Common Denver Highway Accidents and When to Call a Car Accident Lawyer

TL;DR

●  Rear-end collisions account for 29% of all serious crashes and are the most common type of highway accident

●  Colorado saw 294 highway fatalities in the first half of 2024, with speed, impairment, and distraction as top causes

●  Victims who hire a Denver car accident lawyer receive settlements 3-4 times larger than those who negotiate alone

●  Multi-vehicle collisions and sideswipe accidents can cause severe injuries even when they initially appear minor

●  Contact a lawyer immediately after a highway crash to protect your legal rights and maximize compensation

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Highway crashes across Denver and the Front Range happen fast, and they happen often. In the first half of 2024 alone, Colorado recorded 294 traffic fatalities on its roads, according to data from the Colorado Department of Transportation. These aren't just statistics. They're real people whose lives changed in seconds because of someone else's negligence. When you're caught in a Denver highway accident, you need to know what types of collisions you might face, how to prevent them, and when it's time to call a car accident lawyer who can fight for the compensation you deserve.

What Are the Most Common Types of Highway Accidents in Denver?

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions happen when one vehicle strikes the vehicle directly in front of it. These crashes account for approximately 29% of all serious vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We see these constantly on I-25, I-70, and I-225, especially during rush hour when drivers follow too closely or fail to notice changes in traffic flow. The NHTSA reports that roughly 1.7 to 2.5 million rear-end collisions occur annually across the United States, with distracted driving playing a role in 87% of these incidents.

Sideswipe Collisions

Sideswipe accidents happen when two vehicles traveling in the same or opposite directions make lateral contact. While these can sometimes appear minor at first glance, sideswipes can cause drivers to lose control and trigger more serious secondary collisions. We've represented clients who suffered severe injuries from what initially looked like a minor scrape between vehicles. Always check your blind spots before changing lanes, especially on busy Denver highways where traffic moves fast and lanes narrow unexpectedly.

Multi-Vehicle Collisions

Multi-vehicle collisions often happen because of poor visibility conditions or an unforeseen obstacle on the road. Colorado's weather creates unique hazards here. When snow, ice, or fog reduces visibility on highways through the Front Range, these pileups can involve dozens of vehicles. The danger multiplies with each additional vehicle, as each car can sustain impacts from multiple directions.

Rollover Crashes

Top-heavy vehicles like SUVs and trucks face higher risks of rollover crashes, which occur when a vehicle takes a curve at high speeds or turns suddenly and flips onto its side or roof. According to CDOT's safety data, speed-related crashes tend to result in the most severe injuries. Colorado's mountain highways present particular dangers for rollovers when drivers take curves too fast or lose control on steep grades.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions occur when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide front-to-front. These usually happen because of wrong-way driving, often linked to impairment or distraction. In the first half of 2024, CDOT identified impairment, speed, and distracted driving as the top three crash factors in Colorado fatalities. Head-on collisions are among the deadliest highway accidents because of the combined force of both vehicles' speeds.

What Factors Contribute Most to Denver Highway Accidents?

Speed and Aggressive Driving

Speeding reduces your reaction time and increases stopping distance. Nationwide, the NHTSA estimated 39,345 traffic deaths in 2024, a decrease from 2023 but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Speed plays a major role in these fatalities. Maintain at least a three-second following distance from the vehicle ahead. In Colorado's adverse weather conditions from late fall through early spring, or when following larger vehicles, increase this gap to five or six seconds or more.

Distracted Driving

If you need to use your phone, adjust the radio, eat, or take any action that diverts your attention from the road, pull over first. Taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds while traveling at 55 mph equals driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. We've seen too many lives destroyed by a single glance at a text message.

Driver Fatigue

Exhaustion impairs your judgment, slows your reaction times, and causes you to behave similarly to someone under the influence of alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowsy driving is a serious safety threat. Just like drunk driving, fatigue-related accidents cause numerous preventable highway tragedies each year. If you feel tired, pull over and rest, or have a passenger take over.

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, call us at 866-377-3800 or schedule a free consultation at www.metierlaw.com.

When Should You Call a Denver Car Accident Lawyer After a Highway Crash?

Understanding common causes of highway accidents and practicing defensive driving improves your safety. But even the most careful drivers sometimes become victims of others' negligence. Just because you drove safely doesn't make the financial and emotional toll any lighter.

Here's what matters: accident victims who hire a Denver car accident lawyer receive settlements that are, on average, 3.5 times larger than those who negotiate alone. That's not marketing hype. That's industry data. A competent lawyer knows the full scope of damages you can demand, including economic damages to cover your medical bills and non-economic damages to address your pain and suffering.

What a Knowledgeable Denver Car Accident Lawyer Will Do

A skilled attorney will explain your legal rights, help determine who may be liable for your damages, handle all complex paperwork and legal procedures, and let you focus on recovery. Our attorneys have spent over 40 years fighting for injury victims in Colorado courtrooms. We know how insurance companies operate. We know what your case is actually worth, not what they want to pay you.

After a highway crash in Denver, you're facing medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain that might last for months or years. Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly, often before you've even left the hospital. They're trained to get you to accept the lowest possible settlement. Don't let that happen.

FAQ: Common Questions About Denver Highway Accidents

What should I do immediately after a highway accident in Denver?

Get medical attention first, even if you feel fine. Document everything: take photos, get witness information, and file a police report. Contact a Denver car accident lawyer before speaking with any insurance company about settlement offers.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Colorado?

Colorado's statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, evidence disappears and witnesses' memories fade. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.

What if I was partially at fault for the Denver highway accident?

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation if you were less than 50% at fault, but your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault. An experienced car accident lawyer can help minimize your assigned fault percentage.

How much does it cost to hire a Denver car accident lawyer?

Most car accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case, taking a percentage of your settlement or court award. Given that represented clients receive 3-4 times larger settlements, you'll still come out significantly ahead.

What types of compensation can I recover after a Denver highway accident?

You may recover economic damages like medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and future care costs, plus non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Why Experience Matters After a Highway Crash

We've built our practice on over 40 years of trial experience, and we've secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients throughout Colorado. When you're dealing with Denver highway accidents, you need someone who knows how to stand up to insurance companies and their teams of lawyers. You need someone who's been in the courtroom and won.

The difference between handling your claim alone and hiring an experienced Denver car accident lawyer can literally be the difference between a few thousand dollars and full compensation that covers all your losses. We've seen it happen too many times. Someone tries to negotiate on their own, accepts what sounds like a reasonable offer, and then realizes months later that their medical bills and lost wages far exceed what they settled for. By then, it's too late.

Don't make that mistake. Call Metier Law Firm at 866-377-3800 or schedule your free consultation today at www.metierlaw.com. We're ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

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Disclaimer: Past results discussed should not be considered a guarantee of your results as the factors of every case are individually unique. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney from Metier Law Firm regarding your individual situation for legal advice.