When you think of Colorado, it’s impossible not to picture immense mountains and sweeping roads that tempt you to jump on your bike and ride.
If you’ve been itching to buy a motorcycle and get out on the open road, let the team at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers explain Colorado’s motorcycle licensing requirements. By following these rules, you can prevent crashes and keep yourself and others safe.
However, if you were hurt in a motorcycle collision in Lakewood, CO, contact our office at (720) 912 7274 for a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options.
How Matos Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Motorcycle Accident in Lakewood, CO
Whether you’ve been riding for a few decades or just a few days, getting into a motorcycle accident can leave you overwhelmed. You may face serious injuries, including spinal cord and brain injuries, and ultimately struggle to understand what your rights are.
If you’ve suffered losses, one of the options you may have is to file a personal injury claim to recover damages. That’s not an easy process to go through on your own. But thankfully, at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help.
Our Lakewood motorcycle accident lawyers provide services that include the following:
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering evidence proving that you deserve compensation
- Aggressively negotiating with insurance companies
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your claim to court if it’s in your best interests
- Providing support through the entire claims process
Since 2016, we’ve been helping people in Lakewood, Colorado, who’ve suffered losses because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct. We’re a bilingual team that offers assistance to the English and Spanish-speaking members of our community, and we’re always here to answer questions and concerns. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Colorado Motorcycle Licensing Requirements
In Colorado, you don’t receive a separate license that allows you to ride a motorcycle. Instead, you get an endorsement on your existing license. With an M endorsement, for instance, you can ride any kind of motorcycle, while a 3 endorsement only allows you to operate motorcycles with three wheels.
Age Requirements
People under the age of 18 need to buy and hold a motorcycle instruction permit for 12 months before being able to receive an endorsement. They’ll also need to have an “Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship” signed by a parent or guardian.
Those under the age of 16 must be under the supervision of an instructor when riding the motorcycle. And at the age of either 15 or 16, they will also have to complete a Motorcycle Operator Safety Training program.
Option One: Pass the Motorcycle Exams
For people 18 or older, obtaining your M or 3 endorsement involves one of two options. The first consists of purchasing a motorcycle instruction permit and then scheduling a motorcycle driving skills test. Once you pass that exam, you can buy a new license with the M or 3 endorsement.
Option Two: Complete a Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) Program
If you’re 18 or older, you can complete a MOST program and immediately schedule the purchase of your new license. Colorado doesn’t allow you to purchase an M-endorsed license over the phone or online, so you must make an appointment at a driver’s license office and present your MOST waiver card.
Purchase Appropriate Insurance For Your Motorcycle
You must purchase insurance for your motorcycle that meets the state’s minimum requirements. These include $15,000 per accident to cover property damage, $25,000 per person to cover bodily injury, and $50,000 per accident to cover bodily injury.
Register Your Motorcycle
You will need to register your motorcycle with the state before you can operate it. Bikes have the same registration requirements as other motor vehicles, with their only difference being that riders are not required to provide proof of their emissions.
To register the vehicle, you will need to already have insurance and show that the motorcycle is yours. If the bike was previously titled or registered out-of-state, Colorado will need to verify its vehicle identification number (VIN). In order to process the registrations, there will be a fee. Your bike’s weight and age will impact the amount you have to pay.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lakewood Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Getting into an accident soon after earning your M endorsement can be frustrating. You may be dealing with serious harm and damage to your bike, both of which add up to a financial and emotional strain you simply don’t need.
Your best option is to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation that will cover the losses you’ve sustained. Our team will be by your side every step of the way. We’ll investigate the accident, gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and advocate for you in court, if necessary, all with the intent of allowing you to focus on healing.
If you’ve suffered, you need experienced Colorado motorcycle accident lawyers to represent you. Contact Matos Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.