Greeley Bicycle Accident Lawyer – CGH Injury Lawyers

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Under Colorado's Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5), a cyclist who slows, checks for traffic, and proceeds through a stop sign is following the law. Insurers who claim you ran the sign are wrong, and we prove it.
Drivers on US 34, US 85, and SH 257 in and around Greeley must give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing (C.R.S. 42-4-1003). A violation is direct evidence of negligence in a crash case.
Colorado's modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111) lets you recover as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and your own auto insurance's UM/UIM coverage may pay even though you were on a bike, not in a car.

Greeley sits at the intersection of two major federal highways, generates heavy commercial truck traffic from the JBS USA beef processing plant on the east side of the city, and carries University of Northern Colorado student cyclists on streets that were built for freight, not bikes. When a driver hits you here, CGH Injury Lawyers handles the claim from our Denver office, appearing in the 19th Judicial District at Weld County Courthouse when the case demands it. Free consultation, no fee unless we win.

The Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5)

Colorado's Safety Stop law, sometimes called the Idaho Stop, lets cyclists treat a stop sign as a yield sign. You must slow down, check for traffic, and yield to vehicles and pedestrians with the right of way, but you are not required to put your foot down when the intersection is clear. At a red light, the law requires you to stop completely, yield to all cross-traffic, and then proceed when it is safe. Insurance adjusters routinely claim a Greeley cyclist ran a stop sign to inflate your share of fault. The Safety Stop law is your shield. If you slowed, checked, and yielded, you were obeying Colorado law, not breaking it.
The 3-foot passing rule (C.R.S. 42-4-1003)

Every driver in Colorado must give a cyclist at least three feet of clear space when passing. On the wide-lane arterials of US 34 and US 85, drivers often believe they can squeeze by at highway speed. When a driver passes closer than three feet and clips a cyclist, that statutory violation is direct evidence of negligence. We use dashcam footage, eyewitness accounts, and accident reconstruction to prove the driver was too close.
Taking the lane and riding two abreast

Colorado law gives cyclists the same road rights as motor vehicles under Title 42. A cyclist may occupy the center of a traffic lane when conditions make it the safe choice, and two cyclists may ride side by side unless it impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. A driver who tailgates, honks, or tries to force a cyclist out of a legal lane position may be separately liable for that conduct.
Modified comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

Colorado uses a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent. If you are found 25 percent at fault, your recovery is reduced by 25 percent, but you still recover 75 percent of your damages. Insurers routinely inflate a cyclist's fault percentage to cut their payout. We use the Safety Stop law, the 3-foot rule, and the full crash record to push that number back down to where it belongs.
E-bike classes and Greeley roads

Colorado recognizes three e-bike classes. Class 1 provides pedal assist only, cutting off at 20 mph, and is the most widely permitted. Class 2 adds a throttle and also cuts off at 20 mph. Class 3 provides pedal assist up to 28 mph and faces the most trail restrictions. On public Greeley roads and bike lanes, all three classes are generally permitted. If a car hits you while you ride an e-bike lawfully on a Greeley street, your e-bike class does not affect your right to recover damages.
The helmet question

Colorado does not require adults to wear helmets while cycling, and not wearing one is not automatic negligence. An insurer may argue that riding without a helmet added to your head injuries, a theory called failure to mitigate. It does not bar your claim, but it can reduce recovery under the comparative fault rule. We work with medical experts to prove which harms the driver caused and to show where a helmet would not have prevented the injury.

Most Dangerous Corridor

US 34 and the Spaghetti Junction interchange

US Route 34 is Greeley's primary east-west expressway, and its intersection with US Route 85 near Garden City is known locally as Spaghetti Junction, a complex multi-highway interchange with a documented crash history significant enough that CDOT launched a $4 million safety improvement project there. The US 34 corridor also has high-risk intersections at 35th Avenue (a multi-vehicle crash history prompted a roundabout project) and near Weld County Road 17, where high-speed through-traffic mixes with commercial driveways and turning conflicts. Cyclists on or crossing US 34 face some of the highest-exposure conditions in Weld County.

Truck Traffic Hazard

JBS USA and heavy commercial vehicle volume

JBS USA's beef processing plant on the east side of Greeley is one of the largest meatpacking facilities in the United States and one of the city's top employers. The plant generates high volumes of semi-truck and commercial vehicle traffic on local Greeley streets, especially on east-side corridors. A bicycle crash involving a commercial truck from this corridor may bring additional liability sources into play, including the trucking company's commercial insurance and any applicable federal motor carrier safety regulations. We identify every source of recovery before negotiating.

University Zone

University of Northern Colorado campus and surrounding streets

The University of Northern Colorado, with approximately 9,800 students, is a major generator of bicycle and pedestrian traffic on campus and on the surrounding streets of Greeley. The volume of student cyclists in that zone, combined with driver unfamiliarity and distracted driving, creates concentrated crash risk. UNC students and faculty who are hit while riding near campus have the same rights under Colorado law as any other cyclist.

Weather and Road Hazards

Hail, agricultural trucks, and seasonal conditions

Greeley sits within Colorado's Hail Alley, a corridor averaging seven to nine hail days per year. A severe May 2024 hailstorm left parts of the city under more than a foot of hail, creating road surfaces as slippery as ice and resulting in one fatality. When a cyclist is hurt on a road made hazardous by hail accumulation, the question of who is responsible for road conditions becomes part of the claim. Weld County is also one of Colorado's most active agricultural counties, and farm equipment sharing roads on county routes surrounding Greeley is an additional hazard in outer-edge areas.

Trauma Care

Banner North Colorado Medical Center

Seriously injured cyclists in Greeley are typically transported to Banner North Colorado Medical Center, a Level II Trauma Center located in Greeley. Those trauma records, including imaging, surgical notes, and discharge summaries, are the foundation of your damages claim. A Level II Trauma Center can stabilize and treat most life-threatening injuries, and the medical bills it generates document the economic harm the driver caused. We gather the complete Banner Health record as part of building your file.

Courts

Weld County District Court, 19th Judicial District

Personal injury cases arising in Weld County are filed in the Weld County District Court, part of the 19th Judicial District. The court has two locations in Greeley: the Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Ave (Greeley, CO 80631) and the Centennial Center clerk's office and filing location at 915 10th Street. We file in the 19th Judicial District when a case does not settle. Most bicycle cases resolve before trial, but knowing the local court, its procedural rules, and the defense firms that work there is how we negotiate from a position of strength.

Task Force Attorneys

CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force

Our attorneys serve on the CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force, working with state legislators and transportation officials to improve protections for cyclists across Colorado. That means we know these laws better than any adjuster who is trying to apply them against you.

Statewide Coverage

Denver office. Weld County cases.

We handle Greeley and Weld County bicycle accident cases from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201. We appear in the 19th Judicial District at Weld County Courthouse when the case requires it. There is no Greeley office and we will never imply otherwise, but distance has never been a barrier to winning cases across Colorado for our clients.

ABOTA

25+ cases to verdict.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. That trial record changes how insurers respond to our demands.

Honest Intake

We say no when we should.

We do not take Greeley bicycle cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If your situation falls within a statutory defense, we tell you in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. You deserve that answer early, for free.

Recognized

Best Lawyers in America since 2023.

Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. CGH is a eight-attorney Colorado firm, founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and Howard. Every case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Greeley's large Spanish-speaking community, including workers in the agricultural and meatpacking sectors.

No Win, No Fee

Contingency only.

You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees. We advance costs and collect only from a settlement or verdict in your Greeley case.

Call 911

Request police and medical help. A Colorado Traffic Crash Report is critical evidence for your claim and for any litigation in the 19th Judicial District. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline masks serious injuries including concussions and internal bleeding.
Get to Banner North Colorado Medical Center if needed

For serious injuries, Banner North Colorado Medical Center is Greeley's Level II Trauma Center. Those records become the backbone of your damages case. Even if you do not go by ambulance, see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. Delayed symptoms, particularly concussion, soft-tissue damage, and internal bleeding, are common in cycling crashes.
Do not apologize or discuss fault

Do not say "I'm sorry" or "I didn't see you" to the driver, witnesses, or the insurer. Statements made at the scene can be used against you in a comparative fault analysis.
Document the scene

Photograph the crash location on US 34, US 85, or wherever it happened. Capture the vehicle, your bike, any skid marks, road conditions, and signage. If hail or debris was a factor, photograph the surface. Collect witness names and contact information before they leave.
Keep your damaged gear

Do not repair your bike or throw away your helmet, clothing, or any gear damaged in the crash. Physical evidence of the impact supports your injury claim and your damages calculation.
Call CGH before the insurer does

The at-fault driver's insurer may contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with us. Call (303) 209-9395. Our attorneys communicate with the insurer, gather the crash report, and protect your rights while you recover.

I wish I could leave more than 5 stars!

Grace M., 5-star CGH Injury Lawyers client review

Economic damages (never capped)

Emergency care, surgery, and hospitalization at Banner North Colorado Medical Center
Follow-up treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation
Future medical costs, including long-term care for serious injuries
Lost wages from time away from work and reduced earning capacity
Bike replacement and out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages (capped)

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and anxiety from the crash
Loss of enjoyment of life
Permanent scarring or disfigurement (not capped)
Permanent physical impairment (not capped)

Colorado's non-economic damages cap

For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2028. Two important categories are exempt from that cap entirely: economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages have no cap, and compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is also not capped under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). Lower, inflation-adjusted caps apply to claims that accrued before January 1, 2025. In a serious cycling crash involving permanent injury, the uncapped categories often represent the largest portion of a full recovery.

Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply

One of the most overlooked sources of recovery for Greeley cyclists is their own automobile insurance. If the driver who hit you was uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, even though you were on a bike, not in a car. This matters especially in hit-and-run cases and when the at-fault driver carries only minimum limits. We identify every available coverage source before any settlement conversation begins.

"You ran the stop sign"

The most common attack on a cyclist. The answer is Colorado's Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5). If you slowed, checked for traffic, and yielded before entering the intersection, you were following the law, not violating it. We reconstruct the scene, gather witness accounts, and use the statute to prove lawful conduct.
"You weren't in a bike lane"

Colorado law gives cyclists the same rights as motor vehicles on public roads. There is no requirement to ride in a bike lane when one exists, and a cyclist may legally occupy the center of a traffic lane when conditions make it the safe choice. Riding outside a bike lane does not reduce the driver's duty to give you three feet of clearance when passing.
"You weren't wearing a helmet"

Colorado does not require adults to wear helmets while cycling. Not wearing one is not automatic negligence. An insurer may argue it added to your head injuries, which can reduce your non-economic recovery under comparative fault, but it does not bar the claim. We use medical experts to establish which harms the driver caused and to isolate the connection between the impact and your injuries.
"The road conditions caused the crash, not the driver"

In Greeley, where severe hailstorms can leave road surfaces as slippery as ice and agricultural debris on county roads is common, insurers sometimes argue that road conditions, rather than driver conduct, caused the crash. When a driver hit you while those conditions existed, their duty to slow down and maintain a safe distance from a cyclist does not disappear. We use CDOT and NOAA records, crash reports, and eyewitness accounts to establish what the driver should have done differently.
"You were 50 percent at fault"

Under Colorado's modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111), if an insurer can push your share of fault to 50 percent or more, you recover nothing. This is their most powerful lever, and they pull it early. We use the Safety Stop law, the 3-foot passing rule, the crash report, and crash reconstruction to hold your share of fault below that threshold, which is why contacting us before giving any statement matters so much.

The at-fault driver's auto liability policy is the primary source. If the driver was underinsured or uninsured, that policy may not cover the full cost of your injuries.
Your own auto insurance UM/UIM coverage often applies to bicycle crashes, even though you were not in a vehicle. This is a critical secondary source that many cyclists do not know exists.
If the crash involved a commercial vehicle connected to a company such as a JBS USA contractor or another Greeley employer, the company's commercial auto liability policy may apply, with significantly higher limits than a personal auto policy.
Homeowner or umbrella policies held by the at-fault party may provide additional coverage in some cases.
If a government vehicle or poorly maintained public road contributed to your crash, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-114) applies, with its own notice and cap requirements. A written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109). Missing that deadline bars the claim entirely.

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Greeley?

Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for injuries arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). That three-year clock applies when a car, truck, or other motor vehicle struck you. Shorter deadlines can apply in other situations: most non-vehicle injury claims must be filed within two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102(1)(a)), and claims involving a government vehicle or public road require a formal written notice within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109). Contact us early to confirm your specific deadline.

Is it legal to roll through a stop sign on a bicycle in Greeley?

Yes, within limits. Colorado's Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5) lets cyclists treat a stop sign as a yield sign. You must slow down and check for traffic, and you must yield to any vehicle or pedestrian with the right of way. If the intersection is clear, you may proceed without coming to a full stop. At red lights, the Safety Stop law requires a complete stop before you may proceed when safe. Doing this correctly means you are following Colorado law, which is the answer to any insurer who claims otherwise.

I was hit by a semi-truck near the JBS plant. Is the company liable?

Possibly. If the driver was operating a company vehicle or was on duty for an employer at the time of the crash, the employer may be liable under a legal theory called respondeat superior. Commercial vehicles also carry their own liability insurance policies, often with much higher limits than a personal auto policy, and federal motor carrier safety regulations may apply. We investigate the employment relationship and the vehicle registration before reaching any conclusions about who is responsible.

Where is my Greeley bicycle accident lawsuit filed?

Personal injury cases arising in Weld County are filed in the Weld County District Court, the 19th Judicial District. The court operates from the Weld County Courthouse at 901 9th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631, and the Centennial Center filing location at 915 10th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Most Greeley bicycle cases settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, but knowing the local court and local procedural rules affects how we build and negotiate every claim.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Yes, as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent. Colorado follows a modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111): if you are found 30 percent at fault, your recovery is reduced by 30 percent, but you still recover 70 percent of your damages. If your share reaches 50 percent or more, you recover nothing. Insurance adjusters routinely try to inflate a cyclist's fault to cut payouts or eliminate the claim entirely. We use the Safety Stop law, the 3-foot rule, and the full crash record to hold your fault share where it actually belongs.

Does my own auto insurance cover me while I'm riding a bike in Greeley?

Often, yes. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto policy, it may pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you, even though you were on a bicycle. This coverage matters most in hit-and-run crashes, where there is no at-fault driver to collect from, and in cases where the driver carries only minimum limits that do not cover the full cost of your injuries. We review every policy in play before any settlement discussion.

What is the non-economic damages cap for a bicycle accident in Colorado?

For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are never capped. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is also not capped under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5). Lower, inflation-adjusted caps apply to claims that accrued before January 1, 2025.

What if there was hail on the road when I was hit in Greeley?

Greeley sits in Colorado's Hail Alley, and hail on the roadway can be as slippery as ice. If a driver hit you when road conditions were degraded by hail, their duty to slow down and maintain a safe following distance from a cyclist does not disappear because the road was slippery. The question is what a reasonable driver should have done given those conditions. We use weather records, CDOT data, and eyewitness accounts to establish what the driver could and should have done differently. Severe weather does not automatically excuse driver negligence.

Greeley

Greeley injury lawyers

Statewide practice area

Other bicycle pages

Firm

Greeley Bicycle Accident Lawyers Who Make Weld County Drivers Answer for the Harm They Cause

Colorado bicycle law decoded: what Greeley riders need to know before talking to an insurer

The Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5)

The 3-foot passing rule (C.R.S. 42-4-1003)

Taking the lane and riding two abreast

Modified comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111)

E-bike classes and Greeley roads

The helmet question

Where Greeley bicycle crashes happen, and where your case goes next

US 34 and the Spaghetti Junction interchange

JBS USA and heavy commercial vehicle volume

University of Northern Colorado campus and surrounding streets

Hail, agricultural trucks, and seasonal conditions

Banner North Colorado Medical Center

Weld County District Court, 19th Judicial District

Why Greeley bicycle accident victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force

Denver office. Weld County cases.

25+ cases to verdict.

We say no when we should.

Best Lawyers in America since 2023.

Hablamos espanol.

Contingency only.

What to do immediately after a bicycle accident in Greeley

Call 911

Get to Banner North Colorado Medical Center if needed

Do not apologize or discuss fault

Document the scene

Keep your damaged gear

Call CGH before the insurer does

Compensation for Greeley bicycle accident victims

Economic damages (never capped)

Non-economic damages (capped)

Colorado's non-economic damages cap

Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply

Common defenses in Greeley bicycle accident cases, and how we answer them

"You ran the stop sign"

"You weren't in a bike lane"

"You weren't wearing a helmet"

"The road conditions caused the crash, not the driver"

"You were 50 percent at fault"

The insurance picture in a Greeley bicycle crash

Greeley bicycle accident, frequently asked questions

Related pages

A driver hit you in Greeley. We handle everything that comes next.