Truck Accident Lawyers Serving the Entire Roaring Fork Valley

TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS · ROARING FORK VALLEY · HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR

When a loaded 18-wheeler loses control on an icy stretch of Highway 82, when a delivery truck blows a stop in Carbondale, or when a commercial vehicle rolls on the grades between Glenwood Springs and Aspen — the injuries are catastrophic and the legal fight is complex. Trucking companies carry aggressive insurers and defense teams that go to work the moment a crash is reported.

Howry Breen & Herman, LLP represents seriously injured victims and families throughout the Roaring Fork Valley — from Glenwood Springs through Carbondale, Basalt, El Jebel, and Snowmass Village to Aspen. Our office in Snowmass Village puts us on the corridor, close to our clients, and familiar with the roads, grades, and conditions that define these cases.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Why Truck Crashes on Highway 82 Are Different

Highway 82 was not designed for the volume or weight of commercial traffic it now carries. As the Roaring Fork Valley has grown — in population, in construction, and in resort commerce — the number of delivery trucks, concrete mixers, fuel tankers, septic and waste haulers, and equipment transporters on this road has grown with it.

The road punishes mistakes that would be survivable elsewhere. The grades descending into Glenwood Canyon and climbing toward Aspen are steep. The lanes are narrow. The shoulders disappear. In winter, black ice forms without warning. And because there is no alternate route, when a truck blocks a lane or goes off the road, everyone behind it is affected.

A fully loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. At highway speed, that vehicle requires enormous stopping distance under ideal conditions. On a wet, icy, or congested stretch of CO-82, the margin for error is essentially zero. When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance, push drivers past legal hours-of-service limits, or fail to properly train their operators, people on this road pay the price.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents on the Corridor

• Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations — federally regulated but routinely violated by carriers under delivery pressure
• Brake failure and deferred maintenance — particularly dangerous on the long downhill grades approaching Glenwood Springs
• Overloaded or improperly secured cargo — shifting loads destabilize trucks on curves and in crosswinds
• Distracted or impaired driving
• Speeding on steep grades and mountain curves
• Negligent hiring and inadequate driver training by trucking companies
• Failure to adapt to weather and road conditions — black ice, snow, and sudden fog on CO-82 require adjusted speed and following distance that commercial drivers often ignore

Every Community Along the Corridor

Truck crashes on Highway 82 happen across the full length of the valley — not just near Aspen. We represent injured clients from every community on this road:

• Glenwood Springs — where CO-82 exits I-70 and heavy truck traffic from the interstate merges onto a mountain highway. The descending grades through Glenwood Canyon are among the most dangerous in the state for commercial vehicles.
• Carbondale — an active construction and delivery hub where the four-lane section narrows near Highway 133. Truck traffic from the Crystal River Valley adds to congestion at key intersections.
• El Jebel and Basalt — a dense commercial corridor with frequent delivery and service truck activity, left-turn conflicts, and a dangerous speed differential between through traffic and local movements.
• Willits and Emma — a rural stretch with wide lanes that encourage higher truck speeds, limited lighting, and less visibility for cyclists and pedestrians sharing the shoulder.
• Snowmass Village and Brush Creek — resort construction and delivery activity brings heavy vehicles to roads not designed for them. The Brush Creek roundabout and Owl Creek Road intersection have documented collision histories.
• Aspen — delivery and construction vehicles serving a dense resort core navigate congested streets and intersections that were not built for commercial traffic volumes.

Proven Results in Truck and Commercial Vehicle Cases

Howry Breen & Herman has achieved meaningful outcomes for victims of truck and commercial vehicle crashes. Past results include:

• $10,000,000 - Family of a woman killed by a negligent driver and trucking company.
• $8,600,000 - Individual struck by a negligent 18-wheeler driver.
• 8 Figure Confidential - Multiple passengers injured when a septic tank truck collided with their van.

These outcomes reflect the firm’s ability to investigate mechanical failures, driver negligence, and corporate safety violations — and to build the complex multi-party cases that serious trucking injuries demand.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. Each matter depends on its own facts and circumstances.

How We Build a Trucking Case

Trucking cases are fundamentally different from ordinary car accident claims. The evidence is different, the law is different, and the defendants — carriers, brokers, shippers, and their insurers — are sophisticated. The first hours after a serious truck crash are critical, and we move quickly.

• Electronic logging devices (ELDs) and black box data — downloaded and preserved before carriers can overwrite or destroy records
• Driver qualification files and training records — to expose negligent hiring and inadequate supervision
• Hours-of-service logs and GPS data — to document fatigue and federal regulatory violations
• Vehicle maintenance and inspection records — to identify deferred repairs and brake or tire failures
• Cargo manifests and loading records — to establish overloading or improper securement
• CDOT road condition and weather records — critical context for crashes on CO-82 in winter conditions
• Witness statements, dashcam footage, and roadside camera evidence

We handle multi-party claims against trucking companies, their insurers, vehicle owners, shippers, and maintenance contractors — pursuing every avenue of accountability so injured victims and families receive full compensation.

Injuries We See in Roaring Fork Valley Truck Crashes

The size and weight differential between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle means injuries in these crashes are typically severe. We represent clients who have suffered:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Amputations and crush injuries
• Severe burns
• Multiple fractures
• Wrongful death

These injuries affect not just the victim but their entire family — financially, emotionally, and practically. Our attorneys understand the full scope of what a catastrophic injury costs, and we fight to recover it.

Award-Winning Trial Lawyers. Local Presence.

Our attorneys are nationally recognized trial lawyers — not settlement mills. When a trucking company’s insurer knows your lawyer will take the case to a jury if necessary, it changes what they put on the table.

Sean Breen

100+ jury trials.  Hall of Fame Verdicts and Settlments. Best Lawyers in America® 2025 — Personal Injury Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Construction Law. Lawyer of the Year, Austin, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2020). Super Lawyers® every year since 2004. Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame (2011, 2016, 2020). Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in Texas, California and Colorado. Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. National Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Randy Howry

100+ jury trials.  Best Lawyers in America® since 2006, with recognition for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009) and Commercial Litigation (2006). AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® since 2018. Texas Super Lawyers® 2003–2026. Top American Lawyers since 2017.

Scott DeShazo

50+ jury trials to verdict with record-setting results. Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law — a distinction held by fewer than 10% of Texas lawyers. Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2013. Texas Super Lawyers®. Prior to rejoining the firm as Partner, founded DeShazo & Nesbitt (2007–2024). Admitted to all four U.S. District Courts in Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Contact Our Roaring Fork Valley Truck Accident Lawyers

A serious truck crash on Highway 82 can devastate a family in an instant. The trucking company’s insurer will be working from day one to limit what they pay. You need experienced trial lawyers doing the same — on your side.

Howry Breen & Herman, LLP offers free consultations with no obligation. We handle serious injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee. We serve the entire Roaring Fork Valley from our office in Snowmass Village.

Local office: Snowmass Center, 16 Kearns Road, Suite 301F, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
Phone: (512) 430-4844
Email: sbreen@howrybreen.com

Contact us today for a free consultation. We serve every community along Highway 82 — Glenwood Springs to Aspen.

Serving Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties and the full Highway 82 corridor. Contingency fee representation — no recovery, no fee.