Boulder County · Helmet, gear, and road rash
Boulder Motorcycle Helmet and Gear Lawyers
Boulder motorcycle helmet and gear lawyers for riders hurt in Boulder. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Helmet Use and Your Boulder Motorcycle Claim
McCormick & Murphy are Boulder motorcycle helmet and gear lawyers for riders hurt in a crash, including road rash and helmet impact. We file in Boulder County Justice Center.
Colorado law requires a helmet for a motorcycle operator or passenger under 18. It does not require every adult rider to wear one, and insurance companies sometimes try to blur that line to make a claim look weaker than it is.
If you were riding on Arapahoe Avenue, Broadway, or U.S. Highway 36 without a helmet and a vehicle hit you, that fact alone does not prove you caused the crash. Fault turns on how the collision happened, not on what you were wearing when it did.
Where a helmet issue can come up is on damages, particularly with a head injury. An insurer may argue that the absence of a helmet affected the severity of an injury. That is a different question from who caused the wreck, and we push back when the two get mixed together.
Why Your Helmet and Gear Matter as Evidence
A damaged helmet, torn jacket, cracked boots, or torn gloves tell a story about how the impact happened. Scrapes, cracks, and impact points can help show where and how hard a vehicle struck you, and that detail matters whether or not a head injury is involved.
Once gear is thrown out or a helmet is tossed after a hospital visit at Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital, that evidence is gone for good. We ask riders to hold onto every piece of gear from the crash, even if it looks ruined, so we can use it to support the claim.
- Your helmet, even if it's cracked or scratched
- Riding jacket, pants, gloves, and boots worn in the crash
- Photos of gear damage before any cleaning or repair
- Any road rash or injury photos taken soon after the wreck
- Contact information for anyone who saw the crash happen
Handling Motorcycle Claims Around Boulder
Motorcycle crashes near Broadway, U.S. Highway 36, and the routes connecting Boulder to Louisville and Lafayette often involve fast-moving traffic and tight merges. These are places where a helmet or gear dispute can come up fast if an insurer is looking for a reason to reduce a payout.
If your case ends up in litigation, it's typically handled through the Boulder County Justice Center. Our office is based in Denver, and we work with Boulder-area riders throughout their claim, from the initial gear review through any court proceedings.
What Damages May Be Available
- Medical expenses related to your injuries
- Lost income while you recover
- Pain and suffering
- Cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and gear
- Ongoing care needs tied to a serious injury, including a head injury
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Boulder — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Boulder Motorcycle Helmet and Gear Lawyers FAQ
Do I need Boulder motorcycle helmet and gear lawyers after a crash?
Call Boulder motorcycle helmet and gear lawyers when you were hurt, fault is disputed, or an insurer delays, denies, or offers less than the medical bills. The nearest office is in Denver, CO.
Do I have to wear a helmet in Colorado?
Colorado law requires a helmet only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18. Adults are not required by state law to wear one, though many riders choose to for safety.
If I wasn't wearing a helmet, can I still file a claim?
Yes. Not wearing a helmet does not prove you caused the crash and does not automatically bar your claim. Fault depends on how the collision happened, not on your choice of gear.
Can the insurance company use my lack of a helmet against me?
An insurer may try to argue that not wearing a helmet affected the severity of a head injury. That's a separate issue from fault for the crash, and we work to keep those arguments in their proper place.
Why do you want to keep my damaged helmet and gear?
Damaged gear can show how and where impact occurred, which helps build the picture of how the crash happened. Once gear is discarded, that evidence is lost.
What if I suffered a head injury in the crash?
Head injuries can involve serious, long-term care needs, and we handle those cases with added care. If you're dealing with a brain injury, we can walk you through how that affects your claim.
Discuss a Boulder motorcycle crash
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.