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Boulder Truck Accident Attorney

Truck drivers and their employers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, follow all Colorado traffic laws, and adhere to state and federal trucking guidelines. These rules are important due to the sheer size and weight of these commercial vehicles, and the catastrophic nature of truck accidents. Unfortunately, not all truckers adhere to their duties of care—sometimes leading to severe and damaging collisions on Boulder roads.

If you are involved in a truck accident, trust the Boulder truck accident attorneys at Purvis Thomson, LLP. Since 1985, our attorneys have fought for the rights of accident victims and will advocate tenaciously for your right to recovery.

Why Choose Us

  • Our Colorado law firm strives to provide high-quality, energetic, and compassionate representation to our clients. We have advocated for the rights of injured Colorado residents for decades.
  • Our Boulder injury attorneys have received numerous awards and distinctions recognizing our dedication to improving the lives of our clients, including membership in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
  • Our firm’s track record speaks for itself. We have recovered $4 million in settlements for a client who was fighting a trucking negligence case, proving our commitment to achieving maximum compensation.

Boulder Truck Accident Resources

Truck Accident Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

If you are involved in a Boulder truck accident, it is important to stay calm, get to safety, and protect yourself and your family. As soon as possible after the collision occurs, pull over in a safe location and dial 911. Check on others in the vehicle to make sure they are safe and wait for law enforcement to arrive. Seek emergency medical attention as soon as you can and save all records related to your visit.

If you are able to move around without further injury or danger, you can begin documenting evidence for your future claim. Take the following steps to preserve as much information as possible at the scene.

  • Speak to the responding law enforcement officer and provide your side of the story. Do not admit fault or make any statements about your injuries at this time; you may harm your future case if you do so, and you do not know all of the facts about the collision at this time. Collect his or her information so that you can find the police report at a later time.
  • Take as many photographs from as many angles as possible of the accident site. Photograph your injuries, damage to both vehicles, and any debris around the scene. Make sure to photograph the road and any traffic signs or signals as well.
  • Exchange license, contact, and insurance information with the truck driver. Keep your interaction brief and do not make any statements about your injuries or the accident. If there are any witnesses in the area, ask them for their contact information as well.
  • Seek emergency medical care, even if you do not feel hurt. Your medical records will serve as valuable pieces of evidence in your claim. After you seek medical care, contact a Boulder truck accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case.

Who is Liable after a Truck Accident in Boulder?

Truck accidents are often complicated because there may be multiple parties who contributed to the accident and who may be financially responsible for the consequences. Each of these parties may have separate liability insurance and may require a separate claim. Let’s take a look at the parties who may be responsible for trucking accidents. 

First, you will usually look to the truck driver after an accident. Truck drivers may be negligent and cause an accident by:

In addition to the driver, the trucking company can also be held responsible for the actions of a negligent truck driver it hires. In some cases, the trucking company’s separate negligence is responsible for the collision. Common causes of truck accidents involving the truck driver’s employer include the following.

  • Hiring a driver without the proper licensing or training
  • Failing to inspect commercial vehicles on a regular basis
  • Failing to update or repair a fleet of vehicles when a hazard is detected
  • Encouraging employees to violate hours of service regulations to meet strict deadlines

Trucks have thousands of moving parts that must be in good condition for the truck to operate properly and safely. Sometimes, trucking companies outsource maintenance to a third-party maintenance company, which may be responsible if an accident is caused by a mechanical failure if the company failed to properly maintain or inspect the truck. 

If the accident was due to a defective part, such as tires that blew out or brakes that did not work properly, the manufacturer of the part may be responsible for the accident. 

In accidents involving cargo that falls out or shifts during transit, the company responsible for loading the cargo. There are various federal regulations that require the types of tie-downs and mechanisms that must be used to safely secure loads. Companies can be held responsible when they fail to follow these rules.

Identifying the cause of a truck accident is important for several reasons. First, it can help you establish liability in case you are in one of these collisions. If another party is at fault for the accident, you can hold that party accountable through a personal injury lawsuit, and identifying the cause helps you know who to name in your claim. Many parties may be liable in a truck accident claim, including the driver, his or her employer, or the manufacturer of a defective part or vehicle. 

A seasoned Boulder truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to determine how the accident occurred and who is responsible for it. 

Car accident claim form

What Evidence Do I Need to Prove a Truck Accident Case?

In order to recover fair compensation for your truck accident claim, you will need to be able to prove how the accident occurred, the factors that contributed to it, who is responsible for it, and the damages you incurred as a result of it. This is a lot to ask of someone who was seriously injured and trying to deal with other responsibilities. 

Our legal team has extensive experience in identifying, preserving, and gathering strong evidence to establish the legal elements of our claim. Some of this evidence may include:

  • Electronic data recorder information – Commercial trucks have electronic data recorders, similar to the black boxes in commercial airplanes, that record important information about the vehicle in the moments leading up to the accident, including the speed, the timing of the application of the brakes, how long the vehicle had been in motion before the accident, and the movements the truck made before the crash. 
  • Logbooks – We can examine the driver’s electronic or manual entry logbooks to determine if the driver was violating hours of service rules and may have been drowsy at the time of the accident. 
  • Cell phone records – Cell phone records may show the truck driver was texting or using data at the time of the accident, which can point to distractions as a contributing factor. 
  • Physical evidence – One of the reasons why it is so important to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible is so that they can conduct a thorough investigation while evidence is still fresh. There may be broken vehicle pieces, tire tread, skid marks, or debris on the roadway that may point to the possible cause of the accident. 
  • Videos – There may be traffic cameras, surveillance cameras, dash cams, or onboard cameras that might have recorded the crash or factors that may have contributed to it. 
  • Witness testimony – Witnesses may have seen the accident itself or the events leading up to it. Additionally, expert witnesses may have important information to share about your injuries and how they will likely affect your life. 
  • Evidence from a criminal or formal investigation – Depending on the circumstances, authorities may have investigated the accident. For example, the National Transportation Safety Board may have been called in to conduct a formal investigation. Law enforcement may have been contacted if the crash involved a driver who was suspected of being impaired by drugs or alcohol. Our experienced attorneys can request access to evidence obtained by other authorities to strengthen your civil claim.
  • Personnel records – Personnel records may include medical records, training records, drug test results, prior accident history, and other information that may show a problem history or that a trucking company hired an unqualified or dangerous driver. 
  • Vehicle records – If a manufacturer defect or mechanical failure contributed to the crash, records related to the vehicle can be invaluable. 

This is just a small sampling of the evidence that may be used in your claim. Our team will also request medical records and other evidence to document your damages. Reach out to us today so we can begin building a strong claim on your behalf.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

There are various ways that truck accidents can occur. Understanding the most common types of truck accidents may help determine how the crash occurred and who is responsible for it. We represent victims who were injured in various types of truck accidents, including the following:

  • Head-on crashes – Head-on crashes can be particularly catastrophic when a much larger truck slams into the front of another vehicle. These accidents are often due to drowsy or impaired driving. 
  • Rear-end collisions – Some truck drivers commonly tailgate other drivers to intimidate them to move over so the truck can pass and make their deliveries faster. However, when trucks are too close to other vehicles, they may not have enough braking distance to stop before slamming into the vehicle in front of them. 
  • Jackknife accidents – A truck jackknifes when the trailer swings sideways and makes a sharp angle with the cab. Nearby vehicles may be hit by the truck, which may spread over several lanes of traffic. These crashes can occur if the driver suddenly brakes or cargo shifts during transit. 
  • Rollover crashes – Rollover crashes can be catastrophic, but they are especially dangerous when involving large commercial trucks that may occupy several lanes of traffic or be carrying flammable materials. Rollover crashes can sometimes cause painful crush injuries. 
  • Sideswipe collisions – Commercial trucks have large blind spots and a wide turning radius. If drivers do not keep a proper lookout, they can crash into the side of nearby vehicles. 
  • Override accidents – Override accidents occur when a smaller passenger vehicle gets lodged underneath the trailer. These accidents are often catastrophic because the much heavier and powerful truck often crushes the trunk and back seat of the vehicle. 
  • Underride accidents – Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle behind the truck gets stuck underneath the truck, sometimes resulting in the truck shearing off the top of the passenger vehicle and jeopardizing the lives and safety of those in the vehicle. 
  • Tire blowout accidents – Commercial trucks use a lot of tires and travel many miles, making them much more susceptible to having a tire blowout accident. In these accidents, drivers may lose control of the vehicle, leading to devastating accidents. 
  • Cargo spills – Cargo can spill or fall off the truck if it is not properly secured, creating dangers for others on the roadway. 

Whatever the reason for your accident, truck accidents can cause deaths and serious injuries. Our accident lawyers can work tirelessly to help you seek justice and accountability from all responsible parties.

Truck driving on road

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many factors that contribute to truck accidents. In some cases, inclement weather or dangerous road conditions cause the crash. In other situations, a defective auto part is to blame for the collision. However, the most common causes of Boulder truck accidents often involve failure to adhere to safety regulations, along with negligent and dangerous driving behaviors that put others on the road at risk.

Some of the leading causes of truck accidents involving driver behavior include the following.

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Failure to check blind spots when making a lane change
  • Speeding or overtaking a smaller vehicle
  • Driving while fatigued, which is a violation of hours of service regulations
  • Driving while distracted, such as fiddling with the radio or talking on the phone while driving
  • Failing to properly secure cargo, improperly loading the vehicle, or loading the truck with too much cargo
  • Following too closely behind another vehicle, leading to a rear-end collision
  • Under-filling tanker trucks, which can cause a liquid to slosh around during travel

In some cases, the trucking company’s negligence is responsible for the collision. Common causes of truck accidents involving the truck driver’s employer include the following.

  • Hiring a driver without the proper licensing or training
  • Failing to inspect commercial vehicles on a regular basis
  • Failing to update or repair a fleet of vehicles when a hazard is detected
  • Encouraging employees to violate hours of service regulations to meet strict deadlines

Identifying the cause of a truck accident is important for several reasons. First, it can help you establish liability in case you are in one of these collisions. If another party is at fault for the accident, you can hold that party accountable through a personal injury lawsuit, and identifying the cause helps you know who to name in your claim. Many parties may be liable in a truck accident claim, including the driver, his or her employer, or the manufacturer of a defective part or vehicle.

The Dangers of Truck Collisions in Boulder

Commercial trucks are significantly larger and heavier than the average passenger car. As a result, collisions between a motor vehicle and a truck can be extremely dangerous, leading to catastrophic injuries and devastating fatalities. Some of the most common injuries seen in truck accidents include the following.

These injuries can lead to devastating long-term consequences and require permanent medical care. Additionally, you may be unable to return to work for a period of time, or be prevented from returning to your previous position altogether. The emotional, physical, and financial impact of truck accident injuries can be difficult to bear. However, you can recover compensation for these losses by filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the driver responsible for your accident.

Testimonials

  • “Michael Thomson has long held my trust as my attorney. His knowledge of the law makes me feel confident in his abilities and his speed at assisting with complicated insurance and medical related questions during two accidents where I was not at all brought comfort to difficult situations. His strong ethics really mattered to me as I wanted an advocate who I felt I could truly trust, not always easy to find when dealing with personal injury.” – Aaron Raml

Contact our Boulder Truck Accident Attorney

If you are in a truck accident on Boulder roads, you may have grounds for an insurance claim or lawsuit—and the Boulder truck accident lawyers at Purvis Thomson, LLP can help. We advocate tenaciously for the rights of injured Colorado residents and we can provide you with the aggressive representation that you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about your optimal path to recovery.

Areas We Serve

Pearl Street | University Hill | Newlands | Martin Acres | Chautauqua | North Boulder | South Boulder | Gunbarrel | Mapleton Hill | Whittier | Wonderland Hill | Goss-Grove | Table Mesa | Tantra Park | Lower Arapahoe | Boulder Heights | Melody Heights | Frasier Meadows | Downtown Boulder | East Boulder | Keewaydin | Palo Park | Parkside | Pine Brook Hills | Rolling Hills | Wonderland Lake