Common Causes of I-70 Truck Rollover Accidents

I-70 truck rollover accidents occur when a tractor-trailer loses its center of gravity and tips, often crushing anything beside or beneath it. Outweighing passenger vehicles by 20-to-1, even a “slow” rollover can cause catastrophic injuries or death.

When you or someone you love is the victim of a truck rollover accident on I-70, it is important to have a legal team on your side that is willing to fight for the fair and full compensation you are due.

Victims of I-70 Truck Rollover Accidents Trust Burg Simpson

Burg Simpson has decades of experience representing victims of serious injury on I-70 and throughout Colorado. Call us at 303-792-5595 to schedule your FREE case review and learn how we can help.

Truck Rollover Risks on I-70

I-70 runs through ten states, starting in the east from Maryland, all the way west through portions of Utah. It runs the entire length of Colorado, serving as the main east-west freight artery. While truck accidents can happen anywhere along this line, the unforgiving mountain corridors of I-70 significantly increase the likelihood of serious or fatal crashes.

The risk for I-70 truck rollover accidents in the mountains of Colorado is higher due to factors such as:

• Steep, sustained grades. When truckers approach Vail Pass and the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel, they are often forced to ride their brakes for miles. This can result in overheated drum brakes and wheel skids on a high-center rig.
• Constant elevation shifts. Altitude reduces engine power, making it extremely difficult to navigate curves. This can result in trailer whip, especially when drivers downshift too late.
• Wild weather swings. In the high country, weather can change in an instant. One moment you are on dry asphalt, the next it has turned into black ice. Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, and similar types of weather impact traction, braking ability, and vision.
• Wind tunnels. In places like Glenwood Canyon, rock walls funnel gusts strong enough to shove an empty box trailer onto its side.
• Construction zones. Tight curves and construction zones pose several opportunities for rollover accidents. CDOT logged 165 crashes in the Ward Road work zone within 18 months, including a triple-fatality semi rollover in 2024.
• Traffic violations, such as speeding, failure to chain up, and driving in the left lane between Morrison and Glenwood Springs, are all possible causes of truck rollover accidents. Colorado’s 2024 chain-carry requirement and the new left-lane restrictions for semis are meant to reduce these risks.

Even with these risks, I-70 truck rollover accidents are rare. Nationwide, overturn/rollover has been identified as the first harmful event in 4% of large-truck fatalities and 2% of non-fatal accidents. However, with thousands of trucks traveling along I-70 every day, the risk of serious injury or death is ever-present. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an I-70 truck rollover crash, Burg Simpson is here to listen to your experience, discuss your options, and help you choose how best to seek justice.

Injuries Caused by I-70 Truck Rollover Accidents

Even when empty, tractor-trailers are extremely heavy. Rollover truck accidents pose several hazards, including crush injuries from the trailer falling on a vehicle, and creating a barrier for other vehicles to collide with. The wide range of dangers results in a similarly wide range of potential injuries, with some of the most common being:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Amputation
• Severe burns
• Inhalation injuries
• Internal organ damage

These injuries may result in significant medical expenses, require home modifications and adaptive technologies, make working impossible, and cause untold amounts of pain and suffering. All of these things must be considered when your lawyer is calculating damages.

The long-term financial, physical, and emotional costs of serious injury can be overwhelming. At Burg Simpson, our I-70 truck crash lawyers understand. We take time to examine the true costs of your injury, taking into account both tangible and intangible damages, to ensure we can fight for every penny you deserve.

I-70 and Fatal Truck Accidents

On August 15, 2024, a semi truck traveling eastbound on I-70 experienced a shifting in its load, resulting in a rollover crash that killed newlyweds Ruben Rodriguez and Juliana Rodriguez Plata, along with Juliana’s mother, Luz Melba Martinez. Juliana’s father, Carlos Plata, and the couple’s 1-year-old son survived the crash, but with serious injuries. The trucker was also hospitalized with injuries, along with three occupants from other vehicles.

In addition to this fatal I-70 rollover truck accident, there have been several serious and fatal truck crashes in Colorado over the past few years. These include:

• Eisenhower Tunnel, July 3, 2025. This high-speed impact resulted in the death of the driver of the smaller vehicle and his dog.
• Elbert County, July 2, 2025. This rear-end collision resulted in the death of two children and one adult passenger, with severe injuries to the driver of the smaller vehicle.
• Lakewood, April 25, 2019. One of Colorado’s worst trucking disasters, this wreck resulted in four fatalities.

When a loved one is killed in a truck accident, families may be entitled to compensation for end-of-life expenses, lost income, and more through a wrongful death claim. The compassionate attorneys at Burg Simpson can help you navigate this difficult time and seek justice for your family.

When to Call a Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer

Following I-70 truck rollover accidents, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. The statute of limitations for car accidents involving trucks in Colorado is three years from the date of the accident. While there are some exceptions to this time limit, they are rare. Swift action is ideal.

You should hire a semi-truck accident attorney when your injuries are beyond simple bumps and bruises. Serious injuries are not always treated as such by insurance companies. A truck crash lawyer will work to highlight how your accident has and will continue to impact your life and, with documentation to prove it, show what your claim is worth.

Be sure to pick an attorney who is proven in courtroom settings. Some of these claims end up in court, where experience as a trial attorney matters.

It is also a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you have lost a loved one in a truck crash on I-70 or elsewhere in the state. You only have two years to take action after the death of a family member. This makes acting quickly all the more important.

Why Choose Burg Simpson for your I-70 Truck Rollover Accident Claim?

The truck accident lawyers at Burg Simpson have been assisting victims of I-70 truck rollover accidents and similarly serious truck crashes for more than 45 years. Our team of proven and award-winning trial attorneys prepares every case for trial, even if a settlement is likely. We carefully consider and plan for any outcome.

Our investigations are thorough, enabling us to identify what are often multiple parties liable in these accidents. This helps ensure we can hold each party accountable and seek fair and full compensation. We have secured a number of significant legal victories, some of which have even impacted public policy and helped make the world a safer place for everyone.

It is important to know that tractor-trailer rollovers can pit victims against corporations with near-unlimited budgets. Our firm has the resources, experience, and dedication to go toe-to-toe with powerful corporations and aggressive defense teams, helping our clients secure the compensation they need to make the fullest recovery possible.

Contact an I-70 Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer for FREE

To schedule a FREE consultation with one of the truck collision attorneys at Burg Simpson, contact us online or call our Denver office today. We have litigated cases up and down I-70 and throughout the state, helping victims of serious truck accident injuries recover the damages they are owed.