Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

Common Injuries in Truck Accidents

These may include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Includes concussions and more serious brain damage that can affect memory, cognition, and personality.
• Spinal Cord and Back Injuries: Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and spinal cord damage could lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or paralysis.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: Arms, legs, ribs, hips, and facial bones are frequently fractured due to the force of impact.
• Internal Injuries: Damage to organs like the liver, lungs, kidneys, or spleen may not be immediately visible but can be life-threatening.
• Neck Injuries and Whiplash: Sudden jolting can cause soft tissue damage, nerve pain, and long-term stiffness or reduced range of motion.
• Burn Injuries: Truck accidents involving fires, explosions, or hazardous materials could result in severe burns and permanent scarring.
• Lacerations and Deep Cuts: Broken glass and twisted metal can cause serious wounds that may lead to infection or permanent scarring.
• Crush Injuries and Amputations: Victims may suffer crushed limbs or traumatic amputations when vehicles are pinned or trapped under a truck.
• Psychological Injuries: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma are common after serious truck crashes.

How Do Truck Accidents Differ from Other Types of Auto Accidents?

Truck accidents are usually more complex than normal auto accidents because there may be a number of defendants. The truck driver may have been responsible for your accident due to reckless driving, distractions, fatigue, or even drugs or alcohol.

The trucking company may be partially liable for your accident as they may have knowingly placed an inexperienced driver on the roadways or knowingly allowed the driver to exceed the mandated hours of service.

The shipping/loading company may be responsible if the accident was due to poorly secured cargo.

The truck maintenance company may be responsible if the truck was not properly maintained. Finally, the manufacturer of the truck or specific truck parts could be held liable if one of those parts was defective.

Truck accidents are also almost always more severe than a typical car accident. Victims of truck accidents are likely to experience extremely high medical expenses and may be unable to return to work for a long while, if ever.

Those severely injured in a truck accident may suffer chronic pain and emotional trauma related to the accident.

In short, these people need help following their truck accident, and they need it quickly. Perhaps even more so than in a "regular" traffic accident involving only passenger vehicles. When a truck accident occurs, time is even more of a factor. Quick legal intervention can safeguard vital evidence and ensure victims are not left vulnerable against well-prepared trucking companies.

In most cases, the trucking company will have people on the scene immediately following the accident. Crucial evidence may be removed, leaving victims helpless to prove negligence. Early legal involvement is crucial to counteract these tactics effectively.

The person who has a skilled Denver truck accident attorney by their side from the very beginning will be in a much better position than the person who waits, hoping the insurance company will offer them a fair settlement amount.

Act Quickly for Maximum Compensation

The actions you take in the first hours and days following your accident are crucial, especially if you hope to receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

The quicker you speak to an attorney about initiating a trucking accident lawsuit, the less likely you are to have to deal with insurance investigators or the trucking company's attorneys who will definitely not have your best interests at heart.

It is important to act quickly because valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed if you delay.

Lawyers for the trucking companies will immediately seek to show you were at fault in the accident, by claiming it was due to:

• Following too closely: Allegations that you were tailgating or did not leave enough stopping distance behind the truck.
• Driving in blind spots: Claims that you remained in the truck's "no-zones" where the driver had limited visibility.
• Unsafe passing maneuvers: Arguments that you changed lanes abruptly or tried to pass on the right when it was not safe to do so.
• Excessive speed: Accusations that you were driving too fast for the posted speed limit or road and weather conditions.
• Improper merging: Contentions that you merged too closely in front of the truck, forcing the driver to brake suddenly.
• Distracted or inattentive driving: Suggestions that you were using a phone or otherwise not paying full attention to the road.

Your Denver truck accident lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected throughout the legal process and that you are not “railroaded” into accepting a settlement that is far below what you need to fully recover.

Compensation Available after a Truck Accident in Denver

If you sustained injury in a truck accident, you are eligible to seek compensation. The damages in a truck accident lawsuit are awarded so you can get back to the life you were living before your accident, or as close as possible.

You can receive compensation for direct costs that you have had to pay or will have to pay in the future. You can also receive compensation for trauma and emotional injuries.

The types of compensation you can receive to cover your economic damages include those for:

• Medical bills paid
• Future medical costs
• Ongoing treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Homecare and home adjustments
• Income lost during recovery
• Loss of potential future income

The types of compensation you can receive to cover your emotional injuries include those for:

• Pain and suffering
• A decline in your quality of life
• Emotional stress
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Inconvenience

Additional damages may be available to your family for loss of consortium. These damages are to provide your family financial assistance if you or your loved one are unable to provide the same level of companionship to your spouse or children, including general care, affection, or intimacy.

Generally, the court will not award punitive damages in a truck accident, but it may happen in extreme cases. Punitive damages, in most cases, are only available when the defendant intended to cause harm or acted in such a way that they should have known they would be causing harm.

In Colorado, a plaintiff cannot ask for punitive damages at the beginning of the case. Additionally, a punitive damages award in Colorado cannot exceed an award for actual damages.

Steps To Take After a Denver Truck Accident

After a serious crash with a commercial vehicle, many people are unsure what to do first or how their choices might affect a future legal claim. Taking a few practical steps at the scene and in the days that follow can protect your health and your ability to recover compensation. If you are able, calling 911, moving to a safe location off I-25, I-70, or another Denver roadway, and accepting medical care from first responders should be your top priorities.

Once your immediate medical needs are addressed, try to gather information such as the truck driver's name, employer, insurance details, and contact information for any witnesses. Photos of the vehicles, the crash scene, skid marks, and nearby landmarks can be especially helpful later when a Denver truck accident lawyer is reconstructing what happened. Even if Colorado State Patrol or Denver Police prepare a report, your own documentation adds another layer of detail that can support your version of events.

In the days after the collision, continue all recommended treatment and keep copies of bills, diagnostic reports, and time missed from work. You should avoid giving recorded statements or signing documents for the trucking company's insurer until you have had a chance to speak with a truck accident attorney Denver residents trust to handle serious injury claims. Early legal guidance can help you avoid common pitfalls, understand how the claims process works, and make choices that align with your long-term recovery, not just short-term financial pressure.

The Settlement Process

Too often, those who sustain injury in truck accidents do not seek appropriate legal counsel. This may be due to the belief that dealing with it on your own will help you settle the case faster or with less expense. At Denver Trial Lawyers ®, we don’t get paid unless you do. We take all our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means if you don't recover, you don't owe us anything.

Dealing with insurance companies on your own is never a good idea. The insurance companies know you are facing mounting medical bills and may wish to settle quickly. Because of this, they offer very low settlements. Without appropriate legal counsel, you may be bullied into accepting a settlement that doesn’t serve you.

The insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. They are for-profit businesses that are looking to impact their bottom line as little as possible. In other words, they will offer you the lowest settlement amount they think you will accept. They are not worried about you, your family, your medical bills, or your future life.

When you work with Denver Trial Lawyers ® ®, you'll be working with attorneys who have years of experience dealing with these insurance companies. We'll make sure you are aware of all of your rights and your recovery options.

We’ll also ensure that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. We won’t let you get “railroaded” into accepting a settlement that is far below what you need to fully recover.

If you don't feel you received a settlement offer that addresses your needs, Denver Trial Lawyers ® ® is ready to take the case as far as it needs to go to get you what you deserve. We regularly obtain compensation of over $500,000 for our truck accident clients, and have obtained an $8,000,000 settlement in one case.

Tell us about your accident. A Denver truck accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation and submit a demand letter describing your injuries and the way the accident changed your life. Begin a free case evaluation by calling Denver Trial Lawyers® today at (303) 647-9990.