Colorado Springs Truck Accident Lawyers

Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Semi-trucks are a familiar sight across the Colorado Springs area, as it is one of the country’s major trucking hubs. Despite numerous rules governing the trucking sector, the corporations responsible for transporting freight have one key concern: the bottom line. A car accident with tractor trailers are serious business and must be handled appropriately. We know truck accident law.

It is all too simple for trucking companies and their employees to cut corners to safeguard their bottom line. Innocent people are hurt or killed as a result of negligent truck drivers.

Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys have a lot of experience with the complicated world of commercial truck accidents. Our law firm can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve if you were critically wounded or a loved one is killed in a collision with an 18-wheeler.

For a free consultation, call our semi truck accident lawyers at 719-300-1100 today. Our truck accident attorneys represent clients in Colorado Springs, throughout Colorado, and across the country. We are a truck accident law firm and our passion is helping people in a car accident with a tractor trailer accident.

Get a free case review with a truck accident lawyer today. Your personal injury lawyer will walk you through the claims process so you understand your rights. You can ask all the truck accident questions you want. Our personal injury lawyers are patient and compassionate.

We will hold the truck company liable for the driver error of their employee. Unlike typical car accidents, truck accidents occur less frequently but cause more serious injuries. Truck companies will fight paying fair compensation every step.

DO I NEED A LAWYER IN A TRUCKING ACCIDENT CASE?

Hire the Best Truck Accident Lawyer

The answer is absolute, yes! While you are not required to have a trucking accident law firm representing you, you will undoubtedly have the odds are stacked against you if you do not have experienced counsel.

Truck accident claims are quite different from vehicle accident cases. Even though both types of claims involve incidents involving one or more automobiles, truck accident litigation is complex and detailed.

With trucking accidents being much more complicated, there are several reasons for this. Contacting a good truck accident lawyer is critical. Commercial truck is a deadly when not taken care of, and the insurance company knows how to protect them.

Your case may involve multiple defendants, such as the trucker, his or her company, the manufacturer of a rig part, and maybe others.

If there are several defendants, that means there will be multiple insurance companies involved, all of which will want to pass the blame and pay you as little as possible.

Truck drivers are subject to federal regulations and state and municipal laws; an accident investigation is likely to include many authorities, each of which is governed by its own set of rules, legislation, and processes.

Injuries in truck accidents are substantially more severe than those in “typical” vehicle accidents.

As a result, damages claimed in truck accident claims are typically significantly more significant. Hire a personal injury attorney from Warrior and get a great settlement. We have experience filing truck accident lawsuits.

Trucking accident claims are complex and controversial because all these elements work together. It is in your best interest to engage a law firm that understands both the complexities of trucking lawsuits and the stakes to you personally if you have been injured in a semi-truck accident. Our nationwide truck accident attorneys are here to help.

WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER HIRING A COMMERCIAL TRUCKS ACCIDENT ATTORNEY?

Experienced Truck Accident Attorney

It is a good bet that the insurance adjuster will contact you before you have a chance to contact an attorney. The adjuster tries to catch you off guard and get you to sign a truck accident settlement agreement before the dust settles.

This is enough to tell you they are against you, not for you. If you get a call early on from an overly polite in-person from a trucking company’s insurance adjuster, you know they are up to no good.

It’s just not humorous. If you’re thinking about hiring a truck accident lawyer, now is the time to do it.

While it is essential to consult an attorney early in the process, you have some time to consider your options. If you are debating whether or not to hire an attorney, have a look at the following situations:

There was a tragic truck crash.

• You were severely hurt in an accident. Broken bones, paralysis, amputation, burns, blindness, and long-term or permanent physical damage are examples of this.

• There’s even a chance you’ll be determined to be at fault.

• Other vehicles were engaged in the collision.

• In the construction or school zone, the accident occurred.

• There are times when the accident report is incomplete or inaccurate in its description of what occurred.

An attorney specializing in 18-wheeler accidents can also assist you in determining what caused the truck collision in the first place. There are numerous reasons for trucking accidents, and sorting through them all to determine the actual cause of the crash or its causes typically necessitates the assistance of an expert. The greater the specialist, the more likely they are to discover all of the causes. Many individuals can hypothesize what caused the accident, but only an expert truck accident lawyer can present hard facts.

TRUCK DRIVER ERRORS CAUSE WHAT KINDS OF ACCIDENTS?

Big rigs aren’t always dangerous because of their size, but when they’re operated carelessly, maintained incorrectly, or forced into a tense environment on a busy interstate, we’re all at risk. When driving, maintaining, or troubleshooting, vigilance is essential.

An 18-wheeler’s margin of error is substantially narrower than your Toyota Camry’s. The truck strayed into another lane and sideswiped a car due to the driver’s inattention. A panic stop by a large rig traveling 70 miles per hour takes a long time to stop, and that is counting from the moment the driver becomes aware of the situation to a complete stop. An automobile moving at the same pace would require about half that distance.

That explains why rear-end incidents account for so many 18-wheeler accidents. These aren’t simple fender benders with minor property damage and possibly a spilled cup of coffee, and these can be extremely dangerous and lethal.

Operating and owning an 18-wheeler has tremendous responsibilities that should never be taken lightly. When they are, disaster can occur.

A semi-truck collision can be caused by a variety of circumstances, just like any other vehicle accident. The trucker’s negligence can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including:

DROWSINESS IN TRUCK DRIVERS

Drowsiness has an impact on reaction time, threat awareness, and reasoning. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration controls the number of hours a truck driver can drive per day (11) and per seven-day week for these reasons (60). This is why a car accident is bound to happen.

Employers frequently pressure drivers to achieve delivery timetables that are very difficult to accomplish without exceeding the specified hourly limits. This results in illegal overtime driving, forged driver’s logs, and, all too frequently, accidents. Drowsiness can also be caused by the driver’s age, general health, drugs (prescription and non-prescribed), and the amount and quality of sleep he gets during his downtime.

In many lawsuits, this is a key point. It is beneficial to win a case to show that a driver-operated tractor-trailer rig knows he had not logged the legally required downtime. A second consideration is whether the driver felt obligated to disobey the road rules to meet his employer’s deadline for delivering the cargo.

TRUCK DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

It’s terrifying to consider that drivers of 80,000-pound monster semi trucks on our highways could be high on anything from alcohol to drugs, but it happens. As per the most recent Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts Report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 4,600 truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 or above – 2.5 percent of truck drivers in these fatalities were legally intoxicated.

Like the rest of us, truck drivers suffer from aches and pains, and many of them suffer from chronic diseases that necessitate the use of powerful medicines. These medications frequently have negative side effects and can impair driving ability. In court, disregard for these side effects becomes a distinct liability. Several big rig accidents have been linked to over-the-counter drugs.

COMMERCIAL TRUCKS DRIVING TOO FAST FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES

Almost every driver has witnessed a huge rig speeding by slower moving traffic in instances where a gentler tap on the throttle would have been appropriate. Technically, unless the truck exceeds the posted speed limit, it is not speeding, yet unsafe and illegal. It is a ticketable offense to drive too quickly for the conditions.

Conditions that necessitate driving significantly below the posted speed limit, according to the FMCSA, include:

• Roads that are wet or icy

• Fog

• Cracks in the pavement

• Roads that are uneven

• Zones of construction

• Roads made of gravel

• Curves

• Intersections

• A lot of traffic

“Speeding of Any Kind,” according to the FMCSA report, is the biggest cause of truck accidents, accounting for 6.5 percent of fatal collisions.

TRUCK DRIVING WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

There have been other instances in which a truck driver has been prompted by another vehicle and has reacted badly. Aggressive driving and road rage is a factor in less than 1% of fatal semi truck accidents, according to the FMCSA.

In the courtroom, proving that the trucker drove aggressively or was under the influence of road rage is a difficult undertaking that frequently necessitates the use of third-party witnesses.

DISTRACTED TRUCK DRIVING

Truck drivers are forbidden from texting, talking on the phone, or accessing the internet while driving. According to the FMCSA, driver distraction was involved in approximately 6% of fatal truck incidents. These are some of them:

• Distraction from outside the car by a person, item, or event

• Reaching into the cab for items

• Making phone calls

• Making a phone call

• Making use of a mobile device (texting, using apps, etc.)

• Consumption of food or drink

• Changing the audio and climate settings

• Daydreaming

• Smoking

In terms of mortality, injuries, and property damage, big rig accidents caused by a distracted truck driver can be the worst of the worst. Because of their actions behind the wheel, drivers have been found guilty of murder. Commercial drivers who text and drive while operating a moving vehicle face harsh penalties, although the laws vary by state.

OTHER TYPES OF 18-WHEEL TRUCK DRIVER MISTAKES

Accidents have a variety of causes; however, the following are the most common ones that have not yet been mentioned:

• Distracted driving includes texting, eating, listening to music, and other driving activities.

• Departure from the lane

• Disobedience to traffic signs and signals

• Perplexed vision

• Failure to comply with the law

• Not correctly performing turns and lane changes

• Overcorrecting

• Incorrect passing

• Tailgating

Truck accident cases are frequently caused by a combination of poor decisions and risky actions. When a driver is tired or drunk, he or she is more likely to drive too fast or make risky mistakes that result in an accident.

These choices, on the other hand, are not made in a vacuum. The truck driver may be following his or her employer’s orders, which expands your case to include more defendants who are liable.

NEGLIGENT TRUCK MAINTENANCE AT FAULT FOR YOUR ACCIDENT?

Brake failure is an unfortunate situation that truck drivers and their employers must deal with. An 80,000-pound runaway truck is a terrifying concept and a dangerous thing. Brake failure is common and but brake failure is an unfortunate condition that truck drivers and their employers are required to be prepared for. The trucking company will never admit fault without our help.

Overheating, hydraulic failure, and a variety of other mechanical issues can cause brake failure. Brake failure due to improper maintenance, on the other hand, should never happen. If a truck’s or trailer’s brakes aren’t kept up to date, the results can be disastrous — usually for other vehicles on the road.

The “runaway truck ramp” sign on steep-grade highways is a sobering reminder that things don’t always function perfectly on big rigs. This is a regular occurrence in mountainous areas, where brake failure on steep hills is normal.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration oversees the safety and maintenance of 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles. Individual states may have their own set of regulations as well.

SEMI-TRUCKS’ BRAKES

A signal that notifies drivers of braking failure must be installed on a truck. The indication must be visible – usually a dashboard warning light – for vehicles built after 1973. The functioning pressure gauge on air brakes must be visible to the driver, whether on the truck or the trailer.

According to federal standards, the braking system must feature automated adjustment to compensate for the wear of brake linings, drums, or discs. A manual inspection of the braking system is necessary to document any brake repairs, replacements, or new installations.

SEMI-TRUCK SAFETY DEVICES

Safety devices include coupling devices that keep trailers attached to the vehicle carrying them and stabilizers that keep them from swaying side to side. Whether the trucking company utilizes them properly will be exposed.

SECURITY OF LARGE RIG LOAD

Several 18-wheeler accidents have been caused by shifting load. Cargo shifting or falling out of the trailer adds a layer of complexity to the insurance settlement.

In most places, if a shifting load is identified as the cause of an accident, the firm responsible for loading the trailer is held liable. However, prosecuting a case alleging that a changing load caused the accident is generally a difficult undertaking.

There are guidelines to follow, including the FMCSA’s criteria for weight distribution, weight support, space management, tie-downs, the center of gravity, dunnage (material used to fill gaps between cargo items), and weight limitations. During all trailer movements, whether planned or unexpected, the load must stay stable. This includes panic stops, abrupt lane changes, quick curves, sloping or uneven pavement, severe winds, and anything else that causes a trailer to move on the road.

Different types of goods necessitate various levels of security. Different types of tie-downs are required for a load of logs versus a load of potato chips. Any inconsistency in the FMCSA document that lays out all of these laws might be crucial in assessing liability in an 18-wheeler crash.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A TRUCK ACCIDENT?

Identifying the parties at fault is an important element of every semi-truck accident investigation. Typically, this includes the driver on the accident scene, the corporation that hired the driver, and any companies participating in the rig’s activities.

We will investigate and take the required steps to prosecute all parties whose negligence contributed to your injuries in a truck accident at Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers, including:

THE TRUCKING BUSINESS

Cargo delivery is a time-sensitive enterprise. Everyone in the trucking industry may prioritize the bottom line, from supervisors to CEOs, at the expense of their drivers and public safety.

The following are examples of trucking business negligence:

• Requiring drivers to work more than the legally mandated hours of service

• Not having the appropriate types and quantities of insurance coverage.

• Pressuring drivers to preserve erroneous service and maintenance records

• Failing to test drivers for substance use, as well as medical issues that could jeopardize their ability to operate rigs properly

• Cost of future medical expenses

• Proving truck accident liability

• Hiring inexperienced or unskilled drivers who lack the necessary licenses.

• Failure to provide sufficient training to drivers

• The truck manufacturer

• The owner of commercial vehicles

These measures may not be visible at the time of the accident, and trucking corporations will go to great work to hide their negligence. Warrior Car Collision Lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the role of corporate negligence in truck accidents.

CREWS FOR TRUCKING MAINTENANCE

Your truck accident claim may also be influenced by the question of who services the semi. When the trucking firm owns the tractor and trailer, in-house maintenance employees or a contracted third party may charge upkeep. When the truck driver is is an independent contractor who owns the big rig, he or she is responsible for keeping it in good working order by scheduling tune-ups and maintenance.

With 18-wheelers driving thousands of miles each year, frequent maintenance and replacement of worn-out equipment are critical to a truck’s safety. You might be entitled to compensation from the individual or company that services the truck if the accident was caused by a tire blowout or other failure due to carelessness in maintenance and repairs.

TRUCKING AND SHIPPING COMPANIES

During a haul, trucks may stop at several businesses and distribution facilities. As the personnel load and unload freight, it’s critical that they distribute the weight evenly and secure items so that they don’t shift during travel.

Trailers with an unequal weight distribution risk tipping over, maybe onto a car on either side of the rig. Shifting loads could cause the truck to jackknife or cargo to spill onto the road.

The role of unsecured or poorly balanced loads in truck accidents is one of the primary aspects that investigators will look at. Our attorneys will examine these reports and gather further evidence to guarantee that the entity responsible for loading the vehicle is held accountable.

MANUFACTURERS OF PARTS

Defective vehicle components can cause truck accidents. A tractor or trailer part failure (or both) might lead the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a collision.

In general, product liability and personal injury cases necessitate a thorough examination of the failed part’s design and production and the company’s activities to warn the public. Regrettably, many corporations will go to great lengths to safeguard their profits at public safety risk.

Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers aggressively litigates against negligent trucking firms who produce and sell defective trucking parts. They often sell to trucking companies and other parties. These companies, many of whom have billions of dollars and teams of lawyers on their side. We work with skilled experts to investigate what happened and then take action on your behalf.

TRUCK ACCIDENTS CAUSE WHAT KINDS OF INJURIES?

In a truck accident, the risk of horrific injuries is extremely high. Commercial vehicles, after all, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, causing forces that even a heavy-duty pickup or SUV can’t handle in an accident.

As a result, major injuries are more often than not the norm. The following are some of the more serious injuries we find in personal injury cases at Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

• Injury to the spinal cord

• Ruptured discs and other injuries to the neck and back

• Surgical removal of a limb

• Burns

• Scarring and disfigurement

• Organ damage and internal bleeding are examples of internal injuries.

• Multiple fractures of the bones

• Muscle, ligament, tendon, and other soft tissue damage

Unfortunately, fatalities from incidents with big rigs are all too common, with the driver and occupants of passenger vehicles being the most vulnerable. The death of one or more individuals is the most terrible outcome of a transportation accident. 

 HOW MUCH CAN I RECEIVE WHILE CLAIMING A TRUCK ACCIDENT?

Serious injuries necessitate long-term care. After an accident, you may need to be admitted to the hospital, have many operations, and undergo months of physical therapy. You may endure lifetime physical and cognitive disadvantages, not to mention the emotional strain of adjusting to your new circumstances, even with prompt intervention and the best medical treatment. Meanwhile, as medical expenses build up following a truck accident, many injured truck accident victims cannot pay since their disabilities prevent them from returning to work.

If you’re in this scenario due to a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers will help you get full compensation. If your injuries interfere with your capacity to earn a living, you may be eligible for damages such as 

• Medical expenses 

• Diminished future income

• Suffering and pain

• Lost pay 

• Special damages for home improvements, hired help, and other costs specific to your circumstance

• Negative effects on family relationships (often referred to as “consortium loss”).

The jury may also award you compensatory damages if the facts of the truck accident warrant it. This type of remuneration is only given in extreme carelessness, purposeful disregard for safety, malice, or fraud. Punitive damages are rarely given, but they convey a strong message to the defendant that their actions are unacceptable when they are.

Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers could file a wrongful death claim on your family’s behalf if a loved one were killed in a truck accident. In Colorado, a wrongful death case can be filed by the deceased’s spouse, children, or parents for reimbursement of economic losses, such as lost wages. Additionally, they can claim costs for burial, cremation, and funeral services. Also available are non-economic damages related to the emotional toll of the loss.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE?

Taking the following procedures at the scene of the semi-truck accident, if possible, can help your insurance claim right away:

• Interviewing witnesses 

• Photographing the accident scene, the damage to the involved vehicles, and your injuries

• Gathering information on the truck driver (as well as any other drivers involved)

• Giving a statement to the police

What is in the police reports

Unfortunately, many trucking accident victims require rapid medical attention owing to the catastrophic injuries they have sustained. In case you or someone close to you has been involved in a truck accident, you should contact a commercial truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

On your behalf, our trucking accident attorneys will take photographs of the site, identify potential witnesses, and gather information on the truck driver, trucking business, and other parties. We will also take a look at the following:

• Vehicles are examined by experts.

• Thorough examination of the trucker’s logbooks and other documents

• Obtaining and evaluating all local, state, and federal accident reports • Obtaining electronic evidence, such as mobile phone records, GPS coordinates, and data from the semi truck’s “black box” (see below)

ON SEMI-TRUCKS, THE “LITTLE BLACK BOX”

The “little black box,” also known as a digital event recorder or an electronic logging device (ELD), can be found in commercial planes, railways, cruise ships, passenger automobiles, and semi-trucks. Each ELD is configured for the type of vehicle it is mounted to record data from multiple sensors.

If you’re hurt in an 18-wheeler collision, don’t expect the trucking business or its insurance representative to release the data from the truck’s black box freely; in fact, don’t expect them to keep it.

This is one of the reasons it is a good idea to hire an attorney as soon as possible following an accident. Your attorney can get a court order to save the black box data and set up a joint viewing with the other party’s counsel.

TRUCK DASH CAMS: HELPFUL OR HURTFUL FOR THE TRUCK DRIVER?

A brief look at YouTube or any other video-sharing website will reveal the widespread use of dash cams on roadways around the world. Dash cams are used by trucking companies and independent drivers to defend themselves from false personal injury claims. And other companies use dash cams that face the driver to demonstrate his or her reaction to traffic problems.

Dashcams may record what happens in front of, behind, and even to the side of the truck. They may indicate that the truck driver was at fault in some cases. They may indicate that the car driver was at fault in some cases. It’s not always easy to tell.

Dash cams are popular among trucking businesses — when they work in their favor, that is. However, if the tape reveals the truck driver’s recklessness, the corporation will almost definitely try to suppress it.

Hiring an attorney early in the process enhances the likelihood that dashcam footage will be made accessible for examination.

HOW LONG DOES A TRUCK ACCIDENT CLAIM TAKE TO RESOLVE?

“How long does it take to settle a vehicle crash with a truck?” is a question that is frequently asked. Settlement times can range from a few weeks to well over a year, depending on various events, the majority of which are beyond the plaintiff’s control. Impatience is not a virtue in a truck accident case.

It’s in the insurance company’s best interests to settle promptly, whether it’s yours or the trucking company, before long-term health issues emerge. Conditions that arise after a trucking accident lawsuits are settled are usually the plaintiff’s financial responsibility. While there are times when a case should be reopened, the settlement agreement is the final word most of the time.

Aggressive insurance adjusters frequently include an expiration date on the settlement offer, implying that you will not receive any compensation if you do not agree to the terms by that date. They know they can’t do anything, but it’s a win for the insurance company, not to mention the trucking company, if it scares the injured party into accepting a settlement offer.

All states have a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit, but these deadlines are typically very generous, giving plaintiffs plenty of time to recover from their injuries, collect medical bills, gather accident data. We will also help you determine options for returning to work and review the case with their attorney.

WHAT CAN OUR ATTORNEYS FOR TRUCK CRASHES DO FOR YOU?

Our mission at Warrior is to hold irresponsible parties responsible for the harm they cause to our clients. This frequently effectively takes on multibillion-dollar trucking companies and their insurance companies in personal injury lawsuits. A truck wreck can leave you penniless.

We are familiar with the strategies used by these companies to underpay and deny legitimate accident claims. When you engage Warrior, you can rest assured that these firms will not be able to exploit you.

Trucking accident lawyers, business strategists, and other specialists make up our team, which takes a holistic approach to craft your case. We calculate every penny you are owed for your injuries and fight hard to get you the just compensation you deserve. We love to take on the trucking company, it’s our passion.

Many firms are willing to settle when confronted with the armies of lawyers and big pockets of the companies engaged in trucking accident claims. That is not the case with Warrior. Trucking accidents are not meant to be taken lightly. Trucking companies love to take advantage for a truck accident victim.

We love getting to know our clients on a personal level; we are dedicated to achieving results that other law firms can only dream of. We recognize the challenges you and your family face, which motivates us to do everything we can to help you.

GET IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF OUR COLORADO SPRINGS TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS TODAY

Time is of the essence following a commercial vehicle collision. The trucking firm and its insurance are already circling the wagons in preparation for an injury claim. This is the most important reason you need to contact a lawyer who can investigate how the big-rig accident has affected you.

Our commercial truck accident case attorneys will gather all necessary information and assess the total amount of compensation you may be entitled to. Then, against all responsible parties, our squad will go on the offensive. Whether we can achieve a satisfactory settlement or must go to court, we will be with you every step of the way.

Begin by getting a free consultationof your trucking accident case.Our experienced truck accident lawyer can be reached at 719-300-1100 or on our website. Our law office represents trucking accident victims in the Greater Colorado Springs area, Colorado, and across the country.