El Paso County · Helmet, gear, and road rash
Colorado Springs Motorcycle Helmet and Gear Lawyers
Colorado Springs riders in a helmet or gear dispute can get a free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Helmet Rules and Your Colorado Springs Claim
Colorado law requires a helmet for a motorcycle operator or passenger under 18. It does not require every adult rider to wear one. If you were riding on Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, Woodmen Road, or I-25 without a helmet as an adult, that fact alone does not mean you broke the law.
Insurance adjusters sometimes suggest that a rider without a helmet caused the crash. That is not accurate. Whether a rider wore a helmet has nothing to do with who ran a light, failed to yield, or turned into a lane of traffic. Fault turns on how the crash happened, not on what the rider was wearing.
Where helmet use can come into a case is on the damages side, specifically for a head injury. An insurer may argue that a head injury would have been less severe with a helmet, or that a rider without one shares some responsibility for the extent of that injury. That is a separate question from who caused the wreck, and we push back on any attempt to blur the two.
Why Your Gear Matters After the Crash
A damaged helmet, torn jacket, broken boots, or shredded gloves tell a story about how the impact happened. Scuff patterns, cracks, and points of contact can show the direction of a hit, whether the rider was thrown, and how the bike went down. Road rash on skin follows the same logic as tears in gear: it points to how the body met the pavement.
Do not clean, repair, or throw away your gear after a crash near Old Colorado City or anywhere else in Colorado Springs. Once it is gone, that physical evidence cannot be recreated. Photograph it as it is, then store it somewhere safe until we have a chance to look at it alongside your other evidence.
- Helmet, even if cracked or scuffed
- Jacket, gloves, boots, and any torn or abraded clothing
- Photos of gear damage and road rash before treatment or cleaning
- Medical records describing any head injury or road rash treatment
- Contact information for anyone who saw the crash happen
Colorado Springs Crashes and Local Medical Care
Riders hurt along Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, Woodmen Road, and I-25 often end up treated at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital. Those records, along with EMS notes from the scene, help document the injury and connect it to the crash.
If a claim needs to go to court, cases from Colorado Springs and the surrounding area are typically filed in El Paso County District Court. Our office is at 929 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905, and we're set up to handle these cases from the first call through resolution.
What a Gear or Helmet Dispute Can Affect
- Medical bills tied to head injury or road rash treatment
- Lost income while recovering
- Pain and suffering
- Replacement cost of damaged gear and helmet
- Future care needs tied to a serious head injury
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Colorado Springs — and read client testimonials.
A passenger suffered traumatic brain, neck, and back injuries in a Colorado Springs intersection collision. After the carrier refused a fair number, a jury awarded $295,000 including interest and costs.
El Paso County jury verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Colorado Springs Helmet, gear, and road rash FAQ
Do I have to wear a helmet as an adult rider in Colorado Springs?
Colorado only requires a helmet for a motorcycle operator or passenger under 18. Adult riders are not required to wear one under state law. That said, an insurer may still try to raise helmet use in connection with a head injury claim.
If I wasn't wearing a helmet, can the insurance company deny my whole claim?
No. Riding without a helmet does not prove you caused the crash and it is not an automatic bar to recovery. It may come up as an argument about the extent of a head injury, but fault for the collision itself is a separate question.
Should I keep my damaged helmet and jacket?
Yes. Damage to your helmet, jacket, gloves, or boots can show how the impact happened and support your account of the crash. Don't clean or repair the gear before we've had a chance to document it.
What if I suffered a head injury in the crash?
Head injuries need careful medical documentation and a clear link to the crash itself. We handle these alongside our brain injury work and can walk you through what records and evidence matter most.
Where would my case be handled if it goes to court?
Motorcycle crash cases arising in Colorado Springs and El Paso County are generally filed in El Paso County District Court. Our office is nearby at 929 W Colorado Ave, and we can meet to discuss your situation in a free consultation.
Discuss a Colorado Springs motorcycle crash
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.