Truck Accident Injury Attorneys

Denver Truck Accident Attorney

An accident involving an eighteen-wheeler is a devastating event for all involved. The sudden impact with a vehicle weighing up to 80,000 pounds can cause traumatic injuries to the driver and all passengers in the smaller vehicle. In an instant, the crunch of metal, shattering of glass, and screams of those around you can turn your world upside down.

At The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC, we understand the hardships you or a loved one face after suffering a truck accident injury. These big rigs can cause severe damage, leading to hardships and stress you never expected.

Don’t wait to take action when you’re involved in an accident with a semi-truck.

Contact us today to speak to a truck accident lawyer about your accident.

Many individuals that we meet following a truck accident don’t know where to begin. Questions cloud their judgment, causing fear and anxiety as they discern what actions can help to alleviate their physical, emotional, and financial pain.

Fortunately, our Denver truck accident attorneys have the experience and knowledge necessary to help those suffering from such an injury. Our team is dedicated to helping you and your family by getting you the medical help you need and the compensation you deserve.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, the steps you take immediately afterward are crucial for your health and your legal case. First and foremost, your well-being is our top priority. The physical pain and emotional trauma you experience need to be addressed right away by qualified medical professionals. Immediate medical attention is essential not only for your recovery but also to document the extent of your injuries, which will be critical for your legal claim.

At The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC, we understand the urgency of getting the right medical care. Our truck accident lawyers will promptly connect you with experienced doctors who specialize in treating accident-related injuries. Because we are highly respected in the Denver medical community, we have established strong relationships with medical professionals who can see you quickly, ensuring that you receive the care you need without unnecessary delays.

Our deep familiarity with medical treatments in the personal injury field allows us to guide you in making informed decisions about your treatment options. Whether you need surgery, physical therapy, or specialized care, we will help you choose the best path forward for your recovery. We understand that each injury is unique, and our goal is to ensure that you receive the highest standard of care to support both your immediate needs and long-term health.

In addition to facilitating your medical care, our team will also work tirelessly to build a strong legal case on your behalf. From gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies, we are committed to fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve. Let us take on the legal burdens so you can focus on your recovery.

Your health is paramount, and with the support of our dedicated legal and medical team, you can rest assured that you are in good hands from start to finish.

Facts About Commercial Truck Accidents

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 4,102 people died in large truck crashes in 2017, with only seventeen percent of those deaths being occupants of a large commercial truck. Unfortunately, the number of those who died in semi-truck accidents was a staggering 30 percent higher in 2017 than it was in 2009. Truck braking can be a factor in large truck accidents, since a loaded semi-truck can take up to 40 percent farther than a passenger vehicle to stop. This stopping distance increases significantly on a wet or slippery roadway, or when the truck brakes are poorly maintained. Truck driver fatigue and distracted driving accidents on the part of truck drivers have both increased significantly over the past few years; many truck drivers routinely violate federal hours-of-service regulations which allows them to drive up to eleven hours at a stretch.

Common Injuries in Semi-truck Accidents

Semi-truck accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, including:

• Neck, back or shoulder injuries that can make it difficult to carry out daily activities
• Whiplash, which can cause fatigue, vision issues and reduced range of motion
• Pinched nerves or sciatica, both of which can cause debilitating pain
• Broken ribs, legs or arms
• Head trauma or traumatic brain injury that can impact the quality of your life
• Spinal cord injuries that can lead to paralysis and disability

Along with physical injuries, victims may also suffer:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause flashbacks or nightmares and extreme anxiety
• Depression and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Appetite and mood issues

It’s important to remember that serious injuries, including head injuries, may not be apparent at first. That’s why we strongly recommend seeking medical attention immediately after an accident – especially a truck accident.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can work with medical experts to determine the true extent of your injuries and the future care they may require. 

The severity of your injuries will be an important factor in determining the value of your claim.

Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Truck Accidents in Denver

According to the Denver Regional Council of Governments there were about 2,600 truck collisions in the Denver region in 2013, resulting in 12 fatalities and 51 serious injuries. Between 2012 and 2014, there were 162 fatalities from truck crashes in the state of Colorado—about 70 percent of these involved a semi-truck and trailer, while the remainder were large trucks like dump trucks. The truck collisions in the state of Colorado were just about equally divided between freeways, local roads and arterials, and about half of all these truck collisions occurred at non-intersections (intersection truck accidents accounted for about 38 percent of the total number of truck accidents). In the majority of these Colorado truck accidents, the truck was going straight; right and left turns were next in line for frequency, followed by changing lanes, backing, slowing and parked.

How a Commercial Truck Accident or Dump Truck Accident is Different

At the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we know that semi-truck accidents are very different from conventional passenger vehicle accidents. Each step in the claims process is more complicated, from investigation to determining liability. But truck accidents are also different for the following reasons:

Injuries and Property Damage are Typically More Severe

A collision with a semi-truck can be deadly. An 80,000-pound truck can easily crush a 2,000-pound car in an accident, especially if it occurs at highway speeds.

When trucks rollover or jackknife, they can become uncontrollable, hitting multiple vehicles in their path.

It’s not unusual for truck accidents to cause severe or catastrophic injuries that require:

• Long-term medical care
• Extensive rehabilitation
• Time off of work

In fact, the NSC says that more than 70% of truck accidents cause injuries.

In many cases, property damage is also more severe. A collision with a semi-truck can easily total a passenger vehicle, but these large vehicles can also cause massive damage to other property.

If you’re involved in an accident with a semi-truck, it is crucial to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer who understands the true extent of your injuries and will help you fight for a fair settlement.

Violations of Regulations May Contribute to the Accident

State and federal agencies are involved in the regulation of the trucking industry. There are rules that truckers must follow to ensure the safety of themselves and other motorists on the roadway.

Unfortunately, drivers don’t always comply with these regulations.

In fact, upon further investigation, it’s not unusual to find there is a willful violation of these rules. For example, a driver may violate the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hours of service (HOS) regulations, which require drivers to take a rest in between shifts. 

Because the driver violated HOS rules, they are more fatigued and at a greater risk of causing an accident.

In cases such as this, the driver and the employer may be held accountable. Violations of regulations can help us establish negligence, but they can also complicate the case.

There are Differences in Negligence and Liability

Aside from the sheer size of a large commercial truck, a truck accident is different largely because there can be a number of potential defendants in the case. Of course, the more defendants your attorney identifies, the better the likely outcome for your semi-truck accident claim. The driver of the truck could be at fault, whether due to reckless driving behaviors, fatigued driving, impaired driving, distracted driving, or simply because he or she is inexperienced. The trucking company could be at fault if they knowingly placed an inexperienced truck driver on the roadways, or if they failed to do a comprehensive background check on the driver. The maintenance company could be found liable if the accident was due to poor maintenance, or the loading company could be liable if the load was not properly secured.

The truck manufacturer or the manufacturer of specific truck parts could be held responsible if those parts were defective and caused or contributed to the accident. If a truck driver is an independent contractor, it can be more difficult to establish third-party company liability, as the level of supervision over the driver by the trucking company must be shown. Each one of these entities carry their own separate insurance policy. Since a truck accident is often catastrophic, requiring years—or a lifetime—of medical treatments, it is essential that all liable parties be properly identified.

What Are the Types of Large Truck Accidents?

There are many different types of commercial trucks on our United States roadways, with each one specially designed to perform a task. There are garbage, trash and other type of dump trucks which are often in residential areas, carrying large loads of dirt, gravel sand, demolition debris, trash, dry materials or other construction materials. Dump truck loads are often top-heavy, making them particularly dangerous in an accident. Semi-trucks, also known as “big rigs,” or “18-wheelers.” These large trucks have several blind spots and a high center of gravity, making them prone to rollovers. Because these large semi-trucks often make extremely long runs, their drivers are likely to be in a constant state of fatigue.

Tanker trucks haul liquids or gases, many of which are classified as hazardous. Like semi-trucks, tanker trucks are prone to rollovers. When a tanker truck is involved in an accident, toxic substances can be released. Flatbed trucks have a long open trailer which accommodates loading and unloading cargo. If that cargo is improperly secured, it can become dislodged, hitting nearby vehicles and causing serious accidents. Tow trucks are usually operated by private contractors. Often, due to less stringent requirements, the drivers of tow trucks are not properly trained, which can lead to serious accidents.

There are just as many types of truck accidents as types of trucks. The most common type of truck accidents include the following:

• A jackknife accident occurs when a truck driver brakes fast and hard, causing the trailer to skid outward, creating a 90-degree angle to the front part of the cab of the truck.
• A rollover occurs when the driver loses control of the truck, causing it to slide and rollover onto its side. A rollover accident can potentially slide into a number of innocent motorists.
• A tire blowout can cause a truck accident, and because trucking companies typically used “recapped” tires, blowouts are much more likely to happen on a large truck.
• Sometimes known as a “swinging turn,” large trucks make wide turns, swinging to the left to make a right-hand turn. The truck may then crash into the cars on the right, squeezing them between the truck and whatever is on the car’s right side, such as a sidewalk.
• A truck has multiple blind spots; when the truck driver cannot see other vehicles when it changes lanes adjacent vehicles and their passengers can be placed in significant danger of a collision.
• Rear-end trucking accidents can cause significant levels of injury and property damage due to the sheer weight of trucks.
• Under-ride accidents can occur when a truck stops suddenly, and a smaller vehicle, approaching from behind becomes lodged under the trailer of the truck. Under-ride accidents are some of the deadliest truck accidents.
• When cargo is improperly loaded, it can fall off, causing extreme danger to surrounding motorists.
• When a head-on collision occurs between a truck and another vehicle, there are likely to be fatalities or victims with long-term disabilities.

What Are the Causes of Large Truck Accidents?

There are many different factors involved in truck accidents. A truck accident could be caused by severe weather, poor road conditions, road construction, overloaded or improperly loaded cargo, mechanical malfunction, poor truck maintenance or blind spots. Truck accidents can also be caused by any of the following as they relate to the truck driver:

• Inadequate training to drive a large truck;
• Truck driver inexperience;
• Unsafe or careless driving;
• Exceeding the speed limit;
• Driver distraction due to using a GPS, eating, texting or talking on a cell phone;
• Driver fatigue;
• Impairment;
• Aggressive driving;
• Road rage;
• Failure to check blind spots prior to changing lanes or turning;
• Tailgating;
• Failing to obey the rules of the road, or
• Unsafe passing.

Reconstructing a Truck Accident

If you’ve been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, there are many different issues you may have to deal with which are unique to trucking accidents. In order to be able to prove negligence or fault and force the negligent party to pay for your expenses and damages, it may be necessary to reconstruct the accident. Reconstructing a commercial truck accident can be much more complex than doing so in an accident involving only passenger vehicles.

The analysis of the truck accident will include such factors as mechanical failure, braking factors, factors pertaining to the driver, or even weather and road condition factors: however, the reconstruction is only one aspect of this analysis. The investigation will begin when a professional inspects the site of the accident, taking measurements of the evidence left during the vehicle collision. This evidence could include point of impact, any skid marks, as well as the final resting position of both vehicles. Normally, highly sophisticated equipment which is typically used in surveying is used to take these measurements, allowing a computer-generated diagram to scale to be produced.

There are many aspects to a truck accident reconstruction, and your Colorado accident attorney will be able to more fully explain each step. A truck accident reconstruction can be extremely important in the fight to get you the compensation you both need and deserve. You likely have significant amounts of medical bills, damage to your vehicle, and a level of pain and suffering rarely seen in “normal” auto accidents. Your attorney from the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya will fight aggressively for your rights, using the accident reconstruction as a tool to obtain the settlement which is owed to you.

What Legal Options Do I Have in Colorado?

After we have addressed your need for appropriate and timely medical attention, our team will help you begin seeking the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

We understand the internal dilemma you may be facing: “I’m not the type of person to sue.” You must understand, however, that after such a life-altering accident, you aren’t “just suing.” In reality, you are trying to get as much help as possible for those who matter most in your life. This is by no means unfair—it is what’s best for you and your family during this most difficult of times.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, contact our Denver office as soon as you can. Timeliness is of the utmost importance when it comes to personal injury cases, and the sooner you reach out to our Colorado truck accident injury attorneys, the sooner we can begin investigating the details of your case, securing evidence, and provide you with the medical attention you need. Hesitating to contact an experienced attorney can lessen your chances of securing the compensation you deserve.

What if I’m Partially At Fault for the Truck Accident?

Our lawyers are often asked whether an injured individual can (or should) take legal action if they are partially at fault for a truck accident. The answer? You may still have the right to receive compensation and assistance for your injuries. If you have been physically, emotionally, or financially impacted by an accident with a semi, contact our The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC right away.

Getting the Help You Need from a Truck Accident Lawyer Denver

If you have been injured in a truck accident you could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future lost wages, pain and suffering, other out-of-pocket expenses and possibly punitive damages if the actions of the truck driver were particularly egregious. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya work with a select network of physicians, treatment providers and medical specialists who can quickly get you on the road to recovery. Our truck accident attorneys will stay in close contact with you from start to finish, acting as a trusted advisor as we work together for your future. Contact Dianne Sawaya today to determine your legal options; we will help you decide your course of action for the right outcome for you.

Why Contact The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC?

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Colorado truck accident, reach out to a firm that truly cares about your well-being. Our smart, aggressive, and compassionate attorneys will fight for the compensation you need and deserve. We pride ourselves on our prompt feedback and response to our clients, and will always do what is right for your case.

It is our goal that, after working with our Denver truck accident injury lawyers, that you and your family feel you have hope and guidance for your future, despite the harsh circumstances you face because of the crash. We will serve you to the best of our ability, acting as your advocate and ally. We will protect you against the injustice insurance companies so often try to impose on those who need help the most.

Reach out to The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC today by calling us at (303) 758-4777. Or, if it is more convenient for you, fill out the form at the top of this page. Upon submission, you will hear from someone on our team shortly.

We believe that during this tough time, you and your family need only focus on one thing: healing. Let us handle the rest.

Additional steps that you can take following your accident, if you’re able to without causing further pain or injuries, include:

Call 911

You want to call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. If asked whether you need an ambulance, say “yes.” Semi-truck accidents can cause significant injuries. As a truck accident lawyer, we know that your adrenaline is high after an accident, and you might not even realize the extent of your injuries.

Do not assume that someone else will call 911 on your behalf.

We’ll use your police report as evidence of negligence, so it’s necessary to call emergency services.

Remain Calm and Help the Injured

If you’re able to, help any injured parties that you can. Accidents are stressful and it’s common to have anxiety after a crash. Remain calm and assess the situation. You should not move anyone because your actions may cause more harm than good, especially if a spinal cord injury is expected, unless the person is in imminent danger.

You should tell the 911 operator of any injured parties, if you know when calling, so they can also receive the medical attention that they need.

Take Photos or Videos

Nearly everyone has a smartphone, and if able, you can take photos and videos of the scene that can be used as evidence. You should try to capture:

• Skid marks
• Road conditions
• Vehicle damage
• Debris from the accident
• Injuries

It’s better to take too many photos or videos rather than too few because the scene will only stay preserved for a short period of time.

Talk to Witnesses and Ask for Contact Information

A witness statement of the events leading up to the accident will help your truck accident lawyer:

• Prove who was at fault for the accident
• Recreate the accident scene

Seeking damages in the accident requires us to prove that there was a level of negligence on the part of the semi-truck driver or another party. Small details can mean the difference between proving fault or not.

You’ll want to ask for the names and contact information of:

• All passengers
• Witnesses

When talking to the police about the accident, do not say anything to damage your claim or state that you were at fault. Your statement can be used by the opposing insurance company to try and pin blame on you even if you were not at fault for the accident.

Semi-truck accidents are serious, and the injuries can cause lifelong pain, suffering and even disability or disfigurement.

We’ll determine which parties are at-fault for your accident and the best way forward to help you seek the maximum compensation possible.

Get in touch with us for a free, no obligation case review.