Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer
As we see the growth of the trucking industry and commercial truck use across the country, we also see a surge in truck-related accidents and fatalities. If you or a family member sustained an injury or lost a loved one because of an encounter with a big rig on the roadways of Washington, contact our Seattle truck accident attorney at Elk & Elk as soon as you can.
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience representing victims of trucking and other car accidents. Moving forward with a personal injury attorney in Seattle will give you the confidence you need going into a lengthy and arduous legal battle.
Why Choose Elk & Elk?
A Seattle truck accident lawyer from Elk & Elk have been the first choice for Seattle residents for decades. Over time, Elk & Elk has been gaining experience, pushing for the rights and fair settlements of people injured in automobile accidents. Our reputation has been built based on excellent results in the court of law combined with our policies aimed at providing the best legal experience possible for our clients.
- Proven track record: throughout the years, Elk & Elk has secured significant multi-million dollar settlements for clients. In total, we have recovered over $1 billion.
- Open communication: we maintain transparent, open communication throughout each case. This is aimed at providing a legal experience in which you are comfortable and confident in the direction your case is going.
- Experienced team: Elk & Elk handles all types of claims, meaning even the most complex truck accident cases are able to be handled by our experienced team.
- Committed to you. our firm is committed to standing by your side and fighting for your rights, making sure that insurance companies do not try to cheat you out of compensation that you are entitled to following your accident. We won’t stop until you have the settlement offer you deserve.
- Contingency fee basis. if you’re worried about case expenses, you’ll be relieve to know that we don’t take any money unless you win. Our customers are our priority and our Seattle truck accident lawyers strive to provide clients with the best possible representation.
Why a Seattle Truck Accident Attorney Is Critical For Your Case
Lawyers are important to the success of a truck accident case. These types of automobile incidents can be confusing, especially in the state of Washington. Other parties involved in your case may try to use various tactics designed to lower your settlement, but an attorney will be ready.
- Consult with medical professionals. Your attorney will interview in-house medical professionals to determine the extent of your injuries and which types of damages are applicable to your case.
- Review medical documents. They will go over important medical documents provided by the medical professionals who treated you.
- Obtain important records. An attorney will be able to obtain records related to the driver and trucking companies that are not easily obtainable, including first-hand evidence such as camera footage and witnesses.
- Accident reconstruction. They will work diligently with experts to reconstruct the accident scene to support your case.
Moving forward with a Seattle truck accident attorney will give you the confidence you need going into a lengthy and arduous legal battle.
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- How Are Truck Accident Cases Different From Car Accident Cases?
- King County Truck Accident Statistics
- Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in Washington State
- Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident in Washington State?
- Examples of Negligence in Trucking Accidents
- What to Do if You Were In a Truck Accident in Seattle
- How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?
- What Types of Damages May I Seek?
- Contact Our Seattle Truck Accident Attorney
How Are Truck Accident Cases Different From Car Accident Cases?
Truck and car accidents are similar in the sense that they are automobile accidents but vary in legal and practical terms. Trucks often lead to more serious injuries and damage to property due to their size, increasing potential damages that may need to be paid.
This, in conjunction with the fact that someone is more likely to die in an accident, means that lawsuits are often the best way for individuals to recover compensation. Additionally, truck drivers and carriers are required by law to carry more insurance than regular drivers in Washington.
King County Truck Accident Statistics
Truck accidents in the greater Seattle area are a rising problem. Statistics reported by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) surrounding truck accidents in King County show just how often truck accidents happen and how severe they can be.
- 17 fatal truck crashes were reported in 2023 as a result of a trucking accident.
- 35 truck crashes had at least one serious injury, while 157 had at least one minor injury.
- In King County, there is approximately a 31% chance that you will sustain an injury if involved in a truck accident, although there is a greater chance that other injuries could arise at a later date.
- Seattle, Renton, and Kent are where most of the accidents involving injury or death involving trucks occur, while Federal Way, Redmond, and Bellevue fared better than other localities in King County, per capita.
- Many truck accidents involved numerous people, with some nearing a total of 30 individuals affected by a single accident.
If you lost a loved one due to a fatal truck accident, our Seattle wrongful death lawyer can review your case and help you learn about your potential legal options.
Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in Washington State
Establishing the cause of the accident will be the first step your Seattle truck accident attorney will take. Different causes of truck accidents can include:
- Driver fatigue and error: Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has driving limits, truck operators sometimes choose to hit the road drowsy. After long hours on the road, it comes as no surprise that drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. Additionally, the driver may be under the influence, improperly yielding to other vehicles, or failing to properly assess road conditions.
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo: The cargo on a truck is one of the most volatile parts of the vehicle. Trucks may carry anything from rocks to airplane parts between two places. When these are not loaded or secured properly, they could spell disaster for other people on the road.
- Improper truck maintenance: Trucks are nothing more than huge machines. Their engines, wheels, axels, and more require constant maintenance that meets the standards of national and state guidelines. Failing to do so may result in a malfunction, causing a truck crash on a major roadway.
- Failing or malfunctioning equipment: Sometimes, the parts on a truck do not work properly. In the case that something was designed, produced, or marketed wrongly, there may be consequences for both the truck driver and other vehicle operators.
- Driver negligence: Distracted driving, speeding, or failing to adhere to traffic laws, can significantly increase the risk of a truck accident by impairing the driver’s ability to react promptly to road conditions and other vehicles. This negligence can lead to severe truck collisions, resulting in property damage, injuries, or fatalities
- Inadequate driver training: Not enough training can lead to a lack of essential skills and knowledge, increasing the likelihood of accidents due to improper handling of the vehicle, poor judgment in critical situations, and failure to follow safety protocols.
If another party caused or contributed to the accident in any way, they may owe you compensation for your damages.
Who is Liable in a Truck Accident in Washington State?
The liability of a truck accident is determined through a complex process. Different accounts and collections of evidence can change who is to blame for an accident. While opposing legal teams may attempt to blame you for an accident to avoid paying damages, they may be the ones at fault.
Liable entities may include:
- Truck drivers
- The trucking company
- Owner of the truck or trailer
- Parts manufacturers of the truck or its components
- The shipping company
- Loaders of the shipping goods
Examples of Negligence in Trucking Accidents
It is very common for a large truck accident to involve negligence. In Washington State, negligence can be established by determining if someone has failed to exercise an expected degree of care, leading to someone else’s injury.
In addition, Washington is a comparative negligence state, meaning that an injured party can recover damages based on a proportional amount of responsibility for the accident. Nevertheless, signs of negligence by truck drivers, trucking companies, and their shipping partners are quite common.
Examples of negligence can include:
- Failure to yield to traffic.
- Failure to properly assess road and weather conditions.
- Failure to obey traffic laws.
- Driving drowsy or without break.
- Hiring an unqualified or inexperienced driver.
- Lack of training given to the truck driver
- Failure to supervise the driver
- Excessive speed
- Loading trucks over maximum capacity
- Not maintaining the equipment of the truck
- Driving without required vision or hearing correction
- Driving without a license
- Failure to monitor driven hours
- Operating the vehicle in prohibited zones that do not permit large trucks
- Failure to properly weigh truck at required locations
- Failure to double-check blind spots
- Reckless driving
What to Do if You Were In a Truck Accident in Seattle
Trucking accidents are often incredibly serious and can threaten the life of a truck accident victim. Taking appropriate steps following the accident will be important in ensuring that you and your loved ones are out of harm’s way.
- Ensure that you are in a safe location. If able, it is important to get out of the way of danger. If someone decides to remain on the road or near a site that is susceptible to fires or explosions following the trucking accident, it could cause further injury to those in the vicinity of the crash.
- Attend to any wounds that require immediate attention. Again, your first steps should be ensuring your safety. By stopping excessive bleeding or attending to any other life-threatening wounds, you could save your life or that of someone else while waiting for emergency services.
- Contact emergency services. Calling an ambulance and the police as fast as possible is a critical step in receiving professional medical care and an assessment of the accident. A police officer will be able to help with traffic, connect you to the accident, find witnesses and evidence, and document the identification of the truck driver.
- Collect any evidence in the form of a photo or video. If physically able to do so, collecting evidence surrounding your case is extremely beneficial and could make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful claims case. Get the name, license plate number, insurance information and employer of the truck driver. If there are witnesses to the accident, get their names and phone numbers.
- Reach out to a Seattle truck accident lawyer. Reaching out to an attorney is incredibly important. With their knowledge and experience surrounding automobile accidents in the state of Washington, they will make sure you are not cheated out of the compensation you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Seattle?
From the date of your truck accident, you only have a certain amount of time to file a claim. This is referred to as a statute of limitation. In Washington State, under the RCW 4.16.080, you have three years to begin legal action surrounding a personal injury, although in some cases there are exceptions.
While this may seem like a lot of time at first, your legal team needs ample time to build a strong case for your proceedings. Additionally, truck accident victims dealing with the consequences of truck accident injuries sometimes lose track of time as their window of opportunity closes.
What Types of Damages May I Seek?
Because truck accidents are usually serious, they can cause massive damages. These may include:
- Lengthy hospital stays
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Automobile repairs
- Partial or total disability
- Loss of earning potential
- Punitive damages for the trucking company
Contact Our Seattle Truck Accident Attorney Today
We know that the injuries from a collision with a semitrailer can be catastrophic, and they can leave you with large financial hardships and many uncertainties. We also know how important the outcome of your case is to your future. For that reason, our Seattle truck accident attorney will work diligently to help you recover the financial compensation you need.
Reach out to us to see how we can assist truck accident victims and their families in the pursuit of justice today. Call our Seattle office at 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) or schedule a free consultation using our online contact form.