According to researchers, the intensity and frequency of Colorado dust storms has worsened due to climate change and human activities such as overgrazing and development, as well as natural phenomena such as drought. In winter, blizzards and blowing snow also can create similar conditions that obscure visibility. Driving in such conditions is extremely hazardous, especially for truck drivers who must maintain control of very heavy vehicles that can cause deadly damage in a crash.
If you were injured because a driver or company failed to take appropriate action to prevent a truck accident in a dust storm in Colorado, call Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC today. Our truck accident lawyers can hold the liable parties accountable so you can recover fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients, including $7.3 million after an accident caused by a truck driver who was blinded by a dust storm but continued to drive despite the dangerous conditions.
Dust Storms Present Unique Dangers to Truck DriversBad weather, including dust storms, whiteout and blizzard conditions with blowing snow, and wind, make driving more dangerous for commercial truck drivers. Some factors leading to truck crashes include:
Given the large build of many trucks, the risk of their getting blown off-course or knocked over by a gust of wind is greater than for a smaller passenger car. This is especially true on long stretches of open road. For example, KKTV reported multiple semi-trucks rolled over on I-25 between Trinidad and Colorado City during a 2024 wind storm.
Dust and snow can blind truck drivers. As CBS News reported, a 2021 storm on Colorado’s Eastern Plains caused “a deadly crash and a multi-car pileup” on I-70. High winds and poor visibility were most likely to blame.
When an accident occurs during a dust storm, the dust may obscure the accident site from oncoming drivers. Other drivers might not notice the accident until they are very close to it, increasing the risk of a second collision.
It is no surprise that commercial trucks like semi-tractor trailers or 18 wheelers frequently do serious harm to other people. Those in smaller, lighter vehicles are most at risk, but anyone involved in a truck collision could suffer debilitating injuries. For example:
A 2020 head-on collision killed seven people, according to CBS News .
The Kiowa County Independent reported that a 2016 collision on Highway 287 involving four semi-trucks resulted in no serious injuries. These drivers may have been protected by the size and durability of their vehicles.
Not every truck driver is so lucky. Per The Gazette , a truck driver passed away in a 2020 accident with another truck on U.S. 40.
Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, has professional experience with the devastating impact of truck crashes, including those related to dust storms that so often occur on Colorado’s eastern plains. For example, our law firm represented a woman whose leg required amputation after she was hit by a truck driver blinded by a dust storm. We settled that case for $7.3 million and spearheaded litigation with a group of five other claimants.
All these events occurred in Cheyenne County. According to Stacker , Cheyenne is Colorado’s deadliest county for motor vehicle occupants, with more deaths per 100,000 people than anywhere else in the state.
How to Prevent Truck Accidents in ColoradoUnfortunately, Colorado dust storms are not going away any time soon. A 2024 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggested that extreme droughts, such as those caused by climate change, have a disastrous effect on grasslands like those found in eastern Colorado. As grass and shrubs die off, the soil that their roots once held in place loosens and gets blown into the air. Some landowners can help control dust by watering their crops and using the land responsibly, but when they don’t do that, a hazard can occur to the roads – like US Highway 40 – and the drivers that use them.
In addition, Fresh Water Colorado reports that dust blown in from other states settles on snow. Not only is the dust itself dangerous, it also affects how the snow melts, increasing water scarcity and aggravating drought conditions.
Mitigating the Risks of Dust Storms and BlizzardsThese larger environmental problems have few immediate solutions, so it is up to truck drivers and others to take reasonable precautions when dangerous driving conditions are present. For instance:
Trucking companies should teach their drivers how to drive during bad weather and emphasize that safety is paramount. If a driver cannot see where he or she is going, they need to activate safety measures such as hazard lights, use of a horn, and pull off to the side of the road.
Truck drivers must use their best judgement while on the road. That may include slowing down in inclement weather or avoiding a dust storm area if possible. If the driver is blinded by dust or blowing snow, they must pull over and wait it out, not try to keep going. That’s what happened in our client’s case. The truck driver kept driving despite not being able to see during the dust storm. The driver struck our client and caused her severe injuries. Under no circumstances should a truck driver continue down a highway if he or she cannot see where they are going. While this may sound like common sense, many truck drivers feel pressure to deliver their loads on time and do not want to risk a delay.
With our law firm’s help, you can sue any or all of these parties after a truck crash if they were even partially negligent or a cause of the accident.
What to Do Before and After a Truck Accident Caused by a Colorado Dust StormEven as drivers of commuter vehicles, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of being a truck crash victim in a dust storm. For example, if you must drive in a dust storm, the National Weather Service (NWS) recommends that you:
Slow your speed and occasionally honk your horn for as long as you remain on the roadway
Stay alert for dangers like overturned vehicles or flying debris
Pull over as soon as you can
Turn off your lights so as not to accidentally lead other drivers off the road
No matter how careful you are, however, you cannot always account for the negligent actions of others. If you were the victim of a truck accident in a dust storm in Colorado, or if you lost a loved one in such an event, our truck crash lawyers urge you to:
Get medical help right away. Cheyenne County Hospital , for instance, offers 24/7 emergency services.
Record what you can. Preserving evidence in the midst of a storm is difficult, but if you can safely do so, speak to the truck driver and photograph both the area and the damage done.
Speak to our truck accident lawyers. Hiring our personal injury attorneys is a simple way to protect your rights. We can tell you what to say (and what not to say) to insurers, identify the liable parties, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
At Cook, Bradford, & Levy, LLC, our legal team knows how to take on even the biggest liable parties and insurance companies. It was not your fault the at-fault party failed to behave reasonably during bad weather, and we want to make sure you receive critical financial compensation as you recuperate. We are here for you and recognize the trauma you must have experienced after being in a crash with an 18-wheeler.
Get Compensation After a Dust Storm-Related Truck AccidentCook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, is an award-winning firm that is devoted to leveling the playing field for ordinary people hurt in truck accidents. The compensation we have obtained on behalf of our clients speak for itself. If you were injured in a truck accident due to someone else’s negligence during a Colorado dust storm, call Brian Bradford or Jason Levy at (303) 543-1000. We can assess your case for free and accept no attorneys’ fees until you win.