and timestamped app usage when available. This proof often destroys the insurance company’s defense and increases the claim value. Our goal is always the same, to prove with certainty that the driver was not paying attention and that their inattention caused your injuries.

Car Doors Opening into Oncoming Cyclists

Dooring incidents are among the most severe and most common in Boulder’s urban areas. These crashes happen when a driver or passenger opens a door into the path of an oncoming cyclist. Riders suffer broken arms, facial trauma, and head injuries from these sudden impacts. Downtown Boulder and student-heavy neighborhoods are high-risk zones for dooring.

We obtain surveillance footage, check for vehicle code violations, and measure bike lane width to show the risk area. Colorado law requires occupants to check before exiting a vehicle. We prove that failure and tie it to your injuries. Our attorneys use this evidence to demand compensation for medical costs, pain, and long-term limitations.

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents in Boulder, Colorado

Every bicycle crash in Boulder has unique circumstances, but the underlying types of accidents tend to follow recognizable patterns. Jordan Levine has handled hundreds of injury cases involving a variety of collision types. We understand how each category affects liability, insurance response, and settlement value. Whether caused by driver carelessness, poor road design, or mechanical failure, we build your case with clarity and speed.

The following are the most frequent types of bicycle accidents we see in Boulder, each with serious legal and medical consequences.

Right Hook Collisions at Intersections

Right hook crashes happen when a vehicle turns right directly across a cyclist’s path. This often occurs when both the driver and rider are traveling in the same direction. Drivers fail to check mirrors or underestimate the cyclist’s speed. These collisions frequently happen near Boulder’s busy intersections such as 30th and Arapahoe or along the Foothills Parkway access lanes.

At Jordan Levine, we use crash scene diagrams, lane positioning analysis, and vehicle turn radius measurements to show how these crashes unfold. We identify whether the driver signaled, yielded, or observed the bike lane. This type of evidence proves the driver made an unsafe maneuver that caused the impact.

Why Right Hook Accidents Are Legally Complex

Right hook crashes often create disputes over timing and lane placement. Insurance companies argue that the cyclist should have slowed down or avoided the vehicle. Our firm uses Colorado traffic laws and Boulder municipal codes to shut down those claims. We show that cyclists had the legal right-of-way and that driver negligence caused the crash.

We reinforce that evidence with traffic camera footage and expert evaluations of sightlines, signage, and driver obligations. Our team builds a strong case to block fault-shifting strategies and hold the right party accountable.

Dooring Crashes in Dense Urban Areas

Dooring accidents are common in downtown Boulder, especially near Pearl Street, Hill District, and student housing corridors. These crashes happen when a parked vehicle occupant opens a door into the path of a cyclist without looking first. The rider has no time to react and often flips over the door, landing hard on concrete.

Our investigators gather video footage from businesses, consult helmet cam recordings, and take post-crash photos of door positioning and rider trajectory. We also apply Colorado’s law on opening car doors in traffic, which places full responsibility on the occupant. We prove this type of negligence caused your injury and demand full compensation for broken bones, dental trauma, and emotional distress.

Rear-End Bicycle Collisions on Fast Roads

On high-speed roads like Foothills Parkway and 55th Street, drivers often misjudge cyclist speed and fail to stop in time. Rear-end crashes frequently result in head trauma, spine injuries, and fractured extremities. These cases are among the most severe and often involve distracted or impaired driving.

Jordan Levine uses time-distance analysis, vehicle braking patterns, and black box data to show the driver was following too closely or failed to maintain control. Our firm demands immediate access to police reports, vehicle telemetry, and eyewitness statements to preserve crucial evidence. We then build a claim that accounts for every form of physical, mental, and financial damage caused by the impact.

Sideswipe Collisions From Lane Intrusions

Drivers who drift into marked bike lanes or pass cyclists too closely often cause sideswipe crashes. These collisions are common on narrow roadways like Mapleton Avenue, Baseline Road, and near shared-lane streets around the CU Boulder campus. Even minor contact at low speeds can throw a cyclist into traffic or cause a serious fall.

Our firm prove fault in these cases by gathering dash cam footage, bike-mounted video, and roadway design specs. We match those details with Boulder’s safe passing laws, which require a minimum three-foot buffer when overtaking cyclists. We also use crash diagrams and rider injury patterns to show point of contact and angle of intrusion.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries We See in Boulder Cyclists

Bicycle accidents in Boulder often result in serious, long-lasting injuries. Even low-speed collisions can cause major trauma when a cyclist is unprotected. At Jordan Levine, we regularly handle injury claims that involve both visible wounds and complex internal damage. We partner with orthopedic specialists, neurologists, and long-term care planners to understand the full impact of your crash. We use that medical insight to maximize your settlement and make sure no future cost is ignored.

Below are some of the most common injuries Boulder cyclists suffer after a crash. Each one can affect your ability to work, move, and live independently, and each deserves serious legal action.

Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Trauma After Bike Collisions

Helmet use can reduce severity but cannot eliminate the risk of brain injury. Concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) remain among the most severe consequences of bike crashes in Boulder. Cyclists who hit pavement or vehicle hoods with force often experience memory loss, dizziness, and personality changes. These symptoms may appear days or weeks after the crash.

Our firm works closely with neurologists to document every stage of brain trauma recovery. We obtain neuroimaging records, neuropsychological evaluations, and symptom journals. This evidence supports damages for cognitive deficits, pain, loss of quality of life, and permanent disability. In Boulder’s high-traffic corridors, especially along Broadway and Foothills Parkway, these crashes occur frequently and require immediate legal intervention.

Broken Bones and Fractures From Impact and Ejection

When a cyclist is thrown from a bike during a crash, fractures are almost guaranteed. Common breaks include wrists, collarbones, elbows, and ribs. Riders may land awkwardly or get pinned between their bike and a car. These orthopedic injuries require surgery, hardware installation, and lengthy rehab.

At Jordan Levine, we gather X-rays, surgeon notes, and physical therapy records to calculate full medical costs. We also include long-term impacts such as reduced grip strength, mobility loss, and surgical complications. Our attorneys use these records to build damages packages that reflect your true recovery timeline and loss of function.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries That Disrupt Daily Life

Spine trauma is one of the most debilitating types of injury for cyclists. Boulder riders struck at high speed often suffer herniated discs, spinal cord bruising, or even partial paralysis. These injuries can impair movement, cause chronic pain, and require years of treatment. Crashes on Valmont Road, Table Mesa Drive, and downhill segments of Lee Hill Road often lead to spinal damage due to sharp elevation changes and fast traffic.

Our legal team obtains MRI results, orthopedic specialist reviews, and mobility assessments to show how the injury altered your daily life. We include claims for mobility aids, home modifications, and lifestyle loss. Whether temporary or permanent, spine damage deserves high-value legal attention, and we deliver it.

Road Rash, Facial Lacerations, and Soft Tissue Damage

Not every injury involves broken bones. Cyclists often suffer painful abrasions, deep cuts, and muscle tearing when they hit pavement. Road rash can lead to infections and scarring. Facial injuries may require stitches, plastic surgery, or dental reconstruction. These injuries are common in dooring crashes and low-speed impacts on downtown Boulder streets.

We document every treatment, photograph injury progression, and collect cosmetic surgery estimates. We also include pain and suffering tied to disfigurement or visibility of scars. At Jordan Levine, we ensure that no injury, no matter how external or soft-tissue based, is underestimated by the insurance company.

Speak with a Boulder Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

A bicycle crash causes more than pain. It brings medical bills, lost wages, and stress that can overwhelm your future. You cannot wait while the insurance company builds its case to delay or deny your claim. At Jordan Levine, we act immediately. We preserve evidence, prove liability, and fight to recover every dollar you are owed.

Our team represents injured cyclists across Boulder County. Whether your crash happened near CU Boulder, downtown, or along a canyon road, we are ready to take action. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Your recovery deserves more than a quick settlement. It deserves experienced legal power.

Call Jordan Levine today to speak with a Boulder bicycle accident attorney.

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