As the city’s name suggests, Grand Junction sits at the intersection of Colorado’s critical highways. Much of the state’s commercial truck traffic passes through Grand Junction every day, sharing the roads with smaller passenger vehicles. When a fully-loaded big rig hits a car at highway speeds, the outcome is never good for the smaller vehicle.
Victims of truck accidents can face catastrophic injuries, months of recovery, and life-altering outcomes. If the accident was due to the carelessness or negligence of the driver or the trucking company, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries. A truck collision attorney understands the common causes of truck accidents in Grand Junction and can work to ensure you receive maximum compensation after an accident.
Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents
Despite the size and weight of a big rig, the factors that cause most commercial truck accidents are the same as those in ordinary car accidents. What makes a truck accident worse is the impact an 80,000-pound truck has against a 5,000-pound car.
Some common causes of big rig accidents in Grand Junction include:
- Driver fatigue, often due to tight schedules and long hours on the road
- Distracted or impaired driving
- Inadequate maintenance
- Speeding, insufficient following distance, or other road violations
- Bad weather, such as heavy rain, snow, or icy roads
These factors often work in combination to create accidents. A tired driver may rush to complete a delivery in bad weather, hit the brakes, and have them fail due to poor maintenance. The result is a semi that slides through a traffic signal and hits your car.
Who is Liable in a Truck Accident?
In a car accident, you exchange insurance information with the other driver, and that is about all. Colorado is an “at-fault” state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the accident pays for the other driver’s damages and injuries.
In a commercial truck accident in Grand Junction, the driver may not be the only one responsible for the accident. Drivers are responsible if they are careless or distracted, but in some cases, the cause of their fatigue could be beyond their control.
Other parties who may share liability can include:
- The trucking company, if they require drivers to work outside of federally mandated hours of service, or keep to strict schedules
- The shipping company, if they are different from the trucking company
- The maintenance company who serviced the truck and is responsible for any mechanical failure that contributed to the accident
- A third party, such as the city if road conditions were part of the accident
Liability in a commercial truck accident can be complex. You are entitled to compensation from everyone who had a hand in the accident, not just the driver who was the last person standing. Victims need assistance from a skilled attorney to help them navigate through the tangle of competing insurance claims and denials of responsibility.
Talk to a Grand Junction Attorney About the Common Causes of Truck Wrecks
The attorneys at Veritas Injury Lawyers know how trucking companies will hide behind lawyers and blame their drivers for any accidents. We know the common causes of truck accidents in Grand Junction, and we can help you find out who is really responsible for the accident and file a claim that gets you the compensation you need for your injuries.
Our legal team will investigate your case and help you find the evidence you need to support your claim for your injuries and lost wages. Call us today for a free and confidential case review.
