Denver Truck Accidents Involving Cell Phones
Driving while using a cell phone can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Colorado has very strict cell phone driving laws, and when an accident occurs due to improper cell phone use while driving, the driver may be liable for the other party’s damages.
If you or a loved one have been injured because a driver was not following telephone laws, contact a Denver truck accidents involving cell phones lawyer as soon as possible. Colorado’s legislature has also recently increased the penalties for texting while driving from a $50 fine to a $300 fine, and the number of points against a driver’s license from one point to four points for the offense. Qualified truck accident attorneys know that subsequent cell phone violations can carry increasingly harsh penalties.
Colorado Cell Phone Usage Laws
Colorado has some of the strictest cell phone laws in the nation, enacted nearly a decade ago. Under the 2009 law, drivers under age 18 and those who are driving on a learners’ permits may not use their cell phone in the vehicle at all, except in cases of an emergency, or while the vehicle is parked.
All drivers are prohibited from texting and driving, as well as using email and social media use while driving. Colorado law also specifically prohibits tweeting while driving.
Recent Updates to Colorado’s Cell Phone Use Laws
In the past year, Colorado legislators updated the texting while driving law to clarify that texting is illegal when done and a careless and imprudent manner. In some ways, this new provision softens the law, because drivers may argue that their texting while driving was safe. However, this can be quite difficult to prove when an accident occurred as a result of the driver’s distraction. Due to the nuances of the new law, it is especially important for drivers and passengers involved in cell phone truck crashes in Denver to work with an attorney who understand how to handle truck accidents involving cell phones.
Negligence in Denver Truck Accident Claims Involving Phones
Because Colorado is a so-called comparative negligence state, a driver who negligently used their cell phone leading up to a crash may be held liable for a portion of the damages, even if they were not solely at-fault in causing the accident.
Only when the victim is more than half at-fault for an accident are they barred from recovering any compensation, under the Colorado law. In other words, a truck driver’s liability depends on whether the other driver was distracted by their cell phone as the crash occurred.
Talk to a Denver Attorney About Truck Accidents Involving Cell Phones
A seasoned lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding Denver truck accidents involving cell phones and determine whether the other driver involved was distracted by their cell phone at the time of the crash.
No matter the situation that led to your accident, if another party involved in the collision was distracted by their cell, you may have a viable claim against them for your damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and other costs. Give us a call today to learn more about your options.
