Truck Accident Lawyer in Centennial, CO

Speak to an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer at Varner Faddis Elite Legal LLC

Colorado roads are a far busier place these days. Even if vehicle traffic has declined because of the pandemic, there are far more trucks on the road than ever before because the economy is growing, and people are turning more to online shopping.

There is little wonder why you see large numbers of massive trucks on I-70, 1-75, I-94, and other interstates. Denver sits close to the middle of the country, and truckers are in the midst of a long run when they pass through Colorado. Trucks are on large interstates and busy local roads like Colorado State Route 470.

If you suffered an injury in an accident with these trucks, you might be entitled to significant financial compensation if you prove that the driver was to blame for your injuries. The attorneys at Varner Faddis Elite Legal LLC work hard on behalf of our clients, and we have helped thousands of people get settlement checks and win jury verdicts.

Some results we achieved for past clients include:

$1,250,000 for a motor vehicle accident victim
$1,130,000 for personal injuries
$800,000 for a motor vehicle accident victim
$730,000 for injuries from a vehicle accident
$550,000 for another victim of a crash

To learn what we might achieve for you, contact our firm directly. Reach out to a Centennial truck accident lawyer.

The Trucking Industry Is Massive, and They Do Not Always Behave

Every year, 80 percent of the total cargo in the entire country ships over the roads. Large local retailers such as King Soopers get their food delivered by trucks. Other national retailers such as Amazon and Walmart have extensive planned and current distribution facilities in Loveland.

Not only are there more trucks on the road, but other factors have made trucking far more dangerous for other drivers on the road. The problem with the trucking industry is that their carelessness becomes your risk. The trucking industry is composed of independent owner-operators and medium to large-sized trucking companies.

In all, the Department of Transportation licenses almost one million companies, including big companies such as:

XPO Logistics
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
Knight-Swift Transport Services
YRC Worldwide
Schneider
Landstar System
Old Dominion
TFI International

While you will expect the large companies to behave better, it is the complete opposite in some cases. The good news is that juries have reacted strongly when these big companies have broken the law and injured people. Before you reach that point, there is much work to be done.

Varner Faddis will put in the work necessary to hold these large trucking companies accountable (or any other trucking business that employed a driver who injured you). We are not afraid of large companies, no matter how expensive their lawyers are and what they may do to make your life more difficult.

Trucking Companies Are Making Lots of Money Right Now

In general, the trucking industry is going through banner times. Their business and rates have increased steadily. However, against these backdrops are rising gasoline prices and a truck driver shortage. Experienced truck drivers practically can name their price. Accordingly, trucking companies may cut corners in the name of profits because their costs have also increased.

The law requires trucking companies to hire licensed and trained drivers. The trucking company must check an operator’s driving record before hiring them. However, there are no experience requirements that a driver must have besides a license. They must undergo training, but it is arguably not enough to prepare them for the challenges of driving such a large vehicle.

Trucking Companies Are Turning to More Inexperienced Drivers

In practice, trucking companies are having difficulty hiring drivers right now. To get experienced truckers, companies must pay the going rate, which is escalating each year. Many trucking companies do not want to do that, putting inexperienced drivers on the road. One recent law allows trucking companies to hire drivers as young as 18 to drive trucks that weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Trucking companies figure that their insurance company will care for the bill when they cause you damage.

Trucking Companies Must Follow Federal and State Laws

Although the trucking industry is highly regulated, there are numerous instances in which companies break the rules. Sometimes, they get caught when the FMCSA conducts an inspection. Other times, their breaking the law affects you directly because it has caused your accident.

Truck driving regulations include:

Restrictions on the weight of each truck (they can weigh no more than 80,000 pounds fully loaded)
Requirements for the truck to be in proper working order to be on the road (along with maintenance and inspection requirements)
Drug and alcohol testing for drivers when they begin working, when there is suspicion of abuse or after they have been in an accident
Hours of service limitations that require rest periods for truck drivers
Rules that mandate how cargo must be secured in a certain way to prevent it from falling off the truck or causing a truck rollover
Extra training and safety requirements for HAZMAT trucks

If you can prove that the trucking company broke a rule, it can be enough evidence on its own to show that they were at fault for your accident.

Proving Negligence Is a Must in a Truck Accident Case

NTL To win a truck accident case, you must prove that the driver was negligent. The test is whether they acted unreasonably under the circumstances. In these cases, you have more routes to the end goal than you will in a typical car accident case. However, you need an experienced truck accident attorney who knows the complexities of each case.
Of course, your lawyer will use physical evidence to help prove liability. You may have witnesses who saw what happened who will testify that the truck driver did something wrong. Other forms of proof include pictures of the accident scene, the wreckage from the crash, and testimony from an accident reconstruction expert.

Helpful Evidence in Your Truck Accident Case

Beyond that, there are other additional sources of information that the trucking company has in their possession that can help you, including:

The driver’s records
Inspection and maintenance records for the truck
Black box data demonstrating what the truck was doing at the time of the accident and how the operator was driving
Hours of service logs that show whether the trucker was following mandatory rest laws

The above sources of information are not easy to get. Quite the opposite – the trucking company will make it as difficult as possible to get any evidence in their possession because they know that it may hold the key to their large liability.

A determined and aggressive attorney can obtain this evidence through the legal process, so long as it is relevant to your case. The trucking company does not get to decide what they hand over to you and what they withhold. A judge makes that decision.

Your Damages in a Truck Accident Case

Once you prove liability, you will then begin to discuss compensation with the insurance company. If your case is in court, the jury will decide how much money you will get.

In any truck accident case, you may receive the following types of damages:

Economic damages represent the money that your accident has cost you, whether it is in bills you must pay, damage to your property, or money you missed out on earning because you can not work or worked fewer hours.
Non-economic damages stem from a diminished quality of life that you live after the accident. The primary type of non-economic damage is pain and suffering, which measures your physical discomfort and your mental health effects from the accident injuries

Punitive damages are the third class of injuries you may receive in your truck accident case. However, these damages are very rare, and they have nothing to do with your physical injuries.

Punitive damages are the jury’s way of sending a message to the trucking company that their actions (either theirs or their drivers’) were far beyond the pale of what is considered reasonable. The jury might award punitive damages to you if the truck driver was drunk or if the company had a culture of non-compliance.

Insurance Companies Try Not to Pay What You Deserve

In some cases, proving liability may be the easier part of the battle. The truck driver’s liability can be very apparent right off the bat. Still, you need an experienced attorney to handle your case. Your lawyer’s experience can make a huge difference in your settlement check. Truck accident victims with attorneys do far better than those who try to handle things themselves (which we do not advise, not just because we are lawyers).

When you begin settlement negotiations, you must know the value of your claim. Otherwise, you have no idea what to shoot for as a number. Given the severity of your injuries and the presence of an extensive corporate insurance policy, truck accident settlements are, on average, larger than those in a car accident case. With a large amount of money at stake, you cannot afford to take any chances.

Do Not Let the Insurance and Trucking Companies Save Money at Your Expense

At Varner Faddis, we have the technology to help accurately value your claim. If you undervalue your damages, you will not get a second chance to receive that money. After proving fault, the most crucial aspect of your truck accident case is estimating your damages. If you qualify for a large settlement, hundreds of thousands of dollars are not a rounding error. You need these funds to pay your medical expenses and bills, perhaps indefinitely. Every dollar counts, and we commit to fighting for the best result possible for you and your family. We get the case results you want.

The trucking company wants to stay in business, and the insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. Without legal help, these forces will compromise your interests. It does not matter who we are up against – we take on everyone the same way on behalf of our clients. We are fighters at heart who know how to be pragmatic when the situation calls for it.

Centennial Truck Accident FAQs

Can I sue the trucking company for my injuries?

If the driver was on the job at your accident (driving for the company and not on a personal errand), their employer is legally responsible for their negligence. Respondent superior is the doctrine in truck accident cases, which means “let the master answer” for the actions of their subordinates. The presence of a trucking company means a larger insurance policy, but it also means more scrutiny of your claim.

What do I do if the insurance company calls me?

It is simple – do not speak with the trucking company’s insurance carrier on your own. Only trouble comes from that. They may try to trick or coerce you into a statement that can damage your claim. Only your attorney should deal with the insurance company because they handle these matters all the time and know what not to say. Beware because the insurance company may come looking for you. If they do, tell them to contact your attorney.

How do you pay a truck accident lawyer?

Do not worry about paying an attorney’s hourly fees from your pocket because there are none. Truck accident attorneys receive payment only if you do and only when you do. You will not need to give them a retainer, nor will you have to pay an hourly bill while your case is pending. If you do not win, you do not pay.

Call a Centennial Truck Accident Attorney

Varner Faddis Criminal Defense & Personal Injury Lawyers Denver, CO Your free consultation begins your legal process. When you talk to the attorneys at Varner Faddis, you will recognize that we provide skilled service and will doggedly pursue every dollar you are due. The time to call us is today. Even if you are not in the physical shape to begin the legal process, we handle the work and details. Contact us online or call us at 720-710-9073 to speak with one of our Centennial personal injury lawyers.