Kent Truck Accident Lawyer
Committed to protecting the legal rights of victims everywhere
Committed to protecting the legal rights of victims everywhere
Without tractor-trailers and semi trucks, the goods and products that our citizens of Kent rely on each day, from home goods and fabrics to avocados and bananas, would not be available. Indeed, the trucking industry is vital for Washington’s and the United States’ economy, employing over 3.5 million drivers and transporting a whopping 10.55 billions tons of freight annually throughout the country.
And while trucking companies and truck drivers do their best, large truck accidents continue to occur, causing devastating harm to those involved. At the offices of the Khan Law Firm PLLC, our truck accident lawyers in Kent know that driving around a large truck can be scary; being involved in an accident with one can be earth-shattering. If you have been hit by a large truck, or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Kent or nearby, we want to help you.
It is easy to see why truck accidents are so severe and leave those involved with such significant damages; large trucks weigh up to 20 times passenger cars, literally crushing them upon collision. What’s more, rules of physics explain that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration, which means that the heavier the vehicles involved, and the faster that they are traveling, the more force in a collision. That force and energy must go somewhere, and in a large truck accident, it is often expelled violently, leaving vehicles totaled and those within with fatal or tragic injuries.
Truck accidents often leave victims–typically the drivers or passengers of the smaller vehicle involved–with fatal injuries. When injuries are not fatal, they are often serious; it is rare for a victim of a truck accident to walk away without life-changing harm. Some common truck accident injuries include:
Injuries can also be psychological as well, and a victim of a truck accident may develop depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder following the event. Loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and anger are all common, too.
If you are involved in a truck accident and severely harmed, you deserve to be compensated for the full extent of your damages. Washington law holds that the party who causes an accident is responsible for paying for it. We can help you to prove fault and seek compensation for all harm, including compensation for:
While it is unfair, it is important to note that insurance companies want to save money, and are therefore interested in finding ways to reduce the amount of compensation that they pay victims. Anything you say to an insurance adjuster can be used against you to hold you partially liable for the crash, thereby reducing your settlement in proportion to your degree of fault. You may also be offered a settlement that is much less than what you deserve in hopes that you will accept it out of exasperation and a desire to move forward with your life. You should never accept a first settlement offer, and always have your settlement reviewed by an attorney first. You have a right to negotiate for a fair and just settlement, or take your case to court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Most car accidents involve two drivers, who are the primary parties involved in a car accident claim. In a truck accident, however, there are a myriad of parties who might be liable or partially responsible for the crash, complicating the claim process and making working with an attorney that much more important. Potentially (partially) liable parties in a truck accident claim include:
In order to determine liability, you need an attorney with the resources necessary to properly investigate your case. At the Khan Law Firm PLLC, our attorneys will thoroughly review police reports, speak with eyewitnesses, depose defendants, hire accident reconstruction and other experts, analyze truck “black box” data, work with truck design specialists, review truck driver logs, inspect trucking company practices and reports, and more. We get to the bottom of what happened in order to build a strong and winning case. We care about making sure that you get the full compensation award you deserve.
It is important that you report your accident, seek medical care, file an insurance claim, and hire an experienced Kent truck accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash. This is because you want to make sure that evidence relevant to your claim, such as driver’s logs or electronic control module data, is preserved. You also want to give the insurance company plenty of time to investigate your case; if you do not notify your insurance company early enough, your claim may be denied.
It is also important to keep the state’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury suit in mind, which is three years from the date of cause of action. If you wait longer than three years from the date of your truck accident to file a lawsuit, you will be barred indefinitely from recovering compensation.
Having a skilled injury attorney on your side with knowledge of the law and experience handling claims like yours can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. If you want to improve your chances of recovering your full settlement after a crash, you need to work with an attorney.
At the Khan Law Firm PLLC, we provide free case consultations to all our prospective clients, and there is no obligation to hire us after your case review. Please schedule your first appointment today by sending us a message, or calling us directly.
We know how serious and devastating truck accidents are. We promise to fight for you.