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1. We Can Help If You Were In A Semi-Truck Accident
2. Why You Need An Experienced Attorney
3. Typical Injuries From Semi-Truck Accidents
4. Semi-Truck Accident Statistics
5. How Are Truck Accidents Different From Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?
6. Common Causes Of Truck Accidents
7. How To Know If You Have A Valid Truck Accident Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, you may be entitled to damages from the driver, trucking company or insurance companies. Don’t let the at fault party walk if you have been injured, make sure to have an experienced Colorado Springs truck accident attorney at Rector Stuzynski LLC handle your case to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries from your commercial trucking accident, whether you were the driver of the truck or another driver on the road struck by a trucker.
Many commercial semi-trucks are carrying very heavy loads of 50,000+ pounds and when they are involved in accidents, it can do extensive damage to vehicles as well as bodily harm such as serious injuries or even death. Our Colorado Springs truck accident lawyers have handled many truck accident cases and we take pride in being able to help the victims get a fair payout for the damages that were done, whether that be monetary damages or the after effects of serious injuries.
Due to the fact that semi-truck accidents usually cause a significant amount of property and physical damage, there are usually high payouts for these cases which means the trucking companies have a team of lawyers on standby ready to try and lower the truck driver payout costs at every corner. Don’t let these companies take advantage of you, let Rector Stuzynski LLC represent you so you can make sure you aren’t letting anything slip through the cracks.
Our team of Colorado Springs tractor-trailer accident attorneys will collect evidence, speak to eyewitnesses of the crash, evaluate the scene of the collision, check for any truck maintenance violations and even use auto accident recreation experts to determine who was at fault. This way we can build a strong, evidence backed case to present to the courts and get you the settlement you deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis for our tuck accident injury claims so that our clients can know that they have an attorney that is confident in their ability to get you a proper compensation package for the injuries you sustained in the accident.
Every year, there are over a hundred thousand accidents across the United States involving semi-trucks. With the growing number of truck drivers on the road, there are bound to be more accidents happening as our roads become more congested. Below we will go over some of the recent truck accident statistics according to the NHTSA
These semi truck accident statistics show just how dangerous these accidents can be and why it is extremely important that you try to avoid getting into an accident with a semi truck at all costs.
Commercial vehicles spend a ton of time on the road and this can lead to many different points of potential mishaps for the truck drivers. These trucks sustain a lot of wear and tear from constant use, which means they need a lot more maintenance and safety checks than a typical private automobile.
Since the trucks are under such heavy stress all the time and the drivers are working long hours, there is a lot of room for accidents to happen and there are also many people who may end up being responsible for those accidents. Mechanical failures due to maintenance violations are one of the first things our attorneys look for as well as the driver log to see how long the driver had been on the road.
Current driver medical records and licensure are also a main factor in determining if the truck driver was even legal to be on the road in the first place. There are many federal regulations that commercial vehicle drivers have to adhere to like routine vehicle checks, drug tests, following accident procedures and more. Even the slightest error in judgment or maintenance can mean a big payout to the victims who were injured in the accident.
Tractor trailers are also very vulnerable in high winds and on slippery roads, which sometimes leads to roll overs, jack knifing and other types of wrecks that typically end up involving numerous other vehicles due to the large size of the commercial truck. Especially with the winding mountain roads and snow covered hills that our truckers in Colorado have to face on a regular basis.
There are many different causes of Colorado Springs trucking accidents that can lead to serious bodily injuries or even death. Some of these are as follows:
If you were involved in an accident with a commercial trucker, you’ll need to know the specifics on whether you have a legitimate claim so you can pursue compensation for your injuries. If the trucker acted negligently and because of that negligence, ended up causing the accident in question, then you likely have a valid case. To be more specific, there needs to be a few steps present for valid injury claims.
Every semi-truck accident claim is slightly different. Some are pretty straightforward with easy to identify liability and insurance companies that are willing to pay up for their mistakes and other cases are not easy to identify who was at fault or why the accident happened. There are so many different factors that can affect the length of time from filing a claim to final settlement, so let’s take a look at some of the most important factors.
If your case is easy to prove liability and your compensation request is reasonable, then most likely your claim will be able to be settled quickly, without a lot of issues, but every now and then you have to deal with the issues we mentioned above and it can drag your Colorado Springs trucking accident claim out over months or longer if the opposing party is particularly hard headed about settling.
In truck accident injury claims, the Colorado statute of limitations lets you have up to 3 years from the date of the accident to file a claim against the at-fault party. So if you are approaching that 3 year mark and are considering filing a claim, speak to one of our attorneys right away so you don’t miss your chance. We do recommend filing before the deadline though for a few reasons. Waiting for years to file a claim makes it harder for your attorney to collect valuable evidence, such as witness testimony as the memories of the incident are not top of mind for them anymore. Getting witness statements soon after the accident will help us extract all of the important details from them before they forget, which can be very advantageous to your claim.
Every truck accident claim is slightly different, so we can’t give you specific numbers on what your claim will be worth in this article, however, we would be more than happy to give you a free consultation on your case and evaluate what your specific case could be worth. When trying to get a ballpark estimate of what your case could be worth, here are a few of the major pieces that can be used to calculate a round number.
Monetary damages are the easiest to calculate because they already have a number tied to them. Monetary damages would be things such as property damages, medical bills, therapy bills, present and future lost wages, replacement costs for any damaged items and so on. Non-monetary costs are not as easy to put a specific number on, but they are as follows: pain and suffering, semi-permanent and permanent injuries, loss of quality of life, loss of mobility and other similar mental or physical injuries you have to deal with because of the accident. These compensation numbers can be tough to determine by anyone that is not well versed in personal injury law, so check out this article to learn about the average truck accident settlement amounts for a better idea of what your claim might be worth.
When a commercial trucking accident occurs, there can be numerous parties that end up being liable for the accident. It could be the driver at fault, the trucking company, shipping company, maintenance company, government entities or even the vehicle manufacturer. It all depends on what the cause of the accident was and if any parties were involved that may have caused the tractor-trailer to operate under unsafe conditions. The last part is being able to prove who was at fault for the truck accident, which can be tricky sometimes. Let’s look at some examples of who could be at fault in different situations.
The Trucking Company – The company that hired the driver of the truck involved in the accident may be liable if they did not properly train and observe their driving abilities up to federal standards. The trucking company may also be liable if proper background checks were not used.
The Driver – The driver of the truck may be liable for damages if they were driving negligently by being drowsy, on drugs, alcohol, using the truck off-duty or for personal use as well as reckless driving like speeding or unsafe maneuvers.
Third Party Driver – The driver of a personal use vehicle could also be the cause of a trucking accident due to reckless driving, unsafe driving near commercial vehicles, speeding, distracted driving & more. Many accidents are started by a regular sized vehicle stopping quickly in front of tractor-trailers that need extra room to safely come to a stop.
If you are involved in a truck accident, there are a few things that are very important to do so that we can ensure you have the proper evidence to back up your claims in court. Any legal proceedings after the initial accident should be handled by an experienced Colorado Springs trucking accident attorney.
Check Yourself & Passengers For Injuries – Make sure to check yourself for injuries right away and only leave the vehicle if you feel like you are not injured. Also, check your passengers for injuries sustained. Always check on yourself and other passengers before checking on the safety of other drivers in the accident and make sure to check that the scene of the accident is safe before getting out of the vehicle. Move slowly if you feel ok enough to get out of the car or wait for paramedics to arrive before moving if you have pain.
Take Pictures Of The Scene – Taking photos of the damages to each vehicle, the area the collision took place, skid marks, speed limit & traffic signage, injuries, landmarks, debris on the road and anything else that may be important. Try to do this as soon as possible so you can get clear evidence before police start to clear the scene.
Get Eyewitness Contact Information – If anyone was around to witness the accident, get their contact information before they leave so they can be interviewed for their testimony of the accident. Police will also want to talk to them to include their statements in the report of their investigation.
Talk To The Police – Answer openly and honestly to the police officer’s questions, but try not to implicate any fault of your own during the interview. Small errors such as saying “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t mean to” could end up costing you big time when you go to court. The police report will be available to you after the accident from the police station that handled the accident.
See A Medical Doctor – Go see your doctor after an accident even if you only think you had small injuries. Many times, these injuries can grow worse over time and due to the adrenaline from the accident, you may have injuries that you don’t notice at the time. This doctor’s exam will prove very beneficial in the event that you decide to file a lawsuit in regards to the truck accident. Proper medical care is important whether you have serious injuries or not as minor injuries could turn for the worst if not evaluated by your doctor thoroughly.
Contact Our Commercial Trucking Accident Attorneys – Never try to settle anything with insurance companies or other officials relating to the accident without the proper representation. Even the smallest hiccups in what you say to these people can mess up the outcome of your case so make sure you contact our truck accident lawyers at Rector Stuzynski LLC so you get a fair chance at winning your suit.
Every commercial tractor trailer is equipped with a “black box” that tracks all kinds of different information about the semi-truck. They track things from fuel efficiency to mechanical problems to whether or not the brakes were applied. This means there is a lot of data that can be used to prove fault in a semi-truck accident.
The sensors on each truck include Electronic Control Modules(ECM), Event Data Recorders(EDR), and Electronic Logging Devices(ELD). These sensors are required by the NHTSA on all commercial trucks and because of that, accident and injury claims involving trucks come with a lot more data to examine than typical car accidents.
At Rector Stuzynski LLC, we have years of experience dealing with semi truck accidents and identifying the real cause of accidents by using the “black box” to our clients advantage in proving their case. Many lawyers don’t understand or even know about these devices, but we use it constantly for the clients benefit. Don’t let your case get handled by someone who doesn’t know the key details, give us a call today for a free consultation.
Due to the amount of damages that may occur when involved in a trucking accident, the list of damages you may be eligible to receive compensation for covers quite a few things.
No matter how bad your truck accident injury was, make sure to contact an experienced commercial trucking accident lawyer in Colorado Springs right away to ensure your injury lawsuit is being handled properly right from the start. This will avoid any possible mishaps that could affect the outcome of your claim.
We serve clients injured in truck accidents anywhere throughout the state of Colorado, but we focus on residents of these areas: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Briargate, Monument, Black Forest, Pueblo, Canon City, Larkspur, Security-Widefield, Peyton, Falcon, Calhan, Castle Rock, Teller County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Park County, Douglas County and beyond.
We serve clients injured in the following zip codes: 80907, 80909, 80918, 80917, 80931, 80932, 80933, 80934, 80935, 80936, 80937, 80941, 80942, 80946, 80947, 80949, 80950, 80960, 80962, 80977 ,80995 ,80997 80901, 80912, 80904, 80915, 80905, 80910, 80923, 80922, 80919, 80920, 80916, 80939, 80914, 80951, 80924, 80927, 80938, 80906, 80840, 80829, 80902, 80809, 80841, 80911, 80908, 80929, 80819, 80921, 80925, 80132, 80926, 80913, 80863, 80817, 80831, 80133, 80930, 80860, 80814, 80813, 80118, 80106, 80928, 80866, 80816, 80808, 80104, 80116, 81008, 80864, 80135, 81240, 81007, 80109, 81290, 80107, 80108, 80425, 81215, 81221, 80117, 80827, 81212, 80134, 80835, 81003, 80131, 81226, 81001, 80138, 80125, 81002, 81009, 81010, 81011, 81012, 80124, 81244, 80126, 80820, 80130, 80163, 80433, 80129, 80833, 80112, 80832, 81025, 81005, 81223, 81006, 80470, 80127, 80122 and beyond.
Consultations are always free and available 24/7 over the phone.
