The winter months in Colorado see more than their fair share of snow and wintry conditions. Although the state is charged with keeping its roads clear, some motorists are considering their options for pursuing compensation following vehicle crashes ostensibly caused by state employees. One such incident occurred on Loveland Pass recently and involved several vehicles.
Incident details
On Friday, March 11, several vehicles were involved in a crash on Loveland Pass. One motorist described how he was driving along the road when suddenly everything turned dark, and he could no longer see the road in front of him. That was when he rear-ended another vehicle in front of him, and he stated he could hear cars colliding behind him.
It turns out the reason for crash stems from a Colorado Department of Transportation snowplow clearing the road. Instead of throwing snow totally clear of the roadway, the tractor blew snow basically from one lane of the road into the other. This caused the motorists in the lane to experience conditions similar to an avalanche. No serious injuries were reported as a result of the vehicle collisions, and CDOT closed Loveland Pass to traffic the following day.
Legal recourse
Apparently, a passenger in a car on the pass snapped a photo of the snowplow blowing snow into the opposing lanes of travel. Those adversely affected by this incident certainly have the right to pursue compensation from the state, but the process is reportedly not exactly easy or efficient. The news report provided a link to a claim form plaintiffs can use to request repayment, but the report goes on to explain how notoriously slow and frustrating the process can be for claimants. As such, any motorist seeking compensation from the state because of a vehicle crash caused by a state employee will want to consult with an experienced Colorado personal injury attorney to gain a full understanding of their rights and options.