A truck on the highway in Denver, Colorado.

Truck Accident Attorney in Denver

In collisions involving large commercial trucks and cars, most of the people who suffer serious injuries and fatal injuries are occupants of automobiles. As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,852 people were killed in collisions involving large trucks in 2015. In two-vehicle collisions that involved a large truck and a car, 97 percent of those who died were occupants of the passenger vehicles. Occupants of smaller vehicles are vulnerable in any crash involving an 18-wheeler. Contact our Denver truck accident lawyer today.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision caused by a large commercial truck driver, it is important to consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. At The Wilhite Law Firm, our semi-truck accident attorneys have been successfully handling a range of truck and automobile accidents and other injury cases for more than 35 years. Our Denver truck accident attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and resources to handle complex commercial truck accident claims.

Our Semi-Truck Accident Law Firm in Denver, Colorado Can Help You

With increasing numbers of semi-tractor-trailers and other big rigs on our roadways, truck accidents are bound to be common in the state of Colorado. The NHTSA reported that 64 people died in crashes involving large commercial trucks in Colorado in 2015. Most of those who died were occupants of other vehicles that collided with trucks.

Nevertheless, the Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that only 13 large-truck occupants died in traffic crashes in Colorado in 2013, as compared to 315 passenger vehicle occupants, 83 motorcyclists, 50 pedestrians, and 12 bicyclists. When large and fully loaded commercial trucks collide with much smaller vehicles, other motorists and their passengers – not the truck drivers – face the greatest risk of catastrophic or fatal injuries. Contact our Denver truck accident lawyer today.

What are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Denver?

Truck driver error is a leading contributing factor to crashes involving tractor-trailers and semis. Truckers spend many hours behind the wheel and often drive too fast for roadway conditions. Driving too fast for road or weather conditions is particularly dangerous on the steep grades and mountainous terrain of the I-70 corridor through the Colorado high country west of Denver. The interstate is a major east-west corridor for truck traffic and is also heavily traveled by ski traffic and visitors to the Rocky Mountains. Truck accidents on the I-70 corridor are common.

Under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, truck drivers may drive aggressively and follow other vehicles too closely. Large trucks take longer distances to stop safely. When a truck driver tailgates or follows other vehicles too closely, the driver creates a situation in which an accident is unavoidable if traffic stops suddenly. Large trucks often hit the vehicle in front of them because a driver was following too closely or driving too fast for traffic conditions.

A trucker entering a highway entrance ramp or exit ramp may lose control of the truck if the driver misjudges the safe speed to enter a curve. Most crashes on ramps are due to misjudgment. Truck rollovers are more likely to occur on ramps or curves if truckers approach them traveling too fast. Although ramps and interchanges account for less than 5 percent of all highway miles, 20 to 30 percent of 18-wheeler crashes occur on or near ramps, according to the Journal of Transportation and Statistics.

Truck driver looking side ways as he crosses an intersection in Denver, Colorado.A truck driver may have spent many hours behind the wheel without adequate rest. Drivers who are dangerously fatigued pose a danger to others on the roads. Drowsy drivers are slower to react to changes in traffic conditions to avoid a crash.

Truck drivers may be distracted and cause a crash. Truckers often travel on unfamiliar roads to make deliveries. Drivers may look away from the road to consult a map, set an electronic navigation system, or review directions to their destination. A study of the causes of commercial truck accidents by researchers at the University of Michigan found that 20 percent of large-truck accidents occurred when truck drivers were navigating unfamiliar roads.

The Denver truck accident attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm will investigate and determine all the contributing factors to your accident. Even if you were partially at fault, the truck driver also may have contributed to the accident and be liable for your injuries. Let us review your truck accident and go over your legal options for pursuing compensation.

Why Are Truck Accidents Different From Other Types of Accidents?

Truck accidents are more complex to resolve than a typical automobile collision. One tractor-trailer may have multiple insurance companies separately providing insurance coverage for the trucking company, the truck driver, the cargo shipper, and the trailer owner.

Crashes involving large trucks and cars frequently produce more serious injuries to the occupants of smaller vehicles because of the difference in the size and weight of 18-wheelers and automobiles. Commercial truck drivers and trucking companies are required by law to carry much higher amounts of liability insurance than automobile drivers because of the damage a large truck may cause. That raises the financial stakes after an accident. It also means a trucking company will have lawyers working to defend its business interests.

A truck accident attorney at The Wilhite Law Firm investigates each tractor-trailer accident to determine all the responsible parties and all the insurance policies available to provide compensation. If more than one party is liable, it may broaden the amount of insurance coverage available to pay for your injuries.

We craft a plan to achieve the best outcome and quickest outcome for our client. We often represent people who have been frustrated in their dealings with another law firm and did not receive the individual attention they expected. If you were involved in a car crash, contact our Denver car accident lawyer today.

What Types of Compensation Can Be Collected After a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

Some of the types of compensation that you may be entitled to receive after a truck accident in Colorado include:

  • Reimbursement for your doctor bills, hospital bills, prescription medications, and physical therapy as well as for future medical care related to the truck accident injury;
  • Lost past and future wages;
  • The cost to replace or fix your automobile, including the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is undergoing repair;
  • Compensation for non-economic damages such as emotional distress and physical pain and suffering related to your injury;
  • Exemplary damages may be appropriate in an accident in which the conduct of the truck driver or trucking company was outrageous.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer promptly to review the case and start an investigation if appropriate.

How Can A Denver Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?

A knowledgeable attorney can review the details of your injury from a truck accident and discuss whether you have a valid claim. Our attorneys will answer your questions and help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case based on our years of experience handling thousands of accident claims.

Police officers investigating truck accident in Denver.We will investigate the accident in detail and identify all the parties that are responsible for your injury. We may work with accident reconstruction experts to show how an accident occurred. We will estimate your losses from the injury including the costs of future medical care and lost income if you cannot return to work after a serious injury. We will submit a claim to the appropriate parties for compensation that reflects all your losses.

It is common for a trucking company or its insurer to make a settlement offer to limit their financial liability. The offer may seem like a large sum of money at first glance. But without legal guidance, you may not know whether the offer is reasonable. Initial offers are often quite low. An experienced truck accident lawyer at The Wilhite Law Firm will have an informed perspective about the value of your injury case. That prevents an insurance company from forcing you to accept an unreasonably low settlement offer that does not reflect the full extent of your losses.

The Denver truck accident lawyers at The Wilhite Law Firm will negotiate aggressively on your behalf for a full and fair settlement. We have the experience and resources to stand up to trucking companies and seek compensation for people who have been seriously injured by the negligence of commercial truck drivers and trucking companies.

What are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Denver?

Truck driver having bad headache in Colorado.Truck accidents are sometimes caused by other motorists, road hazards, vehicle failure, or weather conditions. However, according to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study Analysis Brief published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a comprehensive study conducted by the NHTSA and the FMCSA revealed truck driver error to be a major contributing factor to accidents. Researchers assigned the following associated factors in large-truck collisions, along with their relative risk importance:

  • Truck brake problems (29%)
  • Driver traveling too fast for conditions (23%)
  • Driver unfamiliar with the roadway (22%)
  • Roadway problems (20%)
  • Driver use of over-the-counter drugs (17%)
  • Driver inadequate surveillance (14%)
  • Driver fatigue (13%)
  • Driver under work pressure (10%)
  • Driver made an illegal maneuver (9%)
  • Driver inattention (9%)
  • Driver distraction – external (8%)
  • Truck tire problems (6%)
  • Truck driver tailgating (5%)
  • Driver jackknifing truck (5%)
  • Truck cargo shift (4%)
  • Driver illness (3%)
  • Driver distraction – internal (2%)
  • Driver use of illegal drugs (2%)
  • Driver consumption of alcohol (1%)

What Injuries and Damages are Associated With Semi-Truck Accidents?

The size and speed at which large trucks travel often make the injuries more severe. Among victims of traffic collisions with large commercial trucks, those who survive often suffer catastrophic injuries with long-term debilitating effects. Common truck accident injuries include:

It is important to have skilled legal representation after a truck accident resulting in serious or catastrophic injuries. The damages you may be entitled to claim include present and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earnings, pain, and suffering, and other losses. Our Colorado truck accident lawyers at The Wilhite Law Firm are dedicated to fully assessing the extent of your injuries and aggressively pursuing the compensation you need.

Denver truck accident lawyer giving advice to a truck accident victim.

Contact Your Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

When you come to The Wilhite Law Firm after a serious truck accident, we will immediately and thoroughly investigate your accident, and file claims for the compensation we believe you are entitled to receive. We will also work to ensure that you receive proper medical treatment for your injuries and help you get your life back on track. The Wilhite Firm has some of the best personal injury lawyers in Denver.

Due to the multiple potentially liable parties and federal regulations involved, truck accident cases can be complicated legal matters. Our Colorado personal injury lawyers have the skills, experience, resources, and dedication to fight for your rights and interests after a catastrophic truck accident. Contact our office today to arrange for a case consultation with an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer with our firm, free of charge.

What Our Clients Are Saying

The team that Rob has put together is truly fantastic. Everyone from the pre litigation to the litigation team really cares about the client. They will fight for you to get you what you deserve. They give you the good and bad about your case which is very reassuring. The firm is very caring about everything relating to their client and it shows by the fact they pay for cabs so people won’t drink and drive over holidays. I tell anyone that ask, don’t hesitate hiring Rob!

- Kristen Miner

What happens to you in an accident is not fun. What you need is someone to be there for you. Rob makes sure that you are always happy from the beginning to the end. There is a reason that they are considered some of the best lawyers in the state. You won’t regret your decision when you have such a life changing event. Don’t mess up and hire someone that doesn’t care. Hire Wilhite and there won’t be a regret.

- Gaby Mims

I have known Rob for several years now in a professional capacity. He is a heck of a good personal injury lawyer, one of the best–tough, tenacious, and smart. If you are hurt in Colorado, Rob is the first call you should make.

- Julian Gomez
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