How Speeding Causes Truck Accidents

Speeding truck accidents in Colorado almost always result in serious or fatal injury. A fully loaded trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, requiring far more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. Especially along heavily trafficked corridors like I-25 and I-70, where steep grades, strong winds, and sudden winter storms can play a role, “a little too fast” can quickly become “way too fast for conditions” when a speeding truck is involved.

What Makes Speeding Trucks So Dangerous?

At highway speeds in Colorado, every extra mile per hour multiplies the risk of a truck crash. Braking systems can heat up and fade, heavy loads can quickly shift, and downhill grades can shorten stopping distance. Adding to the risks is the simple fact that truckers driving too fast have less time to react to changes in traffic conditions.

Even under ideal conditions, a loaded tractor-trailer needs significantly more road than a car to stop: 196 feet when going 55 mph, as compared to 133 feet for a passenger vehicle. When that speed is increased to 65 mph, the stopping distance for a truck jumps to 525 feet as compared to 316 for a smaller vehicle. Put that on wet pavement or a snowy Front Range downgrade, and the gap only widens, increasing the risk of:

• Rear-end collisions
• Rollovers
• Jackknife accidents
• And more

Speeding truck accidents injure and kill thousands of people every year. When you or someone you love is the victim, having a skilled legal team on your side is imperative.

Trucking companies know how to defend their best interests. You need a truck crash lawyer who will not bow down to powerful insurance companies or trucking corporations as they fight tirelessly for every penny you are owed.

Burg Simpson Helps Victims of Speeding Truck Accidents in Colorado

To schedule a FREE and confidential consultation with one of the experienced truck accident lawyers at Burg Simpson, call our Denver office at 303-792-5595 today. We serve victims of serious injury from Fort Collins to Pueblo, Burlington to Fruita, and everywhere in between.

More Than a Number: What Is a ‘Reasonable and Prudent’ Speed?

Colorado’s speed statute does not stop at the number on the sign. CRS § 42-2-1101 requires driving at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. This means a truck driving in snow, ice, wind, heavy traffic, or steep grades can be speeding even when operating below the posted speed limit. This becomes especially relevant on some of our more treacherous declines, like Floyd Hill and Vail Pass, but it remains important on all routes throughout the state.

Speeding truck accidents generally occur on major routes like I-25, I-70, and I-76, as well as on connectors like US-36 and E-470. However, they frequently occur on local urban and suburban roads as well. Local roads in Lakewood, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and the larger Metro Denver area have all seen deadly speed-related semi-truck crashes.

Some of this is due to winter storms and overnight construction work zones, both of which can create significant hazards by narrowing shoulders and requiring swift lane shifts. But even under ideal conditions, speeding is a risky choice for truckers.

When you sustain a life-altering injury caused by a trucker driving too fast for conditions, you need a lawyer on your side with direct knowledge of Colorado’s unique driving conditions and laws. At Burg Simpson, our Denver truck crash attorneys have spent nearly 50 years helping individuals and families impacted by negligent truckers seek justice. We are here to listen to your experiences, help you understand your rights, and assist you in determining the best way to pursue maximum compensation.

Proving a Truck Was Speeding

Colorado has been working hard to improve speed monitoring along major highways, in active work zones, and in high-risk corridors by placing speed cameras throughout. These cameras use average speed calculations between two points to determine how fast a vehicle is traveling. While still in its pilot phase, this program has the potential to assist in establishing liability in speeding truck accidents. They are not, however, present on every stretch of road. This makes proving that a truck was speeding a key role for your truck accident attorney.

Regardless of whether or not a speeding citation has been issued, a truck accident lawyer can help to establish that speed was a factor in a truck crash by reviewing:

• EDR/ECM Data. Also known as “black box” data, this can provide accurate information about pre-impact speed, throttle, braking, ABS events, and delta-V in the seconds before a crash.
• ELD and Fleet Telematics. Many fleets log speed by segment and flag speeding events through continuous GPS pings with time stamps.
• Dash Cam Footage. Forward-facing and in-cab video can provide substantial information about lane position, traffic, and driver behavior, including speed.
• Road Cameras. Whether in an active speed enforcement zone, a work zone, along I-70’s restricted zones, or from a surrounding business or residence, cameras can provide essential information about speed.
• Weight Station and Toll Timer Stamps. Travel time between points can help calculate average speeds.
• Brake Maintenance. Records of brake maintenance, including adjustments and heat glaze on brakes and rotors, can show speed at the time of collision.
• Scene Forensics. Skid marks, crash patterns, and debris fields can help indicate when inappropriate speed played a role in an accident.
• Witness Testimony. The accounts of bystanders and witnesses often play a role in assessing how an accident happened.

Preservation and Spoliation of Evidence

It is important to get in touch with an experienced semi-truck crash lawyer as soon as possible after sustaining an injury. Some evidence, like EDR and ECM data, can be overwritten or deleted in as little as six months after speeding truck accidents.

To prevent this, we send litigation hold letters to carriers, brokers, and shippers, demanding that key evidence be maintained. When they fail to do so, courts can impose sanctions or instruct juries on adverse influence, which can help to strengthen your claim. We can also seek a court order to preserve and produce EDR, dash cam, and telematics, enabling us to image the modules before the truck is repaired, resold, or returned to service.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Speeding Truck Crashes in Colorado?

Parties that may be held partially or fully liable for your injuries following a collision with a speeding truck include:

• The truck driver for driving too fast for conditions.
• The motor carrier for negligent hiring, training, or supervision, or for unsafe dispatch pressure, failure to govern speed, and poor maintenance.
• Brokers and shippers for unrealistic schedules, poor loading or securing of cargo, or route pressures that encourage unsafe speed.
• Maintenance contractors for inadequate brake or tire maintenance.

What If I Was Also Speeding?

Colorado uses a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that, so long as you are less than 50% liable, you can still seek compensation for injuries sustained in speeding truck accidents. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. So, for example, if you were awarded $500,000 but found to be 15% at fault, your damages would be reduced to $425,000.

Potential Damages in Speeding Truck Accidents

Serious speed-related truck crashes can result in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and other serious trauma. These can have a profound and long-term impact on your financial, physical, and emotional health. Damages sought must be fully representative of all that you have suffered.

Depending on the specifics of your case, damages you may be entitled to seek include:

• Past, current, and future medical bills.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
• Rehabilitation and life-care costs.
• Home and vehicle modifications.
• Pain and suffering.
• Disfigurement.

In fatal truck crash cases, surviving family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for lost income, loss of support, emotional suffering, and more. As with personal injury claims, wrongful death claims require the assistance of an experienced and committed truck crash lawyer who can work to preserve evidence, prove liability, and secure the fair and full compensation your family deserves.

Does Colorado Award Punitive Damages for Egregious Speeding?

Colorado allows for punitive damages in speeding truck accident cases if the defendant’s conduct is malicious or willful and wanton. Excessive speeding in dangerous conditions can tip into that territory when it shows conscious disregard for safety.

In Colorado, punitive damages are capped at the combined total of your economic and non-economic damages under most circumstances.

What to Do After a Collision With a Speeding Truck

Here is the truth: victims of speeding truck accidents are often too injured to take any real action on the scene of the crash. This means your lawyer will be doing most of the work to prove a speeding truck caused your injuries, establish liability, calculate your damages, and fight for fair compensation. However, if you are able, after a truck accident, you should:

• Call 911 and cooperate with emergency personnel. Report the accident and cooperate with police and EMTs, but do not say anything that may suggest you caused the wreck.
• Document the scene. Take pictures and video of the scene, being sure to include skid marks, vehicle positions, and the truck’s USDOT/MC numbers, which can be found on the back of the cab.
• Collect witness information. Get the names and contact info of any witnesses, along with the names of businesses facing the scene that may have security cameras.
• Seek medical care right away. Even if you feel fine, you should undergo a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible. Some injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, can take time to present symptoms.

The most important thing to do after a truck accident is to call an experienced and qualified lawyer. Your legal team will send preservation letters and start the data chase before EDR is overwritten, and dash cam clips auto-delete. This helps to ensure evidence can be evaluated and liability can properly be established.

Why Choose Burg Simpson for Your Truck Accident Claim?

With speeding truck accidents, both swift action and significant resources are needed to protect your interests and secure fair compensation. At Burg Simpson, our lawyers move immediately to preserve EDR/EMC, ELD, video, and other evidence important to your claim. We often work with both internal and external forensic specialists, accident reconstruction experts, and others who can help build the strongest claims. This enables us to hold all liable parties to full account, including commercial carriers, drivers, and maintenance companies, so we can seek maximum compensation for all of your injuries. We have a long history of securing substantial settlements and verdicts for victims of serious injury.

Our truck accident attorneys know the realities of driving on I-25 in rural and urban areas, the challenges of navigating steep mountain grades on I-70, and the ever-present dangers on I-76’s freight corridor. We understand what “reasonable and prudent” means as regards speeds in construction zones, when snow and ice are present, and in heavy traffic. We use this local knowledge to show how negligence contributed to your injury.

While based in Denver, we have access to the resources of an award-winning firm with offices throughout the nation. This allows us to provide more support than smaller, less experienced firms. Most importantly, our seasoned trial attorneys prepare every case for court, even if a settlement is likely. Sometimes, the only language a national carrier company understands is the threat of a jury verdict.

At Burg Simpson, you are never just another client. We see you as an individual, deserving of respect, care, and tireless representation. We will remain available, keep you informed, and stand by your side every step of the way.

Speeding Truck Accidents Demand Justice. Contact Us for FREE and Learn How We Can Help

To schedule your FREE case review with one of our truck accident attorneys, contact Burg Simpson online or call our Denver office today. We welcome clients from all areas of the state, including Colorado Springs, Fort Morgan, and Grand Junction.