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CGH Injury Lawyers represents people hurt by commercial trucks in Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder, Colorado

Boulder Truck Accident Lawyers Who Hold the Carrier Accountable

When an 18-wheeler hurts you on US 36, US 287, or the Diagonal Highway, the trucking company starts protecting itself within hours. We move faster, preserve the black box data before it is overwritten, and sue the carrier, not just the driver. No fee unless we win.

No fee unless we win
Call (303) 209-9395 Get my free truck-crash case review

It's More Than Money.

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100% confidential. No fee unless we win.

Serving Boulder From Our Denver Office CGH Injury Lawyers 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 209-9395 Se habla espanol
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  • A crash with a commercial truck is not a bigger car accident. Trucks over 10,000 pounds answer to a layer of federal Hours of Service rules and Colorado safety law that ordinary drivers never touch, and the violations behind your Boulder crash often become the evidence that wins your case.
  • More than one party can be at fault. The carrier can be liable for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance, on top of the driver's own negligence (per the statewide truck accident framework).
  • Key evidence vanishes fast. Engine control module (black box) data can be overwritten in 30 days and dashcam footage in 30 to 90 days, so a spoliation letter has to go out within the first 72 hours.

If a commercial truck hurt you in Boulder, CGH Injury Lawyers investigates the carrier, not just the driver, secures the data before it disappears, and prepares every case for trial. We do not keep a Boulder office. We serve Boulder from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., a short drive down US 36, and we handle cases in Boulder County Combined Court in the 20th Judicial District. You pay nothing unless we win.

Why truck cases differ

Why a Boulder truck accident case is not a car accident case

Truck cases carry more defendants, more regulations, and more evidence than a typical crash. Each of those layers is a place to prove fault, and a place where a carrier will try to bury it.

More parties can be at fault

  • The driver, for their own negligence behind the wheel
  • The trucking company, for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance
  • Cargo loaders, brokers, and third-party maintenance contractors
  • The truck or parts manufacturer when a defect contributed

More evidence, and it disappears

  • Electronic logging device (ELD) data showing real hours driven versus what the carrier reported
  • Engine control module (ECM) black box data on speed and hard braking, often kept only 30 days
  • Forward and driver-facing dashcam footage, typically deleted in 30 to 90 days
  • Maintenance records that can reveal a pattern of deferred repairs

Federal law requires carriers to keep ELD data for six months and maintenance records for one year, but companies frequently overwrite or lose this information. Acting within the first 72 hours, before evidence is gone, is the single biggest factor in preserving your claim. If you were hurt on US 36 or the Diagonal Highway last week, that clock is already running.

Federal and state law

The trucking rules that decide your Boulder case

Colorado trucking runs on a dual-jurisdiction framework: federal FMCSA standards govern interstate carriers, and Colorado statutes add mountain-grade and chain-law duties on top. Knowing which rule applies is how liability gets proven.

Federal Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)

  • 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty
  • 14-hour on-duty window that cannot be reset by breaks
  • 30-minute break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving
  • 60 hours on duty in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days
  • Electronic logging devices required since December 2017 (49 CFR Part 395, Subpart B)

Colorado-specific standards

  • C.R.S. 42-4-235 sets minimum commercial vehicle safety equipment standards; a breach can be negligence per se
  • CDOT Code 16 chain law requires commercial trucks to chain up when activated on I-70 and other passes
  • Chains must be carried on I-70 between September 1 and May 31
  • Weight limits of 80,000 pounds gross, 20,000 per single axle, and 34,000 per tandem axle on interstate highways
  • C.R.S. 42-4-1010 governs mandatory brake check stations before major downgrades

A regulation violation can establish negligence per se

When a carrier breaks a safety rule written to protect the public, that violation can establish negligence per se, meaning the breach itself helps prove fault. A fatigued driver who blew past the 11-hour Hours of Service limit before rear-ending you on US 287, or a truck that failed the C.R.S. 42-4-235 equipment standard, is not a sympathetic defendant in front of a Boulder County jury. The same logic reaches the FMCSA adverse-driving-conditions exception under 49 CFR 395.1(b)(1): it is frequently abused and does not excuse a driver who should have planned for predictable Colorado weather.

Local Knowledge

Boulder roads. Boulder trauma care. Boulder courts.

A Boulder truck crash lives in Boulder: the corridor where it happened, the hospital that treated you, and the courthouse where your case may be filed. Here is the ground we work on.

The Corridors

US 36, US 287, and the Diagonal

Boulder's heavy-truck routes are the danger zones. US 36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, runs through Boulder on 28th Street under CDOT maintenance, and Boulder County's Vision Zero program has recorded multiple fatalities from head-on and single-vehicle crashes on the US 36 corridor. The US 287 corridor has seen numerous head-on and speed-related crashes, and Colorado 119, the Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont, has logged curve-related crashes and motorcyclist fatalities. Colorado 7, the Arapahoe Avenue extension running east toward US 287, is also CDOT-maintained.

Trauma Care

Foothills Hospital

After a serious truck crash in Boulder, badly injured patients are often treated at Foothills Hospital, part of Boulder Community Health at 4747 Arapahoe Avenue. It is a Level II Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons, and the first designated Level II Trauma Center in Boulder County. Those medical records document the full scope of your injuries and become the backbone of your damages claim. Trucks cause severe, long-term injuries, which is exactly why that documentation matters.

Courthouse

Boulder County Combined Court

Personal injury cases that arise in Boulder County are filed in the Boulder County Combined Court, the District Court for the 20th Judicial District, at 1777 6th St., Boulder, with an alternate location in Longmont at 1035 Kimbark St. Local civil procedure, the judges, and the jury pool differ from Denver. Most truck cases settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, but where a case would be filed shapes the local rules and the defense firms you face.

Boulder County recorded 22 traffic deaths in 2023, 19 in 2024, and 17 in 2025, according to the county's Vision Zero program, which identifies excessive speed, impaired driving, failure to negotiate curves, and centerline crossings among the common contributing factors. Within the city, the 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue intersection and the 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard intersection rank among Boulder's most dangerous. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer is part of one of those crashes, the consequences are rarely minor.

Why CGH

Why Boulder truck accident victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

Trial-ready attorneys who know the trucking rulebook, bilingual help, and no fee unless we win. We do not publish truck accident settlement figures, because every injury is different and a number on a page tells you nothing about your case. What we offer is the work, not a headline.

The Rulebook

FMCSA and FMCSR.

We map each violation, from Hours of Service to chain law to brake maintenance, onto the legal theory that proves negligence. The rulebook is where these cases are won.

We Sue the Carrier

Not just the driver.

Carriers label drivers as independent contractors to dodge responsibility. We look past the label to the real relationship, and we pursue the company directly for negligent hiring, training, supervision, and maintenance.

First 72 Hours

We move on the data.

Spoliation letters go out fast to lock down ELD data, the ECM black box, and dashcam footage before they are overwritten.

Boulder Coverage

A short drive down US 36.

We serve Boulder from our Denver office and handle cases in the Boulder County Combined Court, 20th Judicial District.

Trial-Ready

Over 25 cases to verdict.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. When attorneys are genuinely ready to try a case, a carrier and its insurer respond differently to a demand.

Recognized

Best Lawyers since 2023.

Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023.

No Win, No Fee

Contingency only.

You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees. We advance costs and collect only from a settlement or verdict.

One honest thing we will tell you up front: we do not sign up truck cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If the facts genuinely point away from carrier liability, we will say so in the free review rather than string you along while evidence disappears. When the law and the data are on your side, we fight hard. When they are not, you deserve to hear that early, for free.

After the Crash

What to do after a truck accident in Boulder

Take care of your health first, get the crash documented, then call before the carrier's adjuster reaches you. Here is the path we walk with you.

  1. Get medical care

    Foothills Hospital, the Level II Trauma Center on Arapahoe Avenue, treats serious crash injuries in Boulder. Even injuries that feel manageable can be severe with a heavy truck involved. Get examined, and keep every record.

  2. Document the scene

    Photograph the vehicles, the truck's company markings and DOT number, the road, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses, and note the corridor and direction of travel.

  3. Call before insurance does

    The carrier's insurer may call quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with us. Call (303) 209-9395.

  4. We send spoliation letters fast

    Within the first 72 hours we demand preservation of ELD data, driver logs, ECM black box data, dashcam footage, and maintenance records before they can be overwritten.

  5. We investigate every party

    We look past the driver to the carrier, brokers, cargo loaders, and maintenance contractors, and we work with accident reconstruction specialists to show exactly how the crash happened.

  6. Demand, negotiate, or try the case

    We document your full damages and negotiate from a position of trial readiness. When a carrier and its insurer refuse to be fair, we are prepared to present your case to a Boulder County jury.

We also help with the practical pressure of recovery. Early on, your health insurance or auto MedPay coverage usually handles medical bills, and we work with providers to arrange payment from settlement proceeds so treatment continues while your claim moves forward.

Who is liable

Holding the trucking company accountable, not just the driver

Carriers often label drivers as independent contractors to dodge responsibility, and they structure leases through shell companies to hide behind the Graves Amendment. Both defenses can be pierced.

  • Courts look past the "independent contractor" label to the real relationship. When the carrier controls the work, it can be vicariously liable under respondeat superior.
  • Even a truly independent driver does not shield the carrier from direct claims for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance.
  • The Graves Amendment (49 U.S.C. 30106) protects rental and leasing companies, but it does not cover a lessor who was negligent in maintenance or knew the driver was unqualified.
  • Federal leasing regulations (49 CFR Part 376) impose recordkeeping and control duties that often reveal a carrier's true operational control over the truck.

Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule also assigns fault percentages across the parties, which can affect recovery. We analyze every source of liability so your claim reaches every available insurance policy and corporate asset, and we counter defense attempts to shift blame onto you.

Compensation

What compensation can you recover after a Boulder truck accident?

Because truck crashes tend to cause severe, long-term injuries, the damages reach well past the first hospital bill. Colorado lets injured people recover documented economic losses and the human cost of an injury.

Economic damages

  • Emergency treatment and ongoing medical care
  • Future care and long-term rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages and missed workdays
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Property damage to your vehicle

Non-economic and punitive damages

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and trauma
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Relationship and family impact
  • Punitive damages in cases of egregious negligence

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5), with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Two categories are not capped at all: economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, which together usually make up the bulk of a severe truck-crash recovery. A carrier's poor safety scores, falsified inspection logs, or deliberate weigh-station evasion can also support a claim for punitive damages, which in Colorado generally cannot exceed the amount of actual damages awarded (C.R.S. 13-21-102).

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Carrier defenses

Defenses trucking companies use, and how we answer them

Carriers and their insurers reach for the same defenses early. Knowing what each one actually requires under federal and Colorado law is how we keep a valid Boulder claim alive.

  1. "It was just bad weather"

    Colorado treats winter driving as a manageable duty, not an excuse. Code 16 is not optional, and a carrier that causes a crash during a Code 16 activation without chains cannot fall back on "unavoidable accident." The FMCSA adverse-driving-conditions exception under 49 CFR 395.1(b)(1) is also frequently abused and does not excuse a fatigued driver who should have planned for snow.

  2. "The driver was an independent contractor"

    Courts look past the label to the real relationship. When the carrier controls the work, it can be vicariously liable under respondeat superior, and even a truly independent driver does not shield the carrier from direct claims for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance.

  3. "The Graves Amendment protects us"

    The Graves Amendment (49 U.S.C. 30106) protects rental and leasing companies, but it does not cover a lessor who was negligent in maintenance or knew the driver was unqualified. Federal leasing regulations (49 CFR Part 376) often reveal a carrier's true operational control over the truck.

Carriers also try to shift blame onto you, because Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule assigns fault percentages across the parties. We counter that by mapping each regulatory violation onto the facts and showing the jury exactly where the carrier's own conduct caused the crash.

The hard part of these cases

The carrier's insurer is built to pay you less

A commercial trucking insurer is not a neighbor's homeowner policy. It is a well-funded operation with rapid-response adjusters whose job is to limit what the carrier pays. Understanding how that machine works is how you neutralize it.

  • Trucking insurers often dispatch their own investigators to the scene within hours, sometimes before you have left Foothills Hospital. Their early work product is built to minimize the carrier's exposure.
  • A quick recorded statement or a fast lowball offer is a tool, not a courtesy. Accepting an offer before you understand the full extent of your injuries can waive your right to pursue more later.
  • We negotiate from a position of trial readiness, not from a willingness to take the first number an adjuster floats. Documented damages and preserved data are what move an insurer.
  • Because a truck claim can pull from multiple policies and corporate assets, identifying every available source of recovery is part of the work, not an afterthought.
Questions

Boulder truck accident, frequently asked questions

Does CGH Injury Lawyers have an office in Boulder?

We serve Boulder from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205, a short drive down US 36. We do not keep a separate Boulder office, but we handle Boulder County cases directly, including matters filed in the Boulder County Combined Court in the 20th Judicial District. You can reach us at (303) 209-9395.

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

Colorado gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for injuries arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)). Shorter deadlines can apply, including a formal written notice within 182 days when a government vehicle or agency is involved. Because key truck evidence such as black box data can be overwritten within 30 days, you should not wait. Contact an attorney early so your specific deadline can be confirmed.

What are the Hours of Service limits for commercial truck drivers?

The FMCSA limits commercial drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window. Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving and cannot exceed 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 days (49 CFR Part 395). These rules exist to prevent driver fatigue, a leading cause of truck accidents on corridors like US 36 and US 287.

Who is liable in a Boulder truck accident, the driver or the company?

Both can be liable. The driver is responsible for their own negligence, such as speeding or distracted driving. The trucking company can be vicariously liable under respondeat superior if the driver was an employee, or directly liable for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance. Many cases involve multiple parties, including the truck manufacturer for defective parts and third-party maintenance contractors.

How long do trucking companies have to keep evidence after a crash?

Federal law requires carriers to retain ELD data for six months, but it is often overwritten unless preserved through a spoliation letter. Engine control module (ECM) black box data may be stored for only 30 days, and dashcam footage for 30 to 90 days. Acting within the first 72 hours to demand preservation is critical, which is why calling a lawyer quickly after a Boulder crash matters so much.

Can a trucking company blame the crash on bad weather in Colorado?

Usually not. Colorado's Code 16 chain law treats winter driving as a manageable duty, not an unforeseeable event. If the carrier failed to equip the truck with chains, failed to train the driver on chain installation, or allowed the driver to proceed in violation of a Code 16 activation, the bad-weather defense fails. The FMCSA adverse-driving-conditions exception to Hours of Service rules is also frequently abused and does not excuse reckless driving.

Is there a cap on damages in a Colorado truck accident case?

Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5), with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are never capped, and compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped at all. In a severe truck-crash case, those uncapped categories usually make up the bulk of the recovery.

Should I accept the trucking insurer's first settlement offer?

It is generally not advisable to accept a quick offer without consulting an experienced truck accident attorney. Adjusters aim to minimize payouts and may offer a lowball figure before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Accepting a settlement waives your right to pursue more later, even if your condition worsens. We can evaluate any offer against your specific injuries and negotiate for full compensation.

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It's More Than Money.

Hurt by a truck near Boulder? We preserve the evidence and hold the carrier accountable.

Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Available in English and Spanish. The black box clock is already running.

Tell us what happened

100% confidential. No fee unless we win.

Call (303) 209-9395 Get my free truck-crash case review

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CGH Injury Lawyers · Serving Boulder from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205