When a truck collides with passenger vehicles, it is often catastrophic. Accidents involving semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are among the deadliest types of auto accidents in the United States. The reason is simple: the sheer size of the truck (and its potential contents) versus a passenger vehicle results in greater damage to the occupants of passenger vehicles due to the unequal distribution of forces involved in these crashes. The average truck with a fully loaded trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds while the average passenger vehicle's weight ranges between 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a truck accident, receiving fair and just compensation may be your only recourse for physical, mental, and emotional recovery.
In Colorado, a growing number of drivers operating trucks and large commercial vehicles are inexperienced and/or unqualified to operate these vehicles safely through the terrain of our state. Like many other states, Colorado faces a shortage of drivers that has the industry placing profits above consumer safety. Many "fly by night" trucking companies send vehicles through our state every day and put Colorado drivers at risk for serious injuries and death. The companies are often underinsured, which results in victims being under-compensated for their injuries and damages.
Accidents involving 18-wheelers or commercial trucks are different from accidents involving only passenger vehicles. There's a lot more involved. The truck driver isn't the only one who may be liable. There are federal regulations to consider alongside state laws. The mechanics involved in the truck, too, are quite different and may be relevant, making truck accident cases more complex.
The problem is this: an insurance company may not settle for what's fair. You may need to file a personal injury claim. At McGraw Legal Group P.C., our truck accident attorney in Colorado can help you file a strong, well-documented claim while advocating your rights and representing your best interests. Contact us today either online or at (303) 999-2378 to schedule a Free Consultation.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado
Accidents involving semi-trucks or other types of commercial trucks are caused for any number of reasons.
Some of the most common include:
- Distracted driving
- Excessive speed
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Driving in high winds
- Unsafe lane changes
- Inadequate training
- Inexperience
- Excessive fatigue
- Defective truck parts
- Poor truck maintenance
- Shifting cargo inside the trailer
- Poorly fastened cargo on a flatbed trailer.
Not all truck accidents are caused by the truck driver or an issue with the truck. Other causes may include environmental conditions, poor road design, or another driver's error. In the end, there may be several causes that lead up to the accident, which again makes these cases more complex than other types of auto accidents.
Common Types of Injuries in Colorado from Truck Accidents
No matter how it is caused, a truck crash often leads to severe, life-threatening, life-changing, or fatal injuries for the people in the passenger vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides annual statistics, and year after year, it's been documented that more than 80 percent of those who die from bodily injuries sustained in a truck accident are occupants of the other vehicle (or pedestrians or bicyclists). Only rarely is the truck driver or a passenger of the truck killed, and that's in part because the sheer size and weight of the truck is to their advantage.
Though fatalities often result from semi-truck collisions, other serious injuries can have life-changing effects on the victims of trucking crashes. These injuries include:
- Spinal injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Crushing injuries
- Severe or life-threatening lacerations
- Internal bleeding and damage to internal organs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Limb dismemberment
- Burn injuries.
In some cases, certain injuries can lead to additional compensation. For example, if you are left scarred or unable to work, you deserve more than someone who will fully recover.
Potential Liable Parties in Colorado Truck Accidents
Truck accidents, especially commercial truck accidents, are different from other accidents involving only passenger cars because, in part, a trucking company usually employs the truck driver involved in the crash. As the trucker's employer or carrier, it may be legally responsible for the upkeep of the truck and truck drivers' actions.
In addition to a truck driver and the carrier, several other parties may be liable for a truck accident, including:
- Manufacturer of the truck
- Manufacturer of truck parts
- Vendors providing services to the carrier (like loaders)
- Owner of the cargo
- Local government or contractors responsible for highway design or maintenance
Why File a Personal Injury Claim for a Truck Accident in Colorado?
Truck accidents are complex cases. Injuries sustained from them are often severe, and, as such, are extremely costly. Insurance companies may be happy to settle, but the offer will likely not reflect what's fair and just.
When insurance companies make an initial settlement offer, their first goal is to protect their own bottom line – not help the victim recover. They will try to cut costs by not thoroughly investigating the accident. This means the insurer may not uncover all the underlying causes and potentially liable parties (e.g., truck drivers, trucking companies, loaders, mechanics, etc.). Insurance companies will also try to get away with not paying for future medical bills, future lost wages, loss of earned income, and other expenses that you may not be aware of but which the law allows you to recover.
By filing a personal injury claim, victims can pursue the compensation that they really deserve.
Timing of the personal injury claim related to trucking crashes, however, is critical. Because there are often many victims involved in crashes caused by trucks, and not enough insurance to cover all damages caused by negligent truck drivers, it is critically important to reach out to an experienced trucking attorney immediately after the crash, and to place the trucking company and your own insurance company on notice of your injuries, even if they do not seem serious or life-altering in the weeks to months after a crash.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Colorado Today
Truck accidents can be devastating for everyone involved. Make sure you get the compensation you deserve by hiring an auto accident lawyer at McGraw Legal Group P.C.. Contact us online or at (303) 999-2378 to schedule a Free Consultation today.