Colorado Truck Accident Risks Increase Around the Holidays

Colorado Truck Accident

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

January 18, 2023

Experienced Denver Truck Accident Lawyers

The holidays are a hectic time for everyone, including truck drivers. You most likely want to buy presents for your friends and family, but everything needs to come from someplace, whether you shop online or at the mall.

The products are delivered by a massive fleet of over-the-road trucks, not a flock of reindeer. There is usually more truck traffic during the holidays, which means more truck accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, December is the most hazardous month for drivers. When they looked at traffic-related deaths over the Christmas season, they discovered that, on average, 45 persons perished each day compared to 36 per day the rest of the year.

Stay cautious, particularly while driving alongside trucks, even if you’re in a hurry over the holidays. These truck drivers are often under pressure to meet tighter deadlines during the Christmas season. They may cause major truck collisions when they make bad judgments to achieve these deadlines, such as speeding or driving when exhausted.

Regulations for Trucking

Truck drivers must follow more rules and restrictions than ordinary drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) supervises truck drivers by enforcing critical safety regulations such as:

  • Service hours (restricted to 60 hours per week)
  • Truck maintenance schedules
  • Rules of the road
  • Driver behavior
  • Driver impairment
  • Drug testing
  • Hazardous material transportation
  • Cargo loading process

Failure to follow the FMCSA’s requirements may result in severe fines and other consequences. On the other hand, the holidays throw additional time limits on everyone, including truckers.

Truckers may be pushed by their employers to deliver more and more goods. Long periods of driving may result in tiredness, which is a serious kind of driving impairment. Accidents may occur, and lives might be lost as a result.

You need an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer if you or someone you care about has been harmed in a truck collision. Warrior, Attorney at Law, has a legal staff to help you. Obtain in touch with us right away to get the support you need.

Exhaustion and Truckers

Big rigs are named because they may weigh up to 40 tons (80,000 pounds!) They’re also bigger, higher, and longer than the rest of the cars on the road. In a collision, their enormous size makes them exceedingly deadly. Do you need proof? Semi-trucks are involved in about 10% of all fatal car accidents.

Things only become worse when you add a tired truck driver to the mix.

Drowsy drivers are twice as likely as well-rested drivers to commit major driving mistakes, according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These mistakes might result in terrible accidents. The dangers are significantly greater when these weary drivers are driving 18-wheelers.

Furthermore, a driver’s ability to drive is not determined by whether or not they are dozing off. Sleep deprivation of any kind may have an effect. Drowsy driving impairs critical driver abilities such as:

  • Alertness
  • Reaction time
  • Attention
  • Decision-making
  • Judgment

Simply enough, sleepy driving is risky driving. Holiday travel schedules may leave truckers fatigued, so act with care while on the road this season.

Exhausted Driving Symptoms

Pay great attention to other drivers, particularly trucks, on the road. If you observe someone driving recklessly, keep a safe distance from them, and keep in mind that tractor-trailers need much more. Know the signs of drowsy driving and stay away from drivers who:

  • Change speeds abruptly or repeatedly tap the brakes
  • Swerve or weave in and out of lanes
  • Speed excessively
  • Overcorrect for driving errors
  • Make multiple driving corrections
  • Slowly veer or drift in and out of lanes
  • Lose control of semis

Driving safely should always be your priority, but take extra measures over the holidays. Keep in mind that the truck driver may have pushed himself beyond the threshold of safe driving. If you see a “How’s my driving?” sticker on a business fleet car, don’t be hesitant to phone the number indicated and report erratic conduct. Contact the police if you notice a truck speeding through traffic. You may be able to save a life.

Getting By During the Holidays

When the holiday season arrives, huge trucks are often fully laden and have a long distance to go. During the holidays, trucking businesses have a lot of freight to carry, and they may have to cut shortcuts to fulfill key deadlines. This reckless conduct might result in serious accidents and even death.

Trucking businesses are responsible to all motorists on the road, not just their personnel. This means that trucking companies are responsible for:

  • Hiring experienced professional drivers
  • Adequately training new drivers
  • Ensuring that their drivers have reasonable hours and schedules with adequate rest periods
  • Ensuring that all cargo is properly secured
  • Inspecting rigs for safety
  • Keeping up with regular truck maintenance

Even though trucking businesses are pressed for time over the holidays, when their rigs are in high demand, they share responsibility for keeping the roadways safe for everyone.

Claim for a Truck Accident

Every truck accident is traumatic, but a traffic collision around the holidays is particularly so. We can assist you or someone you care about if you or someone you love has been hurt in a Colorado truck accident. We understand how stressed you are, which is why we’ve made it our duty to preserve your rights and enhance your injury claim.

First and foremost, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible following an injury. However, retaining the services of an experienced Colorado truck accident attorney should be your next priority.

Meanwhile, bear the following points in mind if you are involved in a truck accident:

Don’t be intimidated by the at-fault party. You were hurt, and your rights are important. This includes the driver, the trucking business, the company’s attorney or insurance provider, and any negligent party representatives.

It is your legal right to seek compensation if you were hurt due to someone else’s carelessness. All questions should be directed to your attorney, and you should not back down.

Do not sign any documents. If you’re offered a settlement, resist the urge to accept it out of irritation or to put the subject to rest. Your truck accident lawyer will assist you in determining if the settlement adequately pays you for all of your losses, which may include financial, physical, and emotional losses.

Do not put off filing. The longer you wait to submit a truck accident claim, the more difficult it will be to provide sufficient evidence to support your claim. Over time, critical evidence is likely to lose its credibility or degrade.

Don’t give out any personal information. You’re understandably unhappy after a truck accident, but don’t use this as a chance to tell anybody connected to the at-fault driver your tale.

When the opposing party misinterprets the facts you supplied, it might hurt your case. Any information you need to share with your truck accident lawyer will be shared.

A truck collision may happen at any time, but the holidays are possibly the worst. Unfortunately, the season’s frenetic pace might contribute to an increase in these very deadly collisions.

Winter brings more bad weather for drivers, such as slick roads and reduced visibility due to snow. It’s the ideal storm when these variables are paired with reckless conduct on the part of a truck driver or their company.

Make driving a priority safely as the holidays approach!

Today is the best time to contact an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident this Christmas season, contact a Denver personal injury attorney as soon as possible. We’ve been in the industry for more than 20 years at Warrior, Attorney at Law, and we’re here to assist.

Call 719-300-1100 or fill out our online contact form to arrange a free case review with the lawyers at Warrior, Attorney at Law. Remember, you don’t have to pay anything up in advance when we accept your case, and you don’t have to pay anything until we’ve recovered your money.

Warrior Car Accident Lawyers

1902 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

719-300-1100

Free Consultation

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