Denver Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer can help you seek just compensation from the truck driver or truck company who injured you. Denver trucking accident attorney, Jeremy Rosenthal, has been practicing personal injury law in Colorado for over a decade and his firm exclusively works with cases in this area of law. Contact his office today for a free consultation.
Denver Truck Accident Statistics
Large trucks are one of the primary ways that goods are ransported across the country. According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), trucks are responsible for delivering “over 72.6 percent of all freight transported annually in the U.S.” The ATA stated in its report that “[t]rucks carried 11.46 billion tons of freight in 2022, accounting for 70.1% of domestic freight tonnage.”
Unfortunately, though useful and necessary to the transportation of goods, large trucks can pose a risk to others on the road if not operated in a safe and careful manner. When large trucks are involved in accidents with smaller vehicles, the consequences for the smaller vehicle occupants can be dire. In general, 2015 saw an increase in car accident fatalities according to the preliminary report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Approximately 35,200 people lost their lives on the roads and highways across the nation last year. Among the types of accidents that increased were accidents involving large trucks. The NHTSA reported that the number of “fatalities in crashes involving large trucks increased by 4 percent.” The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that there were 141,292 accidents involving large trucks in 2015 which resulted in 4,197 deaths and 70,915 injuries.
Passenger vehicles like cars, SUV’s, etc., face significant risks when involved in a crash with a big rig, because, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety points out, “”[t]rucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance.” The people in the passenger vehicles may be injured, maimed, or killed in a collision with a large truck. In fact, the ATA stated that there is more likely to be a fatality in a large truck/passenger vehicle accident than in an accident involving two passenger vehicles. In addition, the driver of the large truck was less likely to be the fatality in the crash.
Denver Trucking Laws
Commercial Driver’s License
In order to drive certain large or high capacity passenger vehicles, some commercial drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver’s license or CDL. A CDL is mandatory if it falls into one of the following categories:
- A single vehicle with a gross combined weight of 26,001 pounds or more
- A combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight of 26,001 pounds or more (one vehicle is towing another)
- A vehicle which is designed to carry 16 or more individuals, including the driver
- A vehicle which is federally required to display hazardous materials placards while in motion
These parameters and the required use of CDLs were put into effect by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA). In addition to preventing the use of multiple licenses, CDL requirements standardize the knowledge one must gain in order to operate large commercial and passenger vehicles which keep other drivers safe. In order to be issued these licenses, drivers must have a comprehensive review of their driving record from the past ten years and drive with a commercial driver’s permit (CDP) for a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 180.
Trucking and Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial vehicles, vehicles used for business purposes, or vehicles registered or titled to a business must all usually carry commercial auto insurance. Also, according to the DMV, if a vehicle is equipped with certain items, commercial auto insurance may be required. These items include
- Snowplowing equipment
- Cooking or catering equipment
- Bathrooms
- Altered suspensions
- Hydraulic lifts
- Racing equipment
Commercial auto insurance requirements differ for many different kinds of vehicles, although all exceed the minimum liability insurance for passenger vehicles. This means that insurance for commercial vehicles is more expensive and comprehensive than normal motorist insurance, often providing bodily injury, property damage, and collision coverage for multiple drivers over and above basic liability insurance. The law requires commercial drivers or driving companies to purchase this pricier insurance because they assume that a business which involves driving inherently carries more risk of an accident. In addition, commercial vehicles are often operated by multiple drivers or employees which adds another level of uncertainty.
Weight Limits
In order to ensure driver safety in the United States, there are federal regulations which limit the amount of cargo that different kinds of trailers can load. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration sets these weight limits. They also standardize limits across states so that trucks can pass through different state lines with the same weight limits.
Commercial trucks may carry up to 20,000 pounds per axle and 34,000 pounds per tandem axle. In total, an 18-wheel semi truck cannot carry more than 80,000, with some possible exceptions with permits. The government also uses something called the Bridge Gross Weight formula to prevent large vehicles from damaging roadways and bridges. This formula takes into consideration a trailer’s dimensions including height, the weight and length of wheelbase to prevent short heavy trucks from damaging roadways. This formula means that sometimes trucks have stricter weight limits, depending on their dimensions.
As most drivers are aware, weigh stations on highways are implemented to check trailer loads. Colorado has ten weigh stations which are situated in areas of the highway where trucks and semis are entering the state. Certain classes of vehicles must clear these ports of entry before they are allowed to continue to drive on the interstate in Colorado. This list includes all commercial vehicles
- Weighing more that 16,000 pounds without a cargo
- With a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more that 26,000
- With Gross Vehicle Weight or apportioned license plates
- Carrying a placard displaying Hazardous Materials code
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Denver, CO
Navigating a vehicle the size of a trailer truck involves challenges that are significantly greater than those faced by other drivers.When companies and drivers of these vehicles break the regulations, however, and decide to overload their trucks or trailers with cargo to cut costs, accidents may occur. Accidents fall into three general categories:
Driver Negligence
Negligence can include speeding, driving while intoxicated, following so close that a rear-end collision cannot be avoided, dangerous wide turns, reckless driving in a construction zone, among other behavior. While traveling on long descents, such as mountain passes, the weight of the cargo, especially if it is above regulation, can push the truck down the hill and increase speed. At times, the brake system on the truck can be overloaded by the speed, weight, and incline, and the driver may lose control of their vehicle. The more weight a truck is carrying in its trailer, the more stress is applied to the hitch or connection between a cab and its cargo. Overloaded trailers may, therefore, cause a failure in the connecting mechanism. When a trailer, weighing thousands of pounds, comes loose on the interstate, the damage can be catastrophic.
Poor Truck Maintenance
A typical tractor-trailer truck weighs 20 times as much as the average passenger car. Any failure to maintain its braking system creates the potential for extreme risk. Inadequate brake maintenance can cause axle brakes to lock, causing the trailer to jackknife uncontrollably and possibly result in a rollover accident – with innocent people becoming victims. If trucks with open tops are improperly loaded or loaded with too much material, they also have a greater chance of expelling part of their cargo, which can be deadly for other drivers on the road. If the truck is not loaded correctly and the weight is not properly secured to the bed of the trailer, during acceleration or turns, the cargo may shift and loosen, sometimes flying into the road and creating hazards for other vehicles. If trucks are loaded too fully (such as a dump truck or a coal truck), pieces of material can be blown from the cargo into the windshield of other drivers, potentially blinding them as they maneuver their vehicles.
Unavoidable Blockage
The sheer size of some trucks is such that an ill-timed turn or other maneuvers can create a barrier that is impossible for other drivers to avoid, forcing them off the road or into other vehicles. Heavier trucks stop, start, and turn more slowly, reducing general responsiveness, putting stress on mechanical components and load bearing axles, and contributing to the likelihood of an accident, especially if a driver is not familiar with the mechanics of extremely heavy vehicles. Overloading also affects balance, especially if the weight is not arranged properly between axles in the trailer. Talk with an off-road accident attorney in Denver if you or someone you know was involved in a off road truck accident.
Compensation for Truck Accidents in Denver
Trucks have legal weight limitations for a reason, and disregarding those safety limitations may increase compensation for victims of a truck accident. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident involving a truck that you believe may have been improperly loaded or loaded beyond its federal weight capacity, it may be time to enlist the help of a Denver personal injury attorney. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you could be eligible to receive compensation for both the present and long-term consequences of the accident, including:
- Medical expenses: Any costs associated with treatment, surgery, physical therapy or other rehabilitative services, now and into the future.
- Lost wages: Wages lost due to your energy, as well as any future impact on your ability to earn a living or support your family.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the stress caused by the accident, or the anguish resulting from a reduction of your physical capabilities from which you will never recover.
- Punitive damages: In cases of extreme negligence, Colorado law (CRS 13-21-102) allows you to seek punitive damages in an amount equal to the actual damages awarded. If the driver who caused the accident was intoxicated or texting, for example, you would be likely to be awarded punitive damages.
Proving Negligence In Denver Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a large truck, you may be dealing with significant injuries, or your loved one may have passed away. Usually, in order to hold a person liable for the injuries he or she causes, the plaintiff in a lawsuit must show that the other party was negligent. Negligence is an area of tort law that permits people to bring a civil case against another person in order to seek monetary compensation for the injuries that they have suffered at the hands of a careless party.
In Colorado, as in most states, in order to prove a defendant was liable, the plaintiff must prove four elements. The plaintiff first must show that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff. The plaintiff then must show that the defendant breached that duty. Third, the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s conduct was both the actual and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. Finally, the defendant’s conduct must have caused the plaintiff injury. Vigil v. Franklin, 103 P.3d 322, 324 (Colo. 2004).
Data Recorders
Tractor trailer trucks have “Event Data Recorders,” which have a function similar to the “black boxes” in airplanes. This device records information such as the length of time the driver was driving without breaks, and how fast the truck was traveling at the time of the accident.
It is imperative that the data recorder is preserved, and the information accessed to help with your case – these recorders often have damaging evidence. If you engage our Denver truck accident lawyers immediately, we will take action to preserve this critical evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
Truck Accidents And Employer Liability in Denver, CO
If you have been injured because of the negligence of a truck driver, there may be another party who you can seek compensation from. Unlike accidents between two passenger vehicles, a truck driver can be an employee. And an employer can be held liable for the torts its employees commit under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Respondeat superior means “let the superior make answer” in Latin. Black’s Law Dictionary 1426 (9th ed. 2009). Under this doctrine, if an employee is negligent and injures someone while in the course and scope of his or her employment, then the employer of that negligent employee can be held liable for the injuries its employee has caused.
For example, truck driver Dylan is an employee working for ABC Trucking Company. While delivering a shipment for the company he rear-ends a car, causing injuries to the passengers including Pamela. In a subsequent lawsuit, Pamela seeks damages from the ABC Trucking Company because Dylan was acting in the course and scope of his employment when he was making the delivery.
Whether or not an employer can be held liable is not always clear. There are various things that can affect a plaintiff’s ability to seek compensation from a company. If an employee is not acting within the scope of employment then an employer cannot be held responsible for the employee’s actions. According to Denver rear-end accident attorneys, if an employee was driving a company car on his lunch break and rear-ended a vehicle, the employer would likely not be liable because the employee was not doing any company business at the time.
Colorado Truck Accidents And Jurisdiction
Another legal question that may crop up during a truck accident case is that of jurisdiction. It is important to note that jurisdictional issues can quite complicated and an experienced attorney can help you navigate this potentially tricky issue. Jurisdiction means “[a] court’s power to decide a case or issue a decree.” Black’s Law Dictionary 927 (9th ed. 2009). A court must have subject matter jurisdiction, as well as personal jurisdiction. Personal jurisdiction is “[a] court’s power to bring a person into its adjudicative process.” Id. at 930. A court must have personal jurisdiction over a defendant in order for that court to enforce a judgment against the defendant. In general, states have jurisdiction over their citizens. Thus, if you are rear-ended by a person from Colorado, you can file a lawsuit against that person in Colorado courts because the Colorado courts likely have personal jurisdiction over that person.
The problem can arise when you are hit by a person from out of state or if you get into an accident while you are out of state. Colorado has a long-arm statute that gives its courts power to over defendants who commit “a tortious act within this state.” C.R.S. 13-1-124 (2016). An example of a tortious act would be injuring someone in a car accident. Thus, in general, a person who is from out of state and causes a car accident will likely be able to be sued in the Colorado courts. However, it is a different story if you are in a car accident in another state. For example, if you are injured in a car accident in Utah by a person from Utah, then if you choose to bring a lawsuit, you will likely not be able to do so in Colorado unless the defendant has some connection, or “minimum contacts” with Colorado.
What to Do if You’re in a Truck Accident
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you should consider taking certain steps in order to help you recover and protect your opportunity to collect compensation in the future.
- Seek Medical Help The most important thing you can do after any kind of accident is to make sure that your injuries are properly cared for. Seeking medical care is also critical for making sure there is a thorough record of your injuries and where they came from. This could prove useful for proving your injuries and the expenses they caused in court. If the accident was serious enough that paramedics came to the scene, you should allow them the chance to examine you. You may be in a state of shock and unaware of the injuries that you’ve sustained. Paramedics are trained to find and treat these injuries regardless of shock. However, paramedics may not recognize simpler injuries, and you may begin to notice them as the adrenaline fades. This is why it’s also important to visit your regular doctor later for a full examination. Don’t wait too long to do this, though; otherwise, the defendant could argue that your delay meant the injuries weren’t particularly serious or weren’t the result of the accident but rather some other incident.
- Keep Thorough Documentation Whether or not you’re able to prove your case will depend on the evidence available. While your layer will do what they can by conducting a thorough investigation, some of the most helpful evidence can be collected immediately after the accident. If your injuries are not serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, then it may be possible for you to take pictures and videos of the scene of the accident, which can often be helpful in recreating what happened. Collecting contact information at the scene of the accident can often be helpful. It’s important to obtain correct information for any drivers involved in the accident, as well as the truck driver’s employer. Also, if there were any eyewitnesses who saw what happened, their information could be useful as well. You will also want to be sure that you continue with thorough record-keeping practices until you reach a conclusion to the legal process. Keeping records of what doctors say about the nature of your injuries and future prospects is helpful if your lawyer will need to argue for compensation for future medical costs and lost earning capacity. It’s also important to have a comprehensive record of all the bills and financial costs you’ve endured as a result of the injury. With regard to documentation, it is generally better to keep more than you think you will need, as your lawyer can always sort out the most valuable information later. They can’t produce documentation that you don’t have, so keep as much as you can.
- Use Caution When Speaking About the Accident There could be some contention regarding who was at fault for the accident and whether or not you deserve any of the blame. This is why it’s important to exercise caution when discussing the accident, especially with the other drivers involved or with anyone from an insurance company. Generally, you will want to let your lawyer handle as much of the communication as possible, as they can help you avoid saying something that negatively impacts your opportunity to collect restitution.
Because of the state’s modified comparative negligence laws, your compensation could be reduced by the percentage of fault you share in the accident as determined by the court. If you’re found to share more than 50% of the fault, you won’t be able to pursue compensation.
Denver Truck Accidents FAQs
Q: How Long Do I Have Until I Need to File a Truck Accident Claim?
A: While most personal injury claims in Colorado have a statute of limitations of two years, any accident involving a motor vehicle has a baseline statute of limitations of three years.
However, there could be a number of exceptions and variations based on factors like when the injuries were discovered, who you are attempting to hold liable, if there were minors involved and other issues. It’s important that you speak with a Denver truck accident lawyer soon after your accident to clarify your timeline.
Q: What Is Compensatory Negligence?
A: Compensatory negligence is a legal procedure in personal injury claims that gives the defendant the opportunity to argue that the plaintiff was negligent in a manner that contributed to their own injuries. They will need to prove that the plaintiff shared the fault of the truck accident and the resulting injuries.
If the defendant’s side is successful, the plaintiff will be given a percentage that the court believes represents their share of fault for the injuries. In most cases, this will result in a commensurate reduction in their compensation.
Q: Can I Collect Damages if I’m More Than 50% at Fault?
A: Because Colorado operates under modified compensatory negligence rules, being found 50% or greater at fault for an accident results in the plaintiff losing all opportunities to collect damages. Given the impact of these rules, one of the things your lawyer will prepare for is defending against these accusations.
Q: What Makes Something a Commercial Vehicle in Colorado?
A: Colorado’s definition of a commercial vehicle, by law, is that the vehicle must be used for commercial purposes and meet certain criteria. It must be at least 16,001 pounds and be:
- Self-propelled,
- Towed, or
- Designed to transport 16 or more passengers
Under this definition, school buses and some agricultural vehicles are excluded. However, vehicles that are used for the transport of hazardous materials or the transport of other motor vehicles are included.
Q: What Kinds of Injuries Can a Truck Accident Cause?
A: Trucks are often significantly larger than other vehicles on the road, and this can lead to rather significant accidents. The injuries involved can also be particularly devastating. In some cases, there may be only minor concerns like bruises and cuts, but fractures and more serious injuries are common.
Many injuries, such as spinal cord injuries causing paralysis or traumatic brain injuries, can leave victims with lifelong consequences. Unfortunately, death is also a common outcome of truck accidents and can lead to wrongful death claims by the surviving family.
Why You Should Find a Denver Truck Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
Significant amounts of money can be at stake in cases where a truck accident has caused personal injury. Experienced truck accident attorneys will know how to check the truck’s weight capacity, the record of cargo, and port of entry information. Insurance companies will do everything they can to limit their liability, including sending their investigators as soon as possible in the hope that they can gain control of the narrative of the event.
An experienced Denver truck accident attorney from the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal in Denver, Colorado, can help you avoid common pitfalls in the early stages, and ensure that an investigation on your behalf is initiated as possible. If you’re not familiar with personal injury law or the processes involved in a truck accident claim, you may fall victim to insurance company tactics employed to reduce the value of the compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.