Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Greater Western Washington
Accidents with commercial trucks can be extremely catastrophic. Due to the immense size of 18-wheelers and other similarly sized vehicles, the chances of suffering serious and even life-threatening injuries in such collisions are high. Those lucky enough to survive have expensive and sometimes painful surgery, physical therapy, and nursing care to look forward to for long after the collision.
Fighting for Clients Throughout Washington State
If the truck accident resulted in a fatality, family members can file a wrongful death claim. Let the Olympia truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold D. Carr help you obtain what you need to recover.
When large truck operators and companies demonstrate negligence that results in injuries to others, they should be held accountable for their irresponsibility. Victims in accidents caused by their negligence often suffer injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or, in worst case scenarios, wrongful death.
Who Can Be Sued After a Truck Accident?
After it is determined why your truck accident happened, the next question will be to find out who can be sued for it. In legal terms, this is a question of liability. The more liable a party is in an accident claim, like a truck accident claim, the more money that party will owe to the claimant or plaintiff.
Establishing liability in a truck accident case can be unexpectedly complicated, though. Unlike auto accidents, truck accidents usually have multiple liable parties beyond just the truck driver.
Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?
When fully loaded, tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. While these drivers are required to follow strict operator laws and avoid unsafe practices, they do not always obey, putting other drivers on the road at serious risk of injury. Commercial truck accidents may be caused by drivers who:
- Drive under the influence
- Are fatigued
- Fail to comply with road and safety regulations
- Carry overloaded or insufficiently maintained cargo
- Operate out-of-maintenance trucks
Call our team of injury attorneys today. (800) 700-8082
Parties who could be found liable for a truck accident include:
- Truck driver: The truck driver involved in your crash is likely to be liable to some extent. After all, they are the only person who was in direct control of the truck that crashed into you.
- Trucking company: Through the rule of respondeat superior, a trucking company can be held liable for the accidents caused by their employees, especially when the trucking company’s own mistakes can be related to the crash. For example, if a trucking company hires a trucker with a long history of crashes on their driving record, then the company could be accused of professional negligence and be held partially liable.
- Cargo worker: The people who place cargo onto a truck could be liable if they misload the truck, such as overload it or make it top-heavy due to careless loading practices. Cargo crews are usually not employed by the trucking company, so your claim could introduce a third-party in such an instance.
- Truck part manufacturer: If you were in a truck accident with a commercial that was caused by a burst tire or brake failure, then the company that made those tires or brakes could be partially liable for the accident, too. It depends on the truck’s maintenance records, which our attorneys can check.
What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?
You have the right to hold any party liable for the harm they cause you. This right can be shadowed, though, by insurance companies that want to frustrate you to the point that you give up on your claim. Or your right might be impeded by a defendant who is insistent that you were the one who caused the truck accident when you know the opposite is true.
If you want to protect your rights after a truck accident, then you need to consider how you can prove the truth with convincing evidence. Accident records, first responder reports, eyewitness statements, dashcam footage, and more are all crucial to clearly establish what happened. You can also protect your rights by teaming up with a truck accident attorney at the start of your claim, which will prevent insurance companies from coercing you into accepting liability or otherwise harming your claim’s chances with a seemingly small mistake.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Truck Crash Lawyer?
You probably know that you should have a truck accident attorney represent you to make the most of your case. But do you know if you can afford one?
At the Law Offices of Harold D. Carr, our Olympia truck accident lawyers offer contingency fee agreements for accident claims. Working for contingency fees means that we do not get paid attorney fees unless we end your case successfully with a settlement or verdict in your favor. No win? No fees. Also, contingency fees are paid with a percentage of your total settlement or award, so you never have to worry about being unable to afford our services. With this payment system, it technically costs you nothing to hire our truck crash attorneys.
Schedule a Free Consultation Now
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an accident caused by the irresponsibility of a truck driver or trucking company, contact the Olympia truck accident lawyers from the Law Offices of Harold D. Carr so we may investigate your case before any evidence is lost. We do not get paid until you receive the full and fair compensation you are entitled to. We also can visit your home or hospital room if your injuries make it difficult to visit one of our offices.
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Truck Accident Lawyers at in Olympia & Washington State
Serving Clients in Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Brier, Mill Creek, Everett, Cathcart, Monroe, Snohomish, Sultan, Granite Falls, Marysville, Arlington, Stanwood, Camano Island, Conway, Mount Vernon, Sedro Woolley, Bow, Edison, La Conner, Tacoma, Olympia, Lakewood, West Olympia, Puyallup & Federal Way