Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorney Denver, Colorado

Tractor-trailers and commercial trucks are crucial to the economy of Colorado, and communities all over the United States rely on commercial trucking for the goods they need every day. Virtually every driver will encounter large commercial trucks on the road on a regular basis, and most truck drivers are experienced, cautious, and mindful of nearby passenger vehicle drivers.

However, large trucks are inherently some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road due to their size and weight. It’s vital for all drivers to use caution when driving near large trucks and to know what they should do if they experience personal injury in a truck accident.

Cheney Galluzzi & Howard want our clients and prospective clients in the Denver, CO area to know their legal rights after experiencing truck accidents. While any motor vehicle accident is likely to cause severe damage, truck accidents carry a much higher risk of catastrophic and fatal injury due to the immense force of these collisions. If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries and economic losses from a truck accident, a Denver truck accident lawyer is your best asset in securing compensation for your damages.

What Is a Truck Accident Attorney and Why Do I Need One?

Our truck accident attorneys are professionals of the law who specialize in representing clients who have suffered injuries or damage to their property as a result of a truck accident. Truck accident attorneys can help make the legal process of filing a claim and getting the compensation you deserve much easier. Some of the reasons you should consider hiring a truck accident attorney in Denver, CO include:

• Represent You Against Big Trucking Companies

Many semi-trucks and commercial trucks are part of big brands and companies, some of which have a nationwide and even international reach. Because of this, these companies will most likely have strong legal teams and insurance policies to make sure they don’t lose much profit if something happens. That’s why having an experienced personal injury attorney can make the legal proceedings of a trucking accident much easier, as they’re going to be able to represent you against other lawyers and professionals of the law coming from the other side.

• Help You Gather Evidence and File Your Claim

Filing a claim after you’ve been involved in an accident where you sustained damage to your vehicle or injuries to yourself can be complicated as there is a wide range of information that needs to be included. A truck accident attorney can help you not only collect information and evidence for your claim, but they’ll help you put it together and file it as well. Your attorney will know the different kinds of information required for your claim and how to help you present it in a way that will bring you maximum compensation.

• Fight for the Compensation You’re Owed

Big companies will often go to great lengths to make sure their profit isn’t touched. Unfortunately, this can affect those who have been injured or negatively affected by accidents that their trucks may have caused. Hiring an experienced truck accident attorney, like us here at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, will ensure that you are represented fairly and that you get the compensation you deserve. Accidents are unpredictable and when you’re not at fault, you shouldn’t be held responsible for the damage caused. Let us help you fight for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing from your injuries and recovering economically.

• Experience of the Law and Compensation Policies

After getting into an accident, it can be more than difficult trying to organize the legal aspects of your situation, especially if you were injured. Hiring a truck accident attorney will provide you with vast knowledge of the law as well as insurance policies and compensation regulations. An attorney will work to file a claim for you and fight for the amount of compensation you deserve. They can also help you calculate the damage and losses you endured, helping to target a more accurate amount of compensation.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Colorado

Accidents can be traumatic, sometimes making it hard to figure out what to do next when you’re in the middle of one. If you ever find yourself in a truck accident, follow these steps:

1. Ensure Personal Safety Before doing anything else, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to check your own safety. Check yourself for any injuries and if you’re in an area of the road that’s potentially dangerous, move to a safe location if you’re able. If you have any passengers, check for their safety as well.
2. Call for Emergency Help You never know if someone has called for help already in an accident. To be safe, you should always call 911 if you are able to after a serious accident occurs. This way, anyone who may need medical attention can be taken care of, even if you may not need it.
3. Take Photos/Obtain Information Of course, this step may be skipped if you were in a serious accident that took you directly to a hospital. If you are well enough after an accident occurs, documenting it to the best of your ability can help you immensely in the long run. Take photos and talk to other drivers involved when possible, as you will need as much information as possible when filing a claim.
4. Seek Medical Attention Even if you only sustained minor injuries in a truck accident, seeking medical attention can not only help you heal properly, but it serves as documentation of the injuries that occurred due to the accident. On top of that, many people don’t realize how serious their injuries may be during the initial accident due to adrenaline and stress levels being so high. It’s always a good idea to seek medical attention after being involved in any sort of accident.
5. Get Professional Help and File a Claim After you are on your road to recovery, then it may be time to seek legal assistance to help you file a claim for compensation. With trucking accidents, injuries and damage to the vehicles involved can be much more severe than a regular car accident. Hiring a truck accident attorney can help you focus on recovering physically, mentally, and economically as they help you through the claim filing process and fight for your compensation.

What Makes Trucking Accidents Different From Car Accidents?

While trucks are just another type of motor vehicle, trucking accidents can be a lot more complicated than your average car accident. This is because a trucking accident deals with multiple more issues than a motor vehicle accident, including:

• More Serious Injuries/More Damage

One noticeable difference between car accidents and truck accidents is that truck accidents often cause much more serious injuries and damage to the people and vehicles involved. This is because trucks are so much larger and heavier than the average car that regardless of the speed they’re going, they have the potential to cause immense damage. If you or someone you love have sustained catastrophic injuries due to a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation to assist your recovery.

• More Parties May Be Liable

When it comes to accidents involving trucks, there are often multiple parties that can be proven liable. For example, sometimes, both the driver and the truck company can be held accountable for an accident if the company may have known they had a negligent driver on the roads. Accidents with trucks also often include more than one car; as trucks are so large, it can be hard for them to avoid damage when an accident begins to take place. Because there are usually multiple parties involved in a truck accident, having a lawyer you trust to assist you through the process will be extremely helpful.

• Financial Stakes

Most large semi-trucks are working for a brand or company in some way, shape, or form. Your average commercial truck picks up and delivers a wide variety of products for companies both locally and nationwide. This means that there is often a great deal of financial stakes involved when a truck accident takes place, such as a company potentially losing their products and the profit they’d make off them as well as their time.

• Complicated Insurance Policies

Complicated insurance policies and legal battles are another aspect of a truck accident that makes them a bit different than your average car accident. In a truck accident, you will most likely be going up against larger truck companies that may have strong legal representation and even stronger insurance policies.

Determining Liability for a Commercial Truck Accident in Colorado

Even if the evidence shows that your recent truck accident resulted from another driver’s negligence or the negligence of the truck driver, determining liability for a commercial truck accident is often more difficult than it initially appears. Commercial truck drivers are held to a higher duty of care than individual passenger vehicle drivers, and the nature of their work involves many different federal regulations managed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Department of Transportation, and various other agencies.

In some truck accident cases, the legal concept of “vicarious liability” comes into play when one party bears fault for the actions of another. In a truck accident claim, this concept generally applies whenever a truck driver causes an accident but their employer bears liability for the accident because of a regulatory violation or failure to uphold proper employee vetting policies.

One of the most important reasons to hire an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer to represent you is the difficulty of establishing vicarious liability without legal training. Your legal team can help you review all pertinent evidence to ensure the appropriate parties are held accountable for your damages. For example, if a truck driver caused your accident due to inexperience or incomplete qualifications, their employer should have recognized these issues before assigning them work. In this situation, the truck driver is liable for the accident, but their employer would also bear vicarious liability for your damages.

Damages and Compensation in Truck Accident Cases in Colorado

Most truck accidents cause devastating injuries and significant economic losses for victims. Your Denver truck accident attorney can potentially help you recover several types of compensation, including:

• Medical expenses, both immediate and future, resulting from your accident. Colorado law allows personal injury plaintiffs to claim compensation for any and all medical expenses they incur because of a defendant’s actions. This includes immediate expenses such as hospital bills and ambulance fees, as well as anticipated long-term medical costs a plaintiff faces if they require ongoing treatment for their injuries.
• Lost income and lost earning capacity. You may be forced to remain home and recover after your accident, during which time you will be unable to work and earn income. You have the right to claim compensation for these lost wages. If you developed a permanent disability from your truck accident and cannot return to work in the future, your attorney can also help you collect compensation for your loss of future earning potential.
• Property damage. The at-fault driver is responsible for vehicle repair or replacement costs and the cost of any other property damaged in your truck accident.
• Pain and suffering compensation. Plaintiffs have the right to claim financial compensation for intangible losses, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Your attorney will help you determine a fair amount to include in your claim based on the severity of your injuries that aligns with Colorado state law.

The compensation you receive from a successful truck accident claim can be much more than you originally anticipated when you have an experienced Denver truck accident attorney working on your case. In addition to your economic damages and compensation for your pain and suffering, it is also possible to receive punitive damages in some cases. If your accident occurred due to egregious negligence or criminal activity, the judge may award punitive damages to discourage similar behavior in the future.

What to Expect from Your Denver Truck Accident Attorney

Ultimately, a truck accident claim can easily be significantly more complex than a standard vehicle accident claim. Many of these cases involve difficult questions of liability, substantial damages, and many long-term effects on the plaintiff and their family. When you choose Cheney Galluzzi & Howard as your Denver truck accident lawyers, we learn as much as we can about your situation to provide the most individualized legal counsel possible.

Our team understands the complexities of navigating insurance claims following motor vehicle accidents, and we can help you determine whether you can rely on insurance for any portion of your recovery. If you need assistance determining liability for your damages, we can help with this, as well. Some truck accidents are more complex than others, and we can consult various expert witnesses if necessary to support your case. For example, if the defendant contests their liability for your recent truck accident, we may consult an accident reconstruction expert who can clearly explain exactly how your truck accident occurred.

Cheney Galluzzi & Howard is dedicated to providing client-focused and compassionate legal counsel to every client we represent. If you are struggling with the aftermath of a truck accident and dealing with expensive medical bills, an inability to work, a damaged or destroyed vehicle, and financial uncertainty for your family’s future, it’s essential to know where to turn for the legal assistance you need. Contact Cheney Galluzzi & Howard today to schedule your consultation with an experienced Denver truck accident lawyer and start working toward your recovery.

Helping Victims of Truck Accidents in Denver, CO

Trucking accidents are, by their very nature, more destructive than car accidents.

Accidents that involve semi trucks, tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers usually cause significant injury or death. In some cases, the truck may carry dangerous products or hazardous chemicals. Additionally, trucks can be 20-30 times heavier than a car. When a truck is operated negligently, it is a recipe for disaster.

As such, trucking accident cases require a special level of skill and care.

Building Your Case To Recover Full Compensation

Trucking accidents can be more difficult than other accident claims because of insurance adjusters.

Trucks are often owned by companies with very large insurance policies and as such accidents represent significantly more risk than the average car accident involving individuals. Insurance adjusters will often come to the scene immediately to begin building a case to deny liability and limit your ability to recover for your injuries.

People injured in truck accidents may be entitled to recover damages both for bodily injuries and injuries to their property. Bodily injury claims may include past and future medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, physical impairment, and other types of damage. Cheney Galluzzi & Howard lawyers work tirelessly to get you every dollar you deserve.

Should I Talk To Their Insurance Company?

FAQs About Denver, CO Truck Accident Laws

How can a truck accident lawyer help their client?

Hiring a truck accident lawyer can help you with a wide range of legal aspects that can come along with getting in an accident. An attorney can assist you with gathering evidence and information, negotiating insurance policies, filing a claim, representing you in court, and much more.

When should you contact a car accident lawyer?

In any accident that causes serious injury to you or your passengers, you should contact a car accident lawyer. They will be able to help you navigate the legal proceedings while also helping you get the compensation you need to deal with your damages and losses.

Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Denver?

While some car accidents with minimal damage may not require the help of a legal professional, any case with significant injury should involve an attorney for the best outcome.

Are truckers liable for accidents?

Determining liability in a truck accident can be complicated, but if there is evidence proving fault that a truck driver was the cause of an accident, the trucker and most likely their company can both be held liable.

What should you ask when hiring a lawyer for a truck accident?

One of the most important things to ask a lawyer is whether they think you may have a case with your situation.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

An accident of any kind has the power to change your life. Don’t hesitate to get the legal help you need if you have been in a motor vehicle accident here in Colorado. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, we are here to help. Call our law office in Denver at 303-209-9395. You may also contact us online and we will respond to your inquiry promptly.