Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer
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SEATTLE TRUCK
ACCIDENT LAWYER
Truck drivers provide a valuable service, delivering the items we both want and need to our homes, as well as to local stores, restaurants, and businesses. Unfortunately, the increase in the variety of goods delivered from elsewhere has resulted in an increase in the number of semi-trucks and tractor trailers on the road, putting both drivers and their passengers at a greater risk for truck accidents and injuries. At the Khan Law Firm, we understand the devastating effects these types of injuries can have, preventing you from working or even enjoying activities you previously engaged in with family and friends, while leaving you with heavy medical debts. When these types of accidents do occur, our experienced truck accident lawyers are here to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.
Types of Truck Accidents
With increasing numbers of trucks on America’s roads, highways, and interstates, truck accidents and crashes have become unfortunately common. According to the latest statistics from Ryder, a leader in the commercial trucking industry, more than half a million large truck and commercial vehicle accidents occur in the United States each year, resulting in injuries and extensive damages to truck drivers themselves, as well as other drivers on the road. While some accidents can be attributed to poor weather or road conditions, the majority are due to dangerous driving behaviors and other situations that could have easily been prevented. Common types of truck accidents include the following:
- Accidents caused by negligence in truck maintenance, such as improperly inflated tires, worn brake systems, and shoddy repairs;
- Cargo-related accidents due to improper loading, excessive weight, and cargo shifting;
- Driver performance-related accidents, resulting from improperly trained drivers who are unaware of proper braking techniques and those who forget to check blind spots;
- Drowsy driving accidents, resulting from drivers trying to meet quotas who drive while fatigued or fall asleep behind the wheel;
- Reckless driving accidents, caused by drivers who fail to obey the rules of the road and engage in speeding, distracted driving, and other dangerous behaviors;
- Impaired driving accidents, caused by drivers who use drugs or alcohol behind the wheel;
Due to the size and bulk and most commercial trucks, when these types of accidents do occur they often result in severe, potentially disabling, and often life threatening injuries to other motorists and their passengers.
OTHER PRACTICE AREAS
CAUSES OF
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) collects extensive data on truck accidents to determine the underlying causes behind trucking collisions and the injuries that result. According to the latest statistics from the FMCSA, trucking accidents affect motorists as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, and result in close to 90,000 injuries each year, as well as roughly 3,500 fatalities. In the majority of these cases, it is drivers in other vehicles, as opposed to the truck driver themselves, who suffer the most severe damage. In researching these accidents, the FMCSA found that common causes of truck accidents and injuries include the following:
- Rollover accidents: Among the most common type of accident, these can involve the truck itself as well as other vehicles. These accidents are common on rural roads as well as on highways and interstates, and causes include driver errors such as poor execution of turns and uneven loads..
- Side-swipe accidents: Another common form of truck accident, these occur when a truck switches lanes into the path of another vehicle. These accidents can be caused by driver inattention as well as inexperience in dealing with blind spots on the truck.
- T-bone collisions: These occur when a truck hits a vehicle directly on the side. These can occur due to driver inattentiveness to traffic, as well as when engaging in reckless behavior such as speeding or running red lights.
- Rear-end collisions: These accidents occur when a truck hits another vehicle from behind. They can result from reckless driving behavior such as speeding and drowsy driving, as well as poor truck maintenance and failed braking systems.
- Head-on collisions: These occur when a truck veers from its own lane to crash headlong into another driver. Head on collisions can be the result of driver impairments, such as driving under the influence or being excessively fatigued beyond the wheel, as well as from inexperienced drivers unfamiliar with traffic direction and lane changes on roads and freeways.
All of the above have the potential for life threatening injuries, and may set off a chain reaction in which several cars are impacted by the accident.
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What You Should Do After a Truck Accident
Knowing what to do in the event of a truck accident is an important part of ensuring you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Follow these steps if you are involved in a truck accident in Seattle:
- Notify the Washington State Police or your local law enforcement, if they are not already on the scene;
- Make note of as many details at the scene of the accident as possible;
Get contact, insurance, and vehicle registration information from all drivers involved; - Seek medical care immediately for any injuries you suffer and follow your doctor’s instructions in terms of follow up care;
- Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible;
Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer right away.
The Washington State Department of Licensing advises that the police on the scene of your accident will file a collision report, detailing the accident as well as other drivers involved. You may obtain a copy of this report yourself, or your lawyer may do that for you.
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How can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Truck accidents can result in severe and debilitating injuries that require ongoing medical treatment, while impacting your ability to work, both now and in the future. Ways in which an experienced Seattle truck accident attorney can assist you in getting the compensation you deserve include the following:
- Negotiating with the trucking company and their insurer to get you the maximum amount you are entitled to;
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit in court in the event your claim is denied or a settlement cannot be reached;
- Investigating the accident scene and obtaining police reports and witness statements in support of your version of events;
- Using medical records and statements from your doctor to prove the extent of your injuries and damages;
- Gathering bills and receipts to prove the total expenses already paid, and to estimate costs you may incur in the future.
When you are up against a trucking company trying to defend their driver as well as their own reputation, you need an experienced legal advocate on your side ensuring your rights are protected. The Khan Law Firm provides the aggressive legal representation you need to assist you in getting the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to by law. Call or contact our Seattle personal injury attorneys online today to schedule a free review of your case.