Commercial Vehicle Accidents Continue to Take Lives in Colorado

December 09, 2010

Tragically, collisions between semi-trucks (commonly called big rigs, tractor-trailers, semis or 18-wheelers) and passenger vehicles happen every day. When a car or pickup truck meets up with a fully loaded commercial behemoth, the results are truly unfortunate -- 78 percent of the time, one or more of the occupants of the smaller vehicle is killed.

The multi-terrained state of Colorado is uniquely situated to create more than its fair share of these accidents. Mountains, windy plains, icy roads, sand storms (sometimes called "brownouts" or "brown blizzards"), snowstorms, avalanches, rockslides, steep grades, hairpin turns and volatile weather conditions can challenge even the most experienced drivers. Add into the mix a high volume of commercial traffic on I-70, I-76 and I-25, as well as a significant population of novice drivers visiting the state to take advantage of the great skiing, hiking, camping, animal watching and gaming opportunities, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Why Do These Accidents Happen?

The causes of car versus semi-truck collisions are varied, and fault seems almost evenly split between passenger vehicle operators and commercial truckers. That certainly does not mean that injuries are evenly split. Occupants of a passenger vehicle are twice as likely to suffer a non-capacitating injury, nearly four times as likely to be seriously injured and nearly seven times as likely to be killed in an accident involving at least one large truck. There are some trends, however.

When the driver of the passenger vehicle is at fault, reports usually indicate that he or she has been:
- Speeding
- Following a commercial vehicle too closely
- Riding in a truck's blind spot
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Failing to account for the added distance necessary for a big rig to come to a safe stop
- Cutting sharply in front of a truck to avoid missing a highway exit or turn

Conversely, when the operator of a semi truck is responsible for causing an accident on a Colorado roadway, oftentimes he or she has been:
- Speeding
- Failing to account for road or weather conditions (not being aware of the unique challenges that come with navigating the roads of Colorado including snow, black ice, rocks and other debris, high winds, steep grades, fog, sand storms, blizzard/white-out conditions and unusual traffic-flow orientations)
- Tailgating a smaller vehicle
- Carrying an improperly balanced load, one that is of unusual size or one that is too heavy
- Trying to avoid a wild or domesticated animal in the road
- Caught in a medical emergency
- Unskilled in handling such volatile road conditions
- Driving without adequate rest periods
- Under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Distracted by talking on a cell phone, texting, checking email, eating, talking on the CB radio or changing music selections
- Disobeying traffic control devices and traffic-related regulations
- Driving an improperly maintained vehicle (i.e., one that has bald tires, faulty brakes, or other mechanical issues)

The Colorado State Patrol recognizes the dangers inherent when big rigs and passenger vehicles share the road. That is why they created an educational traffic enforcement program called "Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks" (TACT). The TACT program was designed to educate both passenger and commercial drivers about the importance of driving carefully, responsibly and alertly.

Due to efforts like these and other safety initiatives over the years, the rate of injury-causing and fatal accidents has dropped in Colorado, saving around 500 lives, but these types of crashes are still far too common. Law enforcement and highway safety officials are still focusing their efforts on making the roadways safer, but in the meantime, the onus of responsibility is on drivers themselves.

Because of the higher potential for their vehicles to cause harm, truckers must be on heightened alert at all times when behind the wheel. Losing concentration for just a moment can be a fatal mistake. If you or a loved one has been injured, or you have tragically lost someone you care about, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area to learn more about your legal options and begin protecting your rights.

Article provided by Coppola & Marlin PC
Visit us at www.coppolamarlin.com