Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Denver

Where Pedestrian Accidents Commonly Occur in Denver

Pedestrian accidents in Denver often occur in areas where heavy vehicle traffic overlaps with busy pedestrian activity. Downtown streets, major intersections, and entertainment districts can all present risks when drivers fail to yield, drive too quickly, or become distracted.

Some locations in Denver where pedestrian traffic is especially common include:

• Colfax Avenue and Broadway: One of the city’s busiest intersections, where heavy vehicle traffic and frequent pedestrian crossings meet.
• Speer Boulevard Near Auraria Parkway: A corridor connecting downtown traffic with nearby campuses and entertainment areas.
• 16th Street and Surrounding Downtown Blocks: A central pedestrian area used daily by office workers, residents, and visitors.
• Union Station and the LoDo District: Restaurants, hotels, and nightlife venues bring large numbers of pedestrians into the area.
• Cherry Creek North Shopping District: Pedestrians regularly cross streets while moving between shops, restaurants, and parking areas.

Accidents can occur anywhere in the city, but areas with heavy foot traffic and complex intersections often require drivers to be especially attentive. If you were injured in one of these locations, our pedestrian accident attorneys can help determine whether you may have a valid personal injury claim.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Denver?

Pedestrian accidents often occur when drivers fail to exercise the level of care required in areas where people are walking. Denver’s busy streets, intersections, and entertainment districts require motorists to remain alert and attentive to their surroundings.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents in the area include:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a common cause of pedestrian accidents. Drivers who check mobile phones, adjust navigation systems, or focus on in-vehicle controls may fail to notice someone entering a crosswalk or walking near the roadway. Even a brief distraction can prevent a driver from reacting in time to avoid a collision.

Failure to Yield to Pedestrians

Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in many crossing situations, particularly at marked crosswalks and intersections. However, some motorists attempt to turn too quickly or proceed without checking whether a pedestrian has already entered the crossing area.

Speeding in Pedestrian Areas

Speeding increases the risk of serious pedestrian injuries. Vehicles travelling at higher speeds require longer stopping distances and generate greater impact forces. This can be particularly dangerous in school zones and residential areas, such as those near East High School, where students and families frequently walk near busy roads.

Other Contributing Factors

Other factors may also contribute to pedestrian accidents, including impaired driving, drivers making left turns while focusing only on oncoming traffic, and limited visibility at night or during poor weather conditions.

One of the most frustrating aspects of these accidents is that they are often preventable. If your injuries were caused by negligent driving, the pedestrian accident lawyers at Ogborn Mihm can help you pursue accountability and financial compensation for your losses.

Laws That Apply to Pedestrian Accidents in Denver

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the key legal question is usually whether the driver acted negligently and whether that negligence caused the injuries that followed. 

Negligence in Pedestrian Accident Cases

Negligence occurs when a driver fails to exercise reasonable care, and that failure causes harm to another person. In pedestrian accident cases, negligent conduct may include behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, or failing to yield at an intersection.

To pursue compensation, an injured pedestrian must typically demonstrate that the driver owed a duty of care, breached that duty through negligent conduct, and caused injuries that resulted in measurable damages such as medical expenses or lost income.

Colorado’s Comparative Fault Rule

Colorado follows a comparative fault system, meaning responsibility for an accident can be shared. If an injured pedestrian is partially at fault, compensation may still be available, though it may be reduced based on their share of responsibility.

Legal Protections for Pedestrians

Colorado traffic laws protect pedestrians, particularly at intersections and crosswalks. Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are lawfully crossing. When drivers ignore these rules or fail to exercise reasonable care, their actions may give rise to a personal injury claim.

Applying these legal principles to a pedestrian accident claim can be complex. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Ogborn Mihm can evaluate the circumstances of your case, ensure the law is applied correctly, and work to hold negligent parties accountable for the harm they have caused.

Steps to Take After You’ve Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

After being injured in an accident, taking the following actions can help protect your health and preserve your legal rights:

• Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, it is important to be examined by a doctor after a collision. Some injuries, including traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding, may not appear until hours or days later.
• Contact Law Enforcement: Contact the Denver Police Department so they can respond and document the accident.
• Gather Relevant Information: Obtain the driver’s contact and insurance details and, if possible, collect contact information from any witnesses.
• Document the Scene: Photographs of the location, vehicle, and injuries can help preserve important evidence.

Your immediate medical needs should always come first. If you were unable to take these additional actions at the scene, do not worry. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can help retrace what happened and make formal requests for evidence, including CCTV footage, if necessary.

What Are the Most Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents?

Pedestrians in Denver are especially vulnerable when struck by a vehicle because they have little physical protection. As a result, these collisions often lead to catastrophic injuries.

Some of the most common injuries we help our clients recover compensation for include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Head injuries are among the most common and serious consequences of pedestrian accidents. A person may suffer a concussion or a more severe traumatic brain injury when their head strikes the vehicle, pavement, or another surface during the collision.

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)

Severe pedestrian accidents can also cause spinal cord injuries. These injuries may lead to partial or complete paralysis and often require lifelong medical care and support.

Internal Injuries

The force of a collision can also cause internal bleeding or damage to organs such as the lungs, liver, or spleen. These injuries may not always be immediately visible but can become life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries

Broken bones frequently occur when the force of a vehicle impacts a pedestrian’s body. Injuries to the legs, hips, arms, and ribs are common and may require surgery, rehabilitation, or extended recovery periods.

Serious pedestrian injuries can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. At Ogborn Mihm, our priority is pursuing personal injury compensation that reflects the full impact of those losses.

Determining Liability After a Pedestrian Accident

Identifying who may be legally responsible for your injuries requires a careful review of how the incident occurred.

Potentially liable parties may include:

• Negligent Drivers: Drivers who are distracted, speeding, impaired, or who fail to yield to pedestrians may be held responsible for the injuries they cause.
• Commercial Drivers and Trucking Companies: When a pedestrian is struck by a delivery vehicle or commercial truck, liability may extend beyond the driver to the company responsible for operating, loading, or maintaining the vehicle.
• Local Government or Roadway Authorities: Public entities responsible for road design, crosswalk markings, traffic signals, or street maintenance may be liable if unsafe roadway conditions contributed to the accident.
• Vehicle Manufacturers: If a mechanical defect, such as brake failure or steering malfunction, contributed to the collision, the manufacturer or distributor of the defective vehicle or component may be investigated.
• Property Owners or Construction Contractors: Unsafe construction zones, blocked sidewalks, or poorly marked pedestrian detours may create hazardous conditions that contribute to pedestrian accidents.

At Ogborn Mihm, we thoroughly investigate pedestrian injury cases, identify all liable parties, and pursue the maximum compensation available under Colorado law.

What Compensation May Be Available to You?

Compensation in a pedestrian injury claim should reflect both your immediate and long-term losses.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical Expenses

Compensation may include the cost of medical treatment related to the accident. This can involve emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any ongoing medical needs associated with the injury.

Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity

Many injured pedestrians are unable to work while recovering. Compensation may include lost wages as well as reduced earning capacity if the injuries affect your ability to return to the same type of work.

Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care

Serious injuries sometimes require extended rehabilitation or long-term support. Compensation may cover physical therapy, assistive devices, home modifications, and other care needed during recovery.

Pain and Suffering

Colorado law also allows injured individuals to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by an accident and its resulting injuries.

The value of a pedestrian injury claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the treatment required, and their long-term impact. During your free initial consultation, our pedestrian accident lawyers can explain the compensation that may be available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Pedestrian Accidents

Dealing with serious injuries after a pedestrian accident can feel overwhelming. Below are some of the most common questions our pedestrian accident attorneys hear.

Do pedestrians always have the right of way in Denver?

Not always. Colorado law often requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, particularly when pedestrian signals indicate a “Walk” signal. However, the right of way depends on the specific circumstances, including traffic signals, the location of the crossing, and the actions of those involved.

How do I file a police report after a pedestrian accident in Denver?

If 911 was called at the time of the accident, officers from the Denver Police Department will typically respond and prepare a crash report. If the accident was not reported at the scene, you can still contact the department’s non-emergency line or records division to ask about filing a report. Copies of completed reports can usually be requested through the records unit or online.

How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer cost? 

Your initial consultation with Ogborn Mihm is free, allowing you to discuss your case and ask questions about your legal options. Many pedestrian accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, and we will explain all fee arrangements during your consultation.

Why Choose Ogborn Mihm for Your Pedestrian Injury Case

Pedestrian accidents often involve serious injuries and disputed liability. The legal representation you choose can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.

Injured individuals turn to Ogborn Mihm because we offer:

Extensive Trial Experience 

Our attorneys bring extensive trial experience to serious personal injury cases. From the beginning, we prepare pedestrian injury claims with the expectation that they may proceed to court, building cases that can withstand scrutiny from insurers and opposing counsel.

The Resources Required for Brain Injury and Catastrophic Injury Cases

Accidents involving traumatic brain injuries and catastrophic injuries often require substantial resources to investigate and prove negligence. Ogborn Mihm has the capacity to build these cases thoroughly, including retaining respected medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and life-care planners when necessary.

A Commitment to the Denver Community

Many of our personal injury attorneys live and work in the Denver area. That local perspective gives us firsthand insight into the roads, intersections, and conditions where pedestrian accidents often occur. Representing injured pedestrians in our own community is a responsibility we take seriously.

Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Near You in Denver

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Denver, you do not have to navigate the legal process alone. The attorneys at Ogborn Mihm are prepared to review the circumstances of your case and explain your legal options.

Contact our law office today to schedule your free initial consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer.