Three Fatalities in Wheat Ridge Colorado Semi-Truck Rollover Accident
Newlyweds and two other family members were heading westbound on I-70 to the mountains for their honeymoon at around 8:20am on August 15, 2024, when their vehicle was hit by segments of blue water pipe ejected from a spilled load on the eastbound side of the roadway. The projectiles, thought to be 20-foot segments of 18-inch industrial PVC pipe, caused a crash that killed three members of the family, including the newlyweds. The couple’s one-year-old son and the bride’s father were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The secondary crash was caused by a semi tractor with a single flatbed trailer loaded with the blue pipe travelling eastbound on I-70 which flipped over, scattering its large load over both directions of the roadway. Two other vehicles were involved in the accidents, but the drivers declined medical attention.
On September 25th the Wheat Ridge Police Department announced that the semitrailer driver would not face criminal charges for the August 15 accident. Additional details were also disclosed, although the condition of the truck driver and the surviving family members is still not publicly known. Details include that the truck had been inspected one month previously and had no issues, it had been inspected at a Colorado State Patrol Port of Entry weigh station approximately 40 minutes before the crash and was found to be 8,000 pounds underweight and its load “overstrapped for the pipes it was carrying.” It had no brake issues at that inspection, based on “infrared scanning” done at the weigh station. Data recovered from the truck showed it was going 59 mph when the crash occurred, in a 60-mph zone. The truck driver showed no signs of impairment or intoxication according to police. The trucking company “was fully compliant” during the investigation.
With this new information, Denver truckers and others are speculating about what might have caused this semitrailer to suddenly flip over and throw its load all over the roadway. The truck driver did not report any other vehicles it was trying to avoid. No witnesses have come forward with more information. However, truckers have been concerned with nearby roadworks on the I-70 being done by Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Fox 21 media reports that truckers are not only concerned about the uneven roadway in the exact section of the I-70 that this crash occurred, but especially about a sudden curve that truckers have to negotiate.
Traveling eastbound on I-70, the semi driver in this crash would have just passed the Highway 58 junction with the interstate making a sweeping right turn, when he immediately encountered another sharp turn where CDOT has shifted the lanes to accommodate road upgrades in progress. Given that the authorities have not cited the semi driver whose truck crashed first, it would suggest the road conditions might have been a factor in this accident, if not the cause of the semi crash.
This incident is a textbook example of the kind of personal injury cases Genco Injury Attorneys press on behalf of their clients. The surviving family certainly has a liability case, likely against CDOT, and the semi driver could have a personal injury case as well, since authorities have exonerated him. The truck data shows it was being operated legally, loaded correctly and was travelling just under the posted speed limit. Genco attorneys thoroughly investigate cases like these and act on behalf of the injured parties, especially in a case like this with wrongful deaths and a child left with no parents.
Denver Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers
In a large metro area like Denver, commercial trucks are a fact of life, and they bring risk to car drivers sharing the road with them. Just comparing the respective weights of the vehicles makes the risks obvious: trucks usually weigh 20 to 30 times more than most passenger cars, and stopping that heavy truck takes 20- to 40-percent more roadway. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that, while the majority of fatal crashes involving large trucks occur on rural roads, 26% of fatalities occur on Interstate highways (2021 data) , and most of the fatalities (83%) were not occupants of the large truck.
“Speeding of any kind” was the top driver-related factor in fatal crashes for both cars and large trucks. For large truck drivers, “distraction / inattention (cell phone, lost in thought, eating, etc.” was the second most common driver-related factor. As a professional driver, the trucker operates within the rules and regulations of the roadways of Colorado. When the truck is involved in an injury crash, or worse, a fatal accident, FMCSA statistics indicate there is a good chance the trucker or the trucking company has some liability in the accident.
As litigation attorneys with years of experience in commercial truck accident cases, we know the rules, carefully investigate every aspect of the crash and build a case to benefit those who have suffered damages. It’s not fair that the little guys suffer the most in these accidents; it’s the job of the Genco team to stand up to the trucking company, to their insurers who have their own teams of lawyers, and even, as in the Wheat Ridge Semi crash, to CDOT and win the compensation for the survivors that they deserve.
Our Denver office Helps Clients in Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Englewood and beyond
Our corporate office is centrally located just south of downtown Denver and we handle cases and help clients all over greater Denver. The Genco legal team is on a first-name basis with all the regional resources we might be working with to resolve your case. Large Truck accidents often need further investigation; for that we have private investigators and other professionals we can call in, to build a rock-solid case for your benefit. Wherever the accident happens in the greater Denver area, Commerce City or North Glen, Parker or Thornton, we’re ready to carry the burden of protecting your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve when you have suffered loss and injury in truck accident due to the negligence of the semi driver.
Common Injuries in Commercial Truck Accidents
FMCSA national statistics show that fatal truck accidents are on the rise. Data show a 52 percent increase in fatalities between 2010 and 2021, with a 17 percent increase between 2020 and 2021 alone. Because of the huge differences in size and weight between the average car and the average commercial truck, injuries usually occur in the smaller vehicle. They can range from rear-ending injuries, such as neck and back injuries, whiplash, and concussions, to blunt force trauma, compression injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). All the airbags and crush zones in a car, SUV or light truck cannot stand up to an 85,000-pound semi tractor and trailer.
In any accident, particularly involving a commercial truck, it is important to seek medical attention immediately, as some injuries like TBI and concussion may not be obvious at first. In building a personal injury case, our legal team gathers all the medical details and documentation to establish what the negligent driver did, prove liability, with the goal of obtaining for you the financial support for the best medical care so you and your loved ones can recover as fully as possible and not suffer long term disability or loss of income. Any lingering disability must be accounted for in a damage settlement—this is a key part of our job as your professional defender.
Why You May Need A Commercial Truck Accident Attorney
Civil laws of The State of Colorado are in place to protect you and your interests as someone who has suffered a tragic loss due to the negligence of commercial truck driver. Genco specializes in this type of litigation on behalf of victims and their families; we know the law inside and out, and observe the deadlines imposed by the state. When you suffer injuries in an accident involving a commercial truck, after getting medical attention, the first thing to do is call Genco Personal Injury Attorneys. Time is of the essence for gathering evidence, witness statements and other information to build your case, and we waste no time.
While all the details of the police report might take days or weeks to be available, we might use private investigators and other professionals to build your liability case for the level of compensation you deserve. Some people assume if the professional trucking company has insurance, they are okay and will get their medical expenses covered and their car fixed. But they don’t consider the fact that insurance companies have their own “standard” compensation.
Every accident is different, and every victim has a personal story. Insurance companies are businesses answering to shareholders. For a fair settlement in your case, you need an advocate on your side who will do the work, make your case, and obtain the compensation you deserve in the circumstances. Genco Injury Attorneys are the right team to calculate the real loss your family has suffered and hold the other party to account for you.
Contact Our Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys
Every driver knows truckers prefer to work at night. It’s no surprise that 37 percent of fatal crashes and 24 percent of injury crashes involving large trucks occur between 6pm and 6am (FMCSA national data, 2021). This is why you can reach Genco Injury Attorneys in Denver any time, 24/7, to schedule your free consultation. We make ourselves available when we are needed. We know accidents don’t just happen during business hours, especially commercial truck accidents.
Our legal team is standing by to provide the support you need after the shock of a serious crash. From day one, Genco puts a dedicated team on your case to gather every piece of evidence available and build it out as quickly as possible. There is no time to waste with filing deadlines and documentation to gather. With you facing the prospect of medical bills, lost wages, and other consequences putting your financial security at risk, you need a top team, the Genco team of personal injury attorneys on your side, to not only hold the negligent driver to account but negotiate a settlement that will make you whole financially.
Free Consultations for Commercial Truck Accident Victims
Just call us 24/7 to schedule a free consultation with Genco Injury Attorneys if you or your loved ones have suffered injury in an accident with a large truck. It is that easy. We look at your case and put the right resources on it, walk you through the process and how these cases usually go. That’s because we know the way they go and that the sooner we are on your side, the better your case can be built to get the maximum compensation possible. The team will maintain constant communication regarding your case and carry the legal burden for you so you can focus on healing, recovery and, if your family suffered a loss, grieving and family matters. Any commercial truck accident in the Denver area with serious injuries or a fatality is a case we should look at; don’t assume the other party’s insurance company will compensate you fairly or cover all the medical expenses, let alone look out for your interests. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose discussing the details of your serious crash involving a commercial truck with Genco. We are on your side.