Denver Commercial Truck Accident Attorney

A crash with a commercial semi truck causes severe harm for people in smaller cars. For victims and their families across Denver and the Colorado Front Range, they face major physical and financial challenges because of this crash. After such a devastating event, it is natural to seek a clear understanding of what your legal rights are and how you can seek compensation.

At The Viorst Law Offices, P.C., our team brings over 38 years of experience to personal injury claims. Attorney Anthony Viorst is a former public defender who has litigated hundreds of jury trials. We provide strong legal support to hold at-fault parties liable for your damages. Our legal team works to pursue the best possible outcome for your case.

Colorado Mountain And Highway Trucking Hazards

Colorado’s mountain corridors create conditions that do not exist on flat interstate highways, and trucking companies operating those routes are held to legal standards that reflect those risks.

On the I-70 mountain corridor, including Vail Pass and the approach to the Eisenhower Tunnel, steep grades can overheat brake systems on fully loaded trucks. Runaway truck ramps along those stretches exist because brake failure on a descent is a known and foreseeable hazard. A company that fails to train drivers on mountain driving or dispatches a truck with worn brake components into that corridor has failed a duty it was already on notice about.

Under C.R.S. section 42-4-106, commercial vehicles over 16,000 pounds must carry chains or approved traction devices whenever they travel certain mountain routes between September 1 and May 31. Those routes include I-70 west of Morrison, U.S. Route 50 between Salida and the Utah state line and the entirety of U.S. Route 550. A driver caught without the required equipment faces fines of up to $500. If the vehicle ends up stuck and blocking traffic, that fine doubles to $1,000. On top of state requirements, 49 CFR section 392.14 independently obligates commercial drivers to slow down or pull over when road or weather conditions make continued operation dangerous. A truck driver who rolls through a winter storm on Vail Pass without chains and without reducing speed has broken both laws at once.

Commercial Vehicle Accidents Beyond 18-Wheelers

Not every serious commercial vehicle crash involves a tractor-trailer. Delivery vans operated by Amazon delivery service partners, FedEx and UPS travel residential streets and urban roads throughout the Denver metro area every day. Box trucks, flatbed trucks and other midsize commercial vehicles are also subject to federal safety regulations and can cause catastrophic injuries. When a delivery driver causes a crash while on route, the company that dispatched the vehicle may share liability even if the driver is classified as an independent contractor. We handle commercial vehicle cases of all types, not only collisions with 18-wheelers.

Federal Rules Governing Commercial Trucking

Stringent federal regulations govern the commercial trucking industry. These rules help prevent major highway crashes by maintaining high safety standards. In many ways, commercial truck accidents differ from standard auto accident claims.

FMCSA Safety Rules And Compliance

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets specific rules for trucking companies and drivers. These rules establish the following safety requirements:

• Vehicle weight limits: Rules are designed to prevent trucks from carrying loads that compromise braking and stability.
• Routine inspection schedules: Carriers must perform regular maintenance to keep every vehicle roadworthy.
• Mandatory drug testing: Drivers must undergo screening to confirm they are fit to operate heavy machinery.

When a company fails to follow these rules, it puts others on the road at risk.

Hours Of Service And Driver Fatigue Issues

Hours of service rules limit how long a commercial driver can operate a truck without resting. Because driver fatigue is a leading cause of highway semi-truck crashes, our legal team investigates logbook changes and driving schedules. We do this to prove when a driver or employer violated rest rules.

Securing Critical Evidence After A Collision

Trucking companies and their insurers often send defense investigators to the scene of a semi-truck crash. They do this to assess liability.

Preserving Black Box And ELD Telematics Data

Modern commercial trucks contain systems that record speed and braking patterns at the moment of a crash. We review this technical data to reconstruct the crash and determine exactly what happened.

Sending Spoliation Letters To The Carrier

Electronic logs and black box data can be overwritten or lost shortly after a crash occurs. We take action by sending spoliation letters to the carrier to help prevent this loss of evidence. This formal legal demand creates a legal duty for the company to save all electronic evidence and maintenance records.

Liability In Commercial Vehicle Claims

Identifying corporate defendants is a necessary step in a commercial vehicle claim.

Negligence Of The Trucking Corporation

You may be able to hold the trucking company liable for the actions of its driver under the law. This liability often includes negligent hiring practices or poor training that led to the collision.

Can You Sue For Improper Cargo Loading?

Improperly secured freight is one of the most preventable causes of serious truck crashes, and it creates liability that can reach well beyond the driver.

Under 49 CFR section 392.9, a motor carrier cannot put a truck on the road unless the cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured. The driver must personally confirm that those standards are met before the vehicle moves and must reinspect the load during the trip: within the first 50 miles after departure and again after any change in duty status, after three hours of driving or after 150 miles, whichever comes first. A driver who skips those checks and a carrier that allows it can both face liability when shifting freight causes a rollover or jackknife.

The shipper that packed and loaded the trailer carries its own responsibility when it handles its own cargo. Third-party logistics companies coordinate freight movement between shippers and carriers, and can be held liable when poor load planning contributes to a crash. Determining who bears responsibility requires reviewing the bill of lading, cargo manifests, loading records and whether the trailer was sealed before the driver took possession of it.

Seeking Justice For Catastrophic Injuries

The massive size and weight of an 80,000-pound semi truck cause immense damage during a highway crash. Victims sustain crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries and severe spinal cord damage. These severe injuries require extensive medical treatment and permanent life care plans to address long-term needs. Our legal team sees the heavy toll these crashes take on families across Colorado. We help pursue claims to address the full scope of your physical and financial losses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewing common questions helps you understand the legal process ahead.

Why are truck claims different than car accidents?

Commercial truck cases involve federal rules, technical crash data and multiple corporate defendants. Unlike a standard auto crash between two drivers, a semi-truck crash requires investigating the driver, the carrier, the cargo loaders and the vehicle makers.

What evidence must be gathered after a semi crash?

Your legal team must secure the electronic logging device data, the engine control module records, driver files and corporate dispatch logs. This information can be lost or overwritten if not legally preserved through immediate action.

Can I sue the company if the driver caused the crash?

Generally, an employer may be held liable for the negligent actions of an employee acting within the scope of their employment. You may also sue the company directly for negligent hiring or retention practices.

If you have more questions about your specific situation, please reach out to our office.

Recovering Compensation For Your Injuries

If a commercial semi truck hit you, the trucking company will begin its investigation. Contact The Viorst Law Offices, P.C. today at 303-872-5712 to protect your rights.