Truck Accident Lawyer in Denver, CO
Colorado has always been a hub for transportation as a gateway to the West. In the past, Denver was a major railroad center for trains traveling between both coasts. Times have changed, but Colorado is still at the heart of the nation’s commerce regarding moving goods. However, commercial trucks can impose risks on other vehicles when negligence or reckless driving is involved.
When a negligent truck driver injures you, you have the right to seek compensation. A Denver truck accident lawyer can help you take a stand and obtain the compensation you need for your injuries and more.
The Varner Faddis Elite Legal Difference
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck accident, the attorneys at Varner Faddis Elite Legal LLC can help. We have vast experience handling truck accident claims and providing our clients with personalized attention using the technology and resources that give us an edge against even the toughest of legal battles. Our law firm is dedicated to helping injured clients get settlements and jury awards in truck accident cases when others are at fault.
We have obtained:
- $1,250,000 in a motor vehicle accident claim
- $1,130,000 in a personal injury claim
- $800,000 in a motor vehicle accident claim
- $750,000 in a wrongful death case
These are only some examples of our results. Contact us today to discuss our past cases and how we might help yours.
Why You Need a Denver Truck Accident Lawyer
At Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC, we have the technology that allows you to match whatever the insurance company has. Between our aggressive legal representation and our cutting-edge resources, we put you on an even footing with well-financed corporate trucking defendants.
You do not have to sit back and be picked off by these large trucking companies when their drivers injure you. Instead, you can play offense, knowing that your legal rights entitle you to complete financial compensation for your injuries. If the trucking company and their insurance carrier will not be reasonable and pay what you deserve, we can take your case to a jury, and the defendant’s outcome can be far worse.
Because the attorneys at Varner Faddis are here for you when you need us, you will never have to worry about handling the legal process or taking on large and powerful trucking companies on your own.
Truck Accidents in Colorado
Major North-South and East-West routes make their way through Colorado. These interstates are the heart of American commerce.
Trucking companies like these use Denver area roads to ship their goods:
- XPO Logistics
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services
- Knight-Swift Transport Services
- YRC Worldwide
- Schneider
- Landstar System
- Old Dominion
- TFI International
Each of these trucking companies has powerful defense teams of their own. Rest assured that we are not afraid of them, and we will not hesitate to take them to court when one of their drivers has injured our client.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado
Large truck accidents in Colorado can be attributed to a variety of factors. One substantial cause is driver fatigue due to long hours on the road without adequate breaks.
Other key factors include speeding or reckless driving and a lack of proper training or experience. Inclement weather conditions, specific to Colorado’s varied topography, can also create hazardous driving situations, leading to accidents. Technical causes such as vehicle malfunction, tire blowouts, or improper loading of cargo may also contribute to these accidents.
Lastly, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or distracted driving are unfortunate yet common factors that can cause severe or fatal truck accidents. Drunk driving has severe consequences in any context, but even more so when a large commercial vehicle is involved.
No matter the cause, victims of truck accidents deserve legal representation to help them navigate the complex aftermath and work towards achieving a fair outcome.
Motorists Can Suffer Serious Truck Accident Injuries
Federal regulations allow tractor-trailers to weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. The average passenger car weighs 3,000 pounds. Tractor trailers and semi-trucks can be up to 57 feet in length, and the massive size disparity between these vehicles and passenger cars raises the risk that motorists can receive severe injuries in an accident.
Additionally, commercial vehicles frequently transport dangerous cargo, including hazardous materials. Motorists rarely walk away from an accident involving a commercial truck unscathed.
Truck accident victims can suffer:
- Broken bones and soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- And other serious and catastrophic injuries
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, immediately seek medical attention to ensure you get the care you need.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different from Other Motor Vehicle Crashes
Commercial trucking accidents are different from motor vehicle crashes with passenger vehicles.
Although the same general legal principle applies, several aspects of your truck accident claim require you to hire an attorney who has specific experience in these types of cases.
- There may be multiple negligent parties involved in a truck crash, including the truck driver, the truck driver’s employer, the manufacturer, and even loading and repair crews.
- The trucking industry is highly regulated. If you can prove that the truck driver or trucking company broke a regulation—something we know how to do—you may put yourself in a position to receive financial compensation.
- There are many more sources of evidence in a truck accident case, and you must gather them before you lose them to either the passage of time or the trucking company destroying them.
- Accidents involving large trucks usually involve a commercial trucking company, which allows you to sue a corporate defendant.
- Since truck accident injuries can be more severe, the settlement and damage amounts can be higher. Accordingly, you need an attorney who is comfortable with high-stakes cases.
Trucking Companies Fear Lawsuits Because Juries Are Unpredictable
There have been numerous stories of massive jury verdicts against trucking companies that have put them out of business. When a truck driver is an employee of a company, they are considered the company’s agent for liability purposes. The moment they head out onto the road to do their job, their actions become the company’s actions. If the truck driver is negligent, the company must pay for it.
Therefore, trucking companies maintain large insurance policies. These companies want to stay in business to keep making the enormous profits that the entire industry is reaping these days. Online shopping has led to a boom in the trucking industry that has boosted companies’ bottom lines. Supply chain issues mean that trucking companies can practically name their shipping price.
Successfully going head-to-head against these powerful truck companies means having a legal team with a history of obtaining victories in truck accident lawsuits. At Varner Faddis, we understand how these legal battles differ from other car accident cases and can help you navigate your path to financial recovery.
How Trucking Companies Take Shortcuts That Put You at Risk
The trucking boom has come with costs, and it is you who ultimately pays them with your safety. While they are making large amounts of money, trucking companies also cut corners.
These companies are under tremendous pressure to deliver on time.
To keep the trucks running, they may:
- Hire inexperienced drivers or even those without a commercial driver’s license because they cannot find anyone else to drive their trucks. Truck driver shortages have become a significant problem since the driving workforce is older, and many experienced drivers are retiring.
- Cut corners on maintenance to keep the trucks on the road. Although there are strict federal rules requiring trucks to be in working order before they can go out on the road, a truck in the repair shop means lost profits for the trucking company.
- Violate hours of service regulations to make the delivery on time – truck drivers must limit their shifts and take mandatory breaks under federal law. Some drivers may not follow these rules because they are under time pressure.
One key thing working in your favor is that trucking companies must document their compliance with federal regulations. The government can inspect these records and act against the truck company when they break the rules. For you, the documentation can be a valuable source of evidence in your case because it can show that this truck driver, or the trucking company itself, broke the law.
The Black Box May Be the Key to Your Case
The truck’s black box is a critical piece of evidence. This event data recorder will show exactly what the truck driver was doing at the time of the accident.
You can get vital information from the black box, including:
- The truck’s speed
- How the driver was steering
- Whether the driver applied the brakes
- The truck’s hours of operation
The trucking company will not willingly hand over this crucial and helpful evidence to you because they know that it can improve your chances of winning your case against them. They may even try to make the evidence disappear so you cannot get your hands on it. Black box data will sometimes become conveniently lost or overwritten soon after the accident.
How Do I Get Black Box Data From a Truck Accident?
Our experienced truck accident lawyers know what to do to get this evidence. First, we will contact the trucking company and direct them to preserve this evidence in advance of litigation. If a court finds that they destroyed relevant evidence, this will go very poorly for them. Second, we will fight hard to recover all this evidence in discovery so it is available for your case, including evidence from the accident scene, witness testimony, and medical experts that can lend validity to your case.
Start the Legal Process Quickly
After an injury in a truck accident, you need to move quickly to begin the legal process. Of course, it sounds somewhat contradictory to tell someone who is likely suffering from severe injuries that they need to do anything quickly that requires knowledge of a complicated process.
To file a truck accident lawsuit, you need to contact a skilled legal professional. Under Colorado law, accident victims have a limited time to act. An experienced truck accident lawyer from Varner Faddis Elite Legal can come to you wherever you are and get the process started quickly.
If you do not act quickly, you run several risks, including:
- Losing the black box data that can help prove what happened in your truck accident
- Being a target for the trucking company’s insurance company, which may be trying to pressure you to give a statement or accept a settlement
- Missing critical deadlines to file a lawsuit for financial compensation
Your Truck Accident Claim Could Generate a High Settlement
Your truck accident claim is only valuable if you know what it’s actually worth. You can bet that the insurance company knows how your claim is estimated because they have built an infrastructure that lets them value claims practically down to the dollar. That is the very number they will try to avoid paying you.
The claim’s value is the crucial information that you must have when seeking financial compensation. Every dollar you receive is one you lost and one you deserve.
Damages in a Truck Accident Case
Our skilled team of truck accident attorneys will work to assess the complete value of all your damages, including both financial and non-economic loss. You have a legal right to compensation for all your truck accident injuries, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful Death Damages in Fatal Truck Crashes
If your loved one died in a Colorado trucking accident, an experienced attorney can help your family file a wrongful death lawsuit against the trucking company for:
- The income that your loved one might have earned had they lived and continued to work
- The trauma and grief that comes with suddenly losing a loved one
- The loss of the close relationship with the deceased person (including guidance and a physical relationship)
At Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC, we’ll work to determine the true value of your case. While nothing can take away the unfortunate passing of a loved one, we will strive to ensure that the losses associated with your grief are compensated financially to the fullest extent possible.
Denver Truck Accident FAQs
Will my truck accident case go to trial?
Not necessarily. Most personal injury cases will never see the inside of a courtroom, but you may still need to file a personal injury lawsuit. Many accident victims will reach a settlement agreement with insurance companies.
Others will file a lawsuit and settle the case before trial. You will need to have a jury decide your claim in some cases, either because the insurance company denied it or because the insurance company will not make you a fair settlement offer.
Can I represent myself in a truck accident case?
No, you cannot—you will find yourself at a severe disadvantage without a qualified legal representative. The truck company has attorneys, and the insurance company has many defense firms, all vying for their business.
If you try to take them on by yourself, two things can happen:
- Your claim may be denied in its entirety because you lack evidence to support your case.
- You will settle your case for far too little because you do not know what your case is worth or how to negotiate with the insurance company.
What happens if I prove the truck company broke a federal regulation?
There is a concept in every personal injury case called negligence per se. Certain things are automatically negligence. If you can prove the truck company broke the law and that it led to your accident, it may be proof of negligence on its own.
Therefore, you need an experienced truck accident attorney who knows the Code of Federal Regulations and the evidence they need to obtain to prove that the truck company violated it. Truck accidents have unique rules, heightening your need for a lawyer who knows the regulations and how to uncover violations of them.
Call a Denver Truck Accident Attorney
Denver Truck Accident Attorney, Eric Faddis
To schedule your free initial consultation after your truck accident, you can contact us online or call us at 720-710-9073. If you are unable to come to us, you can contact us online, and we’ll come to a location convenient for you. Your legal rights are valuable, and you should safeguard them by hiring an experienced and knowledgeable attorney today.
Office
6025 South Quebec St.
Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: 720-710-9073
