Interstate 70 brings in traffic from the east and west, straight into the heart of Denver. For residents of Colorado Springs, I-70 is your best bet for getting to skier’s paradise in Vail.
This highway sees millions of vehicles each year, and with a large traffic flow comes an influx of accidents. In the first weeks of the new year, we saw the following accidents:
January 6, 2017: 20 cars were involved in a pileup on eastbound I-70. Accident officials blamed the pileup on drivers driving too fast for icy road conditions.
January 8, 2017: A tanker truck collided with a box truck and overturned on I-70 eastbound. A semi truck carrier slid sideways during a multi-car pileup on the same day.
January 10, 2017: Several accidents occurred, including a semi truck and other pileups, some due to avalanche activity in the area that closed parts of I-70.
As you can see, winter weather can wreak havoc on our roads this time of year. But the dangers on Colorado’s I-70 do not stop with warm weather. The following is a look at the three most common types of accidents that occur on I-70 throughout the year.
Rollover Accidents
Rollovers are the most common accident seen on I-70, and these accidents often result in an occupant’s ejection from the vehicle. Rollover crashes occur when the vehicle experiences a sudden shift in direction. Some common causes include:
- Overcorrecting in a skid
- Turning too sharply
- Falling off a sloped area
- Speeding
- Drunk or distracted drivers
Cars that are low to the ground have a lower risk of rolling over than top-heavy, taller vehicles like SUVs or pickup trucks. In September 2014, a rollover crash between two SUVs occurred on Chambers just before the I-70 westbound ramp. One SUV ran a red light, colliding with the other SUV, which caused the first vehicle to roll onto its roof. Five of the seven people involved suffered injuries.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Colorado’s I-70 is not only highly trafficked by skiers and snowboarders on their way to the mountains; it is also a prime route for cargo transport.
Large vehicles like semi-trucks need extra room to maneuver. Semis have large blind spots that prevent them from seeing smaller objects in areas next to, behind, and even in front of their cab. Another risk of these vehicles is the time it takes for them to react. A truck cannot stop as quickly as a smaller car. (It takes almost 200 feet for a truck going 55 miles per hours to come to a complete stop, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.)
Truck accidents can be another driver’s fault, but in many cases, working past designated on-duty hours, using illegal drugs, and driving while distracted lead to crashes between large trucks and smaller vehicles.
A semi-truck carrying large pipes overturned after missing an exit on January 4, 2017 and forced a nearby pickup truck down an embankment. The accident occurred on I-70 just east of Vail in Silverthorne; pipes that came loose from the truck struck several nearby cars.
Hit and Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents can occur for many reasons. Drivers who hit someone are often fearful of the repercussions, especially if they are driving without a license or insurance. Some hit and run drivers allege that they did not know they hit someone or something and continued driving.
Disabled vehicles are often the target of hit and run accidents, as was the case in a September 2015 accident on I-70 near mile marker 130, west of Vail. A driver with a disabled vehicle had stepped out of his car when another driver struck and killed him and fled the scene.
Let Our Law Firm Help You After an Accident on I-70
An accident on I-70 is a terrible way to begin or end a fun ski trip. It is especially devastating if the accident was the fault of a negligent driver. When another person is at fault for causing your accident, or a driver fled the scene of an accident, you have the right to seek justice.
However, doing it alone is tough, especially when you are recovering from serious injuries or the loss of a loved one. Sears & Associates, P.C. helps Colorado residents seek compensation for injuries caused by negligent drivers, especially truck drivers.
We will investigate the crash, establish all liable parties, prove negligence, and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer to get you the compensation award you deserve.
Call 719-471-1984 to learn about your rights to recovery and set up a consultation at our Vail or Colorado Springs offices.
