Colorado Springs Truck Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Truck Accidents on I-25 & El Paso County Roads

I-25 through El Paso County is a primary freight corridor. Commercial trucks travel it constantly, and crashes concentrate near major interchanges including the Cimarron/US-24 corridor and downtown Colorado Springs merge zones. US-24 and Powers Boulevard see significant commercial vehicle traffic as well. When something goes wrong at highway speeds and 80,000 pounds, the consequences are severe.

Common causes of Colorado Springs truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
• Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
• Distracted or aggressive driving
• Brake failures and inadequate vehicle maintenance
• Speeding, especially on grades and in adverse weather
• Jackknife accidents caused by sudden braking
• Underride crashes, in which a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer

Liability in these cases often extends beyond the driver. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a trucking company can be held vicariously liable for a driver’s negligent acts performed within the scope of employment. Liability may also reach cargo loading companies when improper loading contributed to the crash, and parts manufacturers when defective equipment failed. Federal law requires trucking companies to conduct pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing, and commercial drivers are held to a BAC limit of 0.04%. We investigate every angle to identify every party whose conduct contributed to the crash.

FMCSA Hours-of-Service Regulations & Driver Fatigue

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates how long commercial truck drivers may remain on the road. These hours-of-service rules exist because fatigued driving is a well-documented cause of serious crashes. Violations are recorded in driver logbooks or electronic logging device (ELD) data and can serve as evidence of federal regulatory negligence.

The three core rules are:

• 14-Hour On-Duty Limit: Once a driver begins a shift, they may not remain on duty for more than 14 consecutive hours. After that window closes, the driver must take at least 10 consecutive hours off before driving again.
• 11-Hour Driving Rule: Within that 14-hour window, a driver may spend no more than 11 hours actually driving. The remaining time must be spent on rest or non-driving duties.
• 60/70-Hour Rule: Drivers working for carriers that operate seven days a week are limited to 70 hours of on-duty time in any eight-day period before a mandatory 34-hour restart. Carriers operating fewer than seven days a week apply a 60-hour cap over seven days before the same restart requirement applies.

Injuries Caused by Commercial Truck Collisions

The size and weight differential between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle means truck crash injuries are consistently more severe than typical motor vehicle injuries. An 80,000-pound loaded tractor-trailer against a 4,000-pound car produces forces that cause damage well beyond what victims initially feel, and some injuries don’t fully manifest for days or weeks.

Truck accidents frequently cause:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussion, contusion, and diffuse axonal injury
• Spinal cord damage and disc herniation
• Broken bones and complex fractures
• Internal injuries and bleeding
• Severe burns and lacerations
• Nerve damage
• Psychological injuries including PTSD

Permanent disability, reduced earning capacity, and long-term rehabilitation costs must all be documented and calculated when building a damages case. We work with a network of medical professionals to ensure injury documentation reflects both the immediate picture and the long-term prognosis. That thoroughness matters whether we’re presenting your claim to an insurer or arguing it before a jury.

Ted Bills: Legal Strategy Built on Both Sides of the Table

Most personal injury attorneys understand insurance from the outside. Ted understands it from the inside. Before representing injury victims, he defended insurance companies, learning how commercial carriers evaluate truck accident claims, what they look for when assessing fault, and where they try to reduce exposure. Before practicing law, he also worked in an emergency room and trauma center, assisting in surgeries and transcribing physician orders. That gives him a working fluency in medical terminology and complex injury records that is genuinely rare among litigators. When he reviews your medical documentation, he understands what it says and what it means for your case.

Ted handles cases personally rather than delegating them to less experienced associates. Clients receive his direct cell number and can reach him throughout the process. That access matters in cases that move quickly and where decisions have real consequences.

Results in Truck Accident Cases

Our firm has recovered over $500 million for clients across our personal injury practice. In truck accident cases specifically, we have obtained:

• $500,000 Recovery in a tow truck vs. vehicle collision where the client suffered a traumatic brain injury with left temporal contusion, right and left parietal involvement, loss of consciousness, brain swelling requiring a medically induced coma, and ongoing cognitive, speech, language, and memory deficits.
• $250,000 Recovery in a semi-truck vs. vehicle collision where the client suffered severe neck and back injuries with disc herniation at L5-S1.

Call us today at (719) 444-1000 to schedule your free case evaluation and learn how our Colorado Springs truck accident attorneys can help you hold trucking companies accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Colorado?

Most truck accident personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the crash under CO Rev Stat § 13-80-101. Wrongful death claims carry a two-year deadline from the date of death. Missing either deadline can mean losing the right to recover compensation. Evidence in truck accident cases can disappear quickly, so acting early matters. We can help preserve critical evidence and ensure all required deadlines are met.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

Call 911, get medical care, and document the scene if you’re able. Photograph the truck’s identifying information, license plates, and any visible damage. Gather contact and insurance information from the driver and note the employer name on the truck. Don’t admit fault at the scene, and don’t give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney. Contact us early so we can begin preserving evidence before it’s gone.

What If I Was Partially at Fault for the Truck Accident?

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence under Colo. Rev. Stat. 13-21-111. If you’re found to be 49% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 50% or more at fault, you can’t recover. Trucking company insurers routinely try to shift blame onto the other driver to reduce what they owe. We know that tactic, and we push back against it.