Best Denver Truck Accident Lawyer for Your Injury Claim

Understanding Truck Accidents in Denver

If you were injured in a Denver truck accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be able to pursue compensation for your losses. It's vital to contact a Denver truck accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options.

At Alpha Accident Lawyers, our personal injury lawyer in Denver is ready to handle your truck accident case. We have the knowledge and resources to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Causes of Truck Accidents in Denver

Commercial truck accidents frequently result in serious injuries or death to occupants of passenger vehicles. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,764 individuals died in crashes involving large trucks in 2022. 

About 17% were truck occupants, 66% were auto and other passenger vehicles, and 16% were motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Common causes of trucking accidents include the following:

• Driver fatigue
• Truck driver error
• Lack of training
• Reckless driving
• Distracted driving
• Poor truck maintenance
• Improperly loaded cargo
• A multi-vehicle collision involving multiple drivers
• Poor visibility
• Poor weather conditions

Types of Truck Accidents

Semi-truck accidents can be particularly dangerous due to their size and weight. There are various types of truck accidents, each with unique causes and potential for severe injury. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of truck accidents: 

• Rear-end collisions 
• Jackknife accidents 
• Rollover accidents 
• Head-on collisions
• T-bone accidents
• Sideswipe accidents 
• Cargo load accidents
• Underride accidents

Common Truck Accident Injuries 

More than half of injuries caused by truck accidents are on the side of passenger vehicle occupants. Compared to truck drivers, they have far less protection and are more likely to sustain serious and even fatal injuries.

Below are some of the most common types of truck accident injuries in Denver:

• Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck and back injuries
• Whiplash
• Lacerations 
• Burn injuries
• Internal injuries
• Wrongful death

Sadly, due to the traumatic nature of truck crashes, many victims do not survive their injuries. If this happens, the surviving family members of the deceased may pursue compensation in a wrongful death claim. They may be able to recover compensation for their funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, and more. It is crucial to take immediate legal action if this occurs.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

After a crash involving a large truck, victims should take proactive measures to ensure their safety and to help strengthen their truck accident claims. After a truck accident, victims can take the following proactive actions:

1. Call 911

Contact law enforcement immediately to report the accident. Wait until the police arrive at the truck accident scene and ensure you get a police report. A police report has important information, including:

• Information on the scene of the incident, including a drawn diagram of the accident
• Contact and insurance information of the people involved in the accident
• The license plates of the vehicles involved
• Witness statements
• Police observations on how the accident occurred
• Any traffic violations

2. Get Medical Attention

Seek medical treatment for your injuries, even if you do not feel hurt. In many serious injury cases, you will not display symptoms immediately.

In truck accidents, victims can experience an adrenaline rush and shock that may mask the injuries sustained. A doctor will perform an evaluation and will identify and record any truck accident-related injuries.

3. Exchange Information

Swap important information with the other persons involved, such as:

• Full name, phone number, and address
• Insurance company policy number
• Commercial driver's license and license plate number
• Vehicle registration

4. Take Photos and Videos

It's essential to take pictures of the accident scene. Take photos from different angles and ensure you get pictures of the position of the vehicles, skid marks, broken glass, car parts, damaged property, and your injuries. If you cannot, ask others if they can take some photos for you.

5. Talk to Witnesses

If witnesses are present, ensure you get their contact information. Ask any eyewitnesses if they are willing to give a statement on how the truck accident occurred. 

6. Don't Talk to the Insurance Companies

Notify your own insurer about the trucking accident; however, don't provide additional information, including the extent of your injuries. The trucking company has its own team of truck accident lawyers on retainer and will fight to avoid paying out a high settlement. Insurance companies will do their own investigation and will try to devalue a trucking accident claim.

They will also attempt to intimidate victims into believing that their low offer is the best option. Be aware of this, and do not settle. Additionally, do not sign anything without consulting an experienced truck accident attorney.

7. Contact a Denver Truck Accident Attorney

Your personal injury attorney will know the true value of your settlement. They will also instruct you exactly what to do and say to help your claim. Additionally, they will deal with the truck company and insurance agents, so you won’t have to. The best truck accident lawyers will protect your interests and work to resolve your claim in a timely manner.

Proving Negligence in a Truck Accident

Proving negligence depends on duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

According to federal law, commercial vehicles traveling on an interstate must carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance. They may also be required to have up to $5 million, depending on the carrier. Many commercial trucking companies carry an excess of insurance coverage due to the type and value of the cargo and the potential risk of severe injuries and damages in an accident.

Some commercial vehicles carry passengers or hazardous materials and are more expensive to insure. In a commercial vehicle accident, multiple parties may be held liable. The following parties may be held responsible for truck accidents:

Truck Driver 

Truck drivers may be held liable for a crash for several reasons. The truck driver may have broken the law or been drowsy or distracted. Truck drivers spend several hours on the road each day, increasing the risk of fatigue. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study reported that about 13% of commercial truck drivers were driving while fatigued when they got in an accident.

Trucking Company

Trucking companies are subject to Colorado trucking laws and are also required to follow federal regulations. When trucking companies cut corners and skip mandatory inspections, they can be held accountable for their actions.

Truck Manufacturer

Truck manufacturers can also be held liable for Colorado truck accidents if there is a defect that causes a Denver commercial truck accident. Some defects can include mechanical failures, faulty brakes, and tire blowouts.

Cargo Loaders

Truck accidents can often involve improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo. If an unbalanced load of cargo causes a commercial truck to tip over and cause an accident or if cargo falls off the vehicle and causes an accident, the cargo loaders can be held responsible.

Colorado's Modified Comparative Negligence

Colorado is a modified comparative negligence state. More specifically, Colorado uses a 50% modified comparative negligence. This means that if a motorist is over 50% at fault for the Colorado truck accident, they may not be able to pursue compensation for damages.

An insurance adjuster determines the percentage of fault on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that you are primarily at fault for the trucking accident, you may not be able to collect damages from the other driver's insurer. However, it is within your rights to appeal this insurer's determination of liability. Thus, it's crucial to have an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side.

Compensation for Truck Accident Victims

Trucking accidents can cause severe injuries, expensive medical bills, lost wages from missed work, mental distress, pain, and suffering. The three main types of damages you may be able to recover in a truck accident lawsuit include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are typically easy to calculate and prove because they have an assigned monetary value. Some of the common economic damages a victim can pursue include:

• Property damage
• Rental car costs
• Repair bills
• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Physical therapy

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not as straightforward as economic damages. Non-economic damages are usually more difficult to calculate and prove due to the subjective nature of these kinds of damages. These may include:

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Mental distress

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not commonly awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. However, at the court's discretion, these damages may be granted in order to punish at-fault parties for their egregious and especially dangerous actions. For example, if a truck driver was driving under the influence and caused a crash, the accident victim may be granted punitive damages.

Safety Regulations for Commercial Drivers in Colorado

In Denver truck accidents, the passengers of the smaller vehicle face the most risks of catastrophic injuries or death.

Commercial trucks are a huge safety concern to other vehicles on the road. This is why Colorado has established regulations for commercial trucks regarding their size and weight. These trucking industry regulations include:

• A gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds for any vehicle driving on the interstate and 85,000 pounds for any vehicle not driving on an interstate. The weight of a vehicle is calculated by the federal bridge formula, which relates to the vehicle’s weight, the number of axles on the truck, and the distance between the axles. CRS 42-4-508.
• A single truck and trailer cannot exceed 85 feet. CRS 42-4-505.
• The height of a truck may not exceed 13 feet. CRS 42-4-504.
• The total width of a truck or load (if loaded) cannot exceed 103 inches. CRS 42-4-502.
• Any commercial vehicle driving west of Denver, CO, between Dotsero and Morrison on I-70 must follow Colorado law.

Another notable factor is that commercial drivers and their employers are not always liable for truck accidents. However, if the trucking accident was caused by negligence, the commercial truck driver and potentially other parties can be held responsible.

Insurance Requirements for Commercial Drivers

Commercial drivers in Colorado must carry a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to operate commercial motor vehicles. In addition to holding a CDL, these drivers are required by law to maintain specific types and amounts of insurance to ensure they can cover damages in the event of an accident.

Commercial drivers must carry liability insurance, which covers bodily injury and property damage resulting from an accident for which they are at fault. In Colorado, the minimum liability is $25,000 for one person injured in an accident, $50,000 for all people injured in an accident, and $15,000 for property damage.

If you were involved in a truck accident caused by a truck driver, the insurance company might contact you to offer you a settlement. The insurer is motivated by its bottom line and may even tell you that what they are offering you is a generous offer.

Insurance adjusters know that truck accident victims are likely feeling overwhelmed and will want to resolve their truck accident cases as soon as possible. The insurance adjusters may use misleading tactics to justify a low settlement or assign partial blame to the truck accident victim. It's best to consult with a Denver truck accident attorney before communicating with the insurance company.

The Importance of Hiring Denver Truck Accident Lawyers

The first thing your trucking accident lawyer will do is gather all the evidence and information and let you know if you have a valid claim and what it may be worth. At Alpha Accident Lawyers, our Denver truck accident attorneys will discuss your legal options with you. We will also address any questions you may have to ensure you are fully aware of everything going on with your accident claim.

We will thoroughly investigate the details of the trucking accident, collect evidence, and gather witness statements to support your claim. Our legal team will also collect your medical records for the trucking accident and talk to experienced medical specialists who will create a treatment plan for you. At Alpha Accident Lawyers, we also have connections with expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction experts, mental health specialists, and engineers who can help strengthen your claim.

Our experienced truck accident attorneys will also help you calculate and prove your damages. This includes medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost future earnings, depending on whether you can return to work or need to perform lighter duties.

We will help you file your truck accident claim for compensation from the other parties involved. Our Denver truck accident lawyers will fight tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation for all your losses. 

Why You Should Act Quickly

Taking swift action after a personal injury is crucial, as time is limited to file a legal claim. Delays can weaken your case, making it harder to gather evidence or locate witnesses. Here’s why acting promptly matters:

The Statute of Limitations in Colorado 

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. This means you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. However, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident victims is extended to three years.

It’s important to note that these deadlines are strictly enforced. If you miss the statute of limitations, you could lose your right to seek compensation, no matter how valid your case may be. Acting quickly ensures you preserve your legal rights and have the best opportunity to receive the compensation you deserve.

Additionally, starting the legal process early allows your truck accident attorney to build a strong case by gathering crucial evidence, obtaining medical records, and interviewing witnesses while the details remain fresh. Don’t wait until it’s too late—protect your rights by consulting with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. 

Contact Experienced Colorado Truck Accident Lawyers

When you work with Alpha Accident Lawyers, you will be taken care of. We work tirelessly to help our clients recover the maximum compensation for their truck accident injuries. In addition, we do not charge our clients any upfront legal fees and only collect payment after your truck accident claim is won.

Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your personal injury case. You may not realize you are owed a lot of compensation for your losses. Let Alpha Accident Lawyers handle your case and get you the compensation you deserve.

Alpha Accident Lawyers
Located at: 1630 Welton St Suite 917, Denver, CO 80202
Call us: (720) 799-9986