Determining Liability in a Denver Truck Accident

Accidents involving larger commercial trucks can lead to extensive injuries and significant property damage. Any individual harmed due to the actions of a truck driver or trucking company should be able to recover compensation, but determining liability after these incidents can be challenging. Here, we want to review how liability is typically determined after a truck accident occurs, but we strongly encourage you to contact a skilled truck accident lawyer in Denver who can help you through this process.

Evidence Needs to be Gathered

Just like any other vehicle accident that occurs in Colorado, a truck accident will need to be thoroughly investigated. However, accidents involving larger trucks typically result in massive accident scenes, and this can complicate the investigation.

Some of the main types of evidence that need to be gathered quickly after a truck accident to determine liability include the following:

• The names and contact information of any eyewitnesses
• The names and contact information of any drivers and passengers involved
• Photographs taken by cell phones at the scene of the accident
• The police report

It will usually be impossible to gather all the evidence needed to prove liability right after a truck crash occurs. However, in the days and weeks that follow, there are additional types of evidence that will be crucial for determining fault for a commercial truck accident. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Surveillance footage from cameras on nearby buildings or from dashcams involved
• A truck driver’s driving record
• The truck company’s driver training records
• The truck company’s inspection and maintenance logs
• The truck’s electronic logging device and electronic control module

Liability for a truck crash could come down to the truck driver or the trucking company involved, but there may also be other parties who could be held liable. This can include any third-party responsible for loading cargo onto the truck, state or federal regulators, the manufacturer of the truck, any maintenance personnel involved in repairing the vehicle, and more. In the event a truck accident investigation leads towards another party aside from the driver or the company, the inquiry will also have to be broadened to gather documentation and evidence.

Working With a Truck Accident Attorney

If you or somebody you love has been injured or sustained property damage in a truck accident in the Denver area, you need to reach out to a skilled attorney immediately. These cases can become very complex, but an attorney will have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of the claim on your behalf. They will conduct a thorough investigation and be able to gather all of the records we discussed earlier to help paint a clear picture of what happened to cause the accident.

Additionally, your Denver truck accident lawyer will be the one responsible for handling all negotiations with the insurance carriers, and they will file the personal injury lawsuit in civil court if one is needed.

The ultimate goal in these cases is to recover the compensation a truck accident victim needs to make a full recovery. This can include compensation for medical bills, property damage expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, and more.