
A motorcyclist tragically died Thursday evening in Fort Collins following a multi-vehicle crash involving three cars. According to Fort Collins police, the incident occurred around 5:31 p.m. on Shields Street between Harmony and Trilby Roads. The motorcyclist, riding a 2011 Harley Davidson northbound, collided with the back of a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The impact caused the rider to veer into the southbound lanes, where they were struck by a 2005 Toyota Prius and then hit again by a 2012 Subaru Outback. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, while all involved drivers remained at the location and fully cooperated with the investigation.
Fort Collins police, along with their Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling (CRASH) Team, are investigating whether alcohol and speed were contributing factors to the accident. The collision led to the closure of South Shields Street for approximately seven hours as authorities worked to determine the cause of the crash.
At Genco Injury Law, we understand how devastating motorcycle accidents can be for victims and their families. When crashes involve multiple vehicles, determining fault can be complicated, especially when factors like speed or alcohol are present. Our firm is committed to conducting thorough investigations, identifying all responsible parties, and pursuing maximum compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages, and emotional pain. If you’ve lost a loved one or been injured in a motorcycle accident, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you hold negligent drivers accountable.
Top-Rated Fort Collins Fatal Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
At Genco Injury Law, we are committed to standing by the side of motorcycle accident victims and their families. Fatal motorcycle crashes leave more than grief—they often create financial burdens, emotional trauma, and legal complexities. As a leading law firm serving Fort Collins and the surrounding communities, we provide compassionate legal representation and fight to hold negligent drivers accountable. Our detailed investigations, combined with personalized legal strategies, help ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
Dangers of Distracted Driving and Driving Under the Influence
Distracted driving and driving under the influence remain two of the most common causes of fatal motorcycle accidents. Texting, using navigation systems, or even momentary distractions behind the wheel can result in devastating collisions. Impaired drivers pose an even greater threat, as alcohol consumption slows reaction times and impairs decision-making abilities. For motorcyclists, who are more vulnerable than other motorists, these negligent behaviors are especially dangerous. If you believe that distracted or impaired driving contributed to a crash involving you or a loved one, our legal team is ready to investigate and hold those drivers responsible.
How Distracted Driving Puts Motorcyclists in Danger
Distracted driving goes beyond texting or making phone calls. Distractions can come in many forms, including:
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Adjusting the radio or GPS
- Talking to passengers
- Daydreaming or zoning out
Even a split-second distraction can cause a driver to miss seeing a motorcyclist until it’s too late. Motorcycles are already less visible due to their smaller size, and when a driver isn’t fully focused, they are less likely to spot a motorcyclist approaching or stopping ahead of them. Rear-end collisions, lane merges, and sudden turns are common scenarios where distracted driving leads to motorcycle accidents.
Why Drunk and Drugged Driving is Deadly for Motorcyclists
Alcohol and drugs impair a driver’s ability to make sound judgments, process visual information, and react quickly to unexpected changes on the road. For motorcyclists, these impairments are especially dangerous because:
- Reaction times are delayed: Drivers under the influence may fail to brake in time or swerve unexpectedly, putting motorcyclists in their path.
- Reduced peripheral vision: Drunk drivers may not notice motorcyclists when changing lanes or turning.
- Poor judgment calls: Intoxicated drivers often misjudge distances or speeds, increasing the likelihood of dangerous collisions.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that alcohol is a factor in over a quarter of fatal motorcycle crashes. In cases where impaired driving contributes to an accident, victims or their families may be entitled to seek compensation for damages, including medical costs, pain, and suffering.
Common Accidents Involving Distracted or Impaired Drivers
Distracted and impaired drivers often cause specific types of motorcycle accidents, such as:
- Left-turn accidents: A common scenario where a distracted or intoxicated driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, failing to yield.
- Rear-end collisions: Distracted drivers may not stop in time when following too closely behind a motorcyclist.
- Lane change collisions: Impaired drivers often fail to check their blind spots, sideswiping motorcyclists in adjacent lanes.
- Run-off-road collisions: Impaired drivers may drift off the road, colliding with motorcyclists in bike lanes or on shoulders.
How Genco Injury Lawyers Can Help You After an Accident
We understand the unique risks motorcyclists face and know how to build strong cases that prove fault and recover damages. If a driver’s negligence caused your accident, we will:
- Investigate the Crash Scene: We gather physical evidence from the accident site, including skid marks, debris, vehicle damage, and environmental conditions that may have contributed to the crash. This information helps establish key facts about how the accident occurred and who is at fault.
- Gather Police Reports, Phone Records, and Toxicology Results: Police reports often provide important details, but we dig deeper. We obtain phone records to determine whether the at-fault driver was distracted and review toxicology reports to see if drugs or alcohol played a role. These details can be crucial in proving negligence and liability.
- Work with Crash Reconstruction Experts: When the details of the accident are complex or contested, we collaborate with experts who can recreate the sequence of events. These experts use physical evidence, traffic patterns, and vehicle damage to demonstrate how the collision happened and identify responsible parties.
- Negotiate Aggressively with Insurers: Insurance companies often try to undervalue motorcycle accident claims or shift blame onto the motorcyclist. Our legal team knows how to counter these tactics. We present strong evidence to challenge their arguments and negotiate for a fair settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
- Take Your Case to Trial if Necessary: While many cases settle out of court, we are always prepared to go to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement. Our trial attorneys have the experience and skill needed to present your case effectively before a judge and jury, ensuring that you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
You don’t have to fight alone. Contact Genco Injury Law today for a free consultation and let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Why You May Need an Attorney to Handle Your Fatal Motorcycle Accident Case
When a motorcycle accident leads to a fatality, handling the legal aftermath can feel overwhelming. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts, shifting blame to the motorcyclist or disputing liability. An attorney can protect your rights by gathering evidence, speaking with witnesses, reconstructing the accident, and ensuring that negligent drivers and insurers are held liable. At Genco Injury Law, we take on the legal burden so that you can focus on healing. Without experienced legal representation, families risk missing key evidence or accepting unfair settlements.
Insurance Companies Will Try to Limit Payouts
Insurance adjusters are not on your side. Their goal is to minimize how much they pay, which often means shifting blame to the motorcyclist. They may argue that the rider was speeding, failed to obey traffic laws, or was otherwise responsible for the crash. Without an attorney to counter these tactics, families may accept reduced settlements that don’t cover funeral expenses, medical bills, or lost income. A skilled attorney will gather evidence to dispute these claims and negotiate for the compensation you truly deserve.
Proving Liability Can Be Complicated in Multi-Vehicle Crashes
When multiple vehicles are involved, determining who is responsible isn’t always straightforward. Different drivers may share blame, or one driver’s negligent actions may set off a chain reaction. An attorney can investigate the accident thoroughly by reconstructing the crash, analyzing damage patterns, reviewing police reports, and speaking to witnesses. This ensures that no responsible party escapes accountability and that you can recover damages from all liable parties.
Handling Legal Complexities While You Focus on Healing
Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident is emotionally exhausting. The last thing you should worry about is dealing with legal paperwork, deadlines, and settlement negotiations. At Genco Injury Law, we take on the legal burden by handling communications with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and building a strong case on your behalf. Our goal is to give you peace of mind while you focus on what matters; healing and honoring your loved one’s memory.
Avoid Unfair Settlements by Letting Genco Fight for You
Without legal representation, families may accept initial settlement offers that seem adequate but fall far short of what they need. These offers often exclude compensation for long-term losses, such as future lost income, emotional suffering, and loss of companionship. Our attorneys fight to recover the maximum compensation available under the law, ensuring you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Contact Genco Injury Law today for a free consultation. We’ll assess your case, explain your options, and take immediate action to protect your rights. Let us help you secure justice and financial relief during this difficult time.
Protecting Your Rights Immediately After an Accident
The actions you take immediately following a motorcycle accident can impact your claim. Gathering evidence, seeking medical attention, and avoiding statements to insurers are all critical steps. Our legal team will step in quickly to preserve evidence, such as crash site details, video footage, and eyewitness accounts. Delaying action can allow key evidence to be lost or forgotten, which could weaken your case. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible ensures that your rights are protected from the start.
Key Steps to Take Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident
Taking the right steps after a motorcycle accident can protect your health, strengthen your legal claim, and maximize your chances of securing compensation. Here’s a closer look at the most important actions you should take.
Call 911 and Report the Accident
Calling 911 is one of the most critical steps after an accident, as it ensures that medical personnel and law enforcement arrive quickly. The police will create an official accident report, which becomes essential evidence for your claim. This report typically includes:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- Descriptions of injuries and property damage
- Statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- Any citations issued for traffic violations
Without this documentation, insurance companies may argue over key details or challenge your account of the crash. Reporting the accident establishes a factual basis for your claim and gives you a stronger position during negotiations.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel fine or think your injuries are minor, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Motorcycle accidents often cause internal injuries, concussions, or soft tissue damage that may not show immediate symptoms. Delays in seeking treatment can be harmful in two ways:
- Health risks: Untreated injuries can worsen over time, leading to long-term complications or permanent damage.
- Legal risks: Insurance companies may argue that your injuries aren’t related to the accident or that they aren’t as serious as you claim.
Medical records linking your injuries to the crash are vital evidence. They help establish the extent of your injuries and justify compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Collect Evidence at the Scene
If you are physically able, gathering evidence at the scene is crucial for building a strong case. Use your phone to take photos and videos of:
- The positions of vehicles involved
- Damage to your motorcycle and other vehicles
- Skid marks, debris, and road conditions
- Traffic signals, signs, or any nearby hazards
Additionally, get the names and contact information of witnesses. Their statements may provide unbiased accounts that support your version of events. Photos and witness testimony can help prove fault and counter any attempts by the other party to shift blame onto you.
Avoid Making Statements to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance companies often contact accident victims shortly after a crash, hoping to obtain statements they can use to deny or reduce claims. It’s important to avoid making any statements about fault, injuries, or the details of the accident. Adjusters may try to:
- Get you to admit partial fault
- Downplay the severity of your injuries
- Offer a lowball settlement before you understand the full scope of your damages
Instead of speaking to the insurer, contact an attorney who can handle these communications on your behalf. At Genco Injury Law, we’ll ensure that your rights are protected and that any settlement offer reflects the full value of your claim.
Why Acting Quickly is Crucial for Preserving Evidence
Evidence is the foundation of any successful claim, but much of it is time-sensitive. Crash debris, skid marks, and physical damage to vehicles can be cleaned up or repaired within hours or days. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras may be overwritten if not obtained promptly. Witnesses may forget details or become harder to locate over time.
How Our Legal Team Protects Your Rights
At Genco Injury Law, we handle every aspect of your case from the moment you contact us. We gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review medical records to build a compelling case that proves fault and damages. We’ll communicate directly with the insurance companies, so you don’t have to, and ensure that any attempts to minimize your compensation are challenged.
Don’t Let Delays Hurt Your Case – Contact Genco Injury Law Today
The longer you wait to take legal action, the more difficult it becomes to recover the compensation you need. Our team is ready to step in immediately, secure evidence, and protect your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you take the first step toward justice and recovery.
Get Genco on Your Side and Get More Compensation, Faster
Fatal motorcycle accidents often lead to significant compensation claims covering medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering. Our attorneys understand how to identify and pursue all available compensation streams. We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and, if necessary, take cases to trial to ensure maximum recovery. With Genco Injury Law on your side, you won’t have to settle for less than what you’re owed.
Tailored Representation for Every Case
Every motorcycle accident case is unique, and so is our approach. We tailor our representation based on the details of your crash, the injuries sustained, and the needs of your family. Whether it involves a single vehicle or multiple drivers, we leave no stone unturned when investigating liability and damages. Our goal is to provide personalized guidance and consistent support throughout the legal process, helping you move forward with the confidence that your case is in good hands.
Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled To
A fatal motorcycle accident can lead to a variety of damages, including:
- Medical expenses: Covering emergency care, surgeries, and any treatment leading up to the fatality.
- Funeral and burial costs: Providing relief for the financial burden of honoring a loved one.
- Loss of income and benefits: Compensating for current and future lost earnings, pensions, and retirement benefits.
- Loss of companionship and support: Recognizing the emotional toll of losing a spouse, parent, or partner.
- Pain and suffering: Reflecting the emotional and physical distress experienced by the victim and their family.
Our attorneys analyze every aspect of your case to calculate full and fair compensation. We negotiate aggressively with insurers to ensure you’re not left with out-of-pocket expenses or denied justice. If negotiations fail, we are ready to take your case to trial to pursue the maximum compensation.
Our Comprehensive Investigation Process
When a fatal motorcycle accident occurs, understanding exactly what happened and who is responsible requires an in-depth investigation. At Genco Injury Law, we leave no detail overlooked. Our comprehensive approach ensures that we gather all necessary evidence to build a strong case that can stand up to insurance company scrutiny and, if needed, in court.
Crash Site Examination
The crash site often holds key physical evidence that can reveal the circumstances surrounding the accident. Our team visits the scene as soon as possible to document critical details, such as:
- Skid marks that indicate braking attempts and the speed at impact
- Debris patterns that may show where the vehicles collided and how the force of the crash was distributed
- Damage to surrounding objects like guardrails, curbs, or light poles that may provide insight into the vehicle’s trajectory
This hands-on analysis helps us create a clear picture of how the accident unfolded, allowing us to counter any attempts by the opposing party to shift blame onto the motorcyclist.
Accident Reconstruction
In complex accidents involving multiple vehicles or disputed fault, accident reconstruction is crucial. We work with experts who use physical evidence, mathematical calculations, and computer simulations to recreate the events leading up to the crash. This can help:
- Determine the speeds of all vehicles involved
- Analyze angles of impact to identify which driver initiated the collision
- Show whether the motorcyclist had sufficient time to react or avoid the crash
- Identify any external factors, such as weather or road conditions, that contributed to the accident
By presenting a scientifically backed reconstruction, we can challenge inaccurate police reports or insurance company claims that unfairly place blame on the victim.
Witness Interviews
Eyewitness testimony can be a powerful form of evidence when it corroborates physical findings. Our attorneys and investigators locate and interview witnesses who may have seen the accident or events leading up to it. We ask critical questions, such as:
- Did you observe any reckless or negligent driving?
- Was any vehicle speeding or weaving between lanes?
- Did any driver appear distracted or impaired?
- What did you see immediately after the collision?
We cross-reference witness statements with other evidence to identify inconsistencies in the opposing party’s version of events and ensure that accurate testimony is presented during negotiations or in court.
Surveillance and Traffic Camera Footage
Modern technology can provide invaluable evidence in motorcycle accident cases. Footage from nearby traffic cameras, business security systems, or even dashcams may capture key moments of the crash or driver behavior before impact. Our team:
- Secures video footage as soon as possible to prevent it from being overwritten or deleted
- Review footage to confirm the position of vehicles, the speed of travel, and any violations of traffic laws
- Identifies whether any driver was using a cell phone or engaging in other distractions
In cases involving hit-and-runs, video evidence can even help identify the responsible vehicle and driver.
Tailoring the Investigation to Strengthen Your Case
We understand that every motorcycle accident is different, which is why we customize our investigative approach based on the unique factors of your case. Whether it involves a single negligent driver or multiple parties, we leave no stone unturned in gathering evidence. By meticulously piecing together the facts, we can present a compelling argument that proves fault and maximizes your compensation.
When you work with Genco Injury Law, you can trust that we’ll build the strongest possible case to support your financial recovery. Contact us today to discuss how our comprehensive investigation process can help secure the justice you deserve.
No Upfront Cost – No Fees Until We Win
Worried about legal fees? You don’t need to be. At Genco Injury Law, we work on a contingency basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win your case. This ensures that everyone—regardless of financial standing—has access to high-quality legal representation. We believe that justice should never come with a price tag you can’t afford, and we’re here to prove it.
Bilingual Personal Injury Law Firm
When dealing with personal injury claims, clear communication is crucial. Victims need to understand their legal rights, the claims process, and the options available to them. That is why at Genco Injury Law, we believe that language should never be a barrier to seeking justice. That’s why we are proud to be a bilingual personal injury law firm, offering legal representation in both English and Spanish. We understand that navigating the legal system can be overwhelming, and we’re committed to ensuring that every client—regardless of their language—feels heard, understood, and supported.
Around the Clock Availability to You
Accidents don’t follow business hours, and our support for you doesn’t either. Our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide the support you need. Whether you need an update on your case or advice on your next steps, you can trust that we’re always just a phone call away. Our dedication to constant availability ensures that you feel supported at every stage of your case.
Serving Our Neighbors Across the Front Range
From Fort Collins to Denver and throughout the Front Range, we’ve built a reputation for standing up for accident victims in our local communities. We understand the unique challenges faced by residents in Colorado, from unpredictable weather conditions to high-traffic areas that increase the risk of accidents. No matter where you are within the region, you can trust Genco Injury Law to be a reliable advocate for your family.
Contact Genco Personal Injury Attorneys Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation
Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident or suffering severe injuries is life-altering, and navigating the legal process on your own can add unnecessary stress. At Genco Injury Law, we are committed to providing compassionate, knowledgeable representation tailored to your specific needs. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can gather critical evidence, speak with witnesses, and protect your rights against insurance companies that may try to reduce or deny your claim. Time is of the essence in these cases, as evidence can disappear, and delays may impact the strength of your case.
When you contact us for your free consultation, we’ll take the time to understand the details of your accident and assess all possible avenues for compensation, including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages, and emotional suffering. We’ll walk you through your options, provide clear guidance, and develop a legal strategy focused on achieving maximum recovery. Let Genco Injury Law take the burden off your shoulders, so you can focus on healing while we fight to secure the justice and compensation your family deserves. Don’t wait another moment; call us today to get started with your free consultation.