Truck Accidents at the Eisenhower Tunnel — Braking Failures and Rear-End Collision Liability

Located approximately 60 miles west of Denver on I-70, the Eisenhower-Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT) is a modern engineering marvel. Spanning approximately 1.7 miles, the twin-bore tunnel connects the eastern slopes of the Rockies with the western slopes and makes traversing the Continental Divide easier and safer than traveling through the winding, narrow roads of the Loveland Pass.

This does not mean transiting the EJMT is without risk. Situated at over 11,000 feet above sea level, the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel presents drivers with a unique set of challenges that can lead to rear-end collisions, especially along the approach and exit corridors. Understanding how to successfully manage the topography and geography of the EJMT is essential for your safety. If you’ve been injured in an accident there, contact Eisenhower Tunnel Truck Accident Lawyer Steve Roberts today.

Quick Facts About the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel

The EJMT is a twin-bore tunnel on I-70 that carries thousands of personal and commercial vehicles every day through the Rocky Mountains between Clear Creek County and Summit County. The Eisenhower Tunnel carries westbound traffic, while the Edwin C. Johnson Tunnel carries eastbound traffic.

Both bores are approximately 1.7 miles in length, although the Johnson Tunnel is slightly longer than the Eisenhower Tunnel. When the EJMT was completed, it was the highest-vehicle-traffic tunnel in both the United States and the world.

Although the tunnel bores reach heights of 48 feet and widths of 40 feet, the actual passage through which cars and trucks pass is much smaller. Each bore accommodates two lanes of traffic, each 13 feet wide. The tunnel has a much lower vertical clearance.

Because of the Tunnel’s length and dimensions, getting emergency help to stranded or injured motorists can be difficult. As a result, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintains emergency crews and heavy equipment at each end of the tunnel to respond to crashes and other incidents inside the tunnel. Moreover, CDOT employees continuously monitor the tunnel’s conditions 24/7 for accidents and other dangers.

Challenges of the Eisenhower Tunnel Approach

The most prominent feature of this area is the 7% incline you encounter as you approach the Tunnel’s eastern portal. This incline, combined with the approach’s extreme elevation, makes for a driving environment that is drastically different and more dangerous than those encountered at sea level.

• Speed Differences on the Approach: As commercial vehicles climb the 7% grade approaching the Tunnel, their engines often struggle to maintain speed. Some heavily laden trucks can slow to just 20 or 30 miles per hour as they climb the steep slope at altitude. Drivers of passenger vehicles may fail to appreciate how slowly these trucks are traveling and inadvertently crash into them.
• Weather Variations: Weather on the western side of the Continental Divide (Summit County) can vary drastically from the weather on the eastern side (Clear Creek County). Drivers who do not pay attention to local weather conditions on the Eisenhower Tunnel Approach can encounter sunny weather only to find the weather on the other end of the Tunnel to be snowy and slick.
• Visibility Challenges: You can experience a momentary reduction in your vision as your eyes adjust from the natural light of the Approach to the artificial light of the tunnel. During this time, it can be difficult to see traffic or obstructions ahead of you in time to avoid a collision.
• Tunnel Dimensions: Changing lanes while inside the Eisenhower Tunnel is generally prohibited, and the Tunnel does not have large shoulders or other areas for traffic to move to in an emergency.

While these factors alone do not cause rear-end collisions, they do create an environment where such crashes can occur more easily. Drivers who fail to account for them place themselves and others at unnecessary risk.

Causes of Rear-End Collisions at the Eisenhower Tunnel

Negligent driving — decisions behind the wheel that no reasonably careful motorist would make — are the ultimate cause of rear-end crashes in the Eisenhower Tunnel and on the approach to it. Common examples include:

• Distracted Driving: A vehicle traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour travels about 65 feet every second. Looking at a cellphone or taking one’s eyes off the road for just a few seconds can deprive the motorist of the time they need to see slowed or stopped traffic ahead and react.
• Speeding: Some drivers may ignore the posted speed limit and attempt to transit through the Tunnel as quickly as possible. Not only does a driver’s window within which to react to danger decrease as speed increases, but the severity of crashes also tends to increase the faster a car or truck is traveling.
• Following Too Closely: Motorists should allow for adequate space between themselves and cars and trucks in front of them. These vehicles may slow or stop suddenly, and this additional space is crucial to avoiding collisions.
• Impaired Driving: People using the Eisenhower Tunnel are not exclusively traveling for business. Vacationers and tourists also use the Tunnel, and some of these individuals may be impaired by marijuana, alcohol, or other substances. Drivers under the influence can fail to see hazards in the road and react in a timely manner to dangers, making a collision more likely.

Sometimes, multiple drivers’ poor choices all contribute to a single crash. Unraveling the web of decisions and behaviors that played a role in an Eisenhower Tunnel rear-end crash is crucial to obtaining full compensation for your injuries.

How to Recover Compensation After an Eisenhower Tunnel Injury Wreck

Following a rear-end crash on or near the Eisenhower Approach, you or your loved ones can sustain a variety of injuries. These include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord trauma from whiplash
• Soft-tissue injuries to your shoulder, chest, ribs, and hips
• Bone fractures
• Internal organ trauma
• Cuts and bruises

These and similar injuries can necessitate medical treatment, physical therapy, time missed from work, and cause pain and suffering. Colorado law permits you to recover compensation for these and other losses if you can prove:

1. The person responsible for the crash owed you a legal duty of care
2. The responsible party breached this duty of care by driving carelessly
3. That person’s careless driving decisions caused the rear-end collision
4. You were not 50 percent or more responsible for causing the wreck. If a court finds you 50 percent or more at fault in the crash, Colorado’s modified comparative negligence law can prohibit you from receiving any damages.

At the Law Office of Steve Roberts, we understand the necessity of a full investigation into Eisenhower Tunnel car collisions. Without a complete picture of what happened and why, your ability to receive compensation for your medical bills, missed wages, and other expenses can be affected.

Legal Deadlines for EJMT Injury Claims

Under Colorado law, you generally have three years from the date your rear-end crash occurs within which to file a case seeking compensation. This is known as the statute of limitations. Once it expires, it can become difficult, if not impossible, to receive compensation.

There may be certain exceptions to this law, so you must contact us quickly about your situation. We will take all appropriate and available steps to protect your legal interests and, where possible, ensure all filing requirements and deadlines are followed.

Contact Your Eisenhower Tunnel Truck Accident Lawyer Today

We at the Law Office of Steve Roberts have experience in investigating complex rear-end injury crashes that happen at the EJMT, around Denver, and throughout the state. Contact us using our online form or call our office at 720.515.7058.