If an accident with another passenger vehicle is dangerous, an accident with a big truck can be disastrous. Not only can these collisions leave you with physical injuries, but they can also severely impact your mental and financial health. Don’t let someone else’s negligence ruin you and your family’s health and happiness. Reach out to one of our expert truck accident lawyers at Rocky Mountain Injury Law for a free consultation.
It isn’t only the severity of the collision that changes when you or your vehicle is struck by a big truck. There are also several ways in which these accidents become complicated, and you need a professional on your side. Let our Colorado truck accident attorneys help you navigate your case.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), roughly 87% of big truck accidents are caused by driver error. Vehicle equipment failure accounts for another 10%, leaving environmental factors to cause about 3% of big truck accidents.
Almost all big truck accidents are caused by negligence of one or more parties. If you’ve been injured in a big truck accident, schedule a free consultation to determine the appropriate compensation for your situation.
Our personal injury lawyers specialize in several types of big trucker accident law, including the following types:
The short answer: yes! Colorado has modified comparative negligence laws which allow a plaintiff to recover partial damages appropriate for the degree of fault. The damages awarded by the jury are adjusted depending on the degree of fault that the plaintiff has in the accident.
For example, let’s say a truck driver is speeding down I-70. He begins to change lanes, but does not check his mirrors. This causes him to strike the car in that lane, the driver of which was not paying attention to the road because they were trying to get something out of their purse.
The jury determines that the truck driver is only 85% responsible for the accident, since the driver of the car wasn’t paying attention to the road. So, when the jury awards the driver $100,000 in damages, the court will reduce the reward to $85,000.
If you were injured in a Colorado commercial truck accident, you can potentially recover both financial and non-financial damages.
If you’ve been in a trucking accident in Colorado, it can be extremely difficult to know what to do afterwards. You might be confused, overwhelmed, and tending to your truck accident injuries. However, if you can do the following, it can make a world of difference in the settlement of your case and getting you the justice you deserve.
(1) The driver of any vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting in injury to, serious bodily injury to, or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close to the scene as possible or shall immediately return to the scene of the accident. The driver shall then remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 42-4-1603(1) . Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
(1.5) It shall not be an offense under this section if a driver, after fulfilling the requirements of subsection (1) of this section and of section 42-4-1603(1) , leaves the scene of the accident for the purpose of reporting the accident in accordance with the provisions of sections 42-4-1603(2) and 42-4-1606 .
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits:
(a) A class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense if the accident resulted in injury to any person;
(b) A class 4 felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury to any person;
(c) A class 3 felony if the accident resulted in the death of any person.
(3) The department shall revoke the driver’s license of the person so convicted. A revocation pursuant to this subsection (3) runs concurrently with any suspension imposed pursuant to section 42-2-127.9, if imposed as a result of the same episode of driving.
(4) As used in this section and sections 42-4-1603 and 42-4-1606 :
(a) “Injury” means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical or mental condition.
(b) “Serious bodily injury” means injury that involves, either at the time of the actual injury or at a later time, a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement, or a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, or breaks, fractures, or burns of the second or third degree.
Don’t let the negligence of a big truck driver or truck company ruin you and your family’s life and livelihood. We Rocky Mountain Personal Injury Lawyers want to help you get the compensation you deserve from a big truck accident. Our truck accident attorneys in Colorado know exactly how to navigate such complex legal situations. We are the lawyers who listen, so contact us for a free consultation to have your story heard.