Truck driver negligence is, tragically, a preventable cause of trucking accidents that comes into play all too often. When truck driver negligence is a factor in causing a truck accident, victims of these wrecks should know that:
- They will likely be entitled to compensation for their injuries, medical bills, property damage and other losses.
- The Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm will be ready to defend their rights to compensation both inside and outside of the courtroom.
The Denver truck accident attorneys at McLaughlin Law Firm are skilled at proving when truck driver negligence has caused traffic accidents.
Common Examples of Truck Driver Negligence
Some of the most common ways that truck drivers can be negligent and, consequently, cause serious accidents include by:
- Driving when intoxicated – The legal limit for truck drivers in Colorado is 0.04. This means that truckers who have a blood alcohol content of 0.04 or greater – even if they are not operating a commercial truck – can be arrested for drunk driving and charged with DUI.It’s important to point out that intoxication can occur when truckers use prescription, over-the-counter and/or illegal drugs when operating trucks and that truckers’ use of drugs and/or alcohol significantly increases the risk of truck accidents.
- Driving when fatigued – Driving when fatigued is a serious issue for truckers, who are often incentivized to get cargo to a destination as soon as possible. While federal hours-of-service regulations are in place to try to prevent truckers from driving when fatigued, some drivers may choose to violate these regulations and/or may be encouraged to do so by the companies that employ them.
- Driving when distracted – Distracted driving is unfortunately a form of negligence that affects truckers as much as other motorists. Using cellphones, GPS or other devices when driving is one of the more common ways in which drivers may be distracted and, as a result, have delayed reactions to changing driving conditions.
- Failing to comply with traffic laws – In some cases, truckers may choose to run red lights, fail to yield the right-of-way to other drivers, fail to use their indicators when making turns and/or otherwise violate traffic laws that apply to all motorists. This type of negligence can have devastating results even when trucks may be going slowly, especially if the collision involves a motorcyclist, bicycle rider or pedestrian.
- Failing to comply with Colorado trucking laws and/or federal trucking regulations – Violating Colorado trucking laws or federal trucking regulations can occur when drivers are inexperienced and, therefore, unfamiliar with these laws. In some cases, however, drivers may choose to violate these laws and regulations in an effort to try to save time or maximize their earnings. Regardless of the reason, violating these laws can lead to truck accidents, and the responsible drivers can be sued.
There are a number of other ways in which truckers may be negligent when operating commercial vehicles, and the Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm are skilled at proving when this negligence has caused accidents.
You Can Count on the Denver Truck Accident Attorneys at McLaughlin Law Firm
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident that may have been caused by truck driver negligence, the Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm are here to aggressively defend your rights to compensation. For more than 35 years, our attorneys have been helping accident victims stand up to insurers, trucking companies and others so they are able to obtain the highest possible settlements for their injuries and losses.
Contact Us – We Are Ready to Fight for You
The Denver trucking accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm are ready advocate your rights. We encourage you to learn more and get a professional case evaluation by meeting with us for a free, no obligations initial consult.
To set up this meeting today, call us at 720-420-9800 or email us using the form on this page.
