Denver is finally expecting some winter weather just in time for the holidays. A boon for the mountain ski resorts, but drivers may face unpredictable and dangerous weather and road conditions. Ski traffic, holiday travelers, and large semi trucks will pack the I-70 mountain corridor. Snow and ice will create new dangers during an already deadly year for truck crashes in Colorado.

In the first six months of 2025 Colorado has seen more commercial truck crashes than at the same point in 2024. Commercial vehicle crashes on Colorado roads jumped from 1,188 in the first half of 2024 to 1,270 in the first half of 2025. The late start to winter may have made drivers overconfident, increasing the risk of serious crashes when bad weather finally arrives.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in weather-related semi truck crash, you need the best truck crash attorney near you to help hold the trucking company or driver responsible.

Have you been injured in a semi truck accident?

Call The Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson, Colorado Truck Accident Lawyer for a free consultation

Colorado Winter Weather Hazards – Snow, Fog, Ice, and High Winds All Contribute to Commercial Truck Crashes

Colorado weather is notoriously temperamental. It can create serious adverse driving conditions of many varieties at any time of year. Snow, fog, and ice are common hazards that can materialize quickly in the Colorado mountains and the Denver metro area. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed rules and regulations for the trucking industry that specifically address operating in hazardous weather conditions.

In Colorado, that means that a driver knows how to handle the often sudden changes in weather. If a trucking company knows a driver does not have experience with the conditions that can occur in the mountains or on the open plains, they should assign a different driver or route. Semi truck accident attorneys in Colorado will know what areas of the state are prone to these extreme weather conditions.

Sudden changes in weather and road conditions are especially common in Colorado’s mountains and plains. I-70 is a major artery for these large trucks and runs from western Colorado’s mountains through the open plains near Kansas.

Many people do not appreciate how quickly mountain driving can become treacherous. Even fewer appreciate that the sudden high winds on the open plains can tip or jackknife high profile vehicles like semi trucks and trailers. Inexperienced drivers can quickly find themselves driving in conditions they are not prepared for. High wind crashes are as frequent on the open plains as icy crashes are in the mountains.

FMCSA Weather Regulations: When Must Truck Drivers Stop?

The FMCSA and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) have issued rules, regulations, and recommendations that require commercial truck drivers to take certain actions to avoid danger in adverse weather. In fact, federal regulations require drivers to exercise “extreme caution” when hazardous weather conditions like snow, ice, fog, or high winds affect visibility or traction.

At a minimum, truck drivers must reduce their speed when confronted with snow, rain, or fog. If the road conditions get worse, they must stop altogether. The truck driver has discretion over how much to reduce speed, but the FMCSA recommends semi truck drivers slow by 1/3 on a wet road or 1/2 on snow packed roadways.

If conditions worsen, federal regulations require commercial truck drivers to stop altogether. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) only state that commercial truck drivers should stop when conditions become “sufficiently dangerous.” The driver again determines when conditions are “sufficiently dangerous” to require stopping.

This is why trucking companies and motor carriers must ensure their drivers are trained and experienced enough to recognize the dangers weather can present. It can mean the difference between a close call and disaster.

Source: FMCSA

Commercial truck drivers should be trained on operating in poor weather conditions. Semi truck drivers need to rely on their own judgment, training, and experience to know when to slow or stop in adverse weather. The Colorado Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Manual includes specific sections on driving in adverse weather, including fog, winter weather, and even very hot weather.

Under normal conditions, federal regulations limit commercial truck drivers to 11 hours of driving time per day. Federal regulations loosen hours of service limitations when drivers face adverse driving conditions. Federal regulations allow semi truck drivers up to two additional driving hours beyond the 11 hour limit to complete a run or reach a rest stop or truck stop.

The Colorado CDL Manual states that the best advice for driving in fog is simply don’t. It recommends that when confronted with fog, commercial truck drivers pull over in a designated rest area or truck stop until the conditions improve. Parking along the roadway or highway presents its own dangers, and drivers should only do this when emergencies occur. If they cannot stop, it recommends drivers slow before entering the fog, turn on 4-way flashers, and to use roadway reflectors to guide the curve of the road.

Many drivers are unaware that all commercial motor vehicles in Colorado, like semi trucks, must carry chains from September 1st through May 31st. Knowing when to stop and when to chain up can make all the difference in preventing a weather related semi truck crash and trucking companies should ensure their drivers know when to slow, chain up, or stop outright.

What Should You Do After a Colorado Weather-Related Crash?

If you are involved in a weather-related truck trash in Colorado, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure the truck driver and motor carrier are held responsible.

  • Move to Safety – Protect yourself and any passengers. Move to a safe location, call 911 and request emergency assistance. But be aware of your surroundings. Winter road conditions, particularly icy roads, can quickly lead to multiple vehicle crashes.
  • Document the Scene – Weather conditions can change quickly, especially in Colorado. Photographs or video of the roadway and conditions at the time of the crash can be invaluable. Snow packed roads can clear quickly, and the true conditions that led to the crash may be lost.
  • Document the Vehicles – Take photographs of the CMV. All CMVs should have a Department of Transportation number visible to identify the motor carrier or trucking company responsible for that driver. Photograph the tires as well. Colorado requires commercial motor vehicles to use chains in extreme weather.
  • Tell First Responders About Windy Conditions – Snow, fog, and ice all provide easy documentation. High winds present just as significant a danger, but if they slow by the time police arrive, it may be missed.

Another important step you can take after your weather-related truck crash is making sure you have the right team behind you.

You Need Experienced Colorado Weather Related Truck Crash Lawyers

An experienced truck accident attorney will know that a hazardous weather crash is not just an “act of God” no one could have prevented. Most commercial truck crashes – even in bad weather – are in fact preventable.

Hazardous weather crashes bring special considerations. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will be quick to shift blame to other drivers, road conditions, or the weather itself. Experienced Colorado truck crash attorneys know what to look for in a driver’s qualification file or the trucking company’s training and supervision practices to determine if a driver knew enough to have been driving in the conditions or been on the road at all.

Motor carriers and trucking companies also cannot compel their drivers to drive in adverse weather conditions. It is important that your truck crash attorney knows to look beyond the driver to understand if the motor carrier’s directly or indirectly compelled the driver to push through hazardous weather. Tight delivery windows, compensation structures that force drivers up against hours of service rules, and even poor maintenance or inspection enforcement all can make adverse weather even more dangerous.

Weather-related truck crashes also require additional investigation and preservation of evidence not necessary in other crashes. In particular, weather data and road condition warnings or bulletins can prove invaluable to these truck crash claims. Obtaining and preserving radar information, particularly in high wind and wet road conditions, can be crucial to establishing the adverse weather conditions necessary to hold a semi truck driver or motor carrier liable. Colorado weather is unpredictable and hazardous conditions can appear quickly and dissipate just as fast.

If you are seriously injured in a weather related commercial motor vehicle crash, you need a Colorado commercial motor vehicle attorney with the experience and education to tackle hazardous weather accident cases. You cannot simply find a car accident attorney near you and expect to get the compensation you deserve for personal injury claims from a complex truck crash.Attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson have the experience and education necessary to handle complex truck accident claims. Peter M. Anderson is board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, one of only two such qualified in the state of Colorado. He can navigate the complex federal regulations applicable to your injury claims. He has a history of successfully holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies responsible in serious truck crash cases.  Call the Law Offices of Peter M. Anderson, Colorado Truck Accident Lawyer, at 303-444-1505 today.