Why Truck Crashes in Colorado Often Lead to Catastrophic Injuries
Colorado is a hub for commercial trucking. Unfortunately, this means it’s also a hotspot for serious truck crashes. And, sadly, these collisions often result in life-altering harm, especially when large, fully-loaded vehicles strike smaller passenger cars.
Driver negligence, inadequate safeguards, and oversight from trucking companies are major causes of semi-truck accident injuries and fatalities.
The Sheer Force of Large Vehicle Accidents
Commercial trucks—whether 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, or semi-trucks—can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, compared to the 3,000–4,000 pounds of the average car. In a collision, this disparity in size and force means that the occupants of the smaller vehicle almost always suffer the most harm.
When a truck collides with a vehicle at highway speeds or jackknifes in a snow-slicked mountain pass, the resulting impact can cause spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, or internal organ damage—injuries that require intensive, long-term medical care.
That’s why it’s so important for trucking companies to only hire safe drivers. They also have to make sure these mammoth vehicles are properly loaded and functioning properly.
Common Catastrophic Injuries from Colorado Truck Wrecks
Victims of Denver truck crash injuries often face a future marked by permanent disability, chronic pain, and financial ruin without proper compensation. Common catastrophic injuries in truck accident cases include:
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal injury from a truck crash can result in partial or complete paralysis. Victims may also require lifelong in-home care, adaptive equipment, and home modifications.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A TBI from a truck collision can impair memory, speech, motor function, and emotional regulation. Many victims cannot return to their careers or previous quality of life.
Crush Injuries and Amputations
When vehicles are compacted or rolled under a trailer, limbs may be crushed or amputated, requiring prosthetics and extensive rehabilitation.
Internal Organ Damage
Seatbelt trauma and blunt-force impact can damage the kidneys, liver, lungs, or intestines, requiring emergency surgery and ongoing treatment.
Burns and Disfigurement
Fires or chemical spills from tankers can cause burns, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma that lasts a lifetime. These are not just injuries—they are catastrophic outcomes that transform the lives of victims and their families. They also require careful documentation and expert testimony to ensure proper compensation in a high-value injury case.
Why Truck Crashes Are So Severe
Several factors make semi-truck accident trauma particularly devastating:
Driver Fatigue
Sleep deprivation and impaired reaction times are some of the top causes of trucking collisions. Trucking companies must monitor their drivers to make sure they aren’t violating federal Hours of Service (HOS) laws that require drivers to take regular rest breaks.
Improper Loading
Shifting cargo can make a trailer unstable and increase the risk of rollovers or jackknifes, particularly in turns or on steep inclines.
Mechanical Failure
Poorly maintained brakes, tires, or steering systems contribute to truck crashes. In some cases, failure to inspect or repair these systems constitutes negligence.
Distracted or Impaired Driving
Despite strict regulations, many truck drivers allow themselves to be distracted by GPS, cell phones, and other factors, which can lead to devastating crashes.
In the case of impaired driving, the blood alcohol content limit (BAC) for truck drivers in Colorado is 0.04%. That’s half the level allowed for other drivers because the state recognizes how hazardous it is for truckers to be impaired while driving.
What to Do After a Catastrophic Truck Crash
If you or a family member was involved in a truck crash and suffered severe injuries, take the following steps as soon as possible:
- Seek emergency medical care and follow all treatment plans.
- Do not speak with insurance adjusters or accept any settlement without legal counsel.
- Document everything, including photos, injuries, names of witnesses, and all bills.
- Contact a Colorado truck wreck lawyer Delay can result in lost evidence and weakened claims.
Determining Liability in Truck-Related Catastrophic Injuries
Liability in truck-related catastrophic injuries often extends beyond the driver. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including:
- The truck driver (for fatigue, distraction, speeding, etc.)
- The trucking company (for hiring unqualified drivers or encouraging unsafe schedules)
- Maintenance providers (for failing to repair or inspect key systems)
- Cargo loaders (for improperly securing freight)
- Manufacturers (for defective brakes or tires)
Uncovering this liability requires swift and aggressive investigation—something most victims are unable to do on their own. Our firm uses subpoenas, expert accident reconstruction, and black box data to establish fault and fight for full compensation.
Why These Cases Require High-Value Case Retention
Catastrophic injuries are life-changing. Victims often face:
- Six- to seven-figure medical expenses
- Permanent loss of income
- The need for long-term in-home care
- Emotional trauma and loss of quality of life
These cases are high-value by nature and must be handled with the care, skill, and resources they demand.
Insurance companies are quick to offer early settlements that undervalue the extent of the injuries, hoping families will accept before fully understanding future needs. But at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we won’t be tempted by unacceptably low offers.
We build cases for maximum trial impact, consult nationally respected medical experts, and go to court when necessary to fight for our clients’ futures.
How Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Can Help
Not all law firms are equipped to handle catastrophic injury litigation. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we are trial lawyers first. Our legal team has secured some of the largest verdicts in Colorado for clients whose lives were permanently altered by medical and vehicular negligence.
If you or someone you love has suffered Denver truck crash injuries, we can:
- Launch an immediate investigation into the crash
- Preserve and analyze trucking logs, maintenance records, and onboard data
- Consult with leading specialists in trucking regulations, medicine, and life care planning
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including projected lifetime care
- Prepare your case as if it is going to trial, because we are not afraid to take it there
We do all of this with no charge for initial consultations and no legal fees unless we win.
Contact a Premier Colorado Truck Wreck Lawyer Today
Truck crash cases are complex, high-stakes, and aggressively defended. You need a Denver truck accident attorney who understands the technical, legal, and medical landscape and who has a proven record of holding powerful companies accountable.
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we’re ready to fight for every dollar you need to recover and start rebuilding your life. Call (303) 759-9945 to schedule your no-charge initial consultation.