SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS WITH EXPERIENCE SERVING CLIENTS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY

BEST TRUCK ACCIDENT LAW FIRM IN DENVER

Shipping is definitely crucial in economically strong places like Denver. Tractor-trailers are common in a country where cars convey roughly three-quarters of all freight. Despite their economic significance, however, several concerns make tractor-trailers particularly hazardous to other road users.

If you were wounded in a Denver traffic collision involving a tractor-trailer, we don’t need to tell you how serious the injuries may be. What we can tell you is that collecting compensation for the costs and quality-of-life effects of an injury via a truck accident lawsuit is a legal procedure. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer can assist you in understanding the procedure and determining your alternatives.

WHAT MAKES TRACTOR-TRAILERS SO RISKY?

Tractor-trailers, often known as semi-trucks, commercial trucks, or 18-wheelers, are enormous trucks. A tractor-trailer may weigh 20 to 30 times more than the typical passenger car when fully loaded. The car is much taller and longer than other car kinds, in addition to its weight. The commercial truck’s big size presents several challenges that impair the driver’s ability to navigate.

The following are some of the issues:

There are significant blind areas. Blind spots are regions that a motorist cannot see via his or her back or side-view mirrors and must visually assess by turning his or her head. • Increased stopping distance.

Tractor-trailers have considerable blind spots on all four sides of the car, making it impossible for the driver to know whether someone is driving alongside them, closely following or strolling behind them, or right in front of them. It takes time for the brakes to draw the weight of the car to a full stop once a driver responds to a danger on the road by using his or her brakes.

The greater the distance necessary, the heavier the car. Due to the car’s weight, semi-trucks need 20 to 40 percent more space to come to a safe stop than passenger cars. On wet or slippery roads, or when the car is travelling at a greater speed, this distance increases even more.

Increased ground clearance. The greater ground clearance of trucks increases the potential of catastrophic or even fatal injuries resulting from a risky circumstance known as an underride, in which a small car or motorbike slips under the truck after an accident.

The center of gravity is higher. Semi-trucks stand about 13.5 feet tall, with more height required to transport full loads of stacked freight or larger things. With the added height comes a larger chance of the car rolling over in an accident, during emergency driving maneuvers, or even while trying to negotiate a steep curve or turn at speed.

Wide turns: Tractor-trailers must make wide turns to navigate curves due to the higher danger of tipping over due to the high center of gravity. On two-lane highways, wide right turns often necessitate the driver swinging the truck into the lane to his or her left, which is especially dangerous when incoming traffic fills the lane to the left. If there are numerous turn lanes with cars moving in the turn lane to the left of the truck, wide turns are also risky.

Maintenance is necessary on a regular basis. Because 18-wheelers are so massive and cover so many miles, they need more regular maintenance than most other cars on the road. To avoid accidents caused by tire blowouts or failing brakes, mechanics must carefully check and replace elements that are especially prone to wear, such as tires and brakes.

HAZARDS UNIQUE TO DENVER

Traffic and weather are two factors that make sharing the road with tractor-trailers especially riskier in Denver.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT EACH OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS ONE BY ONE.

Congestion: According to a recent research, Denver has the worst traffic congestion in the US and the second-worst in North America, behind only Mexico City. Due to traffic, Denver drivers miss an average of 149 hours a year from work and other activities.

Many factors contribute to Denver’s traffic congestion, including an unreliable transit system, the comparatively low costs of driving or taking a rideshare compared to utilizing public transportation, and the city’s growing population and economy.

More tractor-trailers are being added to already congested roadways as the economy grows. These trucks also take longer to stop, are more likely to roll over, and need wider bends.

Weather: The Northeast has some of the country’s most severe winter storms, and the streets in and around Denver are often the scene of accidents caused by drivers who are unable to stop their cars on slick roads. Tractor-trailer drivers are already at a disadvantage since the massive car necessitates a longer stopping distance. This distance is increased much more when the roads are wet or slick.

Slick roads also put the driver at risk of jackknifing the truck, which is a perilous circumstance in which the tractor and trailer lock up and the trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle from the truck. A jackknife not only causes traffic delays because it disables the car, but it also puts it at danger of rolling over.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF TRACTOR-TRAILER COLLISIONS

All sorts of traffic accidents, including those involving commercial vehicles, are caused by human error. Here are some of the most prevalent human mistakes that result in a tractor-trailer collision.

DRIVING WHILE TIRED

Truck driver weariness is the consequence of physical or mental exhaustion that hinders the driver’s performance, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the organization entrusted with regulating and managing the trucking sector in the United States. Truck drivers travel hundreds of miles every day, frequently under pressure to meet tight deadlines that force them to drive longer or further than they are used to.

Fatigue is such a problem among truck drivers that the FMCSA issued restrictions limiting how long a long-haul truck driver may drive before stopping.

The following are some of the most prevalent reasons of truck driver fatigue:

Sleeping in the sleeper berth: Studies show that truck drivers are most likely to have an accident during the first hour of driving, especially if they slept in the truck’s sleeper berth just before driving. This is due to sleep inertia, which is a situation in which recent sleep impairs some activities including short-term memory and response speed.

The circadian rhythm: Most people sleep during the afternoon and late-night hours and are awake throughout the rest of the day. Unfortunately, since many truck drivers work late at night when there are fewer cars on the road, their driving shifts break the body’s normal circadian cycle, leaving them weary.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Sleep apnea is a sleep-related respiratory disorder in which a person’s breathing stops for a few seconds while sleeping. Even if he or she gets a full night’s sleep, these interruptions might occur hundreds of times every night, leaving him or her exhausted.

SPEEDING

Speeding encompasses not only exceeding the stated speed limit but also exceeding the speed limit for the road circumstances, such as severe weather or traffic congestion. Excessive speed is one of the most prevalent causes of all sorts of traffic accidents, accounting for approximately a quarter of all accidents involving a large car.

Speeding in a huge truck is especially hazardous for a variety of reasons, including the increased risk of rolling over while approaching a steep curve or bend in the road at a high rate of speed. Because stopping on a curve might result in the wheels locking up, speeding considerably increases the chance of the car sliding on wet or slick ground.

DRIVING WHILE DISTRACTED

Truck drivers, like drivers of other cars, are subjected to the same types of driving distractions.

There are three sorts of distractions that might cause an accident while driving:

Manual distractions, which lead the driver’s hands to leave the steering wheel.

Visual distractions, which hinder the motorist from keeping his or her eyes on the road.

Cognitive distractions, which divert the driver’s attention away from the goal of safely driving.

Eating or drinking in the cab, texting and other mobile phone usage, chatting with a passenger or co-driver, altering GPS and other car or gadget settings, and external distractions such as billboards or other cars are all common diversions for truck drivers.

IMPAIRMENT

While truck drivers are required to have a particular driver’s license in order to operate a tractor-trailer, many are unaware that common prescription and over-the-counter drugs may induce impairments such as sleepiness, which can lead to an accident.

Cargo that has been improperly loaded

To avoid cargo shifting, truck drivers must correctly load their trailers. Shifting cargo in a car with a high center of gravity may result in a hazardous weight imbalance, making it more difficult to manage and more likely to flip over.

INEXPERIENCE

While truck drivers get some instruction on safe car operating as part of their preparation for the commercial driver’s license (CDL) exam, both the driver and the trucking firm must guarantee that the training does not end there. Truck drivers face several risks on a daily basis that are not covered by the exam but need further training to address.

Truck drivers who become lost in a new city are often the cause of truck-involved accidents. The motorist may be tempted to make a risky turn in order to get back on the proper track, or even drive the wrong way down a one-way street.

TAILGATING IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE THE ACT OF (FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY)

According to the FMCSA, around 5% of commercial truck accidents occur when the truck follows another car too closely. Tailgating is risky because the truck won’t have the space to draw the weight to a full stop before rear-ending the front car if it follows another car too closely.

JEREMY D. EARLE, JD IS A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER.

Furthermore, since trucks have large blind areas, a car entering the travel lane too near to the front of the truck risks colliding with it if the truck driver is unaware of its presence.

A Tractor-Trailer Collision? Obtain the services of a truck accident lawyer.

Truck accident cases are complicated because they need the collecting of a lot of information about the driver from the trucking business. An experienced Denver truck accident lawyer is familiar with the procedure and the types of evidence required to win your truck accident case. To discover more about your legal possibilities, contact a truck accident lawyer now.

QUESTIONS TO ASK A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER

EXPERIENCED DENVER TRUCK ACCIDENT LAW FIRM

If you were injured in a truck accident, you are probably going through a difficult period. A truck collision usually results in more serious damage and injuries than a regular car accident due to contact power. Truck accidents are also more likely to result in death—not for the at-fault truck driver, trucking firm, or truck manufacturer, but for everyone else involved.

You deserve compensation when a negligent person causes you pain, requires you to miss work, and leaves you with a pile of medical costs! Even the simplest truck accident cases entail the irritation of dealing with a trucking business and its insurance carrier, who may reject your claim or use other defensive methods to minimize your injuries, such as blaming you for the accident.

A competent truck accident law firm must represent you, protect you from questionable defense strategies, and fight for compensation on your behalf.

You may have lost a loved one in a truck accident, wreaking havoc on your family and home and leaving you to deal with the emotional and financial consequences of loss. Whether you were injured or a loved one died in a truck accident, it’s in your best interest to consult a truck accident legal company to get the money you deserve! You and your family should not be forced to bear the financial burden that comes with a serious injury or death.

Unfortunately, not all truck accident law firms are created in the same manner. When you schedule a free consultation with an attorney, you are not only allowing your potential attorney to evaluate your case, but you are also allowing yourself to learn more about the attorney, the firm, and the extent to which they can help you get the best possible result. When seeking counsel after a truck accident, the following questions are samples of the sorts of questions you should ask possible truck accident law companies and the attorney who could represent you.

WHO WILL ASSIST ME WITH MY CASE?

Client intake divisions at many big legal firms analyze your case, ask basic questions regarding your accident and injuries, and set up an appointment with one of their attorneys. You meet your lawyer and appreciate their approach to your case, so you employ the company to protect your rights and assist you in recovering damages after a truck accident. You have some queries shortly after your session, and you discover that you have been sent off to a junior associate.

When you engage a truck accident law company, you should anticipate working with secretaries, paralegals, and junior associates occasionally. However, you want to know that the lawyer you hired is still participating in your case for the key events and significant judgments. You are entitled to individual attention and service customized to your specific requirements.

Whether you haven’t chosen a lawyer yet, this is also a good time to inquire about particular lawyers at the firm, such as where they went to law school, if they’ve worked at other firms, and information about their track records in the courts with settlements.

EACH YEAR, HOW MANY CASES DOES YOUR FIRM HANDLE?

Some legal firms specialize in a limited number of high-stakes cases, while others specialize in large volumes or combine the two. Although one sort of business isn’t inherently superior to the other, you want to be certain that your case receives the attention it needs. Some patterns in the number of cases a business accepts may suggest that you’re making a bad judgment.

For example, if a company has too much work and not enough attorneys, you may not get the personal attention you need, and your case may suffer as a result. On the other side, if a major firm has more attorneys than cases, it might signal that the company has a terrible reputation or hasn’t had good outcomes for its clients.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO COURT?

Before coming to trial, most personal injury lawsuits, including truck accident cases, settled. However, at-fault parties and their insurance companies may reject culpability, contest the claim, and make insultingly low settlement offers on the surface. Furthermore, if numerous parties engage in an accident, the situation may get more complicated.

You need to know that the truck accident legal company you choose has a good track record in court, will actively argue for you, and will litigate your case if a settlement isn’t possible. Unfortunately, not all personal injury attorneys are skilled litigators, and some prefer to avoid the courts whenever possible. Going to court costs more money, but it is often the only way to collect the compensation you are entitled to.

CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER CASES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE?

The truck accident litigation company and the attorney representing you have handled situations much like yours before. You want to know that your company has handled cases similar to yours.

The legal team is familiar with the key legislation about your case to have the greatest chance of a favorable conclusion. You should also employ a professional law company so that its legal team can investigate your accident, obtain essential paperwork, and develop a case against the defense.

At the same time, you concentrate on healing and recovery. Although you are most likely in bodily agony, the aftermath of a serious accident may also cause significant mental distress. Allowing a truck accident legal company to handle the technicalities of your case will assist relieve some of the emotional anguish you’re going through.

CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH ANY EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS CASE OUTCOMES?

Some legal firms post case findings on their websites, but they usually leave out the name of the professional who worked on the case. To choose the finest truck accident legal company, you’ll need to know the business’s track record as well as the attorney who will be representing you. Because each situation is unique, some businesses may not have instances precisely like yours, but they should supply some comparable ones.

Remember that previous outcomes may not guarantee a favorable conclusion in your situation. Instead, they give you proof of experience and a chance to learn about a company’s achievements. Previous outcomes in instances comparable to yours might also give you an indication of the sort of compensation you could get if you reach a settlement or win a court case.

WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES DO YOU HAVE TO BACK UP MY CLAIM?

Trucker’s insurance companies and their employers will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your collision. They’ll try to find any facts that might undermine your claim, as well as elicit comments from you and your family members. When hiring a truck accident law company, be sure they have the means to back up your claim.

In certain circumstances, legal firms have in-house detectives, accident reconstruction experts, and other personnel that assist in developing client cases. Other times, legal firms must enlist the assistance of other parties to do these responsibilities.

Law firms who lack the physical and financial means to construct a compelling case for you will be unable to do so. Additionally, if a business lacks sufficient resources, it may ask you to pay for investigations upfront.

Paper and electronic truck logs, the driver’s criminal and driving history, a trucking company’s hiring practices, eyewitness statements, cell phone records, and any other documents that might help uncover facts to build your case are examples of what firms might look for when investigating a truck accident.

WHAT TACTICS WILL YOU USE TO WIN MY CASE?

You should inquire about the tactics that any possible companies you are contemplating hiring to represent you intend to utilize to establish your case. Depending on the type of truck accident you were in, the type and extent of your injuries, your potential need for future medical treatment or long-term healthcare, whether you have preexisting conditions, and how much you may have contributed to the accident, your attorney may have several options.

Your attorney should be able to confidently offer two or three distinct tactics to optimize your chances of obtaining damages after he or she knows the events that led to your truck accident.

Before settling on a plan, your possible attorney may want further information regarding your case. Therefore you should also inquire what information he or she requires from you to support your case.

Although you may supply your prospective attorney with a variety of material, the most frequent are images of the accident site, medical proof of your injuries, and evidence of loss, which includes pay stubs, medical bills, and anything else related to the event. Once you’ve decided on a company, your lawyer will tell you which factors apply to your case.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR PREVIOUS CLIENT FAILURES?

Humans are flawed, and even the most accomplished professionals make errors. When you question a prospective legal firm or lawyer about prior client failures, their answer might offer you useful information. If you’re chatting with an experienced legal company and/or attorney, and they say that they’ve never failed, you may presume they’re lying or lack self-awareness.

In any scenario, employing a legal practice of this sort may not be the best option. You want a legal company that will tell you the truth and not exaggerates their achievements.

If a legal firm confesses to making errors or failing to meet expectations, this is your chance to understand what they’ve learned and how they’re putting what they’ve learned into practice today. Like the most successful organizations and workers, law firms and attorneys continue to learn and develop from both success and failure.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL STUMBLING BLOCKS IN MY CASE?

In their clients’ instances, experienced attorneys can see probable conflicts, hurdles, and roadblocks. The greatest legal firms and attorneys anticipate these challenges and have one or more game plans in place to overcome them. Before engaging a legal company to represent you, inquire about potential roadblocks.

This guarantees that individuals assessing your case thoroughly study it from all perspectives and work tirelessly to get the best possible conclusion. Suppose a legal company or attorney cannot provide you with any solutions for overcoming the problems and difficulties in your case. In that case, you should consider hiring another firm to represent you.

FREE CONSULTATION WITH THE BEST TRUCK ACCIDENT LAW FIRM IN DENVER

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIRING A TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

You can make the greatest decision for your future by asking pointed questions about the legal company you wish to employ. You may always check out legal firm ratings on avvo.com and SuperLawyers.com if you believe you aren’t receiving clear answers.

These are legal firm and attorney peer review sites, including client evaluations. You must do due diligence before choosing a truck accident legal company, regardless of how you get your information.

After a truck accident, an experienced legal team understands defense techniques and anticipates measures that drivers, transportation firms, and insurance companies may use to escape financial obligation. If you have been injured in a transportation accident, you need a competent company on your side that can and will actively seek justice for you.

You need someone who will fight tooth and nail to obtain the compensation you deserve for your accident and injuries-related losses. We hope that this blog article will assist you in locating the skilled legal counsel you need in the wake of your accident.

Keep in mind that the law is on your side if you have been injured due to a careless truck driver or trucking firm.

Getting in touch with a truck accident legal company may help you get through the healing process and go back to living your life normally. You are not required to fight alone.

DIFFERENT TRUCKS POSE DIFFERENT DANGERS (TANKERS, CARGO, GARBAGE, DUMP)

THE RISKS OF DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL TRUCK TYPES

Every day, we are surrounded on the road by many types of commercial vehicles. As consumers, there are a plethora of things we use on a daily basis that we may not be aware were brought by a variety of commercial vehicles. Trucks are also used to transport garbage, distribute gasoline to petrol stations, and stock grocery shops.

However, as an ordinary car driver, these big machines might endanger our lives. Commercial vehicles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of potential dangers. Getting into a collision with any of these massive trucks may be physically and financially disastrous.

COMMON TRUCK TYPES ON ILLINOIS HIGHWAYS

Commercial vehicles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, all of which may cause fatal accidents. These include anything from standard semi trucks transporting new televisions to dump trucks transporting construction materials. The most frequent kinds of commercial vehicles and the particular threats they pose are listed below.

TRUCKS AND TRAILERS (SEMI-TRUCKS AND TRAILERS)

Large cars with connected cabins that carry enclosed boxed trailers are referred to as semi trucks. Over 70% of the items we consume in the United States are transported by these trucks each year.

Semi trucks may weigh up to 80,000 pounds and measure up to 70 feet in length. When compared to a typical car, which weighs 3,000 pounds and has a length of 15 feet, it’s clear that collisions between semi trucks and standard cars can be especially dangerous for passengers.

The sheer size of a semi truck also makes it more difficult to manage. A semi truck driver requires 450 feet to come to a full halt at 55 miles per hour. That’s the equivalent of 1.5 football fields. In comparison, at 60 miles per hour, a passenger car requires 120 feet to completely brake.

Semi trucks have enormous blind spots and a wide turning radius as a result of their size, which makes driving next to them unsafe.

TRAILERS WITH FLATBEDS

Flatbed trucks are often used to deliver material that would not fit in a standard box trailer. These goods might be difficult to secure, resulting in cargo shifting or falling off the car.

The odd form of the load on a flatbed truck may also render it imbalanced, making it harder for the driver to retain control.

When a flatbed truck collides, it’s not unusual for the cargo to break free, posing additional dangers to individuals engaged in the accident as well as other cars on the road.

TRUCKS WITH A LARGE PAYLOAD

Wide load trucks transport freight that exceeds the weight and/or dimensions permitted on the route. Oversize cargoes need permits in Illinois, yet they are nonetheless popular on highways and backroads.

Turning bends, adapting to downhill and uphill slopes, and spotting other cars are all challenging tasks for large load trucks. The weight of the load exerts extra pressure on the truck’s engine, tires, and other components, potentially making the car a threat to people around it.

BOX TRUCKS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS ARE TWO TYPES OF TRUCKS.

Large commercial vehicles with the cargo section fixed to the chassis rather than towed are known as box trucks and delivery trucks.

Box trucks have higher blind spots, are harder to stop, and have a considerably broader turning radius than passenger cars.

Moving firms and rental organizations, such as U-Haul, often use box trucks. This means they’re often hired and driven by persons who haven’t handled a bigger car before, posing a major danger to other motorists.

TANKERS

Semi trucks that carry big cylindrical tanks on trailers are known as tanker trucks. Tankers deliver liquids, as their name implies. Because of the way liquid changes as the car is moving, tanker trucks need specialized training.

These tanks are also often used to transport hazardous materials such as alcohol, gasoline, and industrial chemicals. When these highly combustible materials collide, they may be exceedingly deadly.

TRANSPORTERS OF CARS

Typically, a car transporter transports between five and nine cars at a time. If the towed cars are not adequately fastened, they may shift or roll into oncoming traffic.

The weight of a car carrier is determined by the number of cars it is carrying on a given journey. Drivers have to react to the shifting weight of these cars, which is one reason they’re more difficult to handle.

TRUCKS THAT TRANSPORT WASTE

Dump trucks transport and dump heavy commodities like sand, gravel, and concrete. They are typically many tons in weight and may be quite heavy when packed with material such as boulders.

In the event of a collision, standard-sized cars and SUVs are no match for dump trucks. These cars are typically designed like tanks to withstand the abuse they get on a regular basis on construction sites.

When exposed goods flies out the rear of a dump truck, it may be dangerous. When driving behind a dump truck, it’s not unusual to hear sand or tiny stones striking your car, but if the material is bigger, it may be a significant problem.

TRUCKS THAT TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Hazmat cars deliver hazardous commodities including gases, explosions, and toxic chemicals. If the contents from these trucks spill during a collision, it will certainly create enormous problems for everyone concerned.

BUSES IN THE CITY

A city bus is the last sort of commercial car on this list. Most people do not consider buses to be hazardous, yet they may be just as deadly as any other huge car. Every 1.5 days, a Denver Transit Authority (CTA) bus accident occurs. Buses routinely stop and move in and out of traffic, making driving around them uncertain. To make things worse, bus drivers have large blind spots, making it impossible to re-enter traffic safely after each stop.

OBTAIN THE SERVICES OF A KNOWLEDGEABLE DENVER TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER.

If you were in a truck accident of any kind, having an experienced attorney on your side may make all the difference in collecting the compensation you deserve.

Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers has decades of expertise processing truck accident cases, and we can help you collect the most money possible so you can start rebuilding your life.

Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers can assist you with your truck accident lawsuit by conducting an investigation and gathering essential evidence.

• Take care of paperwork and filing.
• Look into the many different parties that may be to blame.
• Represent you in negotiations with insurance providers.
• If required, file a lawsuit.

When you hire our truck accident lawyers you receive a legal company with a successful track record in handling truck accident cases, personal attention so you know what is going on, and our reputation with the insurance companies for treating our client’s cases seriously.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, having the appropriate lawyer on your side may help you get the money you deserve. There is no charge unless your claim is successful. Call 719-881-8976 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation with Warrior Truck Accident Lawyers.