Experienced Boulder Truck Accident Lawyer
$26.6 Million. $20 Million. $18.6 Million. Proven Results in Truck Accident Cases.
Boulder County’s highways carry a constant stream of commercial trucks — semis hauling freight on US-36, tankers on US-287, box trucks on the Diagonal Highway, and delivery vehicles navigating city streets. When these massive vehicles crash, the injuries are catastrophic and the legal cases are far more complex than a standard car accident. Jordan Law Accident & Injury Lawyers brings over $550 million in total recoveries and deep knowledge of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to every truck accident case we handle in Boulder County.
Free Consultation — Call (303) 465-8733
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving Boulder, call (303) 465-8733
Boulder County’s Most Dangerous Truck Corridors
Commercial truck traffic through Boulder County is driven by its position between Denver’s metro area and the mountain communities, industrial zones, and agricultural operations to the north and west. The corridors that carry the most truck traffic are also the ones producing the most severe crashes.
US-36 (Boulder to Denver / Boulder to Lyons) — The primary commuter and freight corridor connecting Boulder to the Denver metro area. This highway sees heavy commercial truck traffic and has been the site of multi-vehicle crashes involving semitrailers and pickup trucks, fatal head-on collisions, and a hazmat incident where a crash caused 100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill across both directions of the highway north of Boulder. The section between Boulder and Lyons winds through canyons with steep grades, limited passing, and rockslide hazards — conditions that are especially dangerous for loaded commercial vehicles.
Diagonal Highway (CO-119) — Connecting Boulder to Longmont, this state highway carries significant commercial traffic through mixed urban and rural areas. In October 2024, a box truck rolled over at the Diagonal Highway and South Airport Road intersection, trapping the driver and involving four vehicles. The highway’s speed, turning movements, and commercial vehicle mix make it a persistent hazard.
US-287 (Boulder to Longmont and North) — This highway has been the site of multiple fatal head-on collisions in Boulder County, including a double fatality in January 2024 caused by excessive speed. US-287 carries heavy commercial and agricultural truck traffic between Longmont, Berthoud, and Fort Collins. The road’s two-lane sections north of Longmont are among the deadliest highway segments in the state.
Highway 66 (Lyons/Longmont) — A semi-truck fire shut down Highway 66 in Boulder County, and a tanker truck flipped over on the nearby route near Lyons, spilling fuel into the North St. Vrain Creek and causing a significant environmental event. These incidents highlight the hazmat risks associated with commercial truck operations in Boulder County’s canyon communities.
Foothills Parkway and 28th Street — While these are primarily urban corridors within the City of Boulder, they carry delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and commercial traffic that interact with the city’s heavy bicycle and pedestrian volume — creating unique collision risks that don’t exist on rural highways.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Your Boulder Truck Accident Case
Truck accident cases are fundamentally different from car accident cases because commercial trucks are governed by a comprehensive set of federal rules — the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). When a trucking company or driver violates these regulations and causes an accident, that violation is powerful evidence of negligence. Our attorneys know these regulations and how to use them to build your case.
“These cases have become more and more common the more you have owner-operator type situations. So you have more of these trucking companies that are not really companies, but they’re more solo drivers who own their own vehicle, their own truck, and they’re doing contract work for other people. And a lot of these people, unfortunately, when they’re having to pay their own tolls and pay their own gas and not get reimbursed, they wind up trying to run lines that are too long, and they wind up piecemealing a lot of their maintenance together. So you find out half their brakes are out of adjustment or something like that.”
— Jason Jordan, Founding Partner, Jordan Law
Hours-of-service violations — Federal rules limit how long truck drivers can operate before resting. Drivers are required to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to track their hours — but violations are common, especially among owner-operators who face pressure to deliver loads faster than the rules allow. When a fatigued driver causes a crash in Boulder County, the ELD data is critical evidence.
Vehicle maintenance violations — Trucking companies must conduct regular inspections and maintain vehicles to federal standards. Brake failures, tire blowouts, lighting deficiencies, and steering malfunctions are all preventable — and when they cause a crash, the trucking company and maintenance contractor may be liable.
Driver qualification violations — Companies must verify that drivers hold valid CDLs, pass medical examinations, have clean driving records, and pass drug and alcohol testing. Colorado’s 2024 crash data showed that 21 drivers involved in trucking accidents were suspected of alcohol use and 11 were suspected of drug use.
Cargo securement violations — Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, causing rollovers, jackknifes, or debris strikes. The Diagonal Highway box truck rollover and the Highway 66/Lyons tanker spill are examples of what happens when cargo and vehicle securement standards aren’t followed.
Boulder Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (303) 465-8733
Who Is Liable in a Boulder Truck Accident?
Unlike a car accident where liability typically falls on one driver, truck accidents frequently involve multiple liable parties — which means more insurance coverage and more accountability. Potentially liable parties include:
The truck driver — for negligent driving, hours-of-service violations, distracted driving, impaired driving, or failure to follow traffic laws.
The trucking company — for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressuring drivers to exceed hours limits, failing to maintain vehicles, or failing to enforce safety policies. Under respondeat superior, trucking companies are generally liable for the acts of their employee drivers.
Owner-operators and their contracting companies — The rise of independent owner-operators has created complex liability questions. When a solo driver cuts maintenance corners or runs too many hours to make a delivery, both the driver and the company that hired them may bear responsibility.
The vehicle or parts manufacturer — for defective brakes, tires, steering components, or other equipment that failed and contributed to the crash.
The maintenance contractor — for negligent repair or inspection work that failed to identify dangerous conditions.
The cargo loading company — for improperly secured loads that shift and cause the truck to roll over, jackknife, or lose cargo onto the roadway.
Identifying every responsible party is critical because it expands the insurance coverage available to you. Commercial trucks typically carry $1 million or more in liability coverage — far more than personal auto policies — and additional parties may carry separate policies.
Evidence Preservation in Boulder Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident evidence disappears fast. The trucking company often sends its own investigators to the scene within hours — not to help you, but to protect the company. If you don’t act quickly, critical evidence can be lost or destroyed.
Jordan Law moves immediately to preserve evidence including Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data showing the driver’s hours and rest periods, the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR or “black box”) which captures speed, braking, and steering data in the moments before impact, dashcam and in-cab camera footage, driver qualification files (CDL, medical certifications, drug test results, driving history), vehicle inspection and maintenance records, dispatch and routing records showing delivery pressure, and cargo manifests and securement documentation.
Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain certain records for specific periods — but those periods can be short, and once evidence is gone, it’s gone. We send preservation letters immediately upon engagement to prevent the trucking company from destroying or overwriting this data.
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Boulder County Courts and Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit
Truck accident lawsuits arising from crashes in Boulder County are filed in the 20th Judicial District at the Boulder County Justice Center, 1777 6th Street, Boulder, CO 80302. For crashes in the Longmont area, cases may be filed in the Longmont division.
The statute of limitations for truck accident claims in Colorado is three years from the date of the crash (C.R.S. § 13-80-101). For wrongful death claims arising from a fatal truck accident, the deadline is two years from the date of death. If a government vehicle or government-maintained road contributed to the crash, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act imposes a 182-day notice requirement.
Compensation Available in Boulder Truck Accident Cases
Because truck accidents cause more severe injuries and involve larger insurance policies, the potential recovery is typically much higher than in standard car accident cases. Boulder truck accident victims may recover compensation for:
Medical expenses — Emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, assistive devices, and all future medical care related to your injuries. Truck accident injuries — particularly traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and burn injuries — often require lifetime medical care.
Lost wages and earning capacity — Compensation for time missed from work during recovery and, in catastrophic injury cases, for permanent reduction in your ability to earn income.
Pain and suffering — Under Colorado HB 24-1472, noneconomic damages are capped at approximately $1.5 million, with the potential for the court to exceed the cap if justified by clear and convincing evidence. There is no cap on economic damages.
Property damage — Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property.
Wrongful death damages — If you lost a loved one in a Boulder truck accident, surviving family members may recover funeral and burial expenses, loss of income, loss of companionship, and grief.
Punitive damages — Available in cases involving extreme recklessness, such as a truck driver operating under the influence or a trucking company knowingly putting a dangerous vehicle on the road.
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Why Jordan Law for Your Boulder Truck Accident Case
Proven truck accident results. Our truck accident verdicts include $26.6 million for a truck brake malfunction, $20 million for a fuel tanker explosion, and $18.6 million for a garbage truck collision. These results demonstrate our ability to go against the corporate defense teams that trucking companies deploy.
We know FMCSA regulations. Truck accident cases require attorneys who understand federal motor carrier safety rules — hours-of-service, ELD requirements, driver qualification standards, cargo securement, and vehicle maintenance mandates. Most personal injury firms don’t have this depth of regulatory knowledge.
True trial lawyers. Trucking companies and their insurers are represented by well-funded defense teams. They know which plaintiff firms actually try cases and which ones fold at the first serious offer. Jordan Law’s trial record changes how your case is valued from day one.
We move fast on evidence. We send preservation letters immediately, engage accident reconstruction experts, and begin gathering ELD data, maintenance records, and driver qualification files before the trucking company has a chance to destroy or overwrite them.
No fee unless we win. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and consultations are always free.
Our office is located at 5445 DTC Parkway, Suite 1000, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 — approximately 40 minutes from Boulder. We represent truck accident victims throughout Boulder County and across Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boulder Truck Accidents
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Boulder?
You have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death. If a government vehicle or government-maintained road was involved, you must file a notice of claim within 182 days under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Evidence in truck cases disappears quickly, so contacting an attorney immediately is critical.
Why are truck accident cases more complex than car accidents?
Truck accidents involve federal regulations (FMCSRs) that don’t apply to passenger vehicles, multiple potentially liable parties (driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, manufacturer), larger insurance policies with aggressive defense teams, and time-sensitive electronic evidence (ELD data, black box data, dashcam footage) that can be overwritten or destroyed. These cases require attorneys with specific trucking industry knowledge.
Who can I sue after a truck accident in Boulder?
You may have claims against the truck driver, the trucking company, the vehicle or parts manufacturer, the maintenance contractor, and the cargo loading company. Identifying all liable parties is critical because it expands the total insurance coverage available to you. Commercial trucks typically carry $1 million or more in liability coverage.
What should I do immediately after a truck accident?
Call 911 and get medical attention. Document the scene if you’re physically able — photograph the truck, license plates, DOT numbers, and any visible damage. Get the trucking company name and the driver’s information. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company. Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible so preservation letters can be sent to prevent the trucking company from destroying evidence.
What is an ELD and why does it matter in my case?
An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) tracks a truck driver’s hours of service — how long they’ve been driving, when they rested, and whether they violated federal limits. If the driver was fatigued because they exceeded their allowed hours, the ELD data proves it. However, ELD data can be overwritten quickly, which is why your attorney needs to send preservation letters immediately.
How much is my Boulder truck accident case worth?
Truck accident cases are typically worth significantly more than car accident cases because the injuries are more severe and the available insurance coverage is higher. Jordan Law has recovered $26.6 million, $20 million, and $18.6 million in individual truck accident cases. The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, your lost wages, the impact on your quality of life, and the available insurance coverage from all liable parties.
Hit by a Truck in Boulder County? The Clock Is Already Ticking.
Evidence in truck accident cases disappears fast. The trucking company’s investigators may already be at work. Call today for a free consultation — we’ll start protecting your case immediately.
