Tenge Law Firm

29 Years Representing Motorcycle Accident Victims

With its striking mountain backdrop and open sky, Boulder is a popular destination for motorcyclists from around the state. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are no more immune from collisions and accidents than any other motorist, but much more vulnerable to catastrophic injury—and death—in an accident. Injured motorcyclists and the families of those killed in accidents need compensation to recover for injuries or the traumatic loss of a loved one.

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we help injured motorcyclists and their families build the strongest cases possible to maximize compensation after an accident. We fight for our clients to recover all losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, as well as intangible injuries like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and wrongful death. To evaluate your legal right to bring a lawsuit, meet with a lawyer who can provide an honest appraisal of your case.

Contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC at (303) 665-2929 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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Over $50M Recovered in the Past 7 Years

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.

$1,350,000.00 policy limits
$1,150,000.00 settlement
$950,000.00 Verdict

Awards & Memberships

The Tenge Law Firm, LLC, has been honored for its professionalism, legal experience, and client care while handling personal injury law. Below are some of the ways we’ve been recognized.

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What Are Different Types of Collisions?

Motorcyclists are uniquely vulnerable to collisions because they are not as visible as other vehicles, making them harder to see. The law also gives adult riders the choice of whether to wear a helmet or not. Because of this, insurance companies and juries are not allowed to be prejudiced against bikers who chose not to wear a helmet. Motorcycles can blend into the road and disappear entirely in a blind spot, and drivers either are not looking or simply don’t see them.

The Boulder car accident lawyers at Tenge Law Firm, LLC have represented clients injured in all types of motorcycle accidents, including:

  • Head-on collisions: These are particularly dangerous accidents that often occur when someone passes a vehicle and does not notice a motorcycle coming in the other direction. As the driver pulls into the left-hand lane to pass, the vehicle collides with the motorcyclist, who did not have enough time to swerve.
  • Intersection collisions: Often, drivers of passenger vehicles have a hard time judging your speed. It is not uncommon for a driver to make a left-hand turn directly in front of an oncoming motorcyclist. The motorcyclist then collides with the car.
  • “Door prize” crashes: A driver who is parked on the side of the street parallel to the curb opens a car door without looking—directly in the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.
  • Lane-change crashes: A driver does not check blind spots and sideswipes a motorcycle while changing lanes.
  • Rear-end collisions: Motorcycles can stop in a much shorter distance than a passenger vehicle, making it much more likely that a driver following too closely will rear-end a motorcycle if it brakes suddenly.

We also represent motorcyclists injured due to a defective part on the motorcycle, or defective assembly. When brakes fail or lock, for example, an accident becomes virtually unavoidable. If either a defective part or defective assembly of a motorcycle causes an accident, our firm can recover compensation under a products liability claim.

What Are Some Common Motorcycle Injuries?

Because of their lack of protection, motorcyclists tend to suffer more catastrophic injuries than motorists in vehicular accidents. At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we have seen:

These injuries often require months of medical attention, including rehabilitation and sometimes surgery.

For example, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you likely need ongoing medical care, especially if a loss of sensation or paralysis is permanent.

To fully document your injuries, seek immediate medical treatment, follow doctors’ orders, and hold onto all medical records. Following your doctor’s advice ensures maximum medical improvement and prevents an at-fault driver from blaming you for part or all of your lasting injuries.

Although some accident victims will need continuing care, others make a full or nearly full recovery.

What Do You Do After a Motorcycle Crash?

We have seen too many clients make errors in the immediate aftermath of a collision that hurt their ability to recover maximum compensation. Remember to avoid these mistakes to protect your rights:

  • Do not say anything that can be misconstrued as taking responsibility for the crash. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be used against you to claim that you admitted liability for the collision.
  • Do call the police to the scene of the accident. The police can document who was involved in the collision, any violations of traffic laws, as well as determine whether a driver may have been impaired or intoxicated.
  • Do collect evidence-if you are physically able to do so. For example, you should take pictures of where the vehicles ended up and their position in relation to each other and the road.
  • Do not junk your vehicle. Your lawyer will want to see it and have it reviewed by an expert. The condition of your motorcycle can contain important clues about how the accident happened—and may contain evidence that a defective part or manufacturing caused the accident.
  • Do seek immediate medical treatment. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of any injury should always be your top priority after an accident. Some serious injuries may not manifest right away after an accident, or be masked by the effects of shock, yet still pose serious or even deadly risks. Seeking immediate medical help is your best bet to protect your physical health—as well as to recover for your injuries in a lawsuit.

How Are Motorcycle Accidents Different From Car Accidents?

Determining Liability

Accidents between cars and motorcycles can be devastating events. More often than not, riders are the ones left with catastrophic injuries and costly medical bills while drivers may walk away without even a dent in their vehicles. This can be especially distressing if the driver caused the accident, especially given that motorcycle bias is so common. After an accident, many people will wonder what the motorcyclist did wrong or why they would drive such a dangerous vehicle.

Sadly, this bias can affect all aspects of a claim and often makes it difficult for accident victims to seek compensation. In contrast to car accidents, riders will have to deal with bias in police reports, medical reviews, and insurance adjusters, the last of which will ultimately try to discredit their claims. However, that does not mean it is impossible to file a claim and win proper compensation.

First and foremost, you will want to follow the above steps following an accident, especially with regards to your police report. In addition, you will want to receive treatment from a doctor who has experience working with motorcycle accidents. They can provide an unbiased review of your injuries, develop a thorough treatment plan, and testify to the extent of your wounds.

Fighting motorcycle bias and receiving proper compensation will ultimately come down to liability, as well. All the evidence in your case—records, photos, witness statements—combined with your legal arguments will be based around clearly outlining how another driver caused your injuries and why you should receive compensation for your injuries. If your case is among the 10% that go to trial, you will also need to convince the jury that you are minimally at fault for an accident. Because Colorado is a comparative negligence state, juries can assign blame to multiple parties in a personal injury case. If you receive more than 50% of the fault, you can be barred from receiving compensation.

If you are less than 50% at fault, what ever percentage you receive can determine how much compensation you receive. If you were lane splitting or not wearing a helmet, the jury may decrease your total compensation by a specific percentage. However, this does mean that even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you can still pursue a claim and receive compensation, but only if you have a strong case and skilled legal counsel.

Why Talk to an Attorney?

Going it alone in a motorcycle or moped accident claim can be a major mistake and create unnecessary burdens in your life. You are likely already dealing with recovering from your injuries, worrying about medical bills, and having difficulties keeping up at work or finding a new career if you suffered a disability that impacts your livelihood. Throwing complicated insurance policies and legal action on top of that is extremely stressful.

This goes double for motorcyclists who have to contend with motorcycle bias. Insurance adjusters may attempt to devalue your claim solely based on the type of vehicle you use, claiming that you somehow caused the accident and do not have a right to seek compensation. More often than not these claims are completely false, and you are perfectly capable of receiving proper compensation, but you will need the knowledge and experience of an accomplished attorney to help you.

Our number one tip? Do not negotiate on your own behalf with an insurance adjuster. Insurers do not represent you and do not have your best interests at heart. An adjuster is typically recording an accident victim and attempting to get the person to say they feel fine, or feel better, or have engaged in some form of activity that a serious injury would prevent. The adjuster will push to settle your case for a tiny amount with a promise of quick payout when you need it most—instead of offering an amount anywhere close to adequately covering your medical bills and other losses from the accident. Before you consider any type of offer or settlement agreement with an insurance adjuster, you should seek out your own legal counsel.

Generally, Colorado has a three-year statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, which can make the timeframe shorter. So, it is important to consult with us early. We will be happy to meet with you, without charge, to help you determine the statute applicable to your situation.

The legal team at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC has tackled the state’s largest insurance companies—and won. We understand how to optimize insurance payouts for our clients injured in motorcycle accidents.

Call a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Boulder

After a crash, the most important decision you make will be your choice of attorney. At some law firms, motorcycle accidents make up a tiny percentage of the lawyer’s caseload, and it is not unusual for some lawyers to handle only one or two motorcycle cases throughout their entire careers. Without adequate experience in the field, these lawyers cannot advocate as effectively as someone with years of dedicated representation of motorcycle accident victims.

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively fight your rights and help optimize your compensation and put you in the best possible position moving forward. We have recovered numerous seven-figure awards for our clients, and we are ready to help you navigate the aftermath of your motorcycle accident too. Contact us online today to schedule your free consultation or call us at (303) 665-2929. We charge no fees until we win your case. We are available to discuss your claim, including accidents that involved lane splitting.