Trucking Accidents: Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

Trucking Accidents

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

March 30, 2023

EXPERIENCED COLORADO SPRINGS PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM

After a truck accident in Colorado Springs, you may question whether you need a personal injury lawyer to handle your truck accident claim. Our experienced truck accident lawyers specialize in complex truck accident claims and trucking lawsuits again the trucking company and truck driver.

There’s no denying that the commercial trucking business is critical to the economy of our country. Sharing the road with commercial cars, on the other hand, may be frightening and hazardous. Passenger cars are no match for their size and weight capacity.

A collision between a semi-truck and a passenger car might result in serious injury or death. If you or someone you know has been gravely hurt as a result of a semi-or truck’s any other kind of commercial truck’s irresponsible conduct or poor maintenance, call a Colorado personal injury attorney right once.

COMMON REASONS FOR BUSINESS TRUCKING ACCIDENTS

A major truck collision may happen anywhere and at any moment, just like any other sort of car accident. When a commercial truck is involved in a collision, the situation changes. In comparison to passenger cars, here are some short facts regarding semi-trucks:

  • Commercial truck engines are up to six times the size of car engines;
  • Commercial truck permissible weight is 80,000 pounds, compared to 5,000 pounds for cars;
  • Most commercial trucks are 70 to 80 feet long;
  • A commercial truck’s turn radius is 24 feet, whereas the normal turn lane is 12 feet.

This demonstrates the massive amount of traffic that passes through Colorado highways and main roads every day. The number of heavy truck deaths increased by 9% nationally in 2017. The passenger car involved in the crash was responsible for 72 percent of the 4,761 fatalities.

This is why you need an experienced truck accident lawyer. A truck accident case is very complex and you need someone with the expertise to take on the insurance company and trucking company. It is completely free to hire a truck accident lawyer. You don’t have to fight alone when you want to make a truck accident. Our trusted truck accident lawyers have a proven track record of putting truck accident victims first.

FATIGUE OF THE DRIVER

Long hours on the road and tight deadlines are the norm for commercial truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes the “hours of service” regulations.

Commercial truck drivers are only allowed to drive for a certain number of hours at a time. After 10 consecutive hours off duty, current standards allow for a maximum of 11 hours on duty. After 8 hours of driving, drivers must also take a rest break of at least 30 minutes.

The use of electronic timekeeping allows the industry to keep better track of any infractions of the hours-of-service law. While a driver’s record may show that they were off duty for the appropriate period of time, it does not indicate how well they slept.

Commercial truck drivers have to contend with irregular sleeping habits that are affected by shifting locations and situations. They may feel tired and sleepy as a result of a loud parking lot or an untreated sleep issue.

According to a recent research, most truck accidents involving a truck driver who was judged to be tired or exhausted happened at least 20 miles from a rest center or truck stop. Driver tiredness, according to truckers, is exacerbated by a shortage of secure and accessible parking.

You have nowhere to go as a huge commercial car slides into your lane owing to a tired driver. Sleep deprivation is a severe problem, particularly for those driving huge commercial cars. No one should be seriously injured or killed as a result of a commercial truck driver’s lack of sleep.

If the trucking accident was caused by a fatigued truck driver, we will file a lawsuit against both the driver and trucking company.

BRAKE SYSTEMS THAT AREN’T WORKING

The brakes on a commercial car are one of the most critical characteristics. Wet and slick roads make it difficult for heavy cars to stop in an emergency. It’s a recipe for catastrophe when combined with malfunctioning or badly maintained brakes. In dry, typical road conditions a semi-truck takes 40 percent more time to stop than a passenger car.

Another key thing to consider when it comes to commercial truck brake failure is that it is a concealed threat that is not evident to a passenger car driver. A motorist may see a semi-truck sliding into their lane, but they are unlikely to notice defective brakes on the car behind them. This puts everyone in grave risk since they have no way of knowing when the truck will be unable to stop in time.

SPEEDING

Commercial truck drivers are in a rush to convey their cargo from point A to point B. Many people are under time pressure from those who are sending the items and others who are waiting for them. Many commercial truck drivers opt to drive faster in order to complete their tasks quicker.

Younger drivers are bringing their terrible driving habits with them to the business, such as distracted driving and speeding. The American Trucking Association is reaching out to millennials to fill roughly 100,000 projected vacancies due to a significant lack of drivers.

Before permitting someone behind the wheel of a commercial car, they must have proper training. For many major trucking businesses, time is money, yet the rush to get novice drivers on the road and to their destinations is risky and irresponsible. Contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible if you’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one as a result of a speeding or distracted truck driver.

CAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING A TRUCK UNDERRIDE

A passenger car slides partly or entirely beneath the trailer of a semi-truck in an underride collision. The injuries sustained by individuals who survive such an event are often severe and occasionally fatal.

The number of deaths from underride collisions is estimated to be about 219 every year, according to a recent research by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). Because these sorts of trucking accidents are often underreported by law enforcement, the real number of accidents involving heavy trucks and passenger cars is unknown.

Researchers are unable to collect proper statistics due to the inconsistency with which different law enforcement organizations report underride accidents. Regardless of the figures, everybody who drives Colorado roadways should be concerned about the absence of underride protection on semi-trucks.

Although federal requirements mandate rear guards, there is no need for inspection, resulting in guards that are poorly maintained and provide minimal protection in the event of a collision. These sorts of collisions will continue to pose a menace to everyone unless tougher restrictions for rear guards and underride guards are enacted.

SPOTS THAT AREN’T VISIBLE

While driving along the highway, commercial truck drivers depend on their side mirrors. Because they are no rearview mirrors, their vision of their surroundings is severely restricted. Blind spots, also known as no-zones, are spaces all around the car, including the front, both sides, and the rear.

If you can’t see the driver, you can’t see the driver. For safer driving near commercial cars, use the following safety tips:

Pass steadily through a no-zone on the left side and do not linger.

Never pass a commercial truck in the no-zone on the right side. This is the biggest of the four no-zones, with cars almost imperceptible to truck drivers.

Cutting in front of a truck too quickly after overtaking it is not a good idea. Before changing lanes, be sure you can see the full car in your rearview mirror.

Never tailgate a commercial car. Allow enough space for the driver’s side mirror to see you.

It is critical for your safety and the safety of your passengers to share the road with commercial cars. Commercial truck drivers are also responsible for sharing the road and maintaining adequate car maintenance and control. Failure to do so, for whatever cause, is carelessness that necessitates responsibility and the expertise of a skilled Colorado personal injury lawyer.

TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES COULD BE SERIOUS

A collision with a commercial car is a frightening and unexpected occurrence. It just takes a fraction of a second for your life to be eternally changed. A huge, heavy-duty car may result in a variety of significant injuries, including:

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a sudden bump, blow, or shock to the head or a penetrating head injury that affects normal brain function. Long-term repercussions of a TBI may include memory loss, speech, hearing, and vision impairments, as well as issues with coordination and balance, depending on the degree of the injury.

INJURY TO THE SPINAL CORD

The spinal cord regulates bodily movement and feeling. The spinal cord loses its capacity to transmit and receive movement-related impulses to the brain when it is injured in a traumatic event such as a car accident. The majority of people who suffer from spinal cord injuries become paralyzed and need a lot of care and costly medical equipment. Due to the permanence of the damage, a spinal cord injury is one of the most catastrophic effects of a traumatic car accident.

INTERNAL BLEEDING

Internal bleeding is especially hazardous since it has no external signs. This is partly due to blood loss and the strain that misdirected blood puts on the organs. An imaging test, such as a CT scan, is used to identify internal bleeding.

  • Neck and back injuries
  • Severe neck and back injuries may need further operations and rehabilitation.
  • Bone fractures
  • Broken bones, like neck and back injuries, take time to heal and, even recovered, may need physical treatment to restore function.

Medical expenses, missed pay, and pain and suffering are all consequences of serious injuries. If you’ve been gravely hurt in a commercial truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you should contact a truck accident lawyer right once.

SAFETY IS YOUR RIGHT

Commercial trucking firms contribute significantly to the economy, but they must do it safely and with safe equipment. Trucks that aren’t well-maintained, drivers who aren’t properly taught, and drivers who take risks like speeding put us all at danger of catastrophic harm.

Residents and visitors to Colorado have the right to drive the state’s highways and main roads without suffering significant injury. When a commercial car accident happens, it is critical to contact us as quickly as possible to explore your options.

Representatives from aggressive insurance firms will make you low-ball offers to rapidly settle your case. While their offer may seem to be substantial, it is unlikely to cover your future costs. Insurance companies aren’t looking out for your best interests; rather, they’re looking out for their own.

A collision with a commercial car is a severe situation that requires swift resolution. While each situation is unique, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenditures, lost income, and pain and suffering under the law.

CONTACTING A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY IN COLORADO

Don’t wait to take action if a trip to the grocery store or to work turns catastrophic due to the recklessness of a commercial truck driver. Seek medical help right once, then contact an expert legal company.

Time is of the importance, so don’t waste it. The sooner an attorney examines your case, the sooner they can determine the best course of action, interview witnesses, and gather evidence.

Look for a legal company that places a high value on customer service, will give you the personal attention you need, and will keep the lines of communication open so you know what’s going on with your case at all times. You’ll also want someone who isn’t afraid to take a case to trial if the trucking business or insurance refuses to settle for a reasonable amount.

During this difficult time, you and your family have plenty to cope with. Because to the careless actions or malfunctioning equipment of a commercial car, your life as you knew it altered in an instant. Following the accident, the wisest use of your time and energy is to focus on your health and family. Contact a truck accident lawyer right away to get started on the path to healing and justice.

Warrior Car Accident Lawyers

1902 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

719-300-1100

Free Consultation

NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN

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