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AUBURN TRUCK
ACCIDENT LAWYER
Washington Trucking Accident Attorney Serving Injured Clients in Auburn
Anyone who lives in Auburn, Washington or who regularly drives through the area knows that drivers often have to share the road with large trucks. Whether you are driving on in-town roads in Auburn or are traveling at higher speeds on I-5 or I-18, a collision with a semi-truck can result in debilitating injuries. Many truck accidents involving smaller passenger vehicles result in fatal injuries. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), “most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants.” Since large trucks can weigh as much as 20 to 30 times more than a car or SUV and have a much higher ground clearance, occupants of those smaller vehicles are at great risk of life-threatening injury if they are involved in a wreck with a big rig.
Large truck crashes typically happen because of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing. Victims of truck accidents often are able to file a claim against more than one party in order to be eligible for compensation for their losses. An aggressive Auburn, WA truck accident lawyer can discuss your case with you today and can help you to determine your options for filing a claim.
OTHER PRACTICE AREAS
CAUSES OF
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
How Often Do Truck Accidents Happen in Auburn, Washington?
We do not like to think about how dangerous it is to be behind the wheel of an automobile, especially when we are trying to share the road with large trucks. However, it is important to recognize how often truck accidents happen and to learn more about some of the risk factors. The following are significant facts and figures about truck collisions from the IIHS and HLDI:
- There were 3,986 large truck fatalities in 2016, and 66 percent of those victims were occupants of passenger vehicles involved in a collision with a large truck;
- About 17 percent of fatalities in large truck crashes are truck drivers themselves;
Although pedestrians and bicyclists are prohibited from using the highways unless they are in a motor vehicle or on a motorcycle, about 16 percent of all fatality victims are pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists;
- Truck accident death rates rose by 27 percent between 2009 and 2016;
- Truck occupant deaths are also on the rise, with a 47 percent increase between 2009 and 2016;
- Majority of large truck crashes involve tractor-trailers (about 73 percent);
- Single-unit semis can also be involved in severe trucking collisions and represent about 21 percent of all large truck accidents;
- About 32 percent of large truck accidents happen on interstates and freeways;
- Approximately 60 percent of large truck crashes occur on other major roads;
- Minor roads and neighborhood streets only see about 8 percent of all truck accidents each year;
- Majority of truck accidents (48 percent) happen during daylight hours between 6:00am and 3:00pm;
- Most truck collisions happen on weekdays (84 percent of all truck crashes);
- Compared with motor vehicle accidents not involving a large truck, truck accidents happen more often on weekdays and during working hours; and
- Seat belts can help but are not as effective in preventing truck accident injuries as 44 percent of fatal accident victims were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
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Causation and Washington Truck Crashes
Why do truck accidents happen in Auburn, Washington? As we noted previously, there can be many different factors involved in causing truck accidents, which often means that injury victims or their families may be able to seek compensation from more than one party. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a large truck crash causation study, which cites some of the following as common reasons that large truck collisions occur:
- Truck driver error (which can include drowsy or fatigued driving, speeding and other forms of aggressive driving, drunk driving, and distracted driving as a result of texting or talking on the phone, for example);
- Improper loading of the truck;
- Poor maintenance of the truck;
- Mechanic error in maintaining or repairing the truck;
- Defective truck part (such as brakes, air bags, or another part of the vehicle);
- Tire blowout;
- Poorly maintained roads; and
- Inclement weather.
- There are many different causes of truck crashes in Washington State and throughout the country. An experienced Auburn trucking accident lawyer can examine the facts of your case and can help you to determine whether you have a strong claim after a truck crash.
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Who Can I Sue in an Auburn, Washington Trucking Collision Case?
Given the numerous causes of truck accidents in Washington and throughout the U.S., truck accident victims often are able to file a claim against more than one party. Generally speaking, going after a trucking company—as opposed to a truck driver alone—can help the victim to obtain greater compensation due to the deep pockets of many trucking companies. The following are examples of some of the people or parties who may be liable for a trucking against and against whom you may be able to file a claim for compensation:
- Truck driver;
- Truck owner;
- Trucking company;
- Person responsible for loading the truck;
- Employer of the person responsible for loading the truck;
- Mechanic;
- Designer of a truck part;
- Manufacturer of a truck part; and/or
- Property owner where the accident occurred.
Depending upon the cause of the accident, you could end up filing a negligence claim against a truck driver and a trucking company, or you could end up filing a product liability lawsuit against a tire manufacturer, for instance.
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Learn More from a Truck Accident Lawyer in Auburn, WA
Many truck crashes in Washington State are devastating. Passenger vehicle occupants and motorcyclists frequently suffer fatal injuries or injuries that leave them permanently disabled. If you or someone you love got hurt in a truck collision in Washington, you should learn more about filing a claim by speaking with an Auburn truck accident attorney. An advocate at our firm can discuss your case with you today. Contact Khan Law Firm PLLC to learn more about the services we provide to clients in the larger Seattle and Tacoma areas.