Glenwood Canyon Truck Accidents — Liability in Narrow-Lane Commercial Crashes

Nature’s power to shape the landscape is on full display in Glenwood Canyon. Carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, the canyon and its near-vertical limestone and granite walls stretch for miles on either side of Interstate 70 between the towns of Glenwood Springs and Dotsero.

This portion of I-70 is critical for traffic trying to pass between Denver, the western slope of the Rockies, and mountain resorts. Although heavily traveled, this road can be dangerous due to road design and environmental factors. As a result, motorists must be aware of several travel restrictions that the Colorado Department of Transportation has enacted and enforces. If you’ve been injured in an accident there, contact Glenwood Canyon Truck Accident Lawyer Steve Roberts today.

Natural and Design Dangers in the Canyon

Aside from the usual dangers present on any interstate, Glenwood Canyon presents drivers with numerous other challenges, such as:

• Severe weather, including snow and ice storms that can make roads treacherous
• Falling rocks and mudslides
• Flash flooding
• Narrow canyon roads with tight curves
• Bridges, such as those near Hanging Lake Tunnel, where opposing lanes of travel are stacked on top of one another, and no shoulder exists

Drivers unaccustomed to these conditions might reduce their speed or make other erratic movements, thereby endangering other nearby traffic.

Speed Limits in Glenwood Canyon

If you frequent other parts of the I-70 highway, you may be accustomed to traveling at speeds between 65 miles per hour and 75 miles per hour. As you drive along the 12+-mile stretch that passes through Glenwood Canyon, however, the speed limit is 50 miles per hour.

The speed limit drops even more on tight curves and over bridges. In these areas, you may need to reduce your speed to as low as 45 miles per hour. The Colorado State Patrol rigidly enforces these speed limits to ensure all motorists remain safe on the road.

What Lane Restrictions Exist in the Canyon?

Commercial trucks and other slow motor vehicles should be driven in the rightmost lane. This is meant to allow faster traffic to safely get around these larger, slower-moving vehicles without disrupting the flow of traffic.

Even so, drivers who should keep their vehicles in the rightmost lane do not always do so. They may forget about these lane restrictions, or they may move into other lanes to get around stalled, stopped, or other slow traffic. Unfortunately, these maneuvers can put others on the road at risk.

Special Restrictions for Commercial Vehicles

Tunnels, like the Hanging Lake Tunnel and Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel, mean that commercial vehicles looking to pass through Glenwood Canyon are subject to certain additional restrictions. For example, vehicle and load width cannot exceed twelve feet in some areas.

Moreover, commercial vehicles cannot exceed 14 feet, six inches in height. Traffic wishing to pass through the canyon that exceeds this limitation must have prior approval from CDOT and will require a CDOT escort.

During certain times of the year or in response to weather, vehicles transporting hazardous materials may be rerouted around the canyon.

Colorado’s Traction Law and Canyon Driving

CDOT enforces Colorado’s Passenger Vehicle Traction Law in the canyon between September 1 and May 31 every year. This law requires:

• A minimum tread depth of 3/16” on all passenger vehicles.
• Mud and Snow (M+S) or Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) designations on tires.
• All-wheel-drive (AWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles must also meet the minimum tread depth requirements.

During severe winter storms, CDOT may require all passenger vehicles to use tire chains, studded tires, or other alternate traction measures.

How CDOT Responds to Severe Weather in Glenwood Canyon

Snow is not the only weather event that drivers in Glenwood Canyon must contend with. Heavy rainfall can trigger flash floods and mudslides that threaten motorist safety. As a result, when severe weather threatens, CDOT takes additional measures to protect motorists passing through the canyon:

1. When significant rainfall is anticipated, CDOT will station heavy equipment near the east and west entrances to the canyon so they can be deployed more quickly if needed
2. During flash flood warnings, CDOT will close the canyon at Exits 116 and 133. Traffic already inside the canyon is cleared out through east and west portals.
3. Approaching traffic is rerouted through a northern or southern detour until the canyon can be inspected for safety. The Northern Detour Route can add as many as three additional hours of drive time to reach the other side of the canyon.

Traffic is discouraged from using county roads to navigate around Glenwood Canyon, as these are often unpaved and lack cell phone service. In addition, commercial traffic is strictly prohibited from using Independence Pass as a detour. Motorists driving commercial trucks, buses, or vehicles exceeding 35 feet in length on Independence Pass can be cited and fined.

Common Causes of Accidents in Glenwood Canyon

These restrictions are meant to reduce the incidence of traffic collisions within the canyon. Unfortunately, driver error and poor planning are the cause of numerous crashes in and around Glenwood Canyon and its eastern and western portals each year. Some of the most common causes of such accidents include:

• Speeding: Drivers who attempt to speed through the canyon will encounter winding and narrow roads that cannot be safely navigated at elevated speeds. Trying to do so can cause the driver to lose control and wreck.
• Following Too Closely: Along with speeding, this aggressive driving behavior can make others feel nervous and lead them to take sudden and unsafe evasive maneuvers.
• Distracted Driving: The canyon is full of natural beauty, but the scenery, cell phones, or passengers inside one’s car can distract the driver from the road in front of them. Even moments of inattentiveness can lead to a crash, especially when traffic volume is heavy.
• Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs negatively affects a driver’s perception, reaction time, and judgment. Within the narrow confines of Glenwood Canyon, this significantly raises the risk of a traffic collision.

In representing you after a crash, the Law Office of Steve Roberts thoroughly looks into the reasons behind why your car accident happened. Colorado law permits you to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses, but only so long as you are not 50 percent or more responsible for the crash.

By gathering police reports, witness statements, photographs, and other evidence, we help ensure those who harmed you through their careless choices are held to account for the consequences of their actions.

How Violating Glenwood Canyon Restrictions Affects an Injury Claim

The restrictions on travel CDOT places on Glenwood Canyon traffic are meant to reduce the likelihood of a crash. However, violating one of these restrictions or rules does not automatically mean you are left on your own and cannot recover compensation after a crash.

Colorado’s modified comparative negligence law allows you to recover some damages, even if you are partly to blame for the crash. For example, if you were exceeding the speed limit and this was found to be 25 percent responsible for causing your accident, the amount of damages you recover from the other party would be reduced by 25 percent.

Note, however, that if your actions are found to be 50 percent or more responsible for the crash, the law prevents you from receiving any compensation. Therefore, following the canyon rules and restrictions can not only keep you safe, but it can help maximize your damages award in the event you are involved in a wreck.

An Experienced Glenwood Canyon Truck Accident Lawyer to Help You

We at the Law Office of Steve Roberts are knowledgeable and resourceful in helping injury victims protect their rights and obtain compensation. Whether you are hurt near Dotsero, Glenwood Springs, Denver, or even in the middle of Glenwood Canyon, we can help. Call us at 720.515.7058 or contact us for prompt, professional help today.