After any vehicle accident, you may ask yourself—do I really need a truck accident lawyer? Maybe the damage seems more minor than you expected or you only have minor injuries, or perhaps you can’t imagine adding one more thing to your to-do list.

The fact is that if you do want full and fair compensation, hiring a truck accident lawyer should be one of the first things you do. Truck companies and their legal teams know that truck collisions cause a substantial amount of damage, and they immediately begin working to limit their liability and come out with minimal financial losses. As you try to negotiate your own settlement, they may try to allege that you’re at fault for the accident, that a preexisting injury caused your current injuries, or that you are exaggerating your own injuries. They use all of these tactics and others to drive down the value of your settlement.

Without a truck accident lawyer in Colorado Springs, it’s very likely that you will end up accepting an unreasonable offer. Once you start paying medical bills and catching up on other expenses, you’ll likely find that their settlement offer could run out long before your expenses do.

When you work with the team at Colorado Accident Attorneys, you can feel confident knowing that every decision we make is with your best interests in mind. We won’t be swayed by the insurance company’s tactics, and we’ll fight aggressively for the compensation you are owed.

Understanding what causes these severe accidents can help you figure out who caused your crash and what your next steps should be. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts extensive research on this topic, and they break down driver errors into four categories:

• Non-performance errors occur when a driver is sleeping or physically impaired and unable to act
• Recognition errors happen when a driver is not paying attention or does not properly assess a situation
• Decision mistakes include driving too fast for weather conditions, misjudging a vehicle’s speed, or not leaving enough space between vehicles
• Performance errors happen when the driver makes a physical mistake in their handling of a situation, such as overcorrecting when they see an obstacle

A wide range of factors contribute to truck accidents—the FMCSA has recorded hundreds of different factors. Some of the most common include:

• Brake issues
• Traffic buildup or congestion
• Use of prescription drugs
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Driving on unfamiliar roadways
• Problems with the road itself
• Failure to stop at crosswalk, traffic control device, or other area
• Over-the-counter medication use
• Poor surveillance of the area around a driver
• Fatigue

When your attorney begins investigating your Colorado Springs truck accident, they will likely look at these and other factors.

If you are successful in proving the other party’s liability and demonstrating your injuries, you may be able to recover substantial compensation. In Colorado, there are several types of damages paid out to victims:

• Economic damages: In this category, you’ll find medical bills, lost wages, and essential services. These are the damages that are easiest to calculate and prove.
• Non-economic damages: This category includes losses without a strict financial value, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Physical impairments: Victims with physical disabilities or disfiguring injuries may be compensated for those losses, including the associated physical and emotional pain.
• Punitive damages: If a liable party is grossly negligent, they may be ordered to pay additional compensation above and beyond the victim’s losses.

Truck accident claims are complicated, and it’s important to learn more about your options right away. Let’s set up a consultation to discuss your claim—just call us at 303-567-7981 or fill out our online contact form.