Semi-Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer in Colorado Springs

Operating large commercial trucks takes considerable skill and care. State and federal regulations also ensure that these vehicles are driven safely when using the road with other motorists and passengers. When a truck driver or trucking company disregards safety regulations or negligently performs their duties, they put others at risk of a catastrophic accident that can leave victims with life-altering injuries.

If you have been hurt in a truck crash, turn to the trucking accident lawyers in Colorado Springs, CO of Earl & Earl, PLLC. We understand how difficult it can be to recover from a devastating and debilitating accident. Let us help you pursue justice.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You will speak with a knowledgeable 18 wheeler accident lawyer in Colorado Springs about your legal rights and options for seeking the financial recovery you deserve from the negligent parties that caused the truck crash and your injuries.

Why Trucking Accident Cases Are More Complex Than Car Accident Cases

Truck accident claims often tend to be more complicated to resolve than car accident cases. That is true for many reasons, including:

• More evidence is involved. The trucking industry’s highly regulated nature creates a lot of paperwork that can reveal details indicating a trucking accident’s true cause.
• More parties are involved. Multiple entities take part in getting commercial trucks on the road, and any one of these companies or people may take the actions or make the decisions that lead to the accident.
• More severe injuries tend to occur. Truck accident victims tend to suffer more significant injuries from a crash. That increases their financial losses and makes it more likely that an accident victim will still be undergoing treatment when they start their legal claim. Their truck accident attorneys must ensure that any financial recovery also reasonably estimates the injured victim’s future expected losses.
• Complex corporate and insurance structures are involved. Trucking companies may have layers of corporate entities and insurance coverages that make it difficult to determine what financial resources are available to compensate injured victims.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Trucking Accident in Colorado Springs?

While most motor vehicle accident cases usually involve the drivers of the vehicles in the crash, the trucking industry’s complex nature means that many different parties may bear some or all the responsibility for causing a truck crash. Some of the parties that may be liable for a truck accident include:

• The truck driver if their improper operation of the truck causes the accident
• The trucking company, which might be held liable for the truck driver’s negligence, or held liable for its own negligence in hiring, training, or supervising the driver
• The truck’s owner, if different from the driver or trucking company, who may be held liable when deferred maintenance was responsible for the accident
• The truck’s mechanic, who might be held liable for negligent maintenance of the truck
• The manufacturer of the truck or a truck part that can be held liable for design or manufacturing defects that cause a truck to get into an accident
• The freight company responsible for loading the truck, which can be held liable if an unsafe load causes the truck to go out of control and get into a crash

Evidence to Support Your 18 Wheeler Accident Claim

At Earl & Earl, PLLC, our experienced Colorado Spring truck accident attorneys know that a truck crash’s actual cause may not seem evident at first glance. That’s why our legal team takes the time to thoroughly review all the evidence that may be relevant to a truck accident case, including:

• The truck driver’s logs, which may show if the driver had exceeded their hours-of-service limitations and may have been tired or fatigued at the time of the crash
• The results of a drug and alcohol screen taken from the truck driver following the accident
• Information from the truck’s vehicle data recorder, a “black box” type of device which is affixed to some trucks and shows the truck’s GPS position, speed, or steering/braking/acceleration
• Dashcam footage from the truck, if available
• Radio dispatch logs from the trucking company
• The truck driver’s cell phone records
• The truck’s load manifest, which can show if the truck was improperly or unsafely loaded
• The truck’s maintenance records

Compensation in Your Truck Accident Claim

When you have been involved in a truck accident someone else’s negligence or recklessness caused, you may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses such as:

• Costs of medical treatment, which includes rehabilitation expenses
• Personal care expenses, including home health care
• Lost income, which includes loss of earning capacity caused by your injuries
• Pain and suffering triggered by your truck accident-related injuries
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life because of disfigurement or disability due to your injuries
• Property damage, including repair or replacement costs for your vehicle involved in the accident

Time Limit for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Colorado

If you have a legal claim to compensation following an 18 wheeler accident, Colorado’s statute of limitations requires you to file a lawsuit to pursue your claim within three years of the date of the accident. If you don’t file your case until after the limitations period has expired, the at-fault parties can move to dismiss your lawsuit. So, you could lose your ability to seek compensation for your injuries and losses in court.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado Springs

Even a minor oversight or simple act of negligent behavior can lead to a devastating truck crash. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Colorado Springs include:

• Speeding
• Driving too fast for road conditions
• Failing to use tire chains or other traction devices when required
• Drowsy or fatigued driving, usually due to exceeding hours-of-service limits
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to signal or check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes
• Failing to signal or yield to oncoming traffic when turning

• Tailgating
• Unsafe or improperly loaded or secured cargo loads
• Inexperience with commercial vehicles or certain truck configurations
• Unfamiliarity with routes, which can lead a truck driver to end up on roads not safe for commercial trucks
• Deferred or improperly performance truck maintenance
• Defectively designed or manufactured trucks or truck parts

How Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Colorado Springs Can Help You

When you need help pursuing compensation after being injured in a trucking accident in Colorado Springs through no fault of our own, let the attorneys of Earl & Earl, PLLC, help you by:

• Performing a detailed investigation of the accident, reviewing all available evidence, including driver logs, vehicle recorder data, load manifests, and maintenance records
• Bringing in accident reconstruction and trucking industry experts to help us to persuasively explain how the trucking parties were responsible for causing the crash and your injuries
• Thoroughly documenting your financial and personal losses, including medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering
• Identifying the appropriate at-fault parties and available insurance coverage, especially when complex corporate structures and layered insurance policies are involved
• Filing your claims for compensation and negotiating for a fair and full settlement of your losses
• Pursuing your case in court and at trial if necessary

If you have been hurt in a truck crash, turn to the Colorado Springs truck accident lawyers of Earl & Earl, PLLC, for a free, no-obligation consultation. We have extensive experience with handling truck accident cases. We will be ready to put our complete resources to work for you.

Contact us today to learn more.