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Englewood, Colorado street view. CGH Injury Lawyers represents bicycle accident victims across Arapahoe County from our Denver office.
Englewood, Arapahoe County

Englewood Bicycle Accident Lawyers Who Fight for Injured Cyclists

A crash on South Broadway, along the South Platte River Trail, or at any Englewood intersection can leave a cyclist with catastrophic injuries and an insurer determined to blame the rider. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Englewood and all of Arapahoe County from our Denver office, uses Colorado's cyclist-protection statutes to shift fault where it belongs, and files in the 18th Judicial District when an insurer will not be fair.

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Serving Englewood 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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A bicycle crash anywhere in Englewood can change your life overnight. South Broadway carries heavy vehicle and commercial traffic through the city's core. The South Platte River Trail and Bear Creek Trail draw cyclists across road crossings where drivers routinely fail to yield. When a collision happens, Colorado law gives you real rights, and the insurer's first move is almost always to blame the rider.

  • Colorado's Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5) lets cyclists treat stop signs as yield signs and proceed through a red light after stopping when it is safe. Slowing, checking, and yielding at a stop sign is full compliance with Colorado law, not a traffic violation the insurer can use against you.
  • Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing (C.R.S. 42-4-1003). On narrow sections of South Broadway and at trail crossings on US 285, violations of that rule are among the most common causes of serious bicycle crashes in Englewood.
  • Colorado uses modified comparative fault under C.R.S. 13-21-111. You can recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault. If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Your percentage of fault reduces your award, so the margin matters.

CGH Injury Lawyers represents injured cyclists and their families across Englewood and all of Arapahoe County from our Denver office. Our attorneys serve on the CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force. We use the Safety Stop law, the three-foot passing rule, and e-bike statutes to fight back against bad-faith fault assignments. Free first consultation, and no fee unless we win.

Colorado cyclist law

Cyclist rights and driver duties on Englewood roads and trails

Colorado law gives cyclists the same rights as motor vehicles on public roads under Title 42, and it places specific duties on drivers to protect vulnerable road users. Knowing these rules is the first line of defense against an insurer's attempt to shift blame onto you after a crash on South Broadway or at a trail crossing near the Englewood City Center.

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

    Colorado's Safety Stop law, sometimes called the Idaho Stop, changes how cyclists interact with stop signs and red lights. At a stop sign, a cyclist may treat it as a yield sign: slow down, check for traffic, yield to vehicles and pedestrians with the right of way, and proceed without a full foot-down stop when the intersection is clear. At a red light, a cyclist must come to a complete stop, yield to all cross-traffic, and may then proceed when safe. Insurance adjusters frequently claim a cyclist ran a stop sign or blew a red light. The Safety Stop law is the answer. If you slowed, checked, and yielded, you were following Colorado law, not breaking it.

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

    Drivers must leave at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist. If the lane is too narrow to do that while staying in the lane, the driver must either change lanes or wait. On South Broadway and along sections of US 285 near Englewood's commercial strip, narrow lanes and heavy traffic make compliance difficult, and violations are a direct cause of sideswipe and close-pass crashes. A violation of the three-foot rule is direct evidence of negligence in a civil injury claim. We use dashcam footage, witnesses, and accident reconstruction to prove it.

  3. Taking the lane and riding two abreast

    Cyclists may occupy the center of a traffic lane when conditions make it the safe choice. Colorado law also permits cyclists to ride side by side unless doing so impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Drivers who tailgate, honk, or try to force past a cyclist lawfully in the lane may be liable for aggressive driving or endangerment under Colorado law.

  4. Lighting and equipment requirements

    Bicycles ridden between sunset and sunrise must have a front light visible from at least 500 feet and a rear red reflector. A failure to use lights in a nighttime crash is something an insurer will raise to reduce your share of damages, though it rarely eliminates the driver's liability on its own. We work with medical and accident-reconstruction experts to isolate what actually caused the harm.

Englewood, Arapahoe County

We know Englewood: the trail where the crash happened, the hospital that treated you, and the courthouse where your case may be filed

Every Englewood bicycle accident claim has a local shape. Here is the ground we work on.

Trauma Care

HCA HealthONE Swedish (Level I Trauma) and Craig Hospital, Englewood

HCA HealthONE Swedish at 501 E. Hampden Ave is a CDPHE-designated Level I Trauma Center and one of only three Level I Trauma Centers in Colorado, the highest level of trauma care in the state. When a cyclist is struck by a vehicle in Englewood, Swedish is often the first receiving facility for critical injuries. Craig Hospital at 3425 S. Clarkson Street is a federally designated Traumatic Brain Injury Model System and Spinal Cord Injury Model System, and the facility where cyclists with catastrophic head and spinal injuries often spend months in rehabilitation. The medical records from both facilities document the true scope of a cyclist's damages, from emergency room costs through long-term rehabilitation. Those records become the foundation of your claim.

High-Risk Corridors for Cyclists

South Broadway, South Platte River Trail Crossings, and US 285

South Broadway (CO 177) runs through the commercial heart of Englewood with heavy vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian volumes. High foot and bike traffic near the Gothic Theatre and Englewood City Center creates frequent crossing conflicts at signalized intersections where drivers fail to yield. The South Platte River Trail and Bear Creek Trail carry cyclists through Englewood and across road crossings where vehicle traffic is a constant hazard. US 285 / Hampden Avenue was flagged by a multi-agency Mobility and Safety Study for documented crash frequency, and trail and road crossings along that corridor carry particular risk for cyclists making left turns or crossing multiple lanes. The Englewood RTD Light Rail Station at 899 W. Floyd Ave draws commuter foot and bike traffic that funnels into street crossings near high-speed vehicle lanes.

Courthouse

18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County District Court

Bicycle accident lawsuits arising in Englewood are filed in the 18th Judicial District of Colorado, Arapahoe County District Court. The court sits at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112, or the Arapahoe County Courthouse, 1790 West Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120. The defense firms and adjusters that handle Arapahoe County cases know this court. So do we. CGH Injury Lawyers files and tries bicycle accident cases in the 18th Judicial District directly from our Denver office. CGH Injury Lawyers does not have an Englewood office. We serve Englewood and all of Arapahoe County from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, and travel to you.

E-bikes in Englewood

E-bike laws in Colorado: what your class means for your claim

Electric bicycles are regulated separately from traditional bikes in Colorado, and the class of your e-bike can affect where you are permitted to ride, which in turn affects how an insurer argues fault if a crash happens on a trail that restricts certain classes.

Class 1

Pedal-assist only, with the motor stopping assistance at 20 mph. Class 1 e-bikes are the most widely permitted, including on many paved multi-use trails such as the South Platte River Trail. These are also the least likely to face trail-use arguments from an insurer after a crash on a public path.

Class 2

Throttle-assisted, also stopping at 20 mph. Many Colorado trails restrict Class 2 e-bikes. If you were riding a Class 2 e-bike on a section of the South Platte River Trail or Bear Creek Trail that prohibits them, an insurer may argue you were riding unlawfully. We know how to respond to that argument.

Class 3

Pedal-assist up to 28 mph. Class 3 e-bikes face the most trail restrictions and are generally limited to roads and bike lanes. If a driver hits you while you ride a Class 3 e-bike lawfully on a public road or bike lane in Englewood, your e-bike class does not affect your right to recover damages.

E-bikes do not require registration, license plates, or a driver's license in Colorado, regardless of class. If a car strikes you on an e-bike on a public road, your right to recover for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering is the same as it would be on a traditional bicycle, as long as you were riding where that class of e-bike is lawfully permitted. We identify every available insurance source, including your own UM/UIM auto coverage, which may apply even though you were on a bicycle rather than in a vehicle.

After the crash

What to do immediately after a bicycle accident in Englewood

The minutes and hours after a bicycle crash in Englewood shape your claim. These steps protect your health and preserve the evidence an insurer will later try to dispute.

  1. Call 911 and stay at the scene

    Englewood is served by the Englewood Police Department and, on state roads including US 285 and Santa Fe Drive, the Colorado State Patrol. Request both police and emergency medical services. A Colorado Traffic Crash Report is critical evidence. Get the report number before you leave. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline masks serious injuries. Ask for medical help at the scene.

  2. Preserve every piece of evidence

    Photograph the vehicle that hit you, the road surface or trail, any skid marks, your bicycle, your gear, and your injuries. On South Broadway or at a US 285 crossing, note signal timing, lane markings, and the direction the driver came from. Collect witness names and contact information. Do not repair or discard your bicycle or helmet. Physical evidence from the crash site disappears quickly, and surveillance footage from businesses along South Broadway is typically overwritten within days.

  3. Seek medical care promptly

    See a doctor within 24 to 48 hours even if you feel okay. Concussions, internal bleeding, spinal injuries, and soft-tissue damage often develop or become apparent hours after a crash. HCA HealthONE Swedish at 501 E. Hampden Ave is the Level I Trauma Center closest to most Englewood crash locations. Craig Hospital at 3425 S. Clarkson Street specializes in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation for the most serious cases. A gap in treatment is something an insurer will use to argue your injuries were not caused by the accident.

  4. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer

    The at-fault driver's insurer will contact you quickly, sometimes the same day. Do not agree to a recorded statement or sign any release before an attorney has reviewed your case. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to reduce your recovery. Statements made without legal advice become evidence the insurer can and will use against you in settlement or at trial.

  5. Contact a bicycle accident attorney

    Most Englewood bicycle accident injury claims against a private driver arise out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle, which means Colorado's three-year statute of limitations applies under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n). If a government vehicle or public entity was involved, you must file a written notice of claim within 182 days of discovering the injury under C.R.S. 24-10-109(1). Evidence preservation starts now. A free consultation costs you nothing and protects everything.

Compensation

What you can recover after an Englewood bicycle crash

Colorado law lets injured cyclists recover two broad categories of damages: economic losses you can document with bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of the injury. The law also imposes a cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, but physical impairment and disfigurement sit outside that cap entirely.

Economic damages (no cap)

  • Emergency room and hospital costs, including Level I Trauma care at HCA HealthONE Swedish
  • Long-term rehabilitation at Craig Hospital or comparable facility
  • Lost wages and lost income during recovery
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Bicycle and equipment repair or replacement
  • Future medical expenses and attendant care costs

Non-economic damages

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and anxiety
  • Loss of enjoyment of life and cycling activities
  • Loss of consortium for a spouse or family member

For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1,500,000 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement, which are common in serious bicycle crashes involving road rash, bone fractures, or nerve damage, is not subject to that cap. Economic damages, including all medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages, are never capped. In a serious Englewood bicycle crash, the uncapped economic losses, such as Craig Hospital spinal rehabilitation or years of lost income after a brain injury, often represent the largest portion of what a full recovery looks like.

Fault and coverage

What if you were partly at fault for the Englewood bicycle crash?

Colorado follows a modified comparative fault rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. You can recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. That threshold is the target adjusters aim for when they claim a cyclist ran a stop sign or failed to signal.

How the Safety Stop law and the three-foot rule protect your share of recovery

  • When an adjuster claims a cyclist ran a stop sign on South Broadway or at a trail crossing on Bear Creek Trail, the Safety Stop law under C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5 is the rebuttal. If you slowed, checked for traffic, and yielded before proceeding, you complied with Colorado law. The insurer's fault argument collapses.
  • When a driver passes too close on a narrow stretch of South Broadway or US 285, C.R.S. 42-4-1003's three-foot passing requirement puts fault squarely on the driver. Evidence of that violation, whether from dashcam footage, a witness, or accident reconstruction, significantly reduces any argument that the cyclist contributed to the crash.
  • Your own auto insurance UM/UIM coverage may apply even though you were riding a bicycle. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or carries inadequate limits, your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Hit-and-run crashes on South Broadway or trail crossings near the Englewood City Center are precisely the situation this coverage addresses.
  • Not wearing a helmet is not automatic negligence in Colorado. Colorado does not require adults to wear helmets while cycling. An insurer may argue a helmet would have reduced head injuries, a theory called failure to mitigate. We work with medical experts to show what harm the driver's conduct caused, and to demonstrate that the injury was not mitigable by a helmet in many cases involving spinal, thoracic, or limb trauma.
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Your team

The team handling your Englewood bicycle case

CGH Injury Lawyers is a eight-attorney Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Our attorneys serve on the CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force, working directly with state transportation officials on cyclist protection standards. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Every Englewood bicycle accident case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal. We serve Englewood and all of Arapahoe County from our Denver office at no cost to you unless we win.

ABOTA member on the team Tim Tarr: Best Lawyers in America since 2023 CDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Task Force Over 25 cases to verdict 18th Judicial District coverage Bilingual EN / ES Free consultation No fee unless we win

Frequently asked questions

Englewood bicycle accident, frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit after an Englewood crash?

For most Englewood bicycle accident injury claims against a private driver, Colorado's three-year statute of limitations applies under C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n) because the crash arises out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle. If the crash involved a government vehicle or a public entity, such as a city or county, you must file a written notice of claim within 182 days of discovering the injury under C.R.S. 24-10-109(1). That 182-day clock runs from the date of discovery, not necessarily the date of the crash. Missing the notice deadline can bar your claim entirely against a public entity, regardless of how strong your case is on the merits.

Is it legal to use the Safety Stop at intersections on South Broadway in Englewood?

Yes. Colorado's Safety Stop law (C.R.S. 42-4-1412.5) applies statewide, including on South Broadway and every other road in Englewood. At a stop sign, a cyclist may slow, check for traffic, yield to vehicles and pedestrians with the right of way, and proceed without a foot-down stop if the intersection is clear. At a red light, the cyclist must first come to a complete stop, yield to all cross-traffic, and may then proceed when it is safe. Using the Safety Stop correctly is full compliance with Colorado law.

Where would my Englewood bicycle accident lawsuit be filed?

Bicycle accident lawsuits arising in Englewood are filed in the 18th Judicial District, Arapahoe County District Court. The court sits at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112, or the Arapahoe County Courthouse, 1790 West Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80120. CGH Injury Lawyers handles Arapahoe County District Court cases directly from our Denver office. Most bicycle accident claims settle before a lawsuit is filed, but our attorneys prepare every case for trial from day one.

Can I recover if I was not wearing a helmet when the crash happened?

Yes. Colorado does not require adults to wear bicycle helmets, and not wearing one is not automatic negligence under Colorado law. An insurer will likely raise the argument that a helmet would have reduced your head injuries, which is called a failure to mitigate damages argument, and it can reduce your recovery under the modified comparative fault rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). It does not bar your claim. We work with medical experts to document what the driver's negligence actually caused, and to show that a helmet would not have changed the outcome when the injuries involve the spine, bones, or internal organs.

The driver who hit me on the South Platte River Trail crossing had no insurance. Can I still make a claim?

Often, yes. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own auto policy, that coverage may apply to your bicycle accident claim, even though you were not in a vehicle at the time. Colorado UM/UIM coverage is designed to protect you from drivers who carry no insurance or inadequate limits. Hit-and-run crashes at trail crossings near the Englewood City Center or along South Broadway are precisely the kind of situation where UM coverage becomes critical. We help identify every available source of recovery across all your insurance policies.

Does CGH have an office in Englewood?

CGH Injury Lawyers does not have an Englewood office. We represent Englewood bicycle accident clients from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. Englewood is a service-area city. We come to you, communicate directly with Englewood-area treating physicians and insurers, and file cases in Arapahoe County District Court when needed. You do not need to travel to us for the work to move forward.

Other injury cases we handle in Englewood

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CGH Injury Lawyers, serving Englewood and Arapahoe County from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. (303) 209-9395.