Even though the Denver area relies on large commercial trucks, the reality is that accidents involving these vehicles do occur. Often, these crashes are caused by the careless or negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company. At Manning Herington, we are here to help if you need a Denver truck accident attorney by your side.
Our team of attorneys have the resources necessary to fully investigate these complex injury claims, and we are not afraid to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers, trucking companies, or their legal teams. Let a Denver personal injury attorney with our law firm help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. Call (720) 605-9784 today to get started with a free consultation.
In 2020, 4,842 fatal traffic accidents nationwide involve large trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This was a 4 percent decrease from 2019, in which 5,033 fatal crashes involved large commercial trucks. Colorado has several major trucking corridors that see millions of large trucks each year.
This includes Interstate 25, Interstate 70, Interstate 76, Interstate 225, Interstate 270, U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 36. The odds of getting into a truck accident are higher on these major trucking routes. However, fatal truck accidents in Colorado also occur on rural roads and intersections.
To get a better understanding of the prevalence of commercial truck accidents in Colorado, we wanted to take a closer look at big rig accidents in similar states. For example, in 2023, there were 1931 large truck accidents in Colorado resulting in 664 injuries and 85 fatalities. Conversely, in the state of California, there were:
Understanding how these accidents occur can help us identify who should be held accountable for your damages. Across the country, some of the most common causes of semi truck accidents include:
In 2022, there were thousands or even tens of thousands of commercial truck accidents across the country. In fact, 39 states saw more than 1000 tractor-trailer accidents that year. In Colorado, there were 1946 big rig collisions. States that may be considered more rural, such as Idaho (692), New Hampshire (394), or Maine (793) saw fewer accidents than urban areas, which is fitting given the significant traffic congestion that occurs in more populated regions.
We can also take a look at the number of injuries and fatalities in large truck accidents by the type of person. While injuries and deaths may have been at their lowest as far back as 2009–2011, the numbers have continued to rise ever since. Less than 3000 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2011, but that number sharply increased to over 4000 in 2021. That same year, there were a total of 5788 deaths for all types of people, including the commercial truck driver, non-occupants, and individuals in other vehicles.
The numbers for truck accident injuries are far more devastating. There were 155,000 injuries in 2021 for all types of people. Back in 2009, there were less than 100,000 injuries to non-occupants, individuals in other vehicles, and truck drivers. However, these numbers have steadily increased over the years, with a small reduction in the number of injuries in 2020, likely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Operating commercial trucks is expensive. Not only do trucking companies and truck owners need to ensure the big rig is in optimal working condition, but they also need to insure the vehicle. When looking at the size, when there are fleets with more than 1000 power units, the cost per mile for insurance premiums is set at $0.049. But with a fleet of less than five power units, insurance premiums dramatically increase from $0.049 to $0.165.
We can gain insight and how much compensation you could be awarded by reviewing the type of commercial truck accident you were involved in as well. In nuclear verdict cases, or losses that yielded a settlement or trial verdict of more than $1 million, the following types of accidents are the most expensive:
You may also be interested in wondering whether you will receive a nuclear verdict in your case. It is difficult to say until we have reviewed the specific circumstances of your case. However, the type of collision may play a part in determining whether you receive a settlement of over $1 million. For instance, of the 24 cases of unfavorable hiring practices in commercial trucking accident claims, 87.5% of victims received a nuclear verdict. Of the 66 rear-end collision truck accident claims, 89.2% of injury victims received a nuclear verdict. Additionally, of the 26 hours of service violation cases, 100% of victims received a nuclear verdict.
Truck accident claims in Denver can present significant challenges to those involved. Unfortunately, crash victims usually lack the resources necessary to handle every aspect of their claim. However, when a skilled Denver truck accident lawyer gets involved, this will level the playing field on behalf of the injury victim. A Denver car accident lawyer at our law firm can handle every aspect of the case, including:
Going up against a trucking company, its aggressive legal team and its insurance company on your own is no easy feat. Hiring an attorney allows you to level the playing field and protect your best interests during the truck accident settlement negotiations. Your lawyer will use proven legal tactics to fight for fair compensation for your serious injuries.
Truck accident victims in Denver may be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. At Manning Herington, our truck accident attorneys strive to recover compensation for our clients’ economic and non-economic damages. This can include, but is not limited to, the following:
There is no guaranteed amount of money awarded to victims of Denver truck accidents. However, our team will work with trusted medical and economic experts to properly calculate the total expected losses. If a loved one has lost their life after a fatal truck accident, reach out to our Denver wrongful death attorneys for legal support and help seeking compensation.
If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company in the Denver area, reach out to the team at Manning Herington for help as soon as possible.
The experienced Denver truck accident lawyers at our law firm have extensive experience handling complex commercial vehicle accident claims, and our goal will be to recover total compensation for your losses. When you need Denver semi truck accident attorneys by your side, you can contact us for a free consultation by filling out our quick contact form or calling us at (720) 605-9784.
The truck accident attorneys at Manning Herington represent clients across Denver, CO in areas including:
Capitol Hill | LoDo (Lower Downtown) | Cherry Creek | Highland | RiNo (River North) | Washington Park | Five Points | Uptown | Baker | Congress Park | Park Hill | City Park | Sloan’s Lake | Platt Park | Sunnyside | Berkeley | Curtis Park | Cheesman Park | University Park | Stapleton | West Highland | Belcaro | Hilltop | Montclair | Cole | Whittier | Cherry Creek North | Globeville | Athmar Park | University Hills | Virginia Village
Your Colorado truck accident lawyer understands the many differences between a two person car collision and an individual and a truck driver working for a company. The stakes get higher when a car is going up against a truck— especially if the truck driver is operating under substandard conditions.
Review our comprehensive truck accident FAQ below when you need answers. Get professional legal representation from an experienced truck accident attorney in Denver to help protect your rights.
In Colorado, a law known as the statute of limitations requires all accident victims to file crash-related personal injury claims within a certain amount of time. Colorado Revised Statute 13-80-101(1) states that a civil action for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle must be brought within three years. For the most part, if you fail to bring a cause of action within three years of your Denver truck accident, the courts will refuse to hear the case.
There are some exceptions, however, in unique cases. If you did not discover your injuries right away – such as a brain injury with delayed symptoms – you will have three years from the date that you discovered or should have discovered them with due diligence to file. If the accident involves an injured minor, the minor will have three years from turning 18 to file a related injury claim, regardless of the date of the crash. Speak to an attorney as soon as possible to determine your deadline and get help filing before it expires.
The short answer? You don’t. Not on your own, at least. The whole scene can be much harder to take in than the average car accident, with implications of truck accident injuries such as spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, or even death.
When it comes to a truck accident, who’s at fault—the truck driver, or the company who employed him?Depending on the situation, it may be a mix of both parties. In some cases, a truck driver may deliberately disobey the rules and regulations dictated by their company. When trucking companies or a truck driver knowingly makes business decisions that violate set rules, they are putting people in danger and can be held accountable for their actions.
Don’t spend too long trying to determine fault before taking action after a commercial vehicle accident. The sooner you get the process started, the better. By consulting with an experienced Denver truck accident attorney at Manning Herington, you’ll be in good shape to win your truck accident lawsuit, and will have one less thing to worry about after dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident.
One of the elements that make large truck accidents unique is the severity of a victim’s injuries. Commercial trucks can weigh up to (or exceed with special permissions) 80,000 pounds. By comparison, the average motor vehicle weighs just 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. This enormous disparity means that the smaller car can get crushed or obliterated in a collision. The occupants of the motor vehicle can suffer life-changing injuries. Common examples include:
At Manning Herington, our Colorado truck accident lawyers can help clients who have suffered any type of physical or emotional injury after a catastrophic truck accident in Denver. We can connect you to top local doctors and make sure you receive the care that you need. Then, as your litigators, we can use aggressive tactics to pursue fair financial compensation for your medical bills, including estimated future expenses for a long-term injury.
Being in a collision with a semi-truck can be frightening and overwhelming. However, it is critical to know what steps you should and should not take after an 18-wheeler crash to protect your legal rights. If you can, take the following steps after your accident, or have a witness, loved one or your truck accident attorney in Colorado take them for you:
Consult with a truck accident lawyer in Denver right away to discuss your case and what to do next. Your lawyer will give you advice and information tailored to your specific situation. Your Colorado truck accident lawyer can do everything possible to strengthen your truck accident case, including taking over negotiations with an insurance company on your behalf.
In Colorado, fault for a truck accident must be determined before an insurance claim can be filed. This is because Colorado is an at-fault insurance state. As a victim in a trucking accident, you and your Denver truck accident attorney will need to prove that someone else is at fault for the accident to recover compensation. After a collision involving a commercial truck, an investigation will be done to determine the cause of the crash. In most cases, trucking accidents in Denver are traced back to human error. Examples include:
In many truck accident cases, a negligent truck driver or trucking company is to blame for an accident. A trucking company may send a rapid response team to the scene of a crash immediately to look for evidence of fault. Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Denver have handled cases of truck drivers operating under the influence and causing serious accidents. Protect yourself by contacting an attorney right away to visit the scene and issue Letters of Preservation to prevent the trucking company from tampering with or destroying evidence.
One of the reasons it is important to hire a Denver truck accident lawyer to take your case is that collisions involving large trucks are different from standard car accident cases. In a typical car accident case, you are only dealing with the other driver and his or her insurance company. A truck accident involves multiple parties: the truck driver, trucking company, cargo company, maintenance crew, truck manufacturer, etc. This can make determining liability and winning a case more difficult.
In addition, truck accident claims often involve catastrophic injuries. Extreme levels of damage often require truck accident lawyers in Denver, as the insurance company may try to underestimate the extent of the victim’s losses. Trucking accident cases also have unique types of evidence, such as the truck’s black box, electronic logging devices, truck maintenance records, company compliance reports, the truck driver’s medical and driving history, and previous accidents involving the driver.
Finally, a commercial vehicle accident case involves special federal laws that only apply to these vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces rules for all common carriers, such as truck driver training requirements, fleet maintenance standards, hours-of-service restrictions and cargo securement rules. A semi truck accident attorney in Denver can help you understand and navigate these laws in relation to your recent Colorado truck accident.
