Being injured in a truck accident often leaves victims feeling helpless. It can be confusing to determine who is at fault, and dealing with insurance companies as well as large trucking conglomerates can be intimidating. However, victims are not without recourse. Colorado Springs truck accident lawyer Patterson Weaver can help you determine which legal steps to take and which options are available for you. Truck crashes can result in significant, life-altering injuries, and victims may need not only time but also financial assistance to recover. Patterson Weaver started his practice in order to provide clients with individualized attention and well-rounded legal services throughout the entirety of his representation. If you have been injured in a truck accident, or if a loved one has passed away due to a truck driver’s carelessness, he can assist you in pursuing aggressive legal action.
Common Factors Contributing to Truck Collisions in Colorado Springs
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 4,000 victims died as a result of a truck crash in 2015. Of these, 97 percent were traveling in a passenger vehicle involved in an accident with a large commercial truck. The volume of trucks traveling through and around Colorado has been expanding over the years and continues to grow, which increases the risk of collisions involving these vehicles. There are many factors that can contribute to causing a truck accident. Some of the most common include:
- Speeding or aggressive driving by a truck driver who is under pressure to make a delivery deadline.
- Driver fatigue due to a failure to take required rest or meal breaks.
- Drivers distracted by their phones or engaging in other distracted driving practices.
- Failures to inspect or maintain a vehicle adequately, especially the brakes.
Following too closely, overloaded cargo, and driving too fast for conditions can also lead to a truck accident. A detailed investigation to collect evidence is often necessary when pursuing legal action arising out of injuries from a truck crash. Consulting a knowledgeable truck accident attorney in the Colorado Springs area as soon as possible is important to ensure that your legal rights remain intact.
Responsibility for Injuries in a Truck Accident
Many times, a truck driver’s negligence is the reason why another motorist is harmed on the road. Negligence is the legal standard that must be met to prevail in a personal injury case. A driver is negligent when he or she breaches a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would act under similar circumstances, causing another person’s injuries and resulting in damages.
For example, a truck driver who is speeding excessively, especially on a curvy or unfamiliar roadway, would be acting unreasonably. Trucking companies can also be held accountable for an employee’s negligence if the employee was acting within the scope of employment at the time, such as when they were en route to make a delivery. If liability is established, victims may receive damages in the forms of property loss, past and anticipated medical costs, loss of income, and diminished earning capacity. A Colorado Springs truck accident attorney also can help them pursue non-economic damages for emotional distress and physical pain and suffering. In cases in which a driver or trucking company has acted especially dangerous, exemplary damages may be awarded. In Colorado, injured victims have three years from the date of their injury in which to file a claim.
Truck Accident Representation for Colorado Springs Residents
The first and foremost focus for truck accident victims, as for car accident victims, should be getting proper medical treatment in order to recover from their injuries. However, it is also important to seek legal advice following any significant motor vehicle accident. Attorney Patterson Weaver is available to answer any legal questions that you may have regarding a claim arising out of injuries sustained in a truck accident. Peakstone Law Group, LLC serves people throughout Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities, including Pueblo, Monument, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Palmer Lake, Old Colorado City, Woodland Park, Divide, Cripple Creek, Fairplay, Salida, Buena Vista, Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Canon City, and Castle Rock, as well as other areas of El Paso, Chaffee, Pueblo, Teller, Lincoln, and Park Counties. Contact our office today online or at (719) 264-9858 to explore your possible legal claims in a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Colorado Springs.