Denver Truck Accident Lawyers

Colorado Truck Accident Statistics

Truck accidents in Colorado are a serious and growing problem. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• Colorado recorded 4,715 accidents involving medium and heavy trucks in 2024

• These crashes resulted in 88 fatalities and 1,153 injuries

• Denver County led the state with 712 truck accidents, followed by Adams County with 698

• Nationally, 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2023, accounting for 13.4% of all traffic fatalities despite trucks representing only 5% of registered vehicles

• Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks have increased 43% nationally over the past decade

A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds compared to the average passenger vehicle at roughly 4,000 pounds. This 20-to-1 weight disparity means occupants of passenger vehicles bear the overwhelming majority of serious injuries and fatalities in truck-versus-car collisions. If you have been hurt in a truck crash in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, contact our experienced truck accident lawyers for a free case evaluation.

Proven Results in Truck Accident Cases

Anderson Hemmat has a proven track record of securing substantial verdicts and settlements for truck and vehicle accident victims in Colorado:

• $33,000,000 Verdict - Wrongful death from a two-vehicle collision where a driver was traveling 100+ mph. Believed to be the largest wrongful death verdict in Colorado history.

• $10,000,000 Verdict - Head-on collision wrongful death case

• $2,600,000 Settlement - Vehicle rollover accident

• $2,500,000 Settlement - Insurance bad faith following a vehicle accident

• $325,000 Settlement - Commercial vehicle rear-end collision

No competitor on page one of Google has verdicts approaching these numbers. That track record matters because insurance companies and trucking company defense teams know which firms are willing to go to trial. That reputation directly impacts the settlement offers you receive.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle

Our Denver truck accident attorneys handle every type of commercial vehicle collision. Click on any case type below to learn more:

We also handle cases involving car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and hit and run accidents throughout Colorado.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Colorado Truck Accident?

Unlike standard car accidents, truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties. An experienced Denver truck accident attorney will investigate every potential source of liability:

• The truck driver: For speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, fatigue, or violations of hours-of-service regulations

• The trucking company: For negligent hiring, inadequate training, forcing unreasonable delivery schedules, or failing to maintain vehicles. Under respondeat superior, trucking companies are often liable for their drivers' actions.

• The cargo loader or shipper: For improperly loading, overloading, or failing to secure cargo, which can cause shifting loads, rollovers, or spilled freight

• The truck or parts manufacturer: For defective brakes, tires, steering systems, or other equipment failures under product liability law

• The maintenance provider: For negligent repairs or failure to identify and fix safety issues during inspections

• Government entities: For dangerous road conditions, inadequate signage, or defective road design that contributed to the crash

Identifying all liable parties is critical because it increases the total pool of insurance coverage available to compensate you. Trucking companies will move fast to protect their interests after an accident. You need a truck accident lawyer who moves faster.

Federal Trucking Regulations That Affect Your Case

The trucking industry is governed by strict federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Violations of these regulations are powerful evidence of negligence in a truck accident lawsuit:

• Hours of Service (HOS): Truck drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window, and no more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 days. Violations are a leading cause of fatigued driving crashes.

• Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): Federal law requires most commercial trucks to use ELDs to track driving hours. ELD data is critical evidence in truck accident cases and can prove a driver exceeded legal limits.

• Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection: FMCSA requires regular inspections, maintenance, and repair of all commercial vehicles. Trucking companies must maintain detailed records. Failure to do so can establish negligence.

• Cargo Securement: Federal rules specify exactly how cargo must be loaded and secured. Improperly loaded trucks can shift, roll over, or spill cargo onto the highway.

• Insurance Requirements: Federal law requires a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage for most interstate trucks, and up to $5,000,000 for carriers transporting hazardous materials. These higher policy limits mean more compensation may be available than in a standard car accident claim.

• Driver Qualifications: Trucking companies must verify that drivers hold valid CDLs, pass drug and alcohol testing, and meet medical fitness standards. Negligent hiring is a common basis for liability.

Our Denver truck accident attorneys know these regulations inside and out. When a trucking company or driver violates them, we use those violations to build the strongest possible case for compensation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado

Truck accidents on Colorado highways occur for many reasons, most involving some form of negligence:

• Driver fatigue: Despite HOS regulations, many truckers push beyond legal limits to meet delivery deadlines. Fatigued driving has similar effects to drunk driving.

• Distracted driving: Texting, GPS use, and eating while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle

• Impaired driving: Alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications that impair reaction time and judgment

• Speeding: Excessive speed on I-25, I-70, and I-76 corridors where truck traffic is heaviest

• Improper loading: Overloaded or unsecured cargo causing shifting loads, rollovers, or spilled freight

• Equipment failure: Defective brakes, blown tires, and malfunctioning steering or lighting systems

• Poor vehicle maintenance: Trucking companies cutting corners on inspections and repairs to save money

• Inadequate training: Drivers who lack experience with Colorado mountain roads, winter conditions, or specific vehicle types

Truck Accident Injuries

The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks means that injuries from truck accidents are often far more severe than those from standard car crashes:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Long-term cognitive and physical impairments from the force of a truck collision

• Spinal cord injuries: Partial or complete paralysis requiring lifelong medical care

• Broken bones and crush injuries: Multiple fractures requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation

• Burns and lacerations: From fuel fires, chemical spills, or metal debris

• Amputations: Severe crush injuries can result in the loss of limbs

• Internal organ damage: Life-threatening injuries to the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys

• PTSD and emotional trauma: The psychological impact of a truck accident can be profound and long-lasting

Many truck accident injuries result in catastrophic, life-changing disabilities requiring years or a lifetime of ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and adaptive care.

Colorado Truck Accident Laws

Modified Comparative Negligence

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Trucking companies and their insurers will aggressively try to shift blame to you to reduce or eliminate their liability. An experienced truck accident attorney can counter these tactics and protect your claim.

Statute of Limitations

Under C.R.S. 13-80-101, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the truck accident resulted in a death, the family has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. If a government entity is involved, you may have as little as 180 days to file a notice of claim. Acting quickly is critical.

Damages You Can Recover in a Truck Accident Case

Truck accident victims in Colorado may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses: Past, current, and future medical bills including hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care

• Lost wages and earning capacity: Income lost during recovery and reduced future earning potential

• Pain and suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress

• Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property

• Wrongful death damages: If a truck accident kills a loved one, surviving family members can seek compensation for lost income, funeral expenses, grief, and loss of companionship

• Punitive damages: In cases of extreme negligence such as drunk driving or falsified logbooks, courts may award additional damages to punish the wrongdoer

Because federal law requires a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage for most interstate trucks, there is often significantly more insurance money available in truck accident cases than in standard car accident claims.

How Insurance Companies Handle Truck Accident Claims

Trucking companies and their insurers respond aggressively after a serious truck accident because the financial stakes are high. Common tactics include:

• Sending investigators to the scene immediately to gather evidence that favors the trucking company before you have legal representation

• Pressuring you into a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known

• Destroying or altering evidence: ELD data, maintenance records, and driver logs can be overwritten or lost if not preserved quickly

• Blaming you for the accident to reduce their payout under comparative negligence

• Hiring nationally recognized defense firms to fight your claim aggressively

This is why time is critical after a truck accident. The trucking company starts building their defense within hours. You need a truck accident lawyer who will move just as fast to preserve evidence, issue spoliation letters, and protect your rights.

The Truck Accident Claims Process

Our Denver truck accident attorneys guide you through every step:

1. Free Case Evaluation: We review the accident details, police reports, your injuries, and insurance coverage to determine if you have a valid truck accident claim.

2. Evidence Preservation: We immediately send spoliation letters to the trucking company demanding they preserve ELD data, driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, and black box data before it can be altered or destroyed.

3. Investigation: Our legal team gathers police reports, witness statements, medical records, FMCSA compliance records, and may retain accident reconstruction experts.

4. Identifying All Liable Parties: We investigate the driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, and equipment manufacturers to maximize the insurance coverage available.

5. Demand and Negotiation: Once your medical treatment stabilizes, we prepare a comprehensive demand and negotiate aggressively with the trucking company and their insurers.

6. Litigation and Trial: If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we file suit and take the case to trial. Anderson Hemmat prepares every truck accident case as if it is going to trial. That preparation is why our settlements are consistently higher.

Why Choose Anderson Hemmat for Your Truck Accident Case?

Proven Results: Over $100 million recovered in truck and vehicle accident verdicts and settlements, including the largest wrongful death verdict in Colorado history at $33 million.

Trial-Ready Representation: Trucking companies hire nationally recognized defense firms. You need attorneys who are not intimidated and are genuinely prepared to go to trial. That is Anderson Hemmat.

FMCSA Expertise: Our attorneys understand federal trucking regulations, hours-of-service rules, ELD requirements, and cargo securement standards. We know how to identify violations and use them to build your case.

No Upfront Costs: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Every consultation is free.

Over Three Decades of Experience: Our Denver truck accident lawyers have been fighting for Colorado accident victims for more than 35 years. We know Colorado courts, Colorado judges, and Colorado trucking law.

Truck Accident Claim FAQs

Chad Hemmat on Truck Accident Injury Cases (Video)

Commercial Trucking Accident Injury Case Information

Contact Our Denver Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Colorado, you need experienced legal representation that understands the unique complexities of trucking litigation. Anderson Hemmat has recovered over $100 million in truck and vehicle accident verdicts and settlements, and we are ready to fight for you.

Every consultation is free. There is no obligation and you pay nothing unless we win. The trucking company is already building their defense. Do not wait.

Contact our Denver truck accident lawyers today by calling 303-782-9999 or filling out our free case evaluation form. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and help you determine the best path forward.