Did you know that there are more than 500,000 accidents in the United States that involve commercial trucks each year? In the Denver area, I-25 and I-70 are primary corridors for commercial trucks, leading to dangerous conditions for drivers in traffic that can change your life in an instant. When you are involved in a truck accident in the Denver area and faced with mountains of medical bills and disputes with insurance companies, an experienced personal injury law firm is a valuable asset, and Arckey & Steele is the right choice. Many personal injury law firms are focused on high volume models, quick settlements, and quick checks. We are not looking for a quick resolution in your case, we are here to provide compassionate legal support and help you get maximum compensation.
When you choose a personal injury attorney in Denver, it is important to find a law firm that has proven success in the courtroom and that will deliver positive results for you and your family in your case. Arckey & Steele is a boutique law firm, not a “settlement mill” that just wants to get a quick settlement in your case. We are ready to provide you with a personalized, attorney-led strategy that will help you win your truck accident injury case.
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A truck accident claim is a legal action that is taken to recover damages after a traffic accident that involves a commercial truck and has led to personal injury or property damage. Personal injury claims are intended to help the injured party recover financial compensation after an accident and injury that was caused by another party’s negligence or fault. The compensation in a truck accident case can include “economic” damages for medical bills or “non-economic” damages for human costs, like pain and suffering. We hope that this page will serve as a legal resource for Denver-area accident victims who want to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Arckey & Steele is not just another personal injury law firm, and we are not a “settlement mill” only interested in quick settlements. We are focused on and dedicated to providing truck accident victims with compassionate legal support and personalized legal strategy that will help you receive full compensation in your case. We understand how insurance adjusters will use tactics to exploit victims who do not fully understand their legal rights in a personal injury case, and we are here to protect your rights and your best interests. Arckey & Steele is here to help you see positive results in your truck accident injury case in Denver, CO.
Representation for Truck Accidents in Colorado
Types of Denver Truck Accident Claims We Handle
No matter what the details of your case may be, Arckey & Steele is here to provide you with legal support and strategy that are tailored to the specifics of your case.
Driver Error Accident Claims
Vehicle accidents that involve commercial trucks can happen in a lot of ways and can be due to a lot of different causes. Driver error accident claims focus on individual liability and can possess many different elements. These personal liability and negligence claims can involve drivers who have gone beyond their Hours of Service (HOS) and falsified records, commercial drivers who are guilty of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and driving at unsafe speeds on graded roads in the Colorado mountains.
Negligent Hiring and Training Accident Claims
Legal doctrine respondeat superior means that trucking companies are responsible for the actions of their drivers, and distinct claims can be filed to hold businesses accountable. When a truck accident causes injury, trucking companies can be held accountable for hiring drivers with a history of reckless driving or drug use, for not checking the driver’s Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), for not providing adequate training for specific driving conditions, and for continuing to employ drivers that have a history of accidents and violations on the road.
Negligent Maintenance Accident Claims
Mechanical failures on the road can lead to dangerous and deadly accidents when commercial trucks are involved. Pre-trip inspections and regular truck maintenance are legal requirements for trucking companies, and when companies fail to perform these actions and they lead to accidents on the road, trucking companies can be held accountable. When brakes fail due to poor maintenance or re-tread tires delaminate on hot pavement, it can lead to dangerous accidents on Colorado highways and serious injuries for other drivers. Broken lighting and reflectors are another common cause of truck accidents at night and owners are liable for the maintenance.
Negligent Cargo Loading Accident Claims
When commercial trucks are overloaded or cargo is not secured properly, it can lead to very dangerous conditions for other drivers on the highway and negligent cargo loading or security are grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. When a claim involves improperly loaded or secured cargo, the claim can include third-party shippers or loading dock workers in addition to the driver. Key examples of negligent cargo loading claims include commercial trucks that are overloaded and cannot stop in time, cargo that is not evenly distributed in the trailer and can cause jackknifing or rolling, and tanker trucks that are not full and allow the liquid to move around and shift the truck’s weight on the road.
Critical Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Denver
Motor vehicle accidents that involve a commercial truck can be terrifying and leave drivers in a state of shock that makes it difficult to act in the moments after an accident. Taking the right steps after a traumatic event, like a commercial truck accident, is important not only for your own health and well-being, but is important in creating a foundation of evidence for your case.
1Move to Safety and Report the Accident
When you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, the first and most important thing to do after the accident is to move to safety. This helps minimize the risk of a secondary collision and provides you with the chance to check your injuries and call 911. Calling 911 and filing an accident report benefits you in two ways, ensuring that you are safe and have medical help and creating documentation of the incident that will serve as evidence when you file your accident claim.
2Document the Accident and Secure Evidence
The first hours after a truck accident are critical for your lawsuit. Truck accidents on major highways are cleaned up quickly and any evidence that may be relevant to your case are cleaned up with it. This makes it critical for you to document the accident and secure any relevant evidence or witness statements. Use your phone to take photos of damage, skid marks, road or construction signs, and any gouges in the asphalt that can help determine what happened.
3See a Medical Professional
Even if you have no apparent injuries and feel “fine” after a truck accident in Denver, it is important to see a medical professional and get checked out. The rush of adrenaline in an accident can mask many injuries and concussions or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) may not present symptoms until well after the accident. This step of the process ensures that you have no dangerous internal injuries and creates a direct and documented link between the accident and any injuries you may have.
4Speak With a Truck Accident Lawyer
When you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you can expect to receive a phone call from an insurance company or insurance adjuster within a few days of the accident. They will try to prompt you to provide a recorded statement, and they may even sound helpful, but it is important that you do not provide any statement, admit any fault, or sign any kind of settlement — it can be used to devalue your claim. A personal injury attorney with experience dealing with Colorado insurance adjusters can help you navigate the legal process.
Maximize your recovery
Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries in Denver
The “value” of a truck accident is not determined by a simple mathematical algorithm, it is determined by the strength of the evidence in your case that can connect your injury and hardship to the defendant’s negligence. The compensation in a personal injury case is intended to return you to the same financial, mental, and emotional state you were in prior to the accident, and with larger insurance policies employed by trucking companies, the settlements in truck accidents are often higher than standard car accidents. By maintaining a smaller caseload than many high-volume personal injury law firms, Arckey & Steele is able to pour all of our legal knowledge and experience into your case in a concerted effort to ensure you receive maximum compensation in your case.
Economic DamagesThe financial costs and losses related to a truck accident are defined as economic damages. These damages are intended to recover the costs of emergency room visits, medical bills, surgery costs, physical therapy, and any future medical bills. Additional economic damages can include lost wages for time you were unable to work due to injury and lost earning capacity if you have a long-term injury. There is no legal cap on economic damages in Colorado.
Non-Economic DamagesIt is important to not discount the “human” and personal costs of a truck accident — which are defined as non-economic damages. Non-economic damages can include costs related to physical pain, emotional suffering, a loss of enjoyment of life, and wrongful death. Colorado places statutory caps on non-economic damages that can be up to $1.5 million for pain and suffering or $2.125 million for wrongful death claims. Non-economic damages in a truck accident case are calculated using either a multiplier method or a per diem method.
Permanent Impairment and DisfigurementPermanent impairment and disfigurement is a category of compensation that falls under the non-economic damages umbrella — but is exempt from the same damage caps. These damages involve long-term disability, severe scarring, or the loss of a limb in a major truck accident. A personal injury attorney is a valuable asset in cases that involve traumatic, lifelong injuries like permanent disability, allowing you to focus on recovery and rehabilitation while your legal team handles your case.
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How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Colorado?
The moment you are involved in a truck accident in Colorado, the legal clock begins to tick, giving you a finite amount of time to file a claim. In many cases, the legal timeline for truck accidents is more generous than typical vehicle accident claims. Colorado Revised Statute § 13-80-101 provides truck accident victims who have sustained injury or property damage with three years to file a claim with the Colorado court system — but there are hidden deadlines in specific scenarios that involve government vehicles or wrongful death.
A missed deadline in a truck accident or personal injury case can mean your case is dismissed from the outset, and specific scenarios will impact your legal timeline. When you are involved in an accident with a government or municipal truck, you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 182 days of the incident or lose the right to file a lawsuit under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Truck accidents that lead to a wrongful death due to negligence follow a different timeline with a two-year statute of limitations that can be extended to four years if it is a hit-and-run accident.
Our Process
What to Expect When Starting a Truck Accident Claim with Us
Personal injury cases present unique circumstances, yet most cases progress through a standard sequence of events. Here’s what the process often looks like for our Denver clients.
1Investigating the Accident
We thoroughly investigate the events that led up to your accident, gather all police reports, witness statements, and all other required details about the accident. The first part of the investigation work establishes essential elements that will support the entire case investigation.
2Filing the Claim
We will determine both liability and damages before we create a proper claim submission, which we will send to the responsible parties and their insurance providers. We will communicate our initial demand for a fair settlement.
3Negotiating a Settlement
Many cases resolve through negotiation, but only after we understand the full value of your injuries and their effect on you and your loved ones. We don’t rush this step, especially when future care is involved.
4Litigation, If Necessary
If necessary, we will start legal proceedings through court action to obtain a judicial solution after settlement negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement. We conduct complete case preparation for all situations that might require court proceedings.
Critical Selection Factors
Choosing a Denver Truck Accident Lawyer
The law firm you choose to represent you in your truck accident lawsuit can make the difference between a successful case with maximum compensation and a disappointing outcome with money left on the table. A personal injury case, in many ways, is a high-stakes negotiation against insurance companies that are looking for any way to devalue your claim and minimize your compensation. A personal injury attorney who is only interested in a quick settlement will leave you wanting more at the end of the day. The right truck accident attorney will examine all of the evidence in your case and provide you with a tailored legal strategy to help you recover maximum compensation — and Arkey & Steele is the right choice.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Arckey & Steele for Your Truck Accident Case in Denver
Our goal is simple: do fewer cases, and do them exceptionally well.
Small caseloads, focused attention
We intentionally limit the number of cases so each client receives the time, focus, and resources their matter deserves.
Direct access to your attorney
When you contact our firm, you work directly with the lawyer handling your case.
Proven track record
Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience and a track record of results in serious injury and litigation-focused cases.
Meet Our Team
Our Trusted Denver Truck Accident Attorneys
When you hire Arckey & Steele, you work directly with experienced attorneys who are personally invested in your case.
Founder & PartnerEric S. Steele
Tackles cases involving personal injury, business, and employment matters. Eric has significant experience securing meaningful recoveries for injured clients.
Brings over three and a half decades of litigation experience and a strategic approach shaped by years of representing individuals and businesses, often in the courtroom.
There are key differences between a motor vehicle accident involving a personal vehicle and an accident that involves a commercial truck. Truck accidents may have multiple liable parties — the trucking company, the driver, the maintenance technician, and more — while car accidents often name just the driver as the negligent party. Additional differences include federal trucking regulations that can impact your truck accident case and the availability of technology that monitors accidents and driving metrics in commercial trucks.
You are not legally required to hire an attorney in the event of a truck accident — but it is highly recommended. Many trucking companies employ legal teams and have the financial firepower and resources to make your legal case even more of a challenge. An experienced personal injury attorney, like Arckey & Steele, has the knowledge and expertise to draft spoliation letters, help you reconstruct the accident, and identify the party or parties that are liable in your case.
An estimated 80-110 truck accidents result in a fatality in Colorado each year, making the legal process even more traumatic and stressful. Colorado recently updated laws on who can file a wrongful death claim in a motor vehicle accident. The spouse of the deceased victim is eligible to file a wrongful death claim within the first year and beyond, children or designated beneficiaries can file a wrongful death claim in the second year, and siblings and other extended family members can file a wrongful death claim in specific scenarios.
The Colorado court system employs “Modified Comparative Negligence” to help calculate compensation that is tied to fault in a truck accident. Victims that are determined to be more than 50% at fault in the accident are ineligible for compensation. When the level of fault is less than 50%, the overall financial compensation is reduced by that percentage.
Resources
Learn More About Truck Accident Claims
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Areas We Serve
Representing Truck Accident Victims Across Colorado
Have you been injured in an accident with a commercial truck? No matter where you live in the Denver area — from Downtown to the Front Range — it is important that you have an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner, and Arckey & Steele is the right choice.
You shouldn’t have to guess about your legal rights while recovering from a crash. Whether you’re facing mounting medical bills or a disputed police report, we’re here to provide the clarity you need. Reach out today for a no-obligation strategy session
