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Boulder, Colorado near the Flatirons. CGH Injury Lawyers represents electric scooter accident victims in Boulder.
Boulder, Colorado

Boulder Scooter Accident Lawyers Who Get Riders Paid in Full

If a driver, a rental company, or a dangerous road left you hurt on an electric scooter in Boulder, you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault. We serve Boulder riders from our Denver office and find every source of coverage. No fee unless we win.

No fee unless we win
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Serving Boulder From Our Denver Office CGH Injury Lawyers 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 209-9395 Se habla espanol
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  • Colorado classifies electric scooters as low-power scooters (C.R.S. 42-1-102): two or three wheels, a motor under 2,000 watts, and a top speed of 20 mph. They are treated as vehicles, so a Boulder rider must carry a valid driver's license or instruction permit.
  • State law allows sidewalk riding at 6 mph or less (C.R.S. 42-4-1412), but Boulder ordinances restrict it in many zones. A Boulder adjuster will use a local ordinance to try to pin all of the fault on you.
  • Colorado uses modified comparative fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can still recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your share. The deadline for a crash involving a motor vehicle is generally three years (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)).

Electric scooters are everywhere in Boulder, from the CU Boulder campus to the Pearl Street Mall, but the rules that govern them are split between state law and city ordinances. That confusion is exactly what insurers use to deny scooter injury claims. CGH Injury Lawyers serves injured Boulder scooter riders from our Denver office, sorts out the conflict between state statute and municipal rules, and finds every source of coverage. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

The law that governs your case

How Colorado classifies electric scooters, decoded for Boulder

Colorado created a formal category for what it calls low-power scooters (C.R.S. 42-1-102). That classification controls which traffic laws apply to you in Boulder and which insurance arguments an adjuster will make after a crash.

What makes a low-power scooter

  • Two or three wheels.
  • An electric motor under 2,000 watts.
  • A maximum speed of 20 mph on a paved, level surface.
  • Treated as a vehicle, so most rules that apply to bicyclists and motorists also apply to you.

What the classification requires of riders

  • A valid driver's license or instruction permit, unlike a bicycle.
  • Riders under 18 must wear protective headgear at all times.
  • DUI, reckless operation, and comparative fault rules all apply.
  • Obey every traffic control device, the same as any vehicle.

Why the classification matters in a Boulder claim

Insurance companies frequently use the vehicle classification to argue that a standard auto policy does not cover a scooter accident. That creates a coverage gap that can leave an injured Boulder rider chasing the at-fault driver's limited insurance, or none at all. We push back on that argument and look for every policy that may respond, including the rider's own auto and umbrella coverage.

State vs. city

State law versus Boulder city ordinances

Colorado's constitution lets home rule cities pass local ordinances that supersede state law inside their boundaries. For scooter riders, that means the rules can change the moment you cross a city line into Boulder.

What state law allows

State law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412) permits low-power scooter operation on sidewalks at a speed not exceeding 6 mph. Outside of restricted city zones, that low-speed sidewalk riding is legal.

What Boulder restricts

Boulder, like Denver and other cities, has enacted ordinances that can contradict the state provision and restrict where you may ride. Enforcement tends to concentrate in dense pedestrian areas such as the Pearl Street Mall and the corridors around CU Boulder.

Why it matters after a crash

Adjusters argue a Boulder rider was breaking the law by riding where the city restricts it, then try to assign all of the fault. Under modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111), you can still recover substantial compensation if another party's negligence caused the crash.

Riding in a posted dismount zone can establish contributory negligence in an accident case, which an insurer will use to cut your recovery even when another party caused the crash. The Pearl Street Mall is a four-block pedestrian mall, and a busy campus city like Boulder is full of zones where the rules shift block by block.

Do not rely on the app to tell you where it is legal to ride. Lime, Bird, and Spin use GPS geofencing to slow or disable scooters in some zones, but those digital boundaries do not always match the legal ones. A scooter may run at full speed on a sidewalk where the city ordinance restricts riding entirely.

Rules of the road

Where you can ride in Boulder, and the equipment Colorado requires

C.R.S. 42-4-1412 sets the baseline operational rules for low-power scooters. Cities such as Boulder may add restrictions, but these statewide rules apply everywhere.

  1. Roadways, bike lanes, and sidewalks

    State law permits scooter operation on roadways, bike lanes, and sidewalks at reduced speed. When a bike lane or shoulder is available, use it rather than the travel lane. On sidewalks the speed limit drops to 6 mph and you must yield to pedestrians.

  2. Obey all traffic control devices

    Scooter operators must obey stop signs, traffic lights, and yield signs. You have the same rights and duties as a bicyclist, including the right to occupy a full lane when safety requires it.

  3. Prohibited areas

    State law prohibits scooter operation on interstate highways and limited-access roadways. Boulder and other cities may designate additional dismount zones and prohibited areas, especially in dense corridors like the Pearl Street Mall.

  4. Required lighting and helmets

    Colorado requires lighting for night riding under C.R.S. 42-4-1412. Most rentals come equipped, but a personal scooter may need to be retrofitted. Helmets are mandatory for riders under 18 and strongly recommended for adults.

The helmet liability question

Adults are not legally required to wear a helmet, but that is not the end of the story. Insurers aggressively argue that a rider's failure to wear one added to the injuries. Under Colorado's comparative negligence system, that argument can reduce your compensation even when the other party clearly caused the crash. We answer it with medical evidence showing what a helmet would, and would not, have prevented.

Local Knowledge

Boulder roads. Boulder trauma care. Boulder courts.

A Boulder scooter case lives in Boulder: the streets where it happened, the hospital that treated you, and the courthouse where your case may be filed. Here is the ground we work on for Boulder riders.

Trauma Care

Foothills Hospital, Boulder

After a serious Boulder scooter crash, the most critically injured patients are typically transported to Foothills Hospital (Boulder Community Health) at 4747 Arapahoe Avenue, the American College of Surgeons verified Level II Trauma Center and the first designated Level II Trauma Center in Boulder County. Those medical records document the full scope of your injuries, including head trauma and orthopedic damage, and become the backbone of your damages claim.

Dangerous Roads

28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue

Boulder's hazard map matters to a scooter case. The intersection of 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue saw roughly 30 accidents at or near it in 2022 through early December per city reporting, and 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard is among the city's most dangerous. The 28th Street corridor carries U.S. 36 through Boulder. Boulder County recorded 22 traffic deaths in 2023, 19 in 2024, and 17 in 2025 per its Vision Zero program, with speed, impaired driving, and pedestrian and cyclist strikes among the leading contributing factors.

Courthouse

Boulder County Combined Court

Personal injury cases that arise in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court (District Court, 20th Judicial District) at 1777 6th St., Boulder, with an alternate location at 1035 Kimbark St. in Longmont. Boulder civil procedure differs from Denver and the suburbs, and the judges and opposing counsel either know your firm or they don't. We handle 20th Judicial District cases directly.

Boulder is a city of roughly 106,802 to 108,250 people built around the CU Boulder campus, the Pearl Street Mall, the Flatirons, and Chautauqua Park, ringed by CDOT-maintained corridors: U.S. 36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike running on 28th Street; U.S. 287; Colorado 7, the Arapahoe Avenue extension; and Colorado 119, the Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont. Vision Zero flags curve-related crashes on the Diagonal and head-on and speed-related crashes on U.S. 36 and U.S. 287, the kinds of high-energy collisions that leave a scooter rider with the worst of it.

Why CGH

Why Boulder scooter accident victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

Trial-ready attorneys, bilingual help, and no fee unless we win. We do not publish scooter settlement figures, because every crash injury is different and a number on a page tells you nothing about your case. What we offer is the work, not a headline.

The Coverage Fight

Every policy in play.

When an auto insurer says a scooter is not covered, we look for the at-fault driver's liability policy, the rental company's coverage, and your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. We do not stop at the first denial.

Comparative Fault

Partly at fault is not no case.

Boulder's split between state law and city ordinances is the insurer's favorite weapon. Under C.R.S. 13-21-111 you can recover as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and we work to keep your assigned share as low as the facts allow.

Rental Companies

Waivers do not end it.

A defective Lime, Bird, or Spin scooter can make the rental company liable despite a dense liability waiver. We know how to hold them to account.

Local Ground

Foothills to 20th District.

We work from your Foothills Hospital records to a filing in the Boulder County Combined Court when an insurer refuses to be fair.

Trial-Ready

8 attorneys, prepared for trial.

CGH Injury Lawyers is a eight-attorney Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict, and Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023.

Bilingual

Hablamos espanol.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Boulder's Spanish-speaking community.

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.

One honest thing we will tell you up front: we do not take scooter cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If the facts show you were 50 percent or more responsible for the crash, Colorado law bars recovery, and we will say so in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. When the law is on your side, we fight hard. When it is not, you deserve to hear that early, for free.

After the Crash

What to do after a scooter accident in Boulder

The steps you take right after a crash shape your ability to recover. Evidence disappears fast with scooter cases, so act quickly and protect the record.

  1. Call 911 and get medical care

    Request police response even for a crash that seems minor, and get examined at Foothills Hospital or another Boulder provider. A police report creates an official record and a preliminary fault determination. Without one, an insurer may claim the accident never happened.

  2. Document everything and screenshot the app

    Photograph your injuries, the scooter, the scene, and any road hazards. On a rental, immediately screenshot your ride history and the scooter ID. Companies often lock riders out of their accounts after a crash, making that data impossible to retrieve later.

  3. Preserve the scooter and its defects

    If you can, photograph the scooter's condition and any visible defects such as damaged brakes, worn tires, or a cracked deck. Note the scooter ID number on the deck or handlebars.

  4. Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement

    Even saying you are sorry can be read as an admission. Give police only the facts. Politely decline a recorded statement to an adjuster, and do not accept a quick lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.

  5. Call CGH Injury Lawyers

    Security footage near a crash is often deleted within 7 to 30 days, and scooter companies perform maintenance that can destroy evidence of a defect. We send preservation letters and begin investigating right away. Call (303) 209-9395. No fee unless we win.

Liability and compensation

Who pays after a Boulder scooter crash, and what you can recover

Electric scooter accidents raise complex liability questions. More than one party can be responsible, and Colorado's comparative negligence rule decides how recovery is divided.

Comparative negligence in Colorado

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent; if you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a driver turns right without signaling and strikes you in a Boulder bike lane, and a jury finds the driver 80 percent at fault and you 20 percent for not wearing a helmet, a $100,000 loss recovers $80,000.

The at-fault driver

The most common scenario is a motor vehicle striking a scooter rider, often a right-hook turn, a failure to yield, or a driver who never saw the scooter. The driver's liability insurer is usually the first source of recovery.

The scooter company

A rental company may be liable for a defective scooter: brake failure, faulty acceleration, or poor maintenance. These cases often involve dense liability waivers, and we know how to hold rental companies accountable despite them.

The government entity

A city or the state can be liable for dangerous road conditions such as potholes or hazards along a CDOT corridor like U.S. 36 or the Diagonal Highway. Government claims require a written notice of claim within 182 days under C.R.S. 24-10-109, so these cases need fast action.

What your recovery can include, and the cap that applies

A serious scooter injury reaches far beyond the first hospital bill. You can pursue economic damages such as medical care, future treatment, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, along with non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Economic damages are never capped 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 beginning in 2028, and compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped at all.

Because scooters are classified as vehicles, you can also be charged with DUI for riding while impaired (C.R.S. 42-4-1301). The 0.08 percent blood alcohol limit and the penalties are the same as for a car, and an impairment finding becomes a comparative-fault argument an insurer will use against you.

The hard part of these cases

Insurance coverage gaps and your own UM/UIM

The reason scooter claims stall is rarely the injury. It is the fight over which insurance policy, if any, has to pay. Knowing where the coverage actually sits is half the battle.

  • Most auto policies exclude scooter accidents, arguing a scooter is not a motor vehicle under the policy. We push back on that reading and look for every policy that may respond.
  • Rental companies such as Lime, Bird, and Spin carry liability insurance, but the limits may be too low for a serious injury, which is why we never treat the first policy as the only policy.
  • Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply in a hit-and-run or low-limits crash, even though you were on a scooter, not in your car.
  • Many Boulder riders learn too late that they are relying on an at-fault driver's minimal or nonexistent coverage. We identify every available source to reach a full recovery.
Insurer defenses

Defenses insurers use against Boulder scooter riders, and how we answer them

Adjusters reach for the same handful of arguments in scooter cases. Each one is a comparative-fault play, and each one has an answer.

  1. "You were riding where the city restricts it"

    A Boulder ordinance violation does not end your claim. Under modified comparative negligence (C.R.S. 13-21-111), you can still recover as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault. We separate the alleged ordinance issue from the question of who actually caused the collision.

  2. "You weren't wearing a helmet"

    Adults are not required to wear a helmet in Colorado. Insurers still argue the lack of one added to your injuries to shave your recovery. We answer with medical evidence showing what a helmet would, and would not, have changed.

  3. "A scooter isn't covered by the auto policy"

    The vehicle classification under C.R.S. 42-1-102 cuts both ways. Insurers use it to deny coverage, but it is also why your own UM/UIM coverage can apply. We pursue every policy rather than accept the first denial.

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Questions

Boulder scooter accident, frequently asked questions

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault for my Boulder scooter crash?

Yes, within limits. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Never admit fault at the scene. We work to minimize your assigned percentage and maximize your recovery, even in complex liability situations.

Do I need a driver's license to ride an electric scooter in Boulder?

Yes. Colorado law (C.R.S. 42-1-102) classifies electric scooters as low-power scooters and requires all operators to hold a valid driver's license or instruction permit. This applies to both rental and personal scooters in Boulder, and it is a key difference from bicycles, which require no license.

Is it legal to ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk in Boulder?

It depends on where you are. Colorado state law permits sidewalk riding at 6 mph or less (C.R.S. 42-4-1412), but Boulder ordinances restrict it in many zones, especially in dense pedestrian areas like the Pearl Street Mall. Confirm the specific rule for the block where you are riding, because riding in a posted dismount zone can be used against you as comparative fault after a crash.

Can I sue the scooter rental company for a defect?

Potentially, yes. If a mechanical problem such as brake failure or faulty acceleration caused your crash, the scooter company may be liable. These cases often involve complex liability waivers, so it helps to have an attorney who understands how to hold rental companies accountable. We have experience investigating defective scooter claims and pursuing companies that failed to maintain safe equipment.

My auto insurer says my policy does not cover a scooter crash. Is that the end?

No. Most auto policies argue a scooter is not a motor vehicle under the policy, but a denial from one insurer is not the end of your options. We look for the at-fault driver's liability coverage, the rental company's insurance, and your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which can apply in a hit-and-run or low-limits crash even though you were on a scooter.

How long do I have to file a scooter accident claim in Colorado?

For a crash arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle, you generally have three years from the date of the crash (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Shorter deadlines can apply. Many non-vehicle injury claims must be filed within two years (C.R.S. 13-80-102), and a claim against a government entity such as a city, county, or the state requires a written notice of claim within 182 days (C.R.S. 24-10-109). Contact an attorney early so your specific deadline can be confirmed.

Can you get a DUI while riding an electric scooter in Boulder?

Yes. Because electric scooters are classified as vehicles under Colorado law, operating one while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a DUI (C.R.S. 42-4-1301). The 0.08 percent blood alcohol limit and the penalties match a motor vehicle DUI, including license suspension, fines, and potential jail time, and an impairment finding can become a comparative-fault argument against you.

Where would my Boulder scooter accident lawsuit be filed?

Personal injury cases that arise in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court (District Court, 20th Judicial District) at 1777 6th St. in Boulder, with an alternate location at 1035 Kimbark St. in Longmont. Most scooter claims settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, but where a case would be filed affects the local rules, the jury pool, and which adjusters and defense firms you face. We handle 20th Judicial District cases directly and serve Boulder riders from our Denver office.

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