By Michael M. Clawson, Pueblo Personal Injury Attorney
Large commercial trucks are an essential part of Colorado's economy. Every day, thousands of semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, flatbeds, and delivery vehicles travel through Pueblo on Interstate 25, Highway 50, Highway 96, and other major roadways. While these trucks keep goods moving across the state, they also present unique dangers to motorists when drivers or trucking companies fail to operate safely.
Unlike a typical collision between two passenger vehicles, a commercial truck accident often results in catastrophic injuries, extensive property damage, and complicated legal issues. These cases require a thorough investigation, an understanding of federal trucking regulations, and the ability to identify every party that may be responsible.
For more than 30 years, Michael M. Clawson has represented injury victims throughout Southern Colorado. He understands the challenges that truck accident victims face and the aggressive tactics trucking companies and their insurance carriers often use immediately after a serious crash.
Why Pueblo Sees So Many Commercial Trucks
Pueblo is a major transportation hub in Southern Colorado. Interstate 25 connects Denver to New Mexico, while U.S. Highway 50 serves as one of the primary east-west freight corridors across the state. Every day, commercial trucks travel through Pueblo carrying construction materials, agricultural products, fuel, manufactured goods, and consumer products.
Because of this heavy truck traffic, drivers in Pueblo regularly share the road with vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds. When a fully loaded commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle weighing only 3,000 to 5,000 pounds, the results are often devastating.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
Many people assume that a truck accident is simply a larger version of a car accident. In reality, commercial trucking cases are far more complex.
Unlike most automobile collisions, truck accident claims often involve:
- Federal safety regulations.
- Multiple insurance policies.
- Corporate defendants.
- Electronic driving records.
- Maintenance records.
- Cargo loading companies.
- Vehicle manufacturers.
- Commercial driver qualification files.
Determining who is responsible requires an extensive investigation that often begins immediately after the collision.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Pueblo
Although every accident is unique, several factors appear repeatedly in serious commercial vehicle crashes.
Driver Fatigue
Federal regulations limit the number of hours commercial drivers may operate without taking required breaks. Despite these rules, fatigue continues to contribute to many serious truck accidents.
Long hours behind the wheel can reduce reaction time, impair judgment, and increase the likelihood of falling asleep while driving.
Distracted Driving
Commercial drivers are not immune from distractions. Cell phones, dispatch systems, GPS devices, paperwork, and eating while driving can divert a driver's attention from the road.
A momentary distraction behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck can have life-changing consequences.
Speeding
Commercial trucks require significantly longer distances to stop than passenger vehicles.
When truck drivers exceed the speed limit or drive too fast for road or weather conditions, they may be unable to stop before striking slower traffic.
Improper Lane Changes
Commercial trucks have substantial blind spots on both sides, directly behind the trailer, and immediately in front of the cab.
If a truck driver fails to properly check these blind spots before changing lanes, nearby vehicles may be sideswiped or forced off the roadway.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Improperly secured cargo can shift during transportation, making a truck unstable and difficult to control.
Cargo spills may also create dangerous roadway hazards for other motorists.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Commercial trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their fleets in safe operating condition.
Brake failures, worn tires, defective steering systems, and lighting problems can all contribute to serious accidents.
Driving Under the Influence
Commercial drivers are held to stricter alcohol standards than ordinary motorists. Even so, impaired driving involving alcohol, illegal drugs, or certain medications continues to cause preventable trucking accidents throughout the country.
Federal Trucking Regulations Matter
Unlike ordinary drivers, commercial trucking companies and their drivers must comply with numerous Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.
These regulations govern:
- Hours of service.
- Driver qualifications.
- Drug and alcohol testing.
- Vehicle inspections.
- Maintenance requirements.
- Cargo securement.
- Driver training.
- Electronic logging devices (ELDs).
Violations of these safety regulations may become important evidence in a personal injury case.
Evidence That Exists Only in Truck Accident Cases
One of the biggest differences between truck accident cases and ordinary automobile collisions is the amount of evidence that may exist.
Important evidence may include:
- Electronic logging device data.
- Driver qualification files.
- Driver logs.
- GPS records.
- Dispatch communications.
- Cell phone records.
- Maintenance records.
- Inspection reports.
- Dash camera footage.
- Engine control module ("black box") data.
- Bills of lading.
- Cargo manifests.
- Company safety policies.
Much of this evidence is controlled by the trucking company.
If it is not preserved promptly, valuable information may be lost.
Multiple Parties May Be Responsible
Unlike a typical two-car accident, several different parties may share responsibility for a commercial truck crash.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The truck driver.
- The trucking company.
- The owner of the tractor.
- The owner of the trailer.
- A maintenance company.
- A cargo loading company.
- A freight broker.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer.
Identifying every responsible party is essential to maximizing available insurance coverage and pursuing full compensation.
Serious Injuries Commonly Seen in Truck Accidents
Because of the enormous size and weight of commercial vehicles, truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries.
These injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Paralysis.
- Multiple fractures.
- Internal organ injuries.
- Severe burns.
- Crush injuries.
- Amputations.
- Neck and back injuries.
- Permanent disability.
- Wrongful death.
Many victims require months or years of medical treatment and rehabilitation, while others face lifelong medical needs.
Insurance Companies Begin Investigating Immediately
After a serious truck accident, trucking companies often dispatch investigators, insurance adjusters, and defense attorneys to the scene within hours.
Their goal is to protect the company and minimize financial exposure.
Unfortunately, injured victims are rarely provided the same immediate resources.
That is one reason why preserving evidence early can be so important.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
If you have been involved in a commercial truck accident in Pueblo:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Obtain medical treatment as soon as possible.
- Follow all medical recommendations.
- Photograph the accident scene if you are physically able.
- Obtain witness information.
- Preserve photographs, damaged property, and medical records.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to the trucking company's insurance carrier before understanding your legal rights.
Why Local Experience Matters
Truck accident cases are among the most complex personal injury claims.
They involve extensive documentation, federal regulations, multiple insurance carriers, and sophisticated defense teams.
Working with an attorney familiar with Pueblo, Southern Colorado, and Colorado personal injury law can provide an important advantage.
For more than three decades, Michael M. Clawson has represented individuals and families injured by the negligence of others. He personally works with clients throughout every stage of the case, from the initial investigation through settlement negotiations or trial when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are truck accident cases more complicated than car accident cases?
Commercial truck accidents often involve federal regulations, multiple defendants, extensive electronic evidence, and several insurance policies. Determining responsibility typically requires a much more detailed investigation than an ordinary automobile accident.
Who can be responsible for a truck accident?
Depending on the facts, responsibility may extend beyond the truck driver to include the trucking company, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, equipment manufacturers, or other entities involved in the transportation process.
What if the trucking company says the accident was my fault?
Insurance companies often attempt to shift responsibility to the injured driver. A thorough investigation, including review of electronic records, maintenance documents, witness statements, and accident reconstruction evidence, can help determine what actually occurred.
How much is a truck accident case worth?
Every case is different. Compensation depends upon factors such as the severity of injuries, medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and available insurance coverage.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Colorado law establishes deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Because important evidence can disappear quickly, it is generally best to consult an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident.
Protecting the Rights of Truck Accident Victims in Pueblo
A collision with a commercial truck can change a person's life in an instant. Medical bills, lost income, permanent injuries, and uncertainty about the future can quickly become overwhelming.
Understanding that truck accident cases are fundamentally different from ordinary automobile accidents is the first step toward protecting your rights. Prompt investigation, preservation of evidence, and experienced legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident in Pueblo or anywhere in Southern Colorado, Michael M. Clawson and Clawson & Clawson, LLP are committed to helping clients pursue the compensation they deserve while providing personal attention, honest guidance, and experienced representation throughout the legal process.
Michael M. Clawson
Clawson & Clawson, LLP
Serving Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and clients throughout Southern Colorado
Email: michaelc@clawsonlaw.net