Truck accidents are some of the most devastating crashes on any roadway. When these massive trucks collide with passenger vehicles, severe injury, trauma, and even death are often the unfortunate outcomes.
If you’ve been injured in a crash with a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle, you’re likely feeling traumatized and overwhelmed. You may not even know what exactly caused the accident, which could be a serious impediment to filing a personal injury claim.
Fortunately, the lawyers at McDivitt Law are intimately familiar with the causes of truck accidents in Colorado. We’ve outlined some of the most common ones below to help you see who’s at fault for your collision.
Why Are Truck Accidents More Dangerous than Car Crashes?
Before diving into the causes of truck accidents, it’s important to understand why crashes involving large trucks are so dangerous. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That’s 20–30 times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. So even at low speeds, these trucks can cause immense damage to vehicles and passengers.
7 Top Causes of Truck Accidents in Colorado
1. Driver Fatigue
2. Distracted Driving
3. Improper Loading or Overloading
Overloaded trucks and improperly secured cargo can lead to major issues such as blowouts, rollovers, or cargo spills. In many of the truck accidents in Colorado caused by improper loading, the trucking company or cargo loaders may be held liable.
4. Mechanical Failures and Poor Maintenance
Truckers and trucking companies must meet exacting standards of vehicle maintenance. Unfortunately, not all trucking companies stay on top of this. When proper maintenance takes a backseat to cost-cutting, truck components can fail and start an accident. Poor maintenance is a particularly common cause of truck accidents in Colorado, where mountainous areas like the Rockies put immense strain on semi-truck brakes.
5. Speeding and Reckless Driving
Despite knowing that the size and weight of 18-wheelers make them harder to control than most vehicles, some truck drivers still drive aggressively. At high speeds, truck drivers can’t react to changing traffic conditions as easily and are more likely to crash into nearby vehicles.
6. Driving Under the Influence
7. Inadequate Driver Training
Operating a commercial vehicle requires specialized knowledge and skills. Sadly, some companies put drivers on the road without proper training. These inexperienced drivers are more likely to make an operating error, especially when weather and road conditions are less than ideal, as is often the case during winter and spring in Colorado.
While these causes are all distinct, the outcomes they lead to are largely the same: injury, trauma, and even death. When a truck accident results from one of the above causes, someone can be held liable for the severe impacts of the accident.
Call McDivitt Law Today — Get Help After a Truck Accident in Colorado
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck crash, don’t wait to take action. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the better your chances of recovering critical evidence and building a strong case.
At McDivitt Law, we’ve helped hundreds of truck accident victims in Colorado. Our team knows how to uncover the cause of your accident and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Ready to file your personal injury claim? Click the button below to schedule a free consultation with one of our Colorado truck accident lawyers.