18-Wheeler & Trucking Accident Attorneys in Huerfano County, Colorado

When 80,000 Pounds Changes Everything

The mountain passes around Huerfano County don’t forgive mistakes. Neither do the trucking companies that put fatigued drivers on I-25, overloaded trailers on Highway 160, or poorly maintained brakes on the steep grades of La Veta Pass. When an 18-wheeler crashes into your vehicle on these winding Colorado roads, the physics are brutal—20 times your car’s weight, crushing force, and nowhere to escape.

We’ve seen what happens when trucking companies cut corners in Huerfano County. The mangled vehicles on the shoulder of I-25. The helicopter evacuations from Walsenburg to Pueblo trauma centers. The families left picking up pieces after a preventable tragedy. For over 25 years, Ralph Manginello has fought to make those trucking companies pay—and with our associate attorney Lupe Peña’s insider knowledge from his years defending insurance companies, we know exactly how to beat their tactics.

Why Huerfano County Trucking Accidents Are Different

Colorado’s high country creates unique dangers for commercial trucking that flatland attorneys simply don’t understand. At elevations exceeding 7,000 feet throughout Huerfano County, engines lose power, brakes overheat on long descents, and weather changes without warning. The stretch of I-25 through your county sees relentless commercial traffic connecting Denver to Albuquerque, while Highway 160 carries heavy loads across the Continental Divide.

We’ve investigated crashes at the notorious curves near La Veta, where runaway truck ramps stand as silent testimony to what happens when brakes fail on 6% grades. We’ve handled cases where overloaded logging trucks on county roads couldn’t navigate tight turns. We know the weigh stations, the distribution patterns, and the specific carriers that frequent Huerfano County corridors—knowledge that matters when we’re reconstructing how your accident happened.

The trucking companies know this terrain too. They know which routes stress equipment and which weather patterns catch drivers unprepared. When they send fatigued drivers through mountain passes anyway, or skip maintenance to keep trucks rolling, they’re making a choice—and that choice can make them liable for everything that follows.

The 10 Parties Who May Owe You Compensation

Most law firms look at a trucking accident and see one defendant: the driver. We see a web of corporate responsibility that can multiply your recovery. In Huerfano County and across Colorado, we’ve pursued claims against every potentially liable party:

The Truck Driver bears direct responsibility for negligent operation—speeding on curves, driving while fatigued, or checking a phone instead of the road. But drivers rarely have assets to cover catastrophic injuries.

The Trucking Company / Motor Carrier is where we typically find substantial insurance coverage. Under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence system, they can be held vicariously liable for their driver’s negligence. More importantly, we pursue direct negligence claims: Did they hire an unqualified driver? Skip background checks? Pressure drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations? Ignore maintenance warnings? Each failure is a separate basis for liability.

The Cargo Owner / Shipper may be liable when they demanded overweight loads, provided improper loading instructions, or failed to disclose hazardous materials. We’ve seen logging operations in Huerfano County push weight limits that made trucks unstable on mountain grades.

The Cargo Loading Company bears responsibility for improperly secured loads that shift during transit, causing rollovers or loss of control. Federal cargo securement regulations under 49 CFR § 393.100-136 provide specific standards—we subpoena loading records to prove violations.

The Truck and Trailer Manufacturer may be liable for design defects in braking systems, stability control, or fuel tank placement that contributed to the crash or worsened injuries.

The Parts Manufacturer—companies that produced defective brakes, tires, or steering components—can be pursued under product liability theories when component failures caused or contributed to the accident.

The Maintenance Company that serviced the truck may be liable for negligent repairs, failure to identify critical safety issues, or returning vehicles to service with known defects.

The Freight Broker who arranged the shipment can be liable for negligent carrier selection—hiring a trucking company with a poor safety record or inadequate insurance without proper due diligence.

Government Entities may bear responsibility for dangerous road design, inadequate signage for known hazards, or failure to maintain safe road conditions—though sovereign immunity limits these claims in Colorado.

Each additional defendant represents another insurance policy, another pool of resources for your recovery. Our investigation identifies every potentially liable party because you deserve maximum compensation, not a quick settlement that leaves money on the table.

Federal Regulations That Protect You—When Trucking Companies Break Them

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has spent decades developing regulations to prevent exactly the kind of accidents that devastate Huerfano County families. When trucking companies violate these rules, they’re not just breaking the law—they’re creating the conditions for catastrophe. We use these violations to prove negligence and secure punitive damages.

49 CFR Part 391—Driver Qualification Standards requires trucking companies to verify that every driver is medically fit, properly licensed, and qualified to operate commercial vehicles. We subpoena Driver Qualification Files to find missing background checks, expired medical certifications, or hiring of drivers with disqualifying conditions. When a company puts an unqualified driver on I-25 through Huerfano County, they’ve committed negligent hiring.

49 CFR Part 392—Driving Rules prohibits operating while fatigued, impaired, or distracted. Section 392.3 explicitly forbids driving when ability is impaired by fatigue, illness, or any cause. Section 392.82 bans hand-held mobile phone use. We obtain cell phone records and ELD data to prove violations that directly caused crashes.

49 CFR Part 393—Vehicle Safety and Cargo Securement mandates proper equipment and loading. Brake systems must meet specifications. Cargo must be secured to withstand 0.8g forward deceleration, 0.5g rearward acceleration, and 0.5g lateral forces. We inspect failed components and subpoena loading records to prove violations that caused rollovers, jackknifes, or cargo spills on Huerfano County roads.

49 CFR Part 395—Hours of Service limits driving time to prevent fatigue. Property-carrying drivers may drive maximum 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. They cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Weekly limits of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days apply. We analyze ELD data to find violations—fatigue causes approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes.

49 CFR Part 396—Inspection and Maintenance requires systematic vehicle upkeep. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections must be conducted and documented. Annual inspections are mandatory. Maintenance records must be retained. We subpoena these records to find deferred maintenance, ignored defects, and violations that caused brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures.

Each regulation violation is evidence of negligence. Multiple violations show a pattern of disregard for safety that can support punitive damages. Our thorough investigation identifies every violation because you deserve full compensation, not a settlement based on incomplete facts.

The Evidence That Wins Cases—And Why It Disappears Fast

Trucking companies don’t wait to protect themselves. Within hours of a crash on I-25 or Highway 160, they deploy rapid-response teams: investigators, lawyers, and insurance adjusters whose sole job is to minimize the company’s exposure. Meanwhile, you’re in a Huerfano County hospital, or worse, arranging a funeral.

Critical evidence starts disappearing immediately. The Electronic Control Module (ECM)—the truck’s “black box”—records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes. This data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days, or sooner if the truck returns to service. Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data showing hours-of-service violations may be retained only 6 months under FMCSA minimums. Dashcam footage is often deleted within 7-14 days. Surveillance video from nearby businesses typically overwrites in 7-30 days. Witness memories fade. Physical evidence—skid marks, debris patterns, vehicle damage—disappears with weather and traffic.

That’s why we act immediately. Within 24-48 hours of being retained, we send spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties. These formal legal notices put them on notice of their duty to preserve all evidence related to the accident. Once on notice, destroying evidence becomes spoliation—a serious legal violation. Courts can instruct juries to assume destroyed evidence was unfavorable, impose monetary sanctions, or even enter default judgment in extreme cases.

We demand preservation of ECM and ELD data, driver qualification files, maintenance and inspection records, dispatch logs and communications, drug and alcohol test results, cell phone records, GPS and telematics data, dashcam and surveillance footage, the physical truck and trailer, and cargo documentation. We subpoena these records before they can be destroyed. We hire accident reconstruction experts to analyze ECM data, download black boxes, and reconstruct exactly what happened on that Huerfano County road.

The trucking company is building their defense right now. Every hour you wait makes your case harder to prove. Evidence doesn’t wait for you to feel better or finish medical treatment. It disappears on the trucking company’s schedule, not yours.

Catastrophic Injuries: The Real Cost of Trucking Negligence

When an 80,000-pound truck hits a 4,000-pound passenger vehicle, the physics are devastating. The force equals mass times acceleration—twenty times the weight means twenty times the destructive potential. We’ve represented Huerfano County families whose lives changed forever in the seconds it took for a negligent truck driver to cross the centerline, blow through a stop sign, or lose control on a mountain grade.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) changes everything about who you are. The brain doesn’t heal like other organs. Even “mild” concussions can cause lasting cognitive deficits, personality changes, and emotional dysregulation. Moderate TBI victims face memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and reduced processing speed that can end careers. Severe TBI—coma, extended unconsciousness, permanent cognitive impairment—requires 24/7 care for life. Our firm has recovered $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims, not because money fixes the injury, but because it provides resources for the best possible care and compensates for a life forever altered.

Spinal Cord Injury means paralysis—paraplegia below the waist, quadriplegia affecting all four limbs. The higher the injury on the spinal column, the more function is lost. C1-C4 injuries may require ventilators for breathing. Even “incomplete” injuries with some nerve function remaining cause lifelong disability. Lifetime care costs range from $1.1 million for paraplegia to $5 million+ for quadriplegia—and that’s just medical costs, not lost wages or pain and suffering. We’ve secured settlements from $4.7 million to $25.8 million for spinal cord injury victims.

Amputation—whether traumatic at the scene or surgical due to irreparable damage—means permanent disability. Prosthetics cost $5,000 to $50,000 each and require replacement every few years. Phantom limb pain, body image trauma, and dependency on others for daily activities create psychological wounds as deep as physical ones. Our amputation settlements range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million, accounting for lifetime prosthetic needs, home modifications, and lost earning capacity.

Severe Burns from fuel fires or hazmat spills cause agony beyond description. Third and fourth-degree burns destroy skin, muscle, and sometimes bone. Treatment requires skin grafts, multiple reconstructive surgeries, and years of rehabilitation. Infection risks are constant. The psychological trauma of disfigurement lasts forever.

Wrongful Death claims can’t bring back your loved one, but they can hold the responsible parties accountable and provide financial security for surviving family members. Damages include lost future income, loss of companionship and guidance, mental anguish, funeral expenses, and in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages. Our wrongful death recoveries range from $1.9 million to $9.5 million.

Every catastrophic injury case we handle in Huerfano County is built on one principle: you didn’t ask for this, but you deserve to be made whole. That means maximum compensation, not quick settlements that leave you paying for someone else’s negligence for the rest of your life.

Your Rights Under Colorado Law

Huerfano County operates under Colorado’s specific legal framework for personal injury claims, and understanding these rules is essential to protecting your recovery.

Statute of Limitations: Colorado gives you two years from the date of your trucking accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the clock also starts at two years from the date of death. This is shorter than some states, and it runs regardless of whether you’re still receiving medical treatment. The trucking company knows this deadline. They’re hoping you’ll focus on recovery while evidence disappears and the deadline approaches. Don’t let them run out the clock.

Modified Comparative Negligence: Colorado follows a 50% bar rule for comparative fault. If you’re found less than 50% responsible for the accident, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Trucking companies and their insurers will try to shift blame onto you—claiming you were speeding, following too closely, or failed to react properly. We fight these allegations with ECM data, ELD records, and accident reconstruction that proves what really happened.

Punitive Damages: Colorado caps punitive damages at the amount of compensatory damages awarded. This means if a jury awards $500,000 in compensatory damages, punitive damages are capped at $500,000. However, this cap doesn’t apply if the defendant’s conduct was felonious, or if the court finds the cap would prevent just punishment. When trucking companies knowingly put dangerous drivers on the road, falsify maintenance records, or destroy evidence, we pursue punitive damages to punish their conduct and deter future violations.

Damage Caps: Unlike some states, Colorado does not cap non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in general personal injury cases involving motor vehicles. Your full pain and suffering damages are recoverable. However, damages against governmental entities are capped at $350,000 per person and $990,000 per occurrence, which becomes relevant if road design or maintenance contributed to your accident.

Understanding these Colorado-specific rules is why local experience matters. An attorney from Texas or California won’t know how Huerfano County juries view comparative fault, or how to navigate the 4th Judicial District’s procedures. We’ve handled cases in Colorado courts. We know the local rules, the local judges, and how to build cases that win here.

The Evidence We Preserve—Before It Disappears

Trucking companies don’t play fair, and they don’t wait. Within hours of a crash on I-25 or Highway 160, they’re working to protect themselves—not you. That’s why our 48-hour evidence preservation protocol is critical to your case.

Electronic Control Module (ECM) Data: The truck’s “black box” records speed, braking, throttle position, engine RPM, and fault codes in the seconds before and during impact. This objective data often contradicts driver claims of “I wasn’t speeding” or “I braked immediately.” But ECM data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days—or sooner if the truck returns to service. We send immediate spoliation demands to preserve this data before it’s lost.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records: Since December 2017, federal law requires most commercial trucks to use ELDs that automatically record driving hours, duty status, and GPS location. These devices prove whether the driver violated hours-of-service regulations—driving beyond the 11-hour limit, skipping required breaks, or falsifying duty status. FMCSA only requires 6 months retention, but our spoliation letters extend preservation obligations indefinitely once litigation is anticipated.

Driver Qualification Files: Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain comprehensive files on every driver, including employment applications, background checks, previous employer verifications, medical certifications, drug test results, and training documentation. Missing or incomplete files prove negligent hiring. We subpoena these records to find patterns of safety violations, prior accidents, or medical conditions that should have disqualified the driver.

Maintenance and Inspection Records: 49 CFR Part 396 requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance of commercial vehicles. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections must be documented. Annual inspections are mandatory. We obtain these records to find deferred maintenance, ignored defects, and violations that caused brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures.

Dispatch Records and Communications: Dispatch logs reveal whether the trucking company pressured the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines, skip required rest, or violate safety regulations. Cell phone records prove distracted driving. Qualcomm or fleet management system data shows real-time communications that may have contributed to the crash.

Physical Evidence: We demand preservation of the actual truck and trailer, failed components, cargo, and any debris from the accident scene. Physical inspection by our experts often reveals defects, wear patterns, and failures that documentary records miss.

Our spoliation letters put every potentially liable party on notice that destroying evidence will have serious consequences. Courts can instruct juries to assume destroyed evidence was unfavorable, impose monetary sanctions, or even enter default judgment. Once we send these letters, the trucking company’s duty to preserve extends far beyond FMCSA minimums.

The trucking company is building their defense right now. Every hour you wait, evidence disappears. The clock started the moment that truck hit you.

Catastrophic Injuries: The Real Cost of Mountain Trucking

The physics of an 80,000-pound truck colliding with a passenger vehicle at highway speeds are devastating. At 65 mph, a fully loaded truck carries approximately 80 times the kinetic energy of a typical car. When that energy transfers to your vehicle on a Huerfano County highway, the results are catastrophic.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) changes everything about who you are. The brain doesn’t heal like other organs. Even “mild” concussions can cause lasting cognitive deficits, personality changes, and emotional dysregulation that end careers and destroy relationships. Moderate TBI victims face memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and reduced processing speed. Severe TBI—coma, extended unconsciousness, permanent cognitive impairment—requires 24/7 care for life. Our firm has recovered between $1.5 million and $9.8 million for TBI victims, providing resources for specialized care and compensating for lives forever altered.

Spinal Cord Injury means paralysis—paraplegia below the waist, quadriplegia affecting all four limbs. The higher the injury on the spinal column, the more function is lost. C1-C4 injuries may require ventilators for breathing. Even “incomplete” injuries with some nerve function remaining cause lifelong disability requiring extensive assistance. Lifetime care costs range from $1.1 million for paraplegia to $5 million or more for quadriplegia—and these figures represent only direct medical costs, not lost wages or pain and suffering. We’ve secured spinal cord injury settlements ranging from $4.7 million to $25.8 million.

Amputation—whether traumatic at the scene or surgical due to irreparable damage—means permanent disability and profound life changes. Prosthetics cost $5,000 to $50,000 each and require replacement every few years. Phantom limb pain, body image trauma, and dependency on others for daily activities create psychological wounds as deep as physical ones. Our amputation settlements range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million, accounting for lifetime prosthetic needs, home modifications, vocational retraining, and lost earning capacity.

Severe Burns from fuel fires or hazmat spills cause agony beyond description. Third and fourth-degree burns destroy skin, muscle, and sometimes bone. Treatment requires skin grafts, multiple reconstructive surgeries, and years of rehabilitation. Infection risks are constant. The psychological trauma of disfigurement lasts forever.

Wrongful Death claims can’t bring back your loved one, but they can hold the responsible parties accountable and provide financial security for surviving family members. Damages include lost future income, loss of companionship and guidance, mental anguish, funeral expenses, and in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages. Our wrongful death recoveries range from $1.9 million to $9.5 million.

Every catastrophic injury case we handle is built on one principle: you didn’t ask for this, but you deserve to be made whole. That means maximum compensation, not quick settlements that leave you paying for someone else’s negligence for the rest of your life.

Colorado Law: Your Rights and Deadlines in Huerfano County

Understanding Colorado’s specific legal framework is essential to protecting your recovery after a trucking accident in Huerfano County.

Statute of Limitations: Colorado gives you two years from the date of your trucking accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the clock also starts at two years from the date of death. This deadline runs regardless of whether you’re still receiving medical treatment. The trucking company knows this deadline. They’re hoping you’ll focus on recovery while evidence disappears and the deadline approaches. Don’t let them run out the clock.

Modified Comparative Negligence: Colorado follows a 50% bar rule. If you’re found less than 50% responsible for the accident, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Trucking companies and their insurers will try to shift blame onto you—claiming you were speeding, following too closely, or failed to react properly to mountain conditions. We fight these allegations with ECM data, ELD records, and accident reconstruction that proves what really happened on that Huerfano County road.

Punitive Damages: Colorado caps punitive damages at the amount of compensatory damages awarded. However, this cap doesn’t apply if the defendant’s conduct was felonious, or if the court finds the cap would prevent just punishment. When trucking companies knowingly put dangerous drivers on mountain roads, falsify maintenance records, or destroy evidence, we pursue punitive damages to punish their conduct and deter future violations.

Damage Caps: Unlike some states, Colorado does not cap non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in general personal injury cases involving motor vehicles. Your full pain and suffering damages are recoverable. However, damages against governmental entities are capped at $350,000 per person and $990,000 per occurrence, which becomes relevant if road design or maintenance contributed to your accident.

The Attorney911 Difference: Why Huerfano County Families Choose Us

When you’re facing the aftermath of a catastrophic trucking accident, you need more than a lawyer—you need a fighter with the experience, resources, and determination to take on the largest trucking companies and win.

Ralph Manginello’s 25+ Years of Experience means we’ve seen every tactic trucking companies use. Since 1998, we’ve handled cases from initial investigation through jury verdict. Ralph’s federal court admission to the Southern District of Texas allows us to handle interstate trucking cases that cross state lines—critical when your accident involves an out-of-state carrier on I-25.

Lupe Peña’s Insurance Defense Background gives our clients an unfair advantage. Lupe spent years working for a national insurance defense firm. He watched adjusters minimize claims, learned their valuation formulas, and saw how they train their people to lowball victims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you. As he told ABC13 Houston in our $10 million University of hazing lawsuit coverage: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Multi-Million Dollar Results demonstrate our capability. We’ve recovered over $50 million for clients across all practice areas. Specific trucking and catastrophic injury results include:

• $5+ million for a traumatic brain injury victim struck by a falling log
• $3.8+ million for a client who suffered partial leg amputation after a car accident with medical complications
• $2.5+ million in a commercial truck crash recovery
• $2+ million for a maritime worker with a back injury under the Jones Act
• Multiple millions recovered for families in wrongful death trucking accidents

Federal Court Experience matters in trucking cases. Interstate commerce means federal jurisdiction, and many trucking cases benefit from federal court filing. Ralph Manginello’s admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, combined with our understanding of federal trucking regulations, positions us to handle the most complex cases.

Three Office Locations mean we’re never far from where you need us. Our Houston headquarters at 1177 West Loop South, Suite 1600, serves as our primary base. Our Austin office at 316 West 12th Street, Suite 311, provides Central Texas coverage. We also meet clients in Beaumont. For Huerfano County families, we offer remote consultations and travel to you when your injuries prevent travel.

Contingency Fee Representation means you pay nothing unless we win. We advance all investigation costs, expert fees, and litigation expenses. You never receive a bill from us. Our standard fee is 33.33% if settled before trial, 40% if litigation is required. This aligns our interests with yours—we only get paid when you do.

Spanish Language Services through Lupe Peña ensure direct communication without interpreters. Hablamos Español. For Huerfano County’s Hispanic families, this means clear understanding of your case, your rights, and your options. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

24/7 Availability because trucking accidents don’t happen on business hours. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 any time, day or night. We answer. We respond. We act.

What to Do After a Trucking Accident in Huerfano County

The moments after an 18-wheeler crash are chaotic, painful, and overwhelming. If you’re able, these steps protect both your health and your legal rights:

Call 911 immediately. Report all injuries, even those that seem minor. Request that police document the scene and create an official accident report. This report becomes crucial evidence.

Seek medical attention immediately. Adrenaline masks pain. Internal injuries, traumatic brain injury, and spinal damage may not show symptoms for hours or days. Huerfano County’s rural location means you may need transport to Pueblo, Colorado Springs, or Denver trauma centers. Get checked out thoroughly.

Document everything if you’re able. Photograph all vehicles involved, damage close-ups, wide scene shots, street signs, traffic signals, road conditions, and your injuries. Photograph the truck’s DOT number, company name, and license plates. Get contact and insurance information from the driver. Collect witness names and phone numbers.

Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company. Insurance adjusters work for the trucking company, not you. They’re trained to get you to say things that minimize your claim. Politely decline to give a statement and refer them to your attorney.

Do not sign anything without legal review. Early settlement offers are designed to pay you far less than your case is worth, often before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Never accept a settlement without consulting an experienced trucking accident attorney.

Contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney immediately. The trucking company has lawyers working right now. You need someone protecting your interests just as aggressively. We send spoliation letters within hours to preserve critical evidence before it’s destroyed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Huerfano County Trucking Accidents

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a trucking accident in Colorado?

Colorado’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death, you have two years from the date of death. This deadline runs regardless of your medical treatment status. The trucking company is counting on you to focus on recovery while evidence disappears and the clock runs out. Don’t give them that advantage.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Colorado follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar. If you’re found less than 50% responsible, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Trucking companies will aggressively try to shift blame onto you. We counter with objective evidence—ECM data, ELD records, and accident reconstruction—that proves what really happened.

How much is my trucking accident case worth?

Case value depends on injury severity, medical expenses (past and future), lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, degree of defendant negligence, and available insurance coverage. Trucking companies carry $750,000 to $5 million or more in insurance—far exceeding typical auto policies. We’ve recovered amounts ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions, depending on case specifics. The only way to know your case’s potential value is through a thorough evaluation by an experienced trucking accident attorney.

Will my case go to trial?

Most trucking accident cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies know which attorneys are willing to go to court—and they offer better settlements to clients with trial-ready representation. Our preparation includes thorough investigation, expert retention, and litigation readiness that creates leverage in negotiations. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we have the experience and resources to take your case to verdict.

How do I pay for an attorney if I’m already struggling with medical bills?

We work on contingency. You pay absolutely nothing upfront. We advance all investigation costs, expert fees, and litigation expenses. You never receive a bill from us. Our fee—typically 33.33% if settled before trial, 40% if litigation is required—comes only from your recovery. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours and makes quality legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not an employee?

This is a common trucking company defense, but it doesn’t end the inquiry. We investigate the actual relationship between driver and company. Factors like company control over schedules, equipment ownership, and payment methods often reveal that “independent contractors” are actually employees under the law. Additionally, even true independent contractors can create liability through negligent entrustment claims, and their own insurance coverage may be available. We pursue every avenue of recovery.

How do I know if the trucking company has a bad safety record?

FMCSA maintains public safety data at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. We obtain and analyze the carrier’s CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores, inspection history, out-of-service rates, crash history, and safety rating. A poor safety record proves the company knew it was putting dangerous drivers and equipment on the road. This pattern of violations can support punitive damages claims and demonstrates corporate disregard for public safety.

What if I don’t feel hurt immediately after the accident?

Adrenaline masks pain. Many serious injuries—traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, spinal damage—don’t show immediate symptoms. Some conditions worsen over days or weeks. Immediate medical evaluation creates documentation linking any subsequent diagnosis to the accident. Without this documentation, insurance companies will argue your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else. See a doctor immediately, follow all treatment recommendations, and keep detailed records of your symptoms and limitations.

Can undocumented immigrants file personal injury claims in Colorado?

Yes. Immigration status does not affect your right to seek compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. You have the same legal rights as any other accident victim. Our firm includes Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff to ensure clear communication. We understand the unique concerns undocumented immigrants may have about engaging with the legal system, and we take steps to protect your interests while pursuing your claim.

Call Attorney911 Today: Your Huerfano County Trucking Accident Attorneys

The trucking company that hit you has already called their lawyers. Their insurance adjuster is already looking for ways to pay you less. Their rapid-response team is already at the scene, gathering evidence to protect them—not you.

What are you doing?

Every hour you wait, critical evidence in your Huerfano County trucking accident case disappears. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Dashcam footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget what they saw. The trucking company is building their defense while you’re trying to heal.

You need someone fighting for you with the same urgency and determination they’re bringing to protect themselves. You need Attorney911.

Ralph Manginello has spent over 25 years making trucking companies pay for the devastation they cause. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña brings insider knowledge from his years defending insurance companies—now he uses that knowledge to fight for you. We’ve recovered over $50 million for families devastated by catastrophic accidents, including multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputation, and wrongful death.

We know Huerfano County’s roads—the mountain passes, the interstate corridors, the specific dangers that commercial trucking creates in Colorado’s high country. We know the local courts, the local procedures, and how to build cases that win here.

We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all investigation costs, expert fees, and litigation expenses. You never receive a bill from us. We answer our phones 24/7 because trucking accidents don’t happen on business hours.

Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña provides direct Spanish-language representation without interpreters. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

The trucking company is already working against you. It’s time to get someone working for you. Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 or 888-288-9911. Your consultation is free. Your future depends on what you do next.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm
1-888-ATTY-911 | (713) 528-9070
ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
Houston • Austin • Beaumont

Serving trucking accident victims in Huerfano County, Walsenburg, La Veta, and throughout Colorado’s high country