Last Updated: October 22, 2026
- Early, once you’ve had medical care. The records that show how a truck was driven and maintained aren’t kept forever.
- Driver logs: at least 6 months. Federal rules require a carrier to keep a driver’s records of duty status for at least 6 months.
- Maintenance records: 1 year where the truck is kept and 6 months after it leaves the carrier’s control. The accident register is kept for 3 years.
- Many commercial trucks must carry more insurance than cars. A for-hire interstate carrier hauling general freight in a vehicle rated at 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000, against Colorado’s $25,000 per person car minimum.
- Colorado’s deadlines still apply. Most crash injury lawsuits have three years, and a claim against a public entity or a government employee on the job needs notice within 182 days.
If you were hurt, the time to hire a truck accident lawyer in Denver is as soon as you’re able after getting medical care. A truck crash claim often turns on records the trucking company holds, and federal rules let some of those records go after six months.
You don’t need a lawyer for every crash with a truck. This page explains which situations call for one quickly, which may not, and what the clock looks like under federal and Colorado rules.
If you’d like to talk it through, CGH Injury Lawyers in Denver offers a free consultation, and there’s no fee unless we win. That covers the attorney’s fee, and case expenses are handled under your written agreement.
Reach us through our Denver office’s contact page or call (303) 209-9395.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
The Short Answer: Within the First Few Weeks
For an injury crash with a commercial truck, the first weeks matter most. That’s when the company’s records, the truck’s condition, and witnesses’ memories are all still available.
A lawyer can ask the trucking company in writing to keep its records and data before routine schedules let the company discard them. That request is most useful when it’s made early.
How Long Trucking Companies Have to Keep Records
Federal rules set retention periods for several kinds of trucking records. Here are three that often come up after a crash:
| Record | What it shows | How long it must be kept |
|---|---|---|
| Records of duty status | The driver’s hours on duty and driving | Not less than 6 months from receipt (49 CFR 395.8) |
| Inspection, repair, and maintenance records | Work done on the truck | 1 year where the truck is housed or maintained, and 6 months after it leaves the carrier’s control (49 CFR 396.3) |
| Accident register | Crashes the carrier was involved in | 3 years after each accident (49 CFR 390.15) |
These are the periods the rules require. A company may keep some records longer, but you shouldn’t rely on that. If you wait a year to look into a crash, the driver’s logs from that day may already be gone.
Other Evidence That Can Disappear
Not every piece of evidence has a federal retention period. Electronic data stored in the truck, dash camera video, and the truck itself after repairs aren’t covered by the three rules above. A written request to preserve that evidence is often one of the first things a lawyer sends. Photos you took at the scene, the names of witnesses, and the police report number are worth keeping too.
Why Truck Cases Are Different From Car Cases
A truck crash often involves more insurance and more parties than a car crash. Federal rules require a for-hire carrier hauling general freight across state lines, in a vehicle rated at 10,001 pounds or more, to carry at least $750,000 (49 CFR 387.9).
Compare that with Colorado’s minimum car policy, which covers bodily injury up to $25,000 for one person (C.R.S. 10-4-620).
The company, its insurer, and occasionally a separate owner of the trailer can all be involved. Sorting out who is responsible can make these cases take longer to build. For the money side, see what it costs to hire a Denver truck accident lawyer.
Signs You Should Call a Lawyer Right Away
Some situations call for legal help quickly:
- You or a passenger needed medical treatment or still require it.
- The truck was operated by a company, not a private driver.
- The truck driver or the company is claiming that the crash was your fault.
- An insurance adjuster asks for a recorded statement or offers money soon after the crash.
- The truck was driven by a city, county, or other government employee on the job.
- Someone died in the crash.
In each of these, early steps can affect the evidence or a deadline. A claim against a public entity has a separate, shorter notice period, covered below.
When You May Not Need a Lawyer
If no one was hurt and the damage is limited to your vehicle, you may be able to handle the claim with the insurance companies yourself. The same can be true for a very minor injury that heals quickly with little treatment.
Even then, keep your records and photos. Symptoms from a crash can show up later, and the deadlines below still run.
Colorado Deadlines After a Truck Crash
Most Colorado lawsuits for bodily injury from a motor vehicle crash have to be filed within three years after the claim arises (C.R.S. 13-80-101).
A claim against a public entity is different. Colorado requires written notice “within one hundred eighty-two days after the date of the discovery of the injury” (C.R.S. 24-10-109).
Your share of fault matters too. Colorado reduces damages by your percentage of fault and bars recovery if your fault is equal to or greater than the other side’s (C.R.S. 13-21-111).
Talk to a Denver Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a crash with a commercial truck, our Denver truck accident lawyers can review what happened and what records need to be preserved. For background on case values, see average truck accident settlement amounts in Colorado.
The consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless we win. That phrase covers the attorney’s fee, and your written agreement handles case expenses. Call (303) 209-9395 to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I hire a truck accident lawyer in Denver?
If you were injured, do so as soon as you can after getting medical care. Federal rules require carriers to keep drivers’ records of duty status for not less than 6 months, so waiting can put key evidence at risk.
How long does a trucking company keep driver logs?
Federal rules require a carrier to keep a driver’s records of duty status and supporting documents for not less than 6 months from the date of receipt (49 CFR 395.8). Maintenance records follow a different period (49 CFR 396.3).
How much insurance does a semi-truck have to carry?
It depends on the cargo and the kind of operation. A for-hire carrier must carry at least $750,000 when hauling general freight across state lines in a vehicle rated at 10,001 pounds or more (49 CFR 387.9). Some hazardous cargo requires $5,000,000.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Colorado?
Most lawsuits for bodily injury from a motor vehicle crash have to be filed within three years (C.R.S. 13-80-101). If a public entity or a government employee on the job caused the crash, written notice is due within 182 days after you discover the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109).
Do I need a lawyer if the truck only damaged my car?
Not always. A property-damage-only claim can often be handled directly with the insurers. If you develop symptoms later, get medical care and keep the records.
Written by CGH Injury Lawyers.
Attorney Advertising. CGH Injury Lawyers.
This article is general information for Colorado injury readers. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not promise that any deadline, rule, or outcome applies to your case. Statute-of-limitations, comparative negligence, insurance, and compensation questions require case-specific legal review.
Related articles
-
Average Truck Accident Settlement Amounts in Colorado
In the aftermath of a truck accident, victims are often left with emotional trauma, physical injuries, and financial burdens. If you have recently suffered a truck accident that…
-
How to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall in Denver Under Colorado’s Premises Law
Last Updated: October 22, 2026 Table of Contents Colorado Uses a Premises Law Instead of Plain Negligence Step 1: Show Why You Were on the Property Step 2:…
-
What Injury Pays the Most for a Car Accident in Denver? What Really Drives the Number
Last Updated: October 21, 2026 Table of Contents Which Car Accident Injuries Usually Lead to the Largest Claims? The Three Kinds of Losses Colorado Counts Why Medical Bills…
