Arvada Truck Accident Attorneys Fight for Injured Victims

Working to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable

The size and weight of semi-trucks and other large-scale transports can make them extremely dangerous to other drivers on the road. In an accident, big rigs have the power to smash cars. The massive weight of an 18-wheeler delivers much greater physical force than a passenger car, and its higher bumper puts that force right at head level for most cars’ occupants. At Elliott & Montgomery in Arvada, we represent victims of trucking accidents in the Denver, Colorado area. If you’ve been injured in a crash, we will handle your case with determination to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado

Like every large metropolitan area, Denver has major highways open to commercial trucks, which transport the goods for almost three million people who reside here. That means significant congestion along I-70 and US 36, among other major arteries. While truck transportation is generally safe, Colorado is not immune to serious accidents involving common carriers. In 2022, Colorado reported 1,493 large truck accidents, which produced 96 fatalities and 553 injuries.

As with car crashes, the leading causes of truck accidents are operator errors, including:

• Speeding and aggressive driving 
• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Failure to yield right of way
• Unsafe maneuvers

Truck accidents can also come about due to improper loading or overloading, inclement weather, poor roadway conditions and equipment failures such as blown tires and failed brakes.

Who is liable for a commercial truck crash?

Truck accidents often involve driver error, but that doesn’t mean the driver alone was at fault. An in-depth investigation is needed to determine the precise cause and to assign liability, which may include the following:

• Trucking company vicarious liability — Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, the trucking company is liable for the negligence and other wrongful acts of the drivers it employs.
• Motorist error — If another driver’s carelessness caused the truck to hit another vehicle, that driver can be liable for damages.
• Failed equipment — The manufacturer or maintenance provider can be liable for equipment failures.
• Poorly loaded cargo — The shipper or other loader of cargo could be liable if their negligence caused load instability that led to the accident.
• Poor road conditions — The county, state or federal department or agency responsible for roadway construction and maintenance might be liable for allowing dangerous conditions to persist.

As your advocates, our injury attorneys thoroughly investigate the accident to determine all possible defendants. We assemble all available evidence to build a compelling case for recovery of damages.

What are the most frequently violated federal trucking regulations?

A truck accident victim must prove that the truck driver or company breached their duty to operate the vehicle safely. This may include violating federal safety regulations, such as the following:

• Hours-of-service regulations
• Routine vehicle inspections
• Regular and adequate vehicle maintenance and repair
• Freight and weight restrictions
• Driver training qualifications
• Health and safety code compliance

If there’s evidence supporting the violation of any of these regulations, we will pursue your claim aggressively to obtain a positive result.

Frequently issued citations associated with truck accidents

At accident scenes, police officers can issue traffic citations based on their observations of the drivers’ conduct. A citation can support a finding of negligence, such as:

• Speeding
• Illegal maneuvering
• Driving under the influence

We look beyond the citation to fully investigate the cause of the accident. The driver may not be the only liable party. Trucking companies are known for overloading tractor-trailers and forcing drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines.

Contact our Arvada personal injury attorneys for a free truck accident consultation

The personal injury attorneys at Elliott & Montgomery in Arvada represent victims of truck accidents in the Denver, Colorado area. We proudly serve Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson counties. Our consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay us nothing until you recover for your losses. To schedule a free consultation, call 303-872-6274 or contact us online.