Truck Lane Change Accident Lawyers in Colorado Springs
Legal Help for Colorado Springs Truck Accident Victims
Unsafe lane changes are prohibited in Colorado. The law states at CRS § 42-4-1007, “A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.” Trucks that veer out of their lane or change lanes without thoroughly checking their blind spots can cause catastrophic injuries to other motorists.
Truck Accidents in the U.S. and Colorado
In the most recent year for which statistics are available, the number of large trucks involved in injury crashes in the U.S. increased by 6% from 112,000 to 119,000, as reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A total of 5,005 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, representing an increase of 2% over the previous year. In Colorado, 97 large commercial trucks were involved in collisions in which people were killed.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Many factors can contribute to truck accidents in Colorado. In the Large Truck Crash Causation Study Analysis Brief, a critical event is defined as, “The action or event that put the vehicle or vehicles on a course that made the collision unavoidable” by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The three major types of critical events assigned to large trucks involved in accidents were:
- Running out of the travel lane, either into another lane or off the road (32%)
- Loss of control of the vehicle due to traveling too fast for conditions, vehicle systems failure, cargo shift, poor road conditions, or other reasons (29%)
- Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the truck’s travel lane (22%)
The top 10 factors contributing to crashes associated with large trucks and their drivers were found to be:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Required to stop before a crash
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
Vehicles That Qualify As Trucks in Colorado
Trucks are classified according to weight. Light duty trucks weigh less than 10,000 lbs. Medium duty trucks can weigh up to 26,000 lbs. Heavy duty trucks fall into two distinct categories. Class 7 trucks, such as garbage collection or livestock transportation vehicles, can weigh from 26,001 to 33,000 lbs. Class 8 trucks, including tractor trailers and 18-wheelers, weigh more than 33,000 lbs. Operating a medium or heavy duty truck requires a commercial driver’s license and compliance with state and federal regulations.
Why You Need a Lawyer
If you have been involved in a trucking lane change accident, or any type of collision involving a large commercial truck, your best course of action is to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Truck accidents are complex cases involving multiple potentially liable parties and federal regulations. It may be important that your lawyer act quickly to secure key evidence, such as the truck’s black box data, before it is lost. Your best chance of recovering full compensation is to have a Colorado Springs truck accident lawyer by your side.
Why Choose Us?
At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling truck accidents and other serious injury cases. Founding attorney Timothy Bussey has served in the U.S. Air Force and has taken more than 100 cases to trial before judges, juries, and courts-martial. He is a nationally published author on legal strategies and has been awarded membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Call us at (719) 475-2555 to schedule a free consultation if you or your loved one has been hurt in a trucking accident.
Additional Information
