Truck crashes, such as those involving tractor-trailers and other heavy commercial vehicles, are a serious highway safety concern in Washington and throughout the country. The state has an extensive highway network, with many major routes and heavy freight traffic, as well as regular passenger cars.

Due to substantial size and weight disparity between 18-wheelers and other automobiles, the crashes involving trucks are often severe or deadly. When a trucker’s recklessness causes you harm, you have the right to pursue damages to cover your losses, and a skilled team of personal injury attorneys can help. Reach out to a knowledgeable Seattle truck accident lawyer at Frey Buck for help with your case.

What Are the Most Typical Causes of Truck Accidents?

Crashes involving tractor-trailers often stem from human error, mechanical issues, and environmental factors. According to the information provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation, the most common contributing factors include:

• Truck operator fatigue and drowsiness: Despite the federal restrictions on hours behind the wheel, they still lead to many yearly collisions
• Distracted driving: Using a cell phone to call people or texting without hands-free technology is a hazard
• Speeding: This is hazardous for all drivers, but the additional stopping distance required for large commercial vehicles increases the risks
• Improper loading or overloading of cargo: Increases the risk of spills and deadly rollovers
• Neglecting semi-truck maintenance: Often results in tire blowouts and brake failure, or other mechanical issues
• Poor weather: Leads to hazardous road conditions, including rain, fog, ice, and snow
• Driver recklessness: Includes tailgating, failure to yield, or unsafe lane conditions

Highway crash studies throughout the years often found that trucker errors were a leading cause of crashes throughout the state. Truckers and their employers must cover the damages caused by avoidable accidents that harm others on the road. A Seattle attorney can help you prove with evidence that these errors were made and build a truck accident case to pursue the full extent of your damages.

Seeking Damages in Civil Court

State laws follow an at-fault insurance system, meaning the negligent truck operator and his/her employer are responsible for your damages. However, these cases are more complex due to federal regulations, and many have multiple liable parties to name as defendants in the lawsuit. Our skilled Seattle truck crash attorney understands the industry and can guide you through the civil court process to fight for the best possible outcome.

The first step is conducting a well-planned and thorough investigation to review and analyze the evidence and determine precisely what happened, the cause of the incident, and who was at fault. That may be the trucker, the trucking company that employs them, related companies such as maintenance providers, vehicle manufacturers, or cargo loaders, or third-party drivers.

The potential amount of compensation can vary substantially and depend on the specifics of the case. However, collisions involving passenger cars and 18-wheelers can have catastrophic outcomes, including severe and life-altering injuries and other losses. Therefore, the award for damages can be significant and may include the following economic losses:

• Surgeries
• Hospital stays
• Physical therapy
• Emergency health care
• Ongoing medical services
• Lost pay and earning potential

The second category is non-economic losses, such as chronic pain and emotional distress. Our truck collision lawyers in Seattle can answer your specific questions about the damages you may be owed after reviewing the details of your case.

Meet With a Diligent Truck Accident Attorney in Seattle

If a reckless truck operator or other related party caused you harm, insurance laws allow you to collect damages to cover your financial and non-monetary losses, and if that is not enough to cover the total costs, you can file a claim in civil court with our help.

At Frey Buck, our compassionate and proficient Seattle truck accident lawyers can provide sound advice, guide you throughout the process, and fight for the maximum possible payout. Call our office soon to learn more and schedule a consultation to get started.