Commercial trucks can some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. These large vehicles can crush the average commuter car without very much force. Because of this, occupants of smaller cars have a greater risk of sustaining catastrophic injuries in the event of a collision with a truck. If you were involved in a crash with a semi-truck, you should pursue compensation for all of your losses.
However, negotiating with large trucking companies in a personal injury case can be intimidating. Fortunately, a skilled Fort Carson truck accident lawyer could help you stand up to these corporations and get the compensation you need. Speaking with a personal injury attorney at our firm could improve your chances of success with your claim.
In some cases, liability for a truck accident can be fairly straight-forward. If a truck driver was speeding, ignoring road signs, or driving recklessly, they would most likely be the primarily negligent party in an accident. However, it may also be possible to file suit against the truck driver’s employer for failing to maintain safe hiring and training practices. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, employers can be held liable for their employees’ actions while on the job.
If the company forced a driver to ignore federal regulations regarding hours spent driving and break periods, this employer could also bear direct liability for a crash. Additionally, a manufacturing company could be negligent if a mechanical failure caused the wreck. A local attorney could work with an injured party to identify the liable party or parties in their truck accident case and pursue litigation accordingly.
Given the severe injuries truck accidents may cause, it is important for plaintiffs to pursue compensation for past and future economic and non-economic losses. However, there are several state laws that may hinder someone’s efforts to recover damages.
Colorado Revised Statute §13-21-111 prohibits claimants from recovering compensation if they bear 50 percent or more of the fault for their accident. This statute also allows courts to proportionally reduce a plaintiff’s total damage award if they are less than 50 percent liable.
According to C.R.S. §13-21-102.5, there is also a limit on how much a plaintiff can recover for non-economic damages. As of January 1, 2020, the cap for most cases is $613,760. In the event of severe losses, this limit may be raised to $1,227,530.
There is a filing deadline for every civil case regarding a motor vehicle accident. As per C.R.S. §13-80-101, someone injured in a truck crash generally has three years of the date of the accident to file their claim for compensation. A diligent lawyer in the area could help an injured party work around these potential obstacles while filing a semi-truck accident case.
The process of filing a civil lawsuit is long and complicated. It would likely be difficult to go through this whole process alone. If you retain qualified legal counsel, however, you could be in a better position to pursue the compensation you need to make a full financial recovery.
A Fort Carson truck accident lawyer could be an ally in your fight for justice. Call our offices today to schedule an initial consultation.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.
