There were 4,479 fatalities and 114,000 injuries as a consequence of these incidents. The victims in 82% of the situations were not people riding in the large truck. Vehicles range in weight from 3,200 to 6,000 pounds, whereas semi-trucks can weigh between 33,001 and 80,000 pounds. In the event of a semi truck accident, cars are in grave danger when they slide beneath commercial vehicles, which are typically taller and sit higher off the ground.
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Accidents involving large commercial trucks or semi-trucks provide unique legal challenges not seen in standard vehicle crashes because of the possible involvement of many responsible parties beyond the driver, including the trucking firm, the truck manufacturer, and others. It’s possible that you’ll have to deal with more than just the truck driver and the insurance company. This adds an extra layer of complexity to liability problems and may also be quite daunting to the average person. Large trucks may cause severe accidents that damage your car and keep you and your family in the hospital for extended periods of time. Our truck accident attorneys at Matlin Injury Law will examine your accident and hold the trucking companies accountable if negligence was a factor.
” 3 Facts About Accidents With a Semi or Commercial Vehicle “
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Causes of Semi Truck Accidents
Considering the obvious weight differential between trucks and automobiles, as well as other characteristics such as ride height, stopping distance, and driver field of vision, it is simple to understand how issues might arise when these two kinds of vehicles share the road. Furthermore, commercial truck drivers are paid to travel long distances as rapidly as possible, and the safety of neighboring passenger automobiles is not often a concern. However, the following are some of the most prevalent causes people get into a semi truck accident in Colorado:
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving
- Speeding and careless driving
- Incorrect freight loading
- Brake failures caused by aggressive driving
- Driver mistakes due to drinking and drug usage
- Unfavorable weather/road conditions | What Should You Do When You’re Involved in a Snow-Related Accident?
- Problems with traffic flow/congestion
Determining Fault
People who are injured in a semi truck accident but have little knowledge of personal injury law may believe that the driver should be sued since his or her negligence caused the accident. While the driver should be identified, there might be other people held liable under the law. The trucking firm, the truck manufacturer, the parts supplier, the technician, and the maintenance provider might all be named defendants in the case. The list also includes:
- The truck driver
- The employer of the truck driver
- The owner of the vehicle
- The company that manufactured the vehicle
- The government agency that is responsible for road design and road maintenance
As an “at-fault” state, Colorado permits accident victims to file claims with the insurance provider of the negligent party. Find out who is responsible for your truck accident’s injuries and property damage by consulting with a personal injury attorney. Accidents involving big commercial trucks It may be complicated when trying to assign blame. Personal injury attorneys will utilize their experience to go through the details of an accident and establish fault during a case examination.
Naming Defendants
Who is most likely to be held responsible for a semi truck accident? Independent truck drivers may be held financially responsible for the damage they cause in an accident. When an employee of a trucking firm causes an accident, or when a truck is inadequately maintained or loaded, the trucking company may be held accountable. Damages are often covered by insurance policies held by trucking firms or individual drivers. Someone who was not directly responsible for the injury but who has a legal connection with the person who behaved carelessly may be held liable for the resulting damages under the theory of “vicarious liability.” It is applicable whether the negligent person takes some action that results in harm or fails to take any action when they are required to.
The plaintiff in a truck accident case has to determine who or what was at fault for the collision before they can sue for damages and get compensation from those responsible parties. At the moment the case is filed, it is crucial to include all of these individuals and organizations as defendants. Filing deadlines in negligence lawsuits may make it impossible to add a missing party if it is subsequently determined that they share culpability.
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Demonstrating Negligence
To collect damages from a liable party, all personal injury claims must demonstrate negligence. Negligence occurs when a person violates their “duty of care,” which implies they did something that they understood or should have known would endanger others. In a truck accident case, your attorney will utilize their years of expertise to prove that negligence not only caused the accident but also caused injuries and other losses.
The majority of collisions are the result of negligence or reckless driving. Due to their work schedules, truck drivers spend a lot of time working. However, federal regulations restrict the amount of time a truck driver may spend behind the wheel in order to reduce the likelihood of accidents involving tractor-trailers and semi-trucks. Demonstrating that the defendant has violated federal trucking regulations could help build a strong case following an accident.
Commercial Truck Safety Regulations in Colorado
Commercial vehicles in the state of Colorado are those that are 16,001 pounds or over, are self-propelled or hauled, or are built to carry 16 people or more (Commercial Vehicle Regulation). A “commercial vehicle” may be any vehicle used for business purposes, such as transporting other cars for profit or transporting dangerous goods. There are certain vehicles that don’t fit this category, such as school buses and agricultural equipment. To operate a vehicle weighing more than 26,000 pounds in Colorado, drivers need a commercial driver’s license and are restricted to no more than 14 hours of driving in any given 24-hour period. Businesses that operate commercial cars must have at least $750,000 in liability insurance and may be required to cover up to $5 million in certain situations. In addition, vehicles operating on a Colorado interstate may not exceed the 80,000 pounds weight limit, be higher than 13 feet, or be longer than 85 feet.
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Recoverable Damages in a Truck Accident
If you are involved in a truck or commercial motor vehicle crash, the Matlin Injury Law Firm has the specialized skills, experience, and resources required to assist you in obtaining a full recovery. In the event of a collision with a semi-truck, you may be qualified to receive compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Expenses Related to Health Care
- Income reduction
- Future income reduction
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Impairment for the rest of one’s life
- Expenses related to repairs to your car
- Criminal fines for a careless driver or other parties
Expenses, missed wages, and damaged property are all examples of financial losses that might result from an accident. Injury severity is a factor in determining pain and suffering compensation. The victim must determine the monetary amount of their losses before filing a claim in court.
Reaching a Settlement
When submitting a claim, your attorneys will take into account not just monetary losses but also noneconomic losses such as pain and suffering. In most situations, personal injury lawsuits, including those arising from truck accidents, are resolved by out-of-court settlements. This implies that you, the person at fault, and your respective legal teams will settle the matter out of court by reaching a mutually acceptable compensation figure. In the very unlikely event that a settlement cannot be reached, having lawyers who know how to present your case in court will be essential.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer
When a heavy vehicle is involved, an accident may happen in a flash, but the repercussions might last a lifetime. After being in a collision with a semi, you and your passengers’ first priority should be being checked out by a doctor. After this is done, you may need to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in order to establish what parties were at fault for the collision before filing a claim for damages.
Trucks, like aircraft, contain event data recorders, often known as black boxes. A truck’s black box serves a simple purpose: it collects and maintains data about a truck’s operation before an accident. In the assessment of a traffic collision, black box data might give important evidence as to the reason for the crash. Gathering data from a vehicle’s black box necessitates legal procedures that an injured individual may be unable to access without the assistance of an expert truck accident lawyer.
Getting access to the black box is one thing; having a professional who can interpret the data on the black box is quite another. This is just another reason why having a truck accident attorney on your side is crucial. They have access to truck accident specialists who can retrieve pertinent data from the black box for your case. If you retain legal representation after a truck accident, you will have access to expert resources to help you identify the parties at fault. An expert attorney can help you through the complex insurance and legal issues that may arise after a semi-truck collision in Colorado. You don’t have to go it alone in court; a skilled Colorado truck accident attorney may make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
Need an Experienced Colorado Personal Injury Lawyer to help with your Semi Truck Accident case? Contact Matlin Injury Law!
If you have been wrongfully injured in a Semi Truck accident in Colorado, Matlin Injury Law is here for you. At Matlin Injury Law, our attorneys will work tirelessly to ensure that every detail of your personal injury case is handled with excellence. We will examine your accident and hold the trucking companies accountable if negligence was a factor.
We give each and every one of our clients the individualized attention that they deserve and expect. You can request a free consultation online or email Brian Matlin directly.
Contact Matlin Injury Law today at 720-464-3600 let us help you get the individualized attention and assistance you need for your unique case!
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