Truck Accident Lawyers in Denver, CO
Truck accident lawyers in Denver, CO routinely work with survivors of traffic accidents. These attorneys see the devastating impact serious injuries can have on a person’s life, and understand the importance of seeking fair compensation.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident or any traffic collision in Denver or the surrounding area, contact Flaxman Law Group at 970-999-0530 for a free consultation. Let’s address your questions and find out what we can do.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
Being in a truck accident with a tractor trailer or other commercial truck is terrifying and likely to lead to serious injuries. No matter how frightened you are, though, it’s important to try to stay calm and to think rationally. Here are the steps you’ll want to take to stay safe and to protect your right to fair compensation.
- Evaluate the situation. Check yourself and others involved for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call emergency services immediately. Then, if it’s safe to do so and your vehicle is drivable, move it out of the way of traffic to avoid causing another accident.
- Call the authorities. Even if the accident seems minor, report the incident to police and get a copy of the police report, in case you need it later.
- Exchange information. Exchange your contact and insurance information with the truck driver and any other parties involved. When doing this, try to stick to the facts and avoid getting into a discussion about what happened. That can hurt your case later.
- Start gathering evidence. Take photos of your vehicle and the truck and the surrounding area. Write down anything you remember about the accident, including the location of any nearby security cameras. If there are any bystanders who witnessed the accident, ask for their contact information. Their statements could help clarify what happened.
- Call your insurance company. As soon as possible, inform your insurance company about the accident.
Once you walk away from the scene, it’s a good idea to seek medical care at once, even if you appear uninjured. The force of a crash involving a truck and a smaller vehicle is likely to cause serious injuries, and adrenaline can initially mask your symptoms. It’s crucial to get checked by a medical professional to rule out any injuries.
You may also want to consult with truck accident lawyers in Denver, CO if you’re injured. Even if you’re not sure you want to file a claim, talking to an attorney soon after your accident helps you get the facts about your options and helps you protect your right to compensation.
How Can a Denver, CO Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
A truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights and how much your potential case can be worth. Your lawyer can answer your questions, too, so you can make an informed decision about what to do.
If you do decide to work with a lawyer and file a claim, an attorney gives you a chance of seeking fair compensation. Attorneys understand how to negotiate with insurers and build a strong case on your behalf. Insurance companies also take your case more seriously when you’re represented by an experienced attorney. Insurers know an attorney will accurately evaluate your injuries and will aggressively pursue fair compensation, so insurance companies may be more likely to be willing to reach a fair settlement.
Common Injuries From Truck Accidents
Motorcycle accidents and car accidents involving trucks can result in a range of injuries, including:
- Whiplash, which occurs when the head is suddenly jolted, straining the neck muscles.
- Traumatic brain injuries, which happen when you hit your head during the crash.
- Spinal cord and back injuries, including herniated discs and fractures.
- Broken bones, particularly in the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis.
- Soft tissue injuries affecting the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Chest injuries, including injuries to organs and bruised or broken ribs.
- Knee and leg injuries, including broken bones and ligament damage.
- Trauma and emotional distress.
- Burns, in cases where there’s a fire or an explosion as a result of the truck accident.
- Cuts and scrapes caused by sharp objects that can brush up against you or can become airborne during the crash.
Unfortunately, in the most serious of truck accidents, fatalities can occur. In fact, truck accidents can commonly lead to wrongful death claims, when grieving families pursue claims against negligent parties.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Denver Colorado
Truck accidents in Denver can stem from a variety of factors, including:
- Driver fatigue. There are federal Hours of Service rules that require truckers to get adequate rest, but sometimes these rules get ignored and long hours on the road can lead to exhaustion, impairing a driver’s ability to make quick decisions and react appropriately.
- Distracted driving. Just like other motorists, truck drivers can be distracted by mobile devices, navigation systems, or even adjusting in-cab equipment, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Weather. Denver has unpredictable weather that includes winter storms, snow, ice, and other dangerous conditions that can contribute to truck accidents.
- Inadequate training. Not all drivers receive sufficient training to handle large vehicles, especially with the current labor shortage in the transportation industry. Poorly trained drivers and inexperienced truckers may lack the skills to stay safe on the roads.
- Overloaded trucks. Trucks that exceed weight limits can be harder to control and take longer to stop. They can also have weight distributed unequally, which can create the risk of rollover accidents.
- Mechanical failures. Trucks require regular maintenance, and mechanical issues—like brake failures or tire blowouts—can lead to serious crashes. In some cases, trucks or truck components can also be designed incorrectly, which can pave the way for injuries and products liability claims.
- Blind spots. Big rigs, tanker trucks, and other commercial trucks have large blind spots. If truckers change lanes negligently, they can crush smaller vehicles in these blind spots.
- Traffic congestion. Denver’s busy roadways can lead to sudden stops or slow-moving traffic, increasing the likelihood of rear-end collisions involving trucks.
- Alcohol or substance use. While truck drivers can be subject to random drug tests at work, some drivers abuse substances, sometimes in an effort to stay awake to drive longer.
You can’t influence how truck drivers operate these vehicles, but knowing the dangers can help you stay safer. For example, staying out of trucks’ blind spots and staying away from truck drivers driving erratically could help you avoid a crash.
Compensation Types for Truck Accident Victims in Colorado
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Colorado, you may be eligible for various types of compensation to cover the costs associated with your damages. Common compensation types include:
- Medical expenses, including all current and expected future medical costs.
- Lost wages, including any time you’ve had to take off work because of your injuries and any future work you’re likely to miss because of your injuries.
- Property damage, including any car repairs and any cell phones or other property you’ve lost in the crash.
- Pain and suffering you’ve experienced as a result of the crash.
- Incidental costs, such as the cost of taxis or rental cars while you can’t drive.
Accurately determining how much compensation you can pursue is essential to making sure you don’t end up with a big bill you have to pay out of pocket. Consulting with truck accident lawyers in Denver, CO can help. An attorney at Flaxman Law Group can review what your claim may be worth. In a free consultation, we can discuss how much recovery you can seek—and the best ways to get compensation in your case.
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Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims in Denver, CO
In most cases, you have three years from the time of your truck accident to file a claim. However, there are exceptions. If one of the liable parties is a government entity, you may have far less time to file a claim.
Even if you’re thinking three years is a long time, it’s important to file as soon as possible. If you’re in a car accident involving a truck, evidence won’t last forever. When you file early, witnesses remember the accident more clearly and you can more easily get access to the evidence you need to build a strong case. At the very least, consult with a truck accident attorney immediately after your crash, even if you’re not sure you’re ready to file. That way, your lawyer can start taking steps to protect the evidence in your case.
Determining Fault in Denver Truck Accidents
Determining fault after a truck accident is important because finding the at-fault parties determines who your lawyer will file a claim against. Since truck accidents are complex, there may be multiple liable parties and your attorney may rely on many sources of information to investigate the causes of the accident. These sources can include:
- Police reports, which may include initial assessments of fault.
- Statements from people who witnessed the accident.
- Photographs, video footage, and physical evidence from the accident site that can show vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and other clues.
- The driving history of the truck driver, including any prior accidents or violations.
- Truck maintenance records to determine how well the truck was maintained.
- Information from the truck’s “black box,” which can include information about how fast the truck was going at the
- Insurance company investigation reports, showing what insurance companies believe caused the crash.
- Expert analysis from accident reconstruction experts and other professionals.
A lawyer can secure all these types of evidence because they can subpoena records and work with investigation professionals. Your attorney will then review all the evidence and build a strong case.
Liability in Truck Accident Claims
Liability in truck accidents refers to the legal responsibility for the losses that result from a crash. If a truck driver ignored Hour of Service rules and fell asleep at the wheel, causing a crash that left you with devastating injuries, for example, we can say that the truck driver was a liable party in your account. You may be able to pursue the trucker in a claim.
Truck accidents tend to be complex and may involve multiple liable parties, including:
- The truck driver, if they acted in a reckless way.
- The trucking company, if they failed to vet and train their drivers or if they failed to ensure their trucks were safe.
- The company responsible for maintaining the vehicle.
- Other drivers who were involved in the accident.
- The company responsible for loading the truck, if the truck’s cargo was incorrectly loaded or overloaded.
- Property owners, if the crash occurred on private property that was incorrectly maintained (in this case you may have a premises liability claim).
- Local or state governments, if road signs or poor road conditions contributed to your collision.
In Colorado, liability can be shared among multiple parties. You can also be found partly at fault, if your actions contributed to the crash. If you were partially at fault, your compensation might be reduced based on your percentage of liability.
Determining fault and seeking fair financial recovery is challenging after a truck accident. There are many factors to consider and you need to put your focus on healing physically and emotionally. That’s why you’ll want to work with truck accident lawyers in Denver, CO, who can take care of the details and aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf.
If you’re injured in a truck accident, contact the Denver offices of Flaxman Law Group by calling 970-999-0530. We’re happy to offer you a free consultation so you can meet with a truck accident lawyer who can review the details of your potential case and can answer your questions. There’s no obligation and no risk, so you may as well learn more about your options before you decide what to do next.
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