Truck Accidents
Proud to Be an Ally for Accident Victims & Their Families in Denver, CO
With over 15 million trucks traversing America’s highways, catastrophic trucking accidents are far too common. All it takes is one distracted, drowsy, or overworked truck driver to change your life in a mere matter of seconds. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a semi-truck, retaining a Denver truck accident attorney with the experiences, resources, and capital to pursue your case is critical, as it’s next to impossible to go toe-to-toe against a large trucking company with a vast network of lawyers on your own. With decades of experience and a rich history of successful representation and advocacy for truck accident victims, Chalat Hatten & Banker is proud to be that ally for you and your family. Reach out to our specialists in catastrophic personal injury today to request a free case review and see what we can do for you.
What Sets Us Apart
- No case is ever the same. We develop a unique strategy with a tailored, individualized approach to every case we handle to reach the best outcomes for our clients and their families.
- Our Denver truck accident attorneys have decades of experience successfully representing trucking collision victims. We know how to win. Our settlements and verdicts total in the tens of millions of dollars.
- Unlike other large “settlement mill” firms, our lawyers are your point of contact. You will receive hands-on case management and can always expect a direct line of communication. We want our clients to understand what we are doing on their behalf, from the start to the very end.
- When you entrust us with your legal matters, your recovery and future are always our priority. We treat our clients like family and to us, you are never a mere case number.
Why You Need a Denver Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Today
Trucking accident claims in Colorado are complex, complicated, and expensive. They are not simply car accidents involving bigger vehicles. Firstly, truck drivers are often insured in the millions. Secondly, truck accidents might involve not only the truck driver but also the employer and the employer’s liability insurance carrier. Your claim might also involve various third parties, such as the truck’s manufacturer, a maintenance provider, or the drivers of other vehicles involved in the accident. This means that multiple companies could be responsible for your injuries, further complicating the legal process. An experienced semi-truck accident attorney such as Denver’s Chalat Hatten & Banker will know how to determine all liable parties. And, as a result, you will be able to recover all compensation for which you are entitled.
Successfully negotiating compensation with one party is difficult enough. So, if more than one party is liable for the accident, you will need to negotiate with multiple parties simultaneously. A good truck accident lawyer has the know-how and experience negotiating with multiple insurers. Because semi-trucks and other transport trucks can outweigh passenger vehicles by 20 times or more, the force of the impact is far greater. Consequently, the accident is far more likely to cause death or catastrophic injuries that require long-term treatment. A personal injury attorney with a successful history with Colorado truck collision claims knows how to assess the full extent of your losses and fight for the compensation you deserve. In addition, most truck companies are part of international conglomerates. They have legal teams of highly paid lawyers who come from the best insurance defense law firms in the nation. Their job is to avoid having to pay for damages, especially catastrophic cases. This is why you need specialists in catastrophic personal injury with the resources, experience, patience, and skill to fight and win against them.
How This Works
A careful case review will be performed by your lawyer to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Then the conclusions of this review are presented to you in a thorough, understandable manner.
For more details: Litigation Process.
Colorado Semi-Truck Accidents: Contributing Factors & Causes
All vehicle operators, including semi-truck drivers, have the duty and responsibility to follow all traffic laws, abide by industry rules and regulations, and behave safely on roadways. Unfortunately, trucking accidents in Colorado are often a result of driver negligence. Other factors such as maintenance issues and unfavorable roadway conditions also cause trucking accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the most common contributing factors of truck accidents include:
Contributing Factors
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash, etc.)
- Fatigue
- Traveling too fast for weather conditions
- Unfamiliarity with the roadway
- Roadway problems
- Time required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk, etc.)
- Over-the-counter or prescription drug use
In addition, other common factors that lead to truck crashes include distracted driving, alcohol/drug impairment, speeding, failure to obey traffic laws, poor judgement, lack of experience, and overloading or improperly loading cargo trucks.
Common Causes
Below are some of the reasons large commercial trucks pose more dangers on the road than passenger vehicles:
- Due to their size and weight, trucks cannot slow down or stop as fast. As a result, cars are often hit at higher speeds. This increases the probability of serious injuries.
- Also, due to their size and weight, semi-trucks lack maneuverability and agility. Tractor-trailers cannot turn or move easily in and out of tight spaces and lanes to avoid crashing.
- The height of transport vehicles also poses threats. Override or underride accidents can happen when a vehicle becomes trapped or wedged beneath a tractor-trailer from either the sides or the rear of the truck or when a car is run over by a large commercial truck.
- Trucks are top-heavy and more prone to rolling.
- Tanker trucks that transport flammable or hazardous materials can result in a deadly explosion if a collision occurs.
Who Is Liable in a Trucking Accident?
Large trucks, semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers are all considered Commercial Motor Vehicles or CMVs. CMVs and their drivers, owners, and operators are governed by state law and extensive safety regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FMCSA regulations govern the standards of care, maintenance, inspection, operation, and licensing of CMV drivers. Due to the highly regulated trucking industry, many parties are involved. This means a combination of parties could be held liable for a trucking accident in Colorado. A big rig accident could implicate the following parties:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Maintenance provider
- Truck manufacturer
- Cargo loader, or any other entity along the truck’s supply chain
- Government
Our personal attorneys in Colorado have extensive experience in pursuing trucking accident claims against fractured/divided ownership, authority, lease relationships, and injury the complex insurance coverage such arrangements produce.
The Most Common Damages Reported in Trucking Accident Claims
A collision with a tractor-trailer is more serious than a fender-bender with a sedan or an economy/hybrid vehicle. As a result, trucking accidents commonly cause devastating injuries and even fatalities. Extensive injuries compound the challenge of a strong recovery. Our law firm has handled hundreds of cases involving serious orthopedic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic amputations. Because of our experience, we ask the right questions of the care providers to develop the full picture of damages, both economic losses and non-economic harm, such as pain and suffering or permanent impairment.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Colorado
As with any motor vehicle accident, it’s important to be prepared and know what to do following a collision with a truck. The steps you take can impact your ability to sue and will help ensure you receive proper compensation for the damages and injuries you sustained. Follow these steps if you were involved in a semi-truck wreck in Colorado:
- Ensure your safety. It is okay to move your vehicle to the side of the road if you are in danger of creating other traffic accidents
- Call the police and seek medical attention
- Take photos of the truck accident scene, including your vehicle, the truck, your injuries, damage to the roadway, or property near the accident
- Obtain information from the other parties involved: name, trucking company, driver’s license number, license plate number, insurance information, address, and phone number
- Obtain information from witnesses to the truck crash
- Be honest with the police but avoid admitting fault for the accident. Be careful not to say anything that may implicate you later
- Go to the doctor and make sure to follow your doctor’s follow-up care instructions
- Contact an experienced trucking accident attorney, such as Chalat Hatten & Banker
Why Choose Chalat Hatten & Banker for Truck Accident Cases
When we’re hired to represent you in a commercial trucking accident case in Colorado, we prepare the trucking accident claim as if we will go to trial. First, we obtain the data from the driver’s logbook, the truck’s black box, and ECM records. We also immediately send experts to investigate the scene of the crash, including the vehicles involved. Since our attorneys have handled numerous commercial trucking cases in the past, we have strong relationships with witnesses and investigators ready to prove your case. This can be incredibly advantageous when it comes to receiving the full and fair value of your case. We consult with our client’s treating doctors and our own medical experts to determine the severity of our client’s injuries, as well as the cost and frequency of future medical care our clients will require.
After determining how the crash occurred, the effect the crash had and will continue to have on our client’s health and future earning potential, we work with our experts to determine what the truck driver could and should have done to avoid the collision. We then assess and evaluate the total amount of compensation needed to ensure our clients are able to care and provide for themselves and their families for the rest of their lives. If the involved parties refuse to offer an appropriate settlement, we will take the case to trial. Our specialists in catastrophic personal injury at Chalat Hatten & Banker understand the devastation following a trucking accident. For over 30 years, we’ve protected the rights of victims and will fight to do the same for you. Ready to speak with us? We’re ready to listen. Contact our Denver-based truck accident attorneys today for a free initial consultation to see how we can help.
Recent Settlements & Verdicts
$600 k
for family hit head-on
$1.2 million
for wrongful death claim
Trusted Civil Attorneys
The personal injury attorneys at Chalat Hatten & Banker understand the devastation following a trucking accident. For over 30 years, we’ve protected the rights of victims and will fight to do the same for you. Ready to speak with us? We’re ready to listen. Contact our Denver truck accident law firm for a free consultation.
Truck Accident FAQs
While truck drivers must drive carefully and obey the rules of the road, their employers have certain duties too. Truck carriers, for example, must hire drivers carefully, train their employers thoroughly, and maintain their fleet in a safe working condition.
Often, trucking companies can also be held liable for their drivers’ negligence on the job. Truck accident claims involve not only the truck driver but also his or her employer, and the employer’s liability insurance carrier.
Further complicating claims, these cases involve issues of fractured or divided ownership, vehicle leases, and complex insurance arrangements. Depending upon the fact and circumstances, your claim might also involve various third parties such as the truck’s manufacturer, a maintenance provider, or the drivers of other vehicles involved in the accident.
One important example is found in the federal Hours of Service regulations, which dictate how long truck drivers can work before stopping to get some rest. Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of semi-truck accidents. Often, the truck driver’s employer is to blame, having created an unrealistic or grueling delivery schedule for the driver.
Many trucking companies’ tractors are set up with electronic/digital satellite monitoring. This monitoring generates an electronic log of the truck and driver’s time of service and hours on duty to assure compliance with the United States Department of Transportation permissible hours on duty and driving hours.
However, many trucking companies refuse to integrate their vehicles into an electronic monitoring system, so the drivers make written records. Often these hand written logs are inaccurate, illegible, incomplete, and sometimes outright falsified.
Whether by electronic logging data or by a cell call to an on-duty employee, the instant an accident occurs, the insurance defense team is notified, and within 24 hours an investigator is on the scene, interviewing witnesses, law enforcement officers, photographing the wreckage, the highway, and creating a narrative consistent with their own corporate and monetary interests.