Denver Tractor Trailer Accident Law Firm

Tractor-trailer collisions are among the most terrifying and devastating occurrences a person may ever encounter. With a full load, large trucks may weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is why crashes with smaller cars can be so dangerous.

According to statistics, passengers in passenger cars account for the great majority of all fatalities in truck accidents. According to the National Safety Council, truck accidents account for more than 10% of all road fatalities in the United States.

Medical care for a truck accident injury might extend for years or the remainder of the wounded party’s life, depending on the degree and type of the damage. The sufferer may never fully heal in certain circumstances.

If the accident was caused by someone else’s carelessness or improper behaviour, you might be able to claim damages. Consider contacting an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer to learn about your compensation possibilities if you were seriously injured in a tractor-trailer collision.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents: What Causes Them?

A tractor-trailer is a kind of transport car that consists of a semi-truck and a trailer. Tractor-trailer collisions occur for a variety of causes, including driver mistakes and mechanical failure.

The great majority of truck accidents, however, are caused by a driver’s irresponsibility. According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver error is to blame for over 94% of all tractor-trailer and other big car accidents.

The following are some of the most typical reasons for tractor-trailer collisions:

Driving when fatigued 

Falling asleep at the wheel 

Texting while driving and other kinds of distracted driving 

Driving while intoxicated or affected by drugs 

Driving too fast for the circumstances

Dangerous driving 

Illegal lane changes 

Tailgating 

Aggressive driving

The driver of a tractor-trailer isn’t the only one who may be held accountable for a collision. If the driver’s employer—the trucking company—fails to give sufficient training to drivers, fails to examine drivers’ credentials before hiring, fails to maintain cars according to industry standards, or violates other trucking safety requirements, the trucking business may be held accountable.

Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries

As previously stated, tractor-trailer collisions may result in severe and debilitating injuries to passengers in passenger cars. The more significant the energy and momentum of a car, the larger and heavier it is. When a tiny car collides with a huge truck, the smaller car absorbs more of the impact.

While some victims of tractor-trailer accidents may walk away with a few bruises and scratches, the majority of persons involved in heavy truck accidents suffer severe and life-threatening injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries, back and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones or bone fractures, paralysis, severe burn injuries, hip and torso injuries, concussions, lacerations, internal bleeding, and wrongful death are all common ailments suffered by tractor-trailer accident victims.

Following a tractor-trailer collision, symptoms of an injury may not be immediately obvious, which is why it is vital to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. A doctor may assist you in determining the scope and severity of your ailments.

Why Are Tractor-Trailer Cases More Difficult Than Car Accident Cases?

Tractor-trailer collisions are much more complex than collisions involving two passenger cars.

Cases involving huge cars might be more challenging because of the following factors:

Victims may suffer life-threatening injuries. Because of the size and weight of huge trucks, victims of tractor-trailer accidents, especially passengers of passenger cars, often suffer more severe and catastrophic injuries. When injuries are debilitating or severe, calculating the victim’s damages becomes more difficult.

several parties are accountable

A victim of a tractor-trailer accident may often seek compensation from numerous parties, including the truck driver, their employer, the firm responsible for putting merchandise into the trailer, the car and its components manufacturer, and others. Due to the large number of parties involved in truck accidents, assessing culpability becomes increasingly difficult.

Special laws and regulations are in place

Countless particular safety standards apply to truck drivers and transportation organisations. Failure to follow trucking standards may be a clear indicator of the trucker’s or their employer’s carelessness. However, since the trucking industry has hundreds of laws and regulations, victims may need legal assistance to identify culpability.

To evaluate liability in your case and help you obtain the greatest potential compensation for your injuries, speak with an expert lawyer versed with trucking rules.

How Can You Tell If a Tractor-Trailer Accident Was Caused by Negligence?

According to the National Safety Council, large trucks are involved in over 5,000 fatal accidents each year, with Colorado accounting for around 6.4 per cent of them. The great majority of these collisions are caused by driver irresponsibility.

However, establishing negligence after a tractor-trailer collision may be difficult since several parties are responsible. A person who has been wounded may need to employ a lawyer to examine their accident and gather evidence to support their claim.

While truck drivers must drive with reasonable care, trucking businesses must hire carefully and adhere to both state and federal rules to reduce the number of avoidable accidents involving their trucks.

What Proof Do You Need in a Tractor-Trailer Accident to Prove Fault?

Because a truck accident lawsuit may include several accountable parties, it is critical to collect evidence as soon as feasible. Some evidence may go lost, or others may tamper with it if you do not acquire and preserve it immediately.

Witness testimony 

Your lawyer may use these and other sorts of evidence to establish guilt and show the degree of your injuries. Consider hiring an experienced and results-oriented attorney to conduct a thorough investigation and gather all relevant evidence establishing the other party’s liability.

After a tractor-trailer accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries

It is critical to understand what compensation will cover all of your damages if you are wounded in a tractor-trailer accident. After your car accident, talk to an expert lawyer about fighting for proper compensation.

In most cases, victims of tractor-trailer accidents can collect the following: 

Medical costs

Liable parties may be held liable for medical expenditures paid by the victim due to the accident. Medical bills compensation covers both past and future expenditures.

Wages lost

After a tractor-trailer accident, a victim may be unable to work for some time while healing. In rare situations, the wounded victim’s earning ability may be permanently lost. 

Emotional (non-economic) losses

A professional attorney can assist you in pursuing compensation for the loss of income and impaired earning ability. Non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, may sometimes account for the majority of a settlement. Victims are entitled to compensation for emotional distress, bodily pain, mental agony and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic consequences.

Damages for retaliation. Punitive damages may be granted to penalise the other party, particularly heinous behaviour, depending on state law and the other party’s actions.

It is vital to begin working on your claim as soon as possible if you want to be reimbursed for your losses and damages.

While you concentrate on your recovery, you may benefit from getting the legal advice of an expert lawyer to investigate your tractor-trailer accident, gather evidence to establish the other party’s wrongdoing, secure witness testimony, and assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.

The Advantages of Using a Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

With the aid of an experienced attorney, you may acquire the compensation you need to get your life back on track and relieve your financial and emotional obligations.

Collect evidence to indicate carelessness on the side of the truck driver, the trucking business, or other parties 

Identify all possible culpable parties

Accurately analyse the worth of your truck accident claim to calculate fair reimbursement for your losses 

Communicate with insurance companies and safeguard your rights throughout negotiations

Hire medical specialists to analyse how your injuries would affect your life.

If the insurance company refuses to settle your claim for a reasonable price, take your case to court and have a lawyer defend your best interests.

Pre-trial settlements are common in personal injury lawsuits, especially those involving truck accidents. However, in certain situations, a lawsuit may be required to get the greatest potential compensation.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do all tractor-trailer collisions result in a trial?

While the majority of truck accident cases are settled out of court, some do go to trial. Suppose the victim’s injuries are too serious. In that case, the victim dies after the accident, or the parties cannot negotiate a mutually acceptable out-of-court settlement, a tractor-trailer accident case may proceed to trial.

Taking your case to trial may be an expensive and time-consuming procedure with no assurance of a good conclusion, which is why you should talk to a lawyer about your choices before filing a lawsuit.

After a truck accident, how long does it take to get compensation?

After a truck accident, obtaining compensation may be a difficult and time-consuming procedure. It’s impossible to say how long it will take a truck accident victim to settle their case and obtain the compensation they deserve. While some instances are resolved in a matter of months, others may take years and necessitate litigation.

After a tractor-trailer accident, how long do you have to file a lawsuit?

The statute of limitations is the time restriction for bringing a lawsuit after a car accident. Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have distinct time limits in each state, which is why you should talk with a lawyer in your state to learn more about the appropriate statute of limitations.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Truck Accident?

The term “average” settlement is a misnomer. Because every case is different, the value of your claim is strongly influenced by the circumstances of your accident, the severity of your injuries, and other variables.

After evaluating your case, a qualified lawyer can assess your damages and losses and estimate a fair settlement award for your tractor-trailer accident.

When deciding how much money you may anticipate, your lawyer will look at the following factors:

The cause of the accident 

The extent and type of your injuries 

The expense of your medical care 

Whether or not you will be able to get back on your feet or heal completely

Your lost pay 

The expense of repairing your car 

The impact of the accident on your emotional and psychological health

Following a tractor-trailer collision, these and many other variables will impact the value of your insurance claim. To establish a reasonable settlement amount in your case, consult with an experienced attorney.

Is it Necessary to Hire an Attorney After a Tractor-Trailer Collision?

Denver Truck Accident Attorney Jeremy D. Earle, JD

Yes, particularly if you suffer a serious injury that limits your capacity to work or impacts you in some other manner for an extended period.

A truck accident lawyer in Denver will fight for your rights and make sure you get proper compensation for your damages. You may also need the assistance of a lawyer to assist you with the claims procedure and to negotiate with insurance companies to get the money you deserve. When searching for a lawyer, be sure they have a lot of expertise with tractor-trailer accidents in Colorado.