Time Limits for Truck Accident Lawsuits in Colorado
In Colorado, the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit arising from a motor vehicle accident, which includes a truck collision, is typically three years from the date of the accident. If a defective vehicle or truck component contributed to your crash, you only have two years from the date of the accident to pursue a claim against the manufacturer or supplier. If you miss the relevant deadline, you will likely lose your right to pursue your case and recover damages.
You shouldn’t wait to start the legal process after a truck accident. The insurance companies are already working against you, and you need to put yourself in the best possible position.
Here’s what you empower our team at Justice Now Injury Lawyers to do for your case when you reach out sooner rather than later:
- Take over communications with insurance companies. Insurance carriers will likely pressure you to accept lowball settlements or give recorded statements that weaken your claim. We can manage all communications with the insurance companies so that you don’t inadvertently say something that could compromise your right to compensation.
- Preserve black box data. Commercial trucks are equipped with "black boxes" that record crucial data about the truck's operation, such as speed, braking, gear changes, and hours of operation. Trucking companies can and often do destroy or overwrite this evidence quickly. We can demand they preserve all evidence and arrange for a qualified professional to download this data before it is lost.
- Secure physical evidence. Key physical evidence at the crash scene, including skid marks, debris, and road defects, will start to deteriorate and eventually disappear due to weather and traffic. We can work to document, measure, and analyze the scene before this time-sensitive evidence vanishes.
- Interview eyewitnesses. The memory of eyewitnesses fades rapidly. The sooner we interview them, the more accurate and compelling their testimony can be when we need it to prove negligence.
- Investigate regulatory violations. Trucking companies and drivers must comply with strict safety regulations. We can swiftly obtain and review logbooks, maintenance records, and driver qualification files to uncover violations like driver fatigue or improper maintenance, which are sometimes the direct cause of the crash. If we delay, these records can be destroyed or "conveniently" lost.
- Document your injuries. The insurance companies will likely try to use any significant delay in seeking medical care against you. Adjusters will argue that if you waited days or weeks to see a doctor about every potential injury, your injuries must not have been serious, or that something else caused your pain after the truck crash. We can help you seek and follow through with all recommended medical treatment immediately to protect your physical recovery and your ability to recover full and fair compensation.
Who Is Legally Responsible for a Truck Accident?
Unlike a typical car wreck, multiple parties may share legal responsibility for your truck accident injuries. Our team can thoroughly investigate all potential avenues for compensation, and we know what to look for when assessing liability.
One or more of the following parties could be liable for your truck accident:
- The truck driver
- The truck driver’s employer
- The third-party maintenance provider
- The cargo loader or shipper
- The truck or parts manufacturer
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Truck Accident Case?
In a truck accident claim, we can help you seek two primary categories of damages: economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages cover all quantifiable financial losses that resulted directly from the crash and your injuries. Non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective, intangible consequences of your injury that substantially impact your quality of life.
Our truck accident attorney can fight to get you just compensation for all economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Colorado imposes a maximum limit on the amount of money you can recover for non-economic damages. We always work to help you recover as much as possible within these limits.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in truck accident cases involving extreme misconduct. These damages are designed to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior in the future.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Westminster
Truck crashes can involve multiple parties, complex insurance policies, and evidence that can disappear quickly. Taking the right steps early can protect your health and strengthen your claim. If you’re able, focus on safety first and then document what happened.
Immediate steps that can help your case
- Get medical care right away (even if you “feel fine”) and keep all discharge papers and follow-up instructions.
- Call 911 and request that an officer responds so an official report is created.
- Photograph the scene, including vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, debris, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
- Collect witness information and ask for names and phone numbers before anyone leaves.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to trucking or insurance adjusters until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
- Preserve evidence—save dashcam footage, vehicle repair estimates, tow receipts, and any communications about the crash.
Why truck accident claims are different
Unlike typical car crashes, truck accidents may involve evidence such as driver logbooks, electronic data (“black box”/ECM), maintenance records, cargo loading documents, and safety compliance files. Liability can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, a maintenance contractor, a broker, or a shipper/loader depending on what caused the collision.
Compensation may include more than you think
- Emergency care, hospital bills, rehabilitation, and future medical needs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage and out-of-pocket expenses
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members (when applicable)
Justice Now Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options, identify all responsible parties, and pursue full compensation under Colorado law. If you’re unsure what to do next, a consultation can clarify the best path forward.
You need a capable, trial-tested advocate when you suffer catastrophic injuries in a truck accident. Call (720) 802-1466 or contact us online to learn more about how we may be able to help.
