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Westminster Truck Accident Lawyer

Westminster Truck Accident Lawyer

 

If you or a loved one experienced an accident with a commercial truck, the consequences may be devastating to the physical, emotional, and financial health of your family. Our Westminster truck accident attorneys have a track record of successful claims and litigation for victims even against powerful truck companies. Contact the law firm of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. today for a free evaluation of your truck accident case.

The diligent attorneys at the Westminster Truck Accident law firm of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. understand the devastating impacts an accident has on an injured victim’s life, especially when the accident involves a standard vehicle and a large commercial truck. With the increased popularity of online shopping, more trucks are on Colorado roadways than ever before. Due to the size and weight difference between personal vehicles and commercial trucks, 71% of accident victims killed in truck accidents are those in the other involved vehicle rather than the driver of the truck.

How Can a Westminster Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

The aftermath of a truck accident is chaotic and confusing. In the days and weeks following this type of devastating accident, victims need to spend time working on their physical health to maximize their chances of the best possible recovery from their injuries before focusing on the next step. A reliable truck accident attorney can use their specialized skills and resources to provide the following legal services while you or your injured loved one concentrates on physical recovery:

  • Identifying the liable or at-fault party and/or the trucking company they work for
  • Gather evidence such as police reports, photos, and medical records
  • Interview eye-witnesses
  • Work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to determine how the accident occurred
  • Identify insurance carriers
  • Compile evidence for a compelling claim
  • File relevant documents promptly and correctly
  • Negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault party
  • Fight for your full compensation in court if the insurance company refuses the settlement demand or undervalues the claim

No victim of a devastating truck accident should have to navigate the complex legal process alone, especially when dealing with powerful trucking companies in an accident claim. A Westminster accident attorney is here to help.

What Damages Can I Recover?

Accidents with trucks often involve very serious injuries. Some may be life-altering with long-term consequences such as disability and impairment. Even less serious injuries may require extensive medical care and ongoing treatment which means medical expenses and time away from work. Victims of accidents involving large commercial trucks deserve full compensation for the damages sustained in an accident. With the help of a skilled attorney, a successful claim can help you or your injured loved one recover the following economic and non-economic damages:

  • Medical expenses and any required future medical expenses for ongoing care such as treatments, surgeries, physical therapy, and home health care
  • Lost earnings and future lost earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life (in cases of life-altering injuries)
  • Disfigurement (in cases of disfiguring injuries, victims have a right to compensation)

While financial settlements or awards for damages can’t undo the harm caused by a truck accident, they can alleviate the financial burdens so you or your loved one can focus on recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?

Colorado sets a statute of limitations for injury victims to file a claim after a truck accident in order to preserve the quality of evidence and to protect drivers from the ongoing threat of prolonged lawsuits. The Colorado courts allow up to three years from the date of the accident to file a claim; however, the sooner you file your claim the more likely you are to have a successful outcome.

This limit may be put on hold under only specific circumstances, such as when the victim is a minor at the time of the accident, in which case the statute of limitations is three years from their 18th birthday. Exceptions to the statute of limitations are also in place for those who are incapacitated or cognitively impaired as a result of the accident, in which case the 3-year limit begins starting on the day they regain their faculties.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident Case?

Truck drivers have a duty to use reasonable care at all times while driving. If the driver fails in his or her duty, they or the company they work for could be liable in your truck accident case. The Westminster truck accident lawyers at Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. will investigate your case to determine liability. Liability in truck accidents depends on whether the driver is an independent contractor or works for a truck company. The driver, the company, or the truck manufacturer may bear responsibility depending on the unique facts of your case.

Causes of Truck Accidents

The high volume of commercial trucks on the Colorado roadways contributes to many of the over 500,000 truck accidents annually in the United States, and the injuries and medical costs associated with these accidents. Truck accidents commonly occur in the following ways:

  • Air brake failure causes an enormous truck to become a dangerous, out-of-control force on the road
  • A rollover occurs when a truck slides sideways and an obstruction such as a curb, guardrail, or another vehicle causes the truck to tip and roll
  • Blind spot accidents are triggered when a truck changes lanes after failing to see a vehicle in the truck’s large blind spot area
  • Tire blow-out accidents are caused by flying portions of a blown tire from trucks hitting another vehicle and triggering an accident
  • A truck causes a swinging turn collision by swinging too far to the left for a right turn or too far the right to make a left turn
  • An overloaded truck accident occurs when a truck exceeds weight limits and becomes difficult for the driver to control
  • Falling debris from an improperly secured load causes an accident

These accidents happen quickly and can have deadly consequences for the drivers and passengers in the immediate area of the out-of-control truck.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Accidents between standard passenger vehicles and large commercial trucks typically end badly for those in the cars. Some common injuries associated with truck accidents include the following:

  • Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe, disabling injuries or death
  • Crush injuries
  • Back injuries with or without spinal cord damage
  • Whiplash
  • Neck injuries
  • Fractures
  • Facial injuries
  • Burns
  • Internal injuries
  • Limb amputations
  • Lacerations and abrasions

Truck accidents result in a wide range of injuries for both the truck drivers themselves and individuals in other involved vehicles. Drivers and passengers in standard-sized vehicles typically fare far worse in truck accidents than truck drivers themselves.

Colorado Trucking Laws

Both federal and state laws are in place in place for commercial trucks in Colorado. Some of these laws meant to protect both drivers and others on the road include:

  • Size limits and load weight limits with weights depending on the number of axles on the truck
  • Limits on the number of driving hours a truck driver can be on the road in a 24-hour period
  • Seasonal tire chain laws (September through May)
  • Mudflap laws
  • Laws regarding the transport of hazardous materials

If a truck driver or commercial truck agency violates any of these laws and an accident occurs, they bear liability in the accident.

Contact a Westminster Trucking Accident Lawyer Today

Colorado is NOT a no-fault state. If you or someone you love sustained injuries in an accident with a truck you have the right to full compensation. Our team of experienced truck accident attorneys is ready to evaluate your case with a free consultation. Contact us now.