Who Is Responsible for Mountain Pass Truck Accidents in Colorado?

Mountain pass truck accidents in Colorado are often related to steep grades, tight curves, and sudden whiteouts. However, these dangers alone cannot explain the frequency with which these accidents occur. Speed, poor maintenance, inadequate safety training, overloading, and failure to comply with winter equipment rules make many of these crashes the predictable outcome of poor choices. But not all of those choices are made on the spot. This can make determining who is responsible for truck accidents on Colorado mountain passes a bit more complicated.

What Colorado Is Doing to Keep Mountain Passes Safer

In both summer and winter conditions, Colorado’s mountain corridors can be dicey. To address some of the most common causes of mountain pass truck accidents, Colorado has implemented a number of new laws. These include chain-up laws to help ensure proper traction and commercial vehicle left lane restrictions on high-risk segments of I-70.

Colorado has also been engaged in improving runaway and escape ramps for trucks, along with other infrastructure and safety efforts intended to reduce the risk of and harm caused by truck crashes.

All of this helps. None of it makes the mountains forgiving. Even with better rules, tighter enforcement, and improved infrastructure, serious crashes still happen. When they do, and you suffer the consequences, you need a truck accident lawyer who knows how to prove what caused the crash, who broke the rules, and who should be responsible for your damages.

Schedule a No-Cost, No-Obligation Consultation With a Colorado Truck Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured in a mountain pass truck collision in Colorado, call Burg Simpson at 303-792-5595 to schedule your FREE case review today. Located in Denver, our truck crash lawyers serve all areas of Colorado, including communities along I-70, US 50, US 160, US 550, US 40, and US 285.

Leading Causes of Mountain Pass Truck Accidents in Colorado

Colorado mountain passes have inherent risk factors that can be made more dangerous by trucking mistakes. Some of the leading causes include:

• Excessive speeds on grades and curves. Speeding trucks cause crashes in the mountains. A truck going “a little fast” on flat ground can become out of control on a steep descent.
• Brake failure and runaway events. Improper braking technique, overheated brakes, or poorly maintained braking systems and components can lead to brake fade or failure. This can lead to a runaway event in seconds.
• Failure to chain up or comply with winter equipment rules. A truck that skips chaining up can quickly become a sliding hazard. This often results in multi-vehicle collisions.
• Driver fatigue and hours-of-service pressure. Fatigue impacts reaction time and judgment, both of which are critical for safely navigating Colorado’s mountain passes.
• Improperly loaded or shifting cargo. A top-heavy load, uneven weight distribution, or poorly secured cargo can destabilize a truck on curves and during braking.
• Poor maintenance and inspection failures. Brake issues, tire problems, steering defects, and lighting failures all increase the risk of truck crashes.
• Hazardous weather and reduced visibility. Blowing snow, black ice, and high winds are common on mountain passes. While these things do not cause negligence, they can expose it.
• Distraction and inattention. Even a momentary distraction can result in a crash on Colorado’s mountain passes. Distracted and inattentive truckers can easily make mistakes that cost lives.

Poor driving habits, such as tailgating, erratic lane changes, failure to signal, and sudden braking, can also contribute to mountain pass truck accidents in Colorado. Determining the exact cause is an essential component of establishing liability. This makes it very important that you work with a truck accident law firm with the resources, time, and experience needed to properly investigate these crashes and identify all contributing factors.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Mountain Pass Truck Accidents in Colorado?

Parties who may be responsible for mountain pass truck accidents in Colorado include:

The Truck Driver

Speed, distraction, fatigue, impairment, unsafe lane changes, failure to chain up, and similar decisions made while driving all fall squarely onto the shoulders of the trucker.

The Trucking Company

Companies can be liable for negligent hiring, poor training, unsafe scheduling, inadequate supervision, or encouraging unsafe delivery practices. They may also be responsible for maintenance schedules and trucking regulation compliance.

Maintenance and Repair Providers

If a third-party shop performed faulty brake work, missed obvious defects, or used improper parts, it may share responsibility for any accidents that follow.

Cargo Loaders, Shippers, and Freight Handlers

Improper loading, overweight loads, or insecure cargo can create instability and rollover risks. Parties who loaded the trailer may be liable for accidents related to these things.

Truck or Component Manufacturers

Defective brakes, tires, steering components, or other parts can contribute to crashes. Product liability can apply when a defective part plays a role in an accident.

Brokers and Logistics Coordinators

Depending on their conduct and control, brokers can sometimes be pulled into claims involving unsafe carrier selection, hours-of-service violations, and negligent coordination.

In limited circumstances, a government entity or contractor might share liability when roadway design, signage, guardrails, or poor highway maintenance contribute to an accident. These claims involve special procedural rules and strict notice requirements under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, making it important to choose a law firm with sufficient experience handling complex trucking cases in the state.

Brug Simpson has been helping victims of mountain pass truck crashes in Colorado for 50 years. We have the background and resources required to identify all responsible parties, and the passion and fearlessness needed to hold even the most powerful defendants to full account.

The Truck Crash Lawyers at Burg Simpson Are Here to Help

Mountain pass truck accidents in Colorado are seldom simple. Most often, there are multiple failures stacked on top of each other, each one implicating another liable party. A driver’s mistake might combine with poor maintenance, improperly loaded cargo, and a company that pushed too hard, or any number of other scenarios. At Burg Simpson, our proven trial attorneys know how to uncover the whole story and build cases that seek damages from all responsible parties.

Our team works diligently to investigate serious commercial truck collisions. We have access to impressive resources, including accident reconstructionists, who assist us in understanding everything that led up to a crash. We have a long and proud history of securing large settlements and verdicts for victims of serious injury, and an unwavering commitment to pursue maximum compensation for those we serve.

Burg Simpson is an award-winning law firm with a national reputation for getting results for our clients. If you were hurt on a mountain pass outside of Denver or anywhere in Colorado, we are prepared to throw the weight of our firm behind your case to help you receive every penny you deserve for your medical care, lost income, and long-term effects of your injury.

We Help Victims of Mountain Pass Truck Accidents in Colorado. Reach Out for a No-Risk, Cost-Free Case Review Today

If you or someone you love was injured in a mountain pass truck crash, use our online contact form or call our Denver office today for a cost-free consultation. We help people hurt in truck accidents in the Rocky Mountains, the Western Slope, and throughout Colorado.