12 Steps to Take After a Bike Crash to Protect Your Rights

By Attorney Dan D'Angelo

Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist

Cyclists are vulnerable road users, and a bicycle crash can result in serious injuries like road rash, contusions, fractured bones, traumatic brain injury, or death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2014 to 2023, there were 162 bicycle-related fatalities in Colorado involving motor vehicles. Thirteen percent of those fatalities were 14 years old or younger and 85% occurred in urban areas.

A bicycle crash can happen in an instant. Being informed and prepared about what to do after a crash is part of being a responsible road user and can help protect your rights.

1. Stop and stay at the scene. All parties must stop at or as close to the scene as possible and remain there.
2. Check for injuries using the American Red Cross Three Cs — Check the scene for safety, Call 911 if anyone is unresponsive, hit their head, has trouble breathing, or has serious bleeding, and Care for the injured person according to your level of training.
3. Request the other party's personal and vehicle identification — name, address, vehicle registration number, and driver's license. Rental scooters and e-bikes (Lime, Bird) have visible unique IDs; low-power scooters must have a registration decal.
4. Call the police immediately, whether the incident involves only property damage or both injuries and property damage.
5. Request the police investigate and file a Traffic Accident Report. Police are not required to investigate every bicycle crash, so request it — particularly when there are injuries, property damage exceeds $1,000, hit and run, suspected impairment, no ID/insurance provided, public property damage, or proof of insurance is missing.
6. File your own crash report with the police or the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles within 24 hours if police decline to investigate or there is an Accident Alert.
7. Take photographs of the other party, vehicles, and the scene — ideally before any vehicles are moved.
8. Request the other party's insurance information if a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or low power scooter is involved.
9. Request witness names and contact information.
10. Move vehicles only if possible and do not obstruct traffic more than necessary. On a divided highway with no injuries, move off the road as soon as practicable.
11. Seek medical care as soon as possible. Some injuries — like a brain injury — may not be obvious at first. Don't hesitate to request an ambulance or go directly to the ER from the scene.
12. Contact a lawyer. Contact us at Bike Brain Law to start protecting your legal rights.

About the Author

Attorney Dan D'Angelo

Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist

Attorney Dan D'Angelo founded D'Angelo Law Office, P.C. in 2009 and Bike Brain Law to focus exclusively on traumatic brain injury and cycling injury cases in Colorado. An avid cyclist himself, Dan combines deep TBI science knowledge with hands-on cycling experience to build winning cases against insurance companies and corporations that put profits over safety.

• Practicing Colorado personal injury attorney since 2009
• Focused practice in TBI and bicycle injury litigation
• Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for injury victims
• Avid road and commuter cyclist