Colorado and most other states depend on large trucks to deliver goods and cargo nationwide. Therefore, truck drivers must operate their vehicles in the safest manner possible. Their job is to protect important or sometimes dangerous cargo and avoid accidents with other drivers. Unfortunately, even when truck drivers practice their duty of care, large commercial vehicles can pose serious risks to other drivers.
If you were involved in a truck accident, you would need to work with a lawyer experienced in these types of accidents. A Denver truck accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after a Colorado truck accident.
What Is a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Truck accident lawyers fall under a broader category known as personal injury. Personal injury lawyers specialize in tort law. “Tort law” protects victims by allowing them to seek compensation from the at-fault party. Personal injury lawyers usually handle cases involving:
Truck accident lawyers have experience working with truck accident cases, which are different from car accident cases. It’s essential to be mindful that there are some distinctions between truck accidents and other motor vehicle accidents. Therefore, you’ll want an experienced attorney to deal with these particular cases after you sustain injuries in a truck accident.
What Makes Truck Accident Cases Unique?
In a regular car accident, there may be two motor vehicles involved. One driver is typically deemed “at fault” for the accident. After the other person’s negligence causes the accident, you can file a personal injury claim and seek compensation for your damages. Usually, you would do that through the other party’s insurance company.
However, truck accident cases are not as simple. So first, let’s look at what makes truck accident cases more complex and requires extensive research and resources. Then, you’ll understand why it’s vital to work with a truck accident lawyer who understands the unique challenges.
Truck Accident Injuries Are Often More Serious
Commercial vehicles like semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are enormous. When fully loaded with cargo, their weight can exceed 30,000 pounds.
The legal maximum limit for a loaded semi-truck trailer in the US is 80,000 pounds. Imagine your vehicle crashing into 80,000 pounds. That amount of weight can wreak havoc during a collision. Therefore, it’s typical for the smaller vehicle involved in truck accidents to end up totaled. In addition, victims in the smaller passenger vehicle are usually left with severe or catastrophic injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Internal injuries or organ damage
- Amputated limbs
- Severe scrapes, burns, or skin lacerations
- In rare cases, incontinence
In the worst cases, truck accident injuries can result in death or permanent disabilities that can affect the victim’s family members forever.
Due to the likelihood of such severe injuries after a truck accident, you will need a truck accident attorney familiar with these types of cases. In addition, personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries usually have a much higher payout for the victim. Thus, you deserve an attorney fully prepared to fight on your behalf to recover total compensation for your losses.
Multiple Parties Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident
Truck accidents can involve more than just the two drivers. Since truck drivers work for commercial companies, you must deal with the driver and their trucking company.
In a truck accident, there can be multiple parties liable for the accident. For example, in addition to the driver and their company, other parties can be entirely or partially responsible for the accident:
- the truck manufacturer
- vendors who provide services to the carrier
- or the owner of the cargo
Trucking companies often have strict deadlines for their drivers to meet. As a result, many truck drivers bypass breaks and drive while tired or otherwise distracted.
Multiple parties involved as a potential liability in a truck accident can complicate matters. For example, the truck driver could claim that their employer pressured them to drive without taking their legally mandated break. Or, the trucking company could try to blame the truck manufacturing company for faulty brakes.
As you can see, establishing liability can become tricky with multiple parties involved. Your attorney will need to thoroughly investigate your case to determine liability. Such investigations can require an immense amount of time and resources. That’s why it will be in your best interest to hire an experienced truck accident attorney with the proper network and connections to handle your case successfully.
You May Deal with Several Insurance Companies
Several parties in a truck accident case mean that you may also deal with several insurance companies. For example, the truck driver, their employer, and the truck itself could have different insurance coverage. Therefore, you’ll need a truck accident lawyer who knows how to handle the challenges of dealing with several insurance companies.
More Than One State Can Be Involved
Since truck drivers whip cargo across state lines, truck accidents can happen virtually anywhere in the country. For example, a truck accident may occur in Colorado, but the driver is from Florida. The situation could be even further complicated if the trucking company is located in Virginia.
That’s why it will be advantageous to have an experienced truck driver who can provide you with competent legal counsel. For example, a skilled truck accident lawyer will know how to sort out the complexities of legal procedures that involve multiple states. Or, if your case ends up going to trial, having an excellent attorney who knows how to prepare for trial will ultimately mean the success of your case.
Be Sure to Find the Right Denver Truck Accident Lawyer
While it may be true that all truck accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers, not all personal injury lawyers have experience or expertise in truck accidents. Therefore, you should ensure that the personal injury lawyer you hire is familiar with and understands how to win a truck accident claim.
Most truck accident lawyers offer a free consultation and also work on a contingency fee. That means you won’t pay anything unless we win your case. Therefore, you can schedule a free consultation to learn more about their track record and experience dealing with truck accident cases.
Contact An Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Denver, Colorado
Our Denver truck accident lawyers have extensive experience and success in helping victims win the compensation they deserve. We know how to handle the complexities of truck accident cases and protect your legal rights.
Call us today to schedule your consultation if you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident. Our proficient legal team will investigate whether the driver was fatigued or otherwise negligent and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Furthermore, we will answer any of your questions and review the unique details of your case to find out how we can best help. Finally, we will settle your case or move to court if necessary.
