When you’re involved in a collision with a semi or tractor-trailer, even routine activities can become impossible for weeks or months. Between crash investigations, phone calls from adjusters, and the physical pain, it’s hard to know what step comes next. An experienced truck accident attorney understands these challenges and will help you sort through the chaos, holding those at fault fully accountable. Find out what legal options are available by contacting Dulin McQuinn Young for a free case assessment.
What Makes Dulin McQuinn Young a Top Pick for Truck Accident Victims in Lakewood?
Truck accidents and the injuries that follow are serious, and you deserve a legal team that puts your needs first every single time. Here’s what sets us apart:
- We act quickly. Clients receive call-backs or email responses within 24 hours, so you never feel forgotten.
- We’ve handled more than 300 jury trials, giving us an edge whether your case settles or sees the inside of a courtroom.
- Our Avvo 10.0 Superb rating means you can trust both our skills and how we treat every client.
When you want to be more than just a case number, you need to work with a firm that cares about your case as much as you do. Contact Dulin McQuinn Young to schedule a free consultation with a Lakewood truck accident lawyer.
Why Call a Lakewood Truck Accident Attorney After a Serious Accident?
Truck crashes bring unique issues, both legally and physically. That’s why you need a legal professional by your side. Here’s what they do to assist:
- Your attorney handles negotiations so you don’t get lost in paperwork or overwhelmed by aggressive insurance adjusters.
- They bring mechanics and other experts into your case to get a better understanding of how the accident occurred and who is responsible.
- The right attorney isn’t afraid to take your claim to court if insurance carriers refuse to do what’s fair.
Let a lawyer stand in your corner while you focus on getting your life back on track.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Colorado Truck Accident?
Determining who is liable in a Colorado truck accident often involves more than just blaming the driver behind the wheel. Several different people and companies could share legal responsibility for your injuries, depending on what went wrong.
- Truck Driver: If the crash resulted from driver error, such as speeding, driving while tired, distracted, or impaired, that driver can be held personally responsible for the harm they caused.
- Trucking Company: The trucking company itself may be liable if it pushed drivers to break hours-of-service rules or failed to properly train, supervise, or background-check employees. Companies are also responsible if they cut corners on safety or knowingly deploy unsafe vehicles.
- Cargo Loaders: Sometimes, a separate company handles the loading of cargo. If goods were overloaded, not balanced correctly, or left unsecured, the loader’s mistakes could make them liable for accidents caused by shifting or falling items.
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers: If a defect contributed to the crash, the truck or parts manufacturer might be to blame for putting unsafe vehicles on the road.
- Maintenance Contractors: Many fleets outsource truck repairs and inspections. If poor maintenance or skipped repairs caused or worsened the accident, the company that paid to keep the truck in safe working order can be legally at fault.
- Other Negligent Drivers on the Road: Not every trucking accident is entirely the truck’s fault. If another motorist cut off a truck, drove recklessly, or set off a chain-reaction crash, that person might share the blame.
Understanding who might be responsible in truck accident cases helps injured victims demand justice from every source and hold all parties accountable.
What Happens When The Victim is Partially at Fault?
In some cases, the victim could be partially at fault. For example, if they were driving slightly above the speed limit during the accident. In Colorado, even if you were partly to blame for a truck accident, you might still be able to recover money for your injuries because of the state’s modified comparative negligence rules.
Under this system, you can receive compensation as long as your share of the fault is less than 50% and then your amount of compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 40% responsible for the crash, your final award would be reduced by 40%.
(1) Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in any action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if such negligence was not as great as the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person for whose injury, damage, or death recovery is made.
(2) In any action to which subsection (1) of this section applies, the court, in a nonjury trial, shall make findings of fact or, in a jury trial, the jury shall return a special verdict which shall state:
(a) The amount of the damages which would have been recoverable if there had been no contributory negligence; and
(b) The degree of negligence of each party, expressed as a percentage.
(3) Upon the making of the finding of fact or the return of a special verdict, as is required by subsection (2) of this section, the court shall reduce the amount of the verdict in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person for whose injury, damage, or death recovery is made; but, if the said proportion is equal to or greater than the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought, then, in such event, the court shall enter a judgment for the defendant.
However, if the investigation finds you equally responsible or more (50% or greater), you are not allowed to collect any damages.
Contact Dulin McQuinn Young to Connect With a Lakewood Truck Accident Attorney
Healing and justice both matter when you’re injured by a truck, and quick settlements aren’t always the right answer, no matter how tempting it might be. When you work with us, you’ll get a team that will fight back against insurance company tactics that try to limit your payout. We’ll thoroughly investigate and make sure nothing is overlooked. You don’t have to face this alone; talk to Dulin McQuinn Young and see how we can support you with your Lakewood truck accident case.