John Fuller: Your Denver Truck Accident Attorney

The Trusted Truck Accident Lawyers in Denver 

At the Law Offices of John Fuller, we specialize in truck claims involving passenger vehicles and large commercial trucks (also called 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, or semi-trucks). Our Denver truck accident attorneys have many years in trucking litigation; we bring a wealth of knowledge concerning both federal trucking safety laws and state-specific regulations on every truck accident claim. In addition to the compassion for which our firm is known, we offer expertise that allows us to evaluate the complexity of your truck crash case from every available angle.

The Fuller Personal Injury Law Advantage

It happens in an instant: a side swipe, head-on collision or rear-end accident with a truck can change the course of your life forever. Truck crashes are frighteningly common in the United States. According to Forbes, over 520,000 large truck accidents occurred across the United States in 2021. That’s about a truck crash every minute.

As Rear Admiral Arch Macy once said: “The laws of physics are the laws of physics. You don’t have to like them, but you will obey them.” The same principle applies when a passenger vehicle collides with a large commercial vehicle, some weighing up to 80,000 pounds. If you combine that weight with the speeds involved in even a moderate crash, catastrophic results can follow. In these types of cases, it is critical that you have a Denver truck accident lawyer at your side in the days that follow.

Why Fuller Personal Injury Law?

We move fast.

While the majority of truck accidents do not result in fatalities, truck accidents can quickly spiral into medical problems, legal entanglements, and financial problems. Our team is trained to respond quickly, both to your medical and emotional needs as well as gathering evidence that makes the process easier.

We’re trial-ready.

At Fuller Personal Injury Law, we make every effort to resolve your trucking collision case for a full and fair settlement. When that isn’t possible, we are prepared to fight for you in court. As trial lawyers, we come armed with the tools necessary to move your case through the legal system. Because of the costs and risks of going to court, many law firms prefer to settle cases for less than they are worth. We never do that.

We’re on your side.

Life doesn’t stop after a trucking accident. In the wake of a truck crash or medical event, you need to concentrate on your medical care and recovery, not chasing down paperwork and calling insurance adjusters. At Fuller Personal Injury Law, we take care of all challenges and procedures associated with your legal case so you can focus on what really matters. 

Trucking accidents are not like other accidents

An experienced truck accident law firm understands that truck crashes are rarely straightforward. Not only does trucking law vary by type of vehicle, but each type of truck has a different standard of practice. Moreover, insurance claims can include separate claims for the tractor, the trailer, the dispatching company, and even trucking parts manufacturers. 

The trucking industry will use the complicated nature of these cases to their advantage. Even seasoned personal injury attorneys may miss critical details in a trucking case that could result in a larger outcome for their client. The trucking attorneys at Fuller Personal Injury Law Firm know exactly how to pursue a trucking case for maximum value.

Most commercial carriers operate under various federal regulations and also under state laws. The ownership of the tractor, the trailer, and the load may all be different entities in different states. Issues involving driver fatigue, employment screening, and drug testing are all critical to understanding big rig cases. These issues can quickly complicate a simple case to where it is all but unmanageable by a person without a semi-truck accident lawyer. Call Fuller Personal Injury Law and our truck accident lawyers in Denver for a free analysis of the details of your crash.

Most commercial vehicles today have crash data monitors on-board that collect critical data about the moments before the crash. If you fail to take immediate steps to require the preservation of such information, it may be forever lost. Further, trucking companies will often transport their wrecked vehicles to storage locations in other states, making it very difficult to analyze and reconstruct these crashes. Act quickly to get the expert truck accident attorneys at Fuller Personal Injury Law on your side in Denver now. The consultation is free — the information is priceless.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, you need a Colorado law firm that specializes in trucking litigation and trial. The Fuller Personal Injury Law team has experts in Colorado state laws, as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations designed to keep you safe. Our record of settlements and verdicts on trucking cases indicates our commitment to getting our clients the results they deserve. Ready to share your story? Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Why should I hire a Denver truck crash attorney?

Truck accidents are more complicated than most people realize. Not only do they involve a great deal of physical and medical costs, but there are often many responsible parties. Finally, there are often multiple lines of insurance that could potentially apply.

Consider a case where a truck swerved into your lane and hit you. Was it because the steering failed or because the driver fell asleep? Was the driver’s fatigue due to drugs, alcohol—or because he was required to work too many successive shifts? Was the steering failure due to a manufacturing defect, poor parts maintenance, or poor executive oversight at the maintenance facility? And from there: how do you calculate your future medical expenses and lost income from the accident?

Getting to the bottom of these issues is what truck accident attorneys do. Without one, it’s very difficult to navigate the system, understand the extent of your losses, and negotiate the best settlement.

What causes trucking accidents?

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reports that safety defects, long hours, and poor training are often the cause of trucking accidents. Because commercial trucks weigh between 20 and 30 times more than a typical car, truck crashes often have grave consequences. It takes just one careless truck driver to change a life instantly. Studies show that about 90% of all truck crashes are due to human error, either on the part of the driver or the trucking company:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while fatigued (“falling asleep at the wheel”)
• Failing to adjust road and weather conditions
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding or reckless driving
• Negligent hiring (improper vetting of drivers)
• Poor or insufficient driver training
• Failing to maintain safety standards within the truck fleet
• Failing to observe or enforce drivers’ break periods

Each year, US roads see almost half a million trucking accidents, which result in about 5,000 fatalities. Many of these tragedies are deemed wrongful deaths: accidents that could have been prevented through appropriate precautions and oversight.

What is the statute of limitations for a Colorado truck accident?

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for automotive accidents involving cars or trucks is three years from the date of the accident by which to sue the at-fault driver. Once the statute of limitations is up the plaintiff may no longer file a personal injury lawsuit for compensation.

If the truck carrier’s insurance policy does not cover the extent of the damage, the plaintiff may additionally seek their own UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured) insurance coverage. The statute of limitations on UM/UIM filings is 2 years from receiving payout from the original bodily injury settlement/verdict.

Have you been injured in a Colorado truck accident? Act now! Call us today for a free case evaluation.

How much insurance does a truck carrier have?

Every trucking company working within Colorado state lines is required to carry liability insurance with insurance minimums ranging from $750,000 to upwards of $5,000,000. This is the mandate for Colorado. For all 13,000 trucking companies located in Colorado, this insurance law applies. For large interstate trucking companies—FedEx, J.B. Hunt, Knight-Swift, UPS, XPO Logistics, Old Dominion, etc.—it is not unusual to have multimillion-dollar insurance coverage.

Types of Injuries Resulting from Truck Accidents in Denver

Our dedicated Denver truck accident attorneys can fight to maximize your compensation for various truck accident injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Internal organ injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations and bruises
• Burns
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Emotional and psychological trauma

Steps Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Denver Take to Prove Liability 

Once you sign up with Fuller Personal Injury Law for your truck accident lawsuit, our dedicated truck accident attorneys in Denver will take the following steps:

Crash Site Visit

We visit the crash site with a photo and video team to document vehicle positions, road marks, property damage, debris placement, road conditions, traffic patterns, and traffic control devices.

Evidence Preservation

Our Denver truck accident lawyers will send a notice to the trucking company to preserve all potential evidence under their control.

EDR Data Analysis

We will download and analyze the event data recorder (EDR) data from the commercial vehicle with accident reconstructionists to examine speed changes, braking, gear shifts, and other key information from just before the crash.

Comprehensive Record Collection

We obtain the truck’s GPS data, truck driver logs, dispatch records, qualifications and training files of the negligent truck driver, HR reviews, employment history, drug and alcohol tests, medical certifications, and company policies and procedures.

Vehicle Maintenance Investigation

Our commercial truck crash attorneys in Denver will acquire truck maintenance and inspection records and engage independent engineers to inspect for vehicle repair issues, component malfunctions, or tire defects.

Cargo Analysis

Our Denver personal injury lawyers will investigate whether the truck was carrying loose or improperly secured cargo, hazardous materials, or exceeding FMCSA weight limit regulations.

Eyewitness Statements

Our Colorado truck accident lawyers will identify and quickly reach out to potential eyewitnesses to gather their statements.

Expert Witnesses

We hire expert witnesses for truck accident cases, including commercial motor vehicles experts, trucking industry analysts, forensic experts, medical professionals, and financial experts, to prove liability and determine your current and future damages.

Negotiations and Trial Preparation

Armed with strong evidence, our Denver truck crash attorneys will aggressively negotiate with the truck company and their insurers to maximize your truck accident claims settlement. At the same time, our experienced truck accident lawyers are fully prepared to take your case to truck accident case to trial, if necessary.

Should I accept a settlement offer from the trucking company’s insurance company?

Never accept a settlement offer without consulting a Colorado trucking attorney. In the days after your car accident, you have no idea what future medical bills may look like, how many weeks you will be off work, or how much it will cost to repair or replace your vehicle. Taking the first settlement offer often means settling for far less than you are owed. This is often a ploy to get you to sign away your rights to full compensation; insurance companies want you to settle early so you limit their liability for future expenses.

What should I do after a truck crash?

Immediately after your truck crash:

• Exchange your insurance/contact information with the other driver(s)
• Ask the truck driver for their name, insurance details, address, the name of the trucking carrier, and the DOT number of the truck
• Get the names and numbers of any witnesses to the accident.
• Get a medical evaluation and prognosis from a licensed medical professional.

In the days following your truck crash:

• Collect documents detailing your medical records, referrals, out-of-office days and lost wages.
• Get a copy of the police report.
• Verify the name of the truck carrier’s parent company, which may be doing business as another entity. (This can take some effort, as many trucking companies operate multiple subsidiaries.)
• Contact an experienced truck accident attorney to evaluate your case. They will move quickly to collect types of evidence you may not know to look for: black box data, system control modules, dashcams, GPS devices, telematic systems, collision avoidance technology, ELD, and more.

Who pays the bills of the truck that crashed into me?

If you are injured in a truck accident where the truck driver is at fault, the truck carrier’s commercial vehicle insurance policy is accountable for your medical bills. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may have to pay the copays and deductibles until a settlement or verdict is reached. Property damage is also usually covered by one of these lines of insurance.

A note about MedPay coverage

The Colorado MedPay statute came into effect in January 2009. This law helps protect drivers who need medical attention after an auto-truck collision. MedPay coverage is fairly inexpensive, and provides $5,000+ in medical coverage, without deductible, in the year following your truck crash. Fuller Personal Injury Law recommends that all drivers pay auto insurance premiums for MedPay coverage. 

Do all truck companies have insurance?

All American truck companies are federally mandated to have at least $750,000 in insurance coverage. Larger truck companies typically have multimillion-dollar insurance policies in excess of $5 million or more.

In spite of this indemnity, however, trucking companies may not be quick to resolve cases for their full value. Insurance companies may not disclose all of the benefits or coverages available to their policyholders, instead offering low-ball settlements to injured people. This is why it is helpful to have a trucking accident attorney at your side. Call us today and let the team at Fuller Personal Injury Law navigate your legal claim.

How do I find the best Colorado truck accident attorney?

Truck accidents present issues that your average personal injury attorney may not be equipped to handle: catastrophic injuries, insurance disputes, and claims against multiple people or business entities. Finding a personal injury attorney with a strong background in trucking is critical to getting fairly compensated for your injuries. 

Here’s what to look for in a top truck accident lawyer:

Experience With Trucking Accidents

Does your lawyer have experience with trucking accidents? Trucking accidents are not like other types of cases; not only are the injuries and damage potentially much worse, but the trucking industry is subject to a variety of state and federal regulations that may change the value of your case. Additionally, trucking accidents often have multiple defendant parties: drivers, trucking carriers, maintenance facilities, and even parts manufacturers. When hiring a Colorado truck accident attorney, specifically ask them about their background in trucking incidents.

Fuller Personal Injury Law handled its first commercial trucking case in 2002, and has practiced in this field for the last 20 years. In that case, Fuller’s diligent investigation and reconstruction efforts resulted in the trucking company being found liable despite the initial fault being placed on his client’s father. The difference meant a lifetime of financial security for the client and closure for his family. 

Contingency Fees

What is a “contingency fee”? A contingency fee means that your trucking lawyer will get a set percentage of the amount you receive in a settlement or at trial. This percentage may vary depending on the lawyer’s experience and if the case progresses to a lawsuit or trial. This reflects the additional work required to take a case all the way to court.

Fuller Personal Injury Law operates on a contingency basis. If we recover nothing, you pay nothing. Call us today to receive a free consultation.

Respect

It may seem obvious, but: your attorney works for you. It’s important that you feel comfortable talking to your attorney, and that you feel seen and understood. Not only does respect come into play as your lawyer negotiates on your behalf, but your attorney should respect your time and concerns, as well. If you sense your attorney is talking down to you, diminishing your pain, or simply failing to hear you, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Trial Experience

When was the last time your attorney went to trial? Insurance companies are paying attention; if an attorney has a track record of settling all cases out of court, the insurance company knows they can “lowball” your claim because your lawyer will not fight your case to the finish. Find a lawyer willing to put in the time and resources to get you the outcome you deserve—even if it requires going to court.

Communication Skills

When you’re talking, do you feel like your attorney is really listening to you? When they’re talking to you, do you gain a clearer understanding of what is going on? Your attorney should be able to explain what’s going on with your case, and give honest feedback about any potential issues; you want an attorney who will make an effort to keep you informed and up to speed on any changes in your case. Lawyers who speak only in “legalese” and leave you feeling more confused than before will likely not represent you as you deserve.

Honesty

If your attorney promises a successful outcome with your case, that is an enormous red flag. In reality, no case outcome is guaranteed, and every case poses a unique set of challenges. If your truck accident lawyer is honest, they will be upfront about this, even if it’s discouraging to hear. In reality, this indicates a commendable degree of honesty; lawyers are bound by a strict rule of conduct, and are forbidden from making promises about your case.