Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

When a passenger vehicle collides with a commercial truck, the difference in size and weight can turn a momentary impact into a life-altering event. An average pickup can weigh more than 4,700 pounds, while a fully loaded 18-wheeler can reach 80,000 pounds. By comparison, most cars weigh under 3,000 pounds. It’s no surprise that truck accident injuries are often severe, complex, and permanent.

If you were injured in a semi crash in Denver or anywhere in Colorado (or Wyoming), you’re facing obstacles most victims never have to navigate. Commercial carriers and their insurers move quickly, deploying lawyers, adjusters, and investigators to limit their financial exposure before you’ve even had a chance to understand your rights.

You deserve a legal team that moves just as decisively. At Shafner Injury Law, our truck accident attorneys help victims protect their future with compassionate guidance and the experienced representation needed to hold trucking companies accountable. We understand the laws, the tactics, and the stakes — and we fight to secure the compensation you need and deserve to rebuild your life.

Commercial or semi-truck crashes aren’t like standard car accidents. Several factors make these cases more complicated:

• State and federal safety regulations – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule violations can prove negligence
• Critical evidence can disappear quickly – Black box data, electronic logs, and fleet telematics can be overwritten, and trucks can be repaired and put back in service without documentation
• Multiple at-fault parties – Can include drivers, trucking companies, mechanics, loaders, and manufacturers
• Higher insurance limits – When more is at stake, insurers will aggressively fight to minimize payouts
• Catastrophic injuries – Complex medical needs often require long-term financial planning

The complexity of these accidents, coupled with the power imbalance between large companies and individuals, is exactly why victims need experienced and compassionate representation as early as possible.

Colorado depends heavily on commercial trucking to keep goods moving across the state. With more than 13,000 trucking companies—many of them small, locally owned businesses—the industry supports local economies, pays millions in taxes, and provides 1 in every 20 Colorado jobs. For many rural and mountain communities, trucks are the only way products arrive on store shelves.

But while the trucking industry is vital, it also carries significant risks. Because commercial trucks weigh many times more than passenger vehicles, even one negligent act can lead to catastrophic harm. Common risk factors include:

• Skipping required maintenance or inspections
• Driving too fast to meet delivery deadlines
• Operating beyond federally allowed hours
• Carrying improperly secured or overloaded cargo
• Inadequate driver training

When these choices lead to a collision, the consequences can be life-changing.

Colorado’s unique geography and climate make it one of the most challenging states for commercial drivers. Truckers, tourists, and daily commuters share roads that combine steep grades, sharp curves, congestion, and unpredictable weather. High-risk corridors include:

• Highway 550 (the “Million Dollar Highway”) – limited guardrails, steep drop-offs, and heavy tourist traffic
• Interstate 70 through the Rockies – frequent congestion, winter storms, black ice, and difficult descents
• Mountain passes statewide – rapidly changing weather and technical driving conditions
• Urban corridors in metro Denver – high traffic volume, merging lanes, and tight interchanges
• Rural highways – long stretches with limited shoulders and high truck volume

These conditions contribute to dozens of fatal truck accidents and about 2,000 non-fatal crashes each year, with passenger vehicle occupants suffering roughly 75% of all fatalities.

Every truck accident has a story behind it — a series of decisions, mistakes, or pressure points that led to tragedy. Our team works to uncover that story, piece by piece, so we can protect your rights and build the strongest possible case. We thoroughly investigate every possible cause, including:

• Driver fatigue
• Hours-of-Service violations
• Distracted or impaired driving
• Improper loading or cargo shifts
• Poor truck maintenance or mechanical failures
• Speeding or reckless operation
• Inadequate driver training
• Winter weather and mountain-corridor hazards

We work quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears — and before the trucking company can control the narrative.

Unlike typical crashes, several parties may share responsibility for a truck accident:

• Truck driver (distracted or aggressive driving, impairment)
• Trucking company (unrealistic schedules and negligent hiring or supervision)
• Maintenance contractors or mechanics
• Cargo loading companies
• Manufacturers of defective parts
• Government entities (dangerous road conditions)

Our experienced truck accident attorneys examine every angle to maximize the compensation available to you and ensure you find vindication for the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you’ve faced. Learn more about who is liable in a truck accident on our blog.

Colorado truck accident victims may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Medical bills and future medical needs
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages for families

We cultivate strong, trusted relationships with medical experts, financial planners, and vocational specialists to document the full impact of your injuries.

Successful truck accident claims are built on specialized evidence. When you hire Shafner Injury Law, we move quickly to secure:

• Black box (ECM) and ELD data
• Driver logs and GPS data
• Maintenance records
• Dispatch communications
• Crash scene photographs and witness statements
• Toxicology results
• Safety audits and company history

It’s vital to gather this information quickly because trucking companies often begin their own investigation within hours of a crash.

Understanding state-specific rules is critical to your case:

Colorado gives most truck accident injury and wrongful death victims 3 years to file a claim.

If you’re found partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced. We work to protect you from unfair blame.

Trucking carriers must carry substantial liability coverage — often $750,000 to several million dollars. Insurers fight hard to minimize these payouts. We fight just as hard to ensure you get what you deserve.

Your decisions in the first days matter. Protect your case by:

• Getting medical care immediately
• Photographing injuries and vehicle damage
• Keeping all bills, receipts, and documentation
• Avoiding making statements to insurance adjusters
• Not posting about the crash on social media
• Calling an attorney before signing anything

Our team is with you every step of the way, so you don’t have to navigate this alone. Download our free guide, Essential Photo & Video Tips After An Accident, to learn how to document a crash effectively.

Due to the massive force involved in 18-wheeler crashes, victims often suffer severe and life-altering injuries. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Severe back and neck injuries
• Multiple fractures and crush injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Severe burns and scarring
• Traumatic or surgical amputations
• Fatal injuries leading to wrongful death

These injuries require extensive medical care, long-term support, and strong legal advocacy to secure the compensation necessary for recovery.

Because policy limits are high, trucking insurers often deploy rapid-response teams to:

• Collect evidence that supports their defense
• Minimize your injuries
• Shift the blame to you
• Pressure you to settle before you understand your losses

Having a legal advocate ensures the insurer deals with facts, not tactics.

Truck accident cases require experience, strategy, and relentless advocacy. At Shafner Injury Law, we provide:

• Decades of experience handling Colorado personal injury and wrongful death claims
• Deep knowledge of FMCSA regulations
• A proven and trusted network of accident reconstruction experts
• Personalized, compassionate, client-centered service
• Aggressive negotiation and trial experience
• A no-fee-unless-we-win promise

You’ll work directly with an attorney, not a call center or case manager, and get the support you need to help you recover during a difficult time.

Your attorney and legal support team play a crucial role in protecting your rights.

• Listening to your story with compassion and empathy so you feel heard
• Investigating the crash and identifying all liable parties
• Preserving and analyzing complex trucking evidence
• Working with accident reconstruction experts
• Calculating the full value of your damages
• Handling all communication with insurers
• Negotiating aggressively or taking the case to trial

Colorado: 3 years.
Wyoming: 4 years.
The sooner you contact an attorney, the better.

In Colorado, you may still recover compensation unless your share of fault meets or exceeds 50%.

Yes. The FMCSA regulates hours of service, inspections, licensing, and more. Violations often support negligence claims.

Never accept a settlement or sign any paperwork before speaking with an attorney. Early offers are almost always far lower than what you are entitled to.

Truck accidents can change lives in moments, but you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. If you or a loved one has been injured in a tractor-trailer crash, we’re here to help protect your rights, preserve critical evidence, and fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

For a free consultation, call Shafner Law at (303) 796-0555 or fill out the Case Form below.

“I am deeply grateful that you have taken your time, efforts, and resources to help me when I myself was desperately hopeless about my case. You are a very special person with a very special gift for going beyond what is normal and coming out victorious.”

-Leah