Large commercial trucks are common sights on Colorado roads, and many businesses in the Colorado Springs area rely on commercial truck drivers to deliver the goods and materials their operations need each day. While most drivers are used to seeing these large vehicles on a regular basis and encounter no problems, truck accidents can and do happen in the area, often with devastating effects. A truck accident is likely to be far more damaging than most other standard passenger vehicle crashes, and determining fault will be more challenging than it is in most other accident cases.
Representing Victims of Truck Accidents in Colorado Springs
If you or a loved one is struggling with injuries suffered in a truck accident, it’s vital to speak with a Colorado Springs truck accident attorney as soon as possible to determine your best options for legal recourse. The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can provide the measured, responsive, and compassionate legal representation you need in your Colorado Springs personal injury claim. From an initial auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier to a complex personal injury case, our team has the skills and experience necessary to handle the toughest accident cases on behalf of Colorado Springs clients.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks are vulnerable to the same risk factors facing all other vehicles on the road, but some of these risk factors are more dangerous when larger vehicles are involved. Additionally, the size, weight, and work requirements of most commercial trucks present a host of additional risk factors all drivers must understand. A few of the most commonly reported causes of large commercial truck accidents in the Colorado Springs area include:
- Speeding. Any time a driver speeds, they put themselves and others at risk, but speeding is especially dangerous for large trucks that require much more time and distance to slow down and stop in time to avoid collisions.
- Distracted driving, which is the leading cause of all vehicle accidents throughout the country each year. Momentary distraction is more than enough to cause a devastating crash.
- Driving under the influence (DUI). It is illegal for any driver to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, and if a truck driver causes a DUI accident, they are very likely to face professional consequences and criminal charges along with liability for the victim’s civil damages.
- Truck maintenance issues. Large commercial trucks experience far more wear and tear than most other passenger vehicles; therefore, they have stricter maintenance requirements. If the party responsible for truck maintenance fails to complete maintenance appropriately, they can face liability for an accident resulting from mechanical failure.
- Improperly secured cargo. A large truck with imbalanced cargo becomes highly susceptible to tip-overs and rollovers due to the vehicle’s higher center of gravity.
These are just a few of the most common reasons for truck accidents. Regardless of the exact cause of your recent truck accident, it is important that you speak with an experienced Colorado Springs truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident to have the best chance of recovering as fully as state law allows. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the sooner they can begin helping you build your case.
Determining Liability for a Truck Accident
One of the most common complicated factors to arise in truck accident cases is vicarious liability, a term used to describe any situation in which an employer bears liability for the actions of an employee. For example, if a trucking company failed to perform a proper background check on a driver, failed to ensure proper training for the driver, or otherwise contributed to causing a recent accident, both the driver and their employer could share liability for the victim’s damages.
Your Colorado Springs truck accident attorney will help you determine fault for your accident, which may rest on more than one party. Once you have identified the parties responsible for your damages, the next stage of your case is proving the exact scope of the losses the at-fault party caused. While the at-fault party’s auto insurance may provide some valuable initial recovery, a personal injury suit is likely to be your best option for recovering your losses when insurance alone cannot fully compensate you.
Building a Personal Injury Claim in Colorado
Commercial truck accidents tend to cause extensive economic losses. Accordingly, you have the right to seek full repayment of any such financial losses the defendant caused in your personal injury suit. These are likely to include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. Property damage is the most straightforward and can apply to vehicle repair or replacement costs, as well as the value of any personal property lost in an accident.
Medical expenses can include both immediate treatment costs following your accident as well as ongoing medical treatment costs for severe injuries. Your attorney can work with your medical care team to determine the scope of future treatment and rehabilitation you are likely to require to recover as much as is medically possible and hold the defendant liable for these anticipated future losses as well.
You also have the right to claim both immediate and future lost income. For example, you may be unable to work immediately following the accident due to the severity of your injuries, and if you have been permanently disabled by the defendant’s actions, they are liable for your lost future earning potential as well.
Beyond economic damages, plaintiffs in Colorado personal injury claims also have the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. However, this aspect of a vehicle accident claim is limited under state law, and the maximum amount of compensation available for personal injury plaintiffs’ pain and suffering increase each year to adjust for inflation. Working with an experienced Colorado Springs truck accident attorney is the best way to ensure you maximize this aspect of your case award.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal seeks full compensation on behalf of each client’s total damages. We understand that you are likely to have many pressing legal questions in this situation and face a great deal of uncertainty when it comes to your recovery options. Our goal is to help you understand your case as clearly as possible and streamline your recovery efforts in any way we can.
Trucking Accident FAQs
Q: Why Should You Hire a Colorado Springs Truck Accidents Attorney?
A: It may be possible to file a personal injury claim on your own, and you do not need to hire an attorney to file an auto insurance claim, but you face several significant risks in attempting to handle your recovery efforts on your own. Hiring legal counsel means you will be able to rest and recover with peace of mind instead of attempting to handle your legal affairs on top of your medical concerns. Additionally, your legal team will likely uncover recovery options you didn’t know were available to you.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Colorado Springs Truck Accident Attorney?
A: The team at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal strives to ensure our legal services are accessible to those who need them most, so we accept cases on a contingency basis. Our client pays nothing upfront and is not required to pay any ongoing legal fees for the duration of their case. Additionally, they are only required to pay a fee once we win their case, and their fee is a percentage of their final case award.
Q: How Soon Should I Hire a Colorado Springs Truck Accident Attorney After an Accident?
A: Your first concern after any motor vehicle accident should be your medical condition, but once you have received emergency care for your injuries, you should reach out to legal counsel as soon as possible. The sooner you secure legal representation, the sooner your attorney can help you determine the best approach to your recovery efforts.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Truck Accident Claim?
A: State law enables the plaintiff of a personal injury case to seek full repayment of all their economic losses, including property damage, lost income, and medical expenses. The plaintiff also has the right to recover compensation for lost future income and ongoing medical treatment costs for serious injuries. State law also allows plaintiffs to seek pain and suffering compensation, but this type of compensation is capped under state law.
Q: Is It Worth Hiring Colorado Springs Truck Accident Attorneys?
A: While it’s understandable to be hesitant about the potential cost of your legal fees, the reality is that you stand to lose much more than an attorney would cost to hire if you tried to handle your case alone. The right attorney can easily make up for the cost of hiring them with the difference in the compensation they obtain on your behalf.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal offers years of experience in Colorado civil law to victims of truck accidents in the Colorado Springs area. We take time to learn each client’s unique needs and concerns and help them identify every available avenue of recovery to enhance their final compensation. If you are ready to learn how a Colorado Springs truck accident attorney can empower your recovery efforts, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team.