Truck Accident Injury Attorneys

Size and speed make large trucks the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Even low-speed impacts can have catastrophic results. Oftentimes, trucking accidents are caused by a negligent truck driver who may be failing to obey traffic laws, driving for too long without a break or who lacks experience driving a semi or large commercial truck. It is also common for trucking equipment to fail or have mechanical issues. This puts the trucking company’s responsibility for safety in question.

Unfortunately, no matter what the circumstances may be, trucking companies hire ruthless insurance companies that work carefully and strategically to shift blame. This makes it difficult to fight back without expert legal counsel on your side.

If you’re questioning whether or not you have a case, the following issues are important to consider.

• Did the truck accident result in damages?
• Did you seek or require medical attention?
• Was law enforcement present at the scene?
• Are you liable for any part of the accident?
• Do you or the at-fault party have insurance coverage?

Your answers to these questions will help an attorney assess if you have a valid accident injury case from the standpoint of the law. For more information, please visit our Do I Have A Case? Page.

An accident involving a commercial truck can be devastating. While the truck driver may be able to walk away from the accident unharmed, those in the other vehicle may not be as fortunate. These accidents can be traumatic, injurious, and potentially fatal. Those involved in a semi truck accident typically suffer debilitating injuries and face a long, painful recovery. Truck accidents can result in extensive property damage, loss of income during recovery, expensive medical bills and more.

Legal claims for compensation arising out of a truck accident (i.e. accidents involving big-rigs, semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, or logging trucks) are much different than car accident lawsuits involving only passenger cars. While most personal injury attorneys handle auto collision lawsuits, they do not understand the special considerations, mitigating circumstances, and trucking regulations that help you to win your case. It is imperative you hire an experienced and knowledgeable trucking accident lawyer that represents your best interest.

Accidents involving commercial trucks can have some similarities to crashes that traditional vehicles have. There are, however, unique accident risks that are particularly common in the trucking industry.

Trucks that are parked do not generate profits, so trucking companies often utilize compensation plans that encourage drivers to ignore special regulations called “hours of service” (HOS). Hours of service rules are designed to reduce the risk of fatigue-related crashes. When drivers that are paid per mile exceed the permitted amount of time behind the wheel, the risk of a tractor-trailer collision rises dramatically.

Trucking companies and commercial drivers are also subject to strict regulations regarding vehicle inspections and maintenance and if disregarded it can result in horrific accidents.

Some of the requirements are:

• Vehicle inspection and maintenance
• Anti-fatigue rules
• Driver fitness
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Weight and length limits
• Pre-employment screening
• Training and supervision

These are just a few examples of the types of special regulations imposed on the trucking industry to minimize the safety risks posed by these extremely large vehicles. Trucking companies that operate across state lines (interstate trucking) will be subject to regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Commercial carriers that operate exclusively within Washington will be subject to state regulations. Violation of these safety regulations often constitute the primary basis for liability in a trucking case, so Washington trucking accident injury lawyers must be very familiar with these regulations.

Trucking industry regulators have imposed special recordkeeping requirements because of the danger posed by fatigue and maintenance issues. However, these logbooks are so frequently falsified that they are disparagingly referred to as “lie books”. Trucking accident lawyers must move quickly to avoid the destruction of evidence that is vital to your truck accident case. If the appropriate steps are not taken, trucking companies might conveniently lose black box data or repair body damage to semi-trucks and logging trucks destroying evidence of the accident.

Our Washington trucking accident lawyers frequently send warning letters to trucking companies indicating that the big-rig and data stored in a big-rig’s black box must not be altered or destroyed. If the trucking company disregards this notice, we seek sanctions against the trucking company. These sanctions can include judge imposed presumptions that favor the plaintiff regarding what the destroyed evidence would have revealed.

Overall, there are a number of parties who could be at fault for a truck accident including:

• The manufacturer of truck, trailer, or components
• The owner of the truck
• Truck driver
• Truck driver’s employer
• The company leasing the truck
• The owner of the leasing company

Our trucking accident attorneys have handled many logging, semi-truck, and trailer accident cases and understand what to look for to help establish liability.

Our attorneys can and will investigate:

• Driving logs & records (including weigh-ins)
• The party that had primary control and custody of the vehicle at the time of the accident
• Maintenance records of the truck
• The level of control over the drivers the company has
• The vehicle & trailers driving history
• Potential violations of federal and state driving regulations
• Past criminal convictions of all parties involved
• Potential manufacturing defects

Insurance companies and large corporations are often working immediately after an accident with injuries to start building a case against the injured party. Hiring an attorney who is experienced in dealing with bus accident cases and knows how to stand up to those third-parties, makes you more powerful.

Video Transcript: When Do I Need An Injury Lawyer?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: Following an injury, that wasn’t your fault, there’s always a natural question that’s asked internally is how soon do I need a lawyer? Should I call a lawyer? The one thing you want to keep in mind is insurance companies, large corporations, are often working immediately after an injury to start building a case against the injured party. Not to help them, not to get them back on their feet, not to provide them any type of resources, but to simply to try to save money in the long run by collecting information they think will hurt you.

So if you’ve asked yourself, “Is it time to call an attorney?” [You] probably already answered that question internally, that you should and now you’re looking for the right attorney. Find the right attorney, that’s going to spend the time, going to look at the facts and truly understand how this has impacted you, impacted your family, and that’s what we believe we’re very good at. 

Following an injury, it’s standard practice for an insurance company to ask you to give a recorded statement. If you feel pressured or are unsure, don’t give the insurance company a head start. Get the advice of an attorney who knows what they’re doing and proceed accordingly.

Video Transcript: Should I Give A Recorded Statement?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: Following an injury it’s very, very typical, almost standard practice, for an insurance company to ask for a recorded statement and the question to ask is: should I give it? Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company? You don’t have to and the only reason why they’re being done is to help the insurance company, to give them a head start [in building a case] against you.

Following an injury, if you feel the pressure and if you feel as if you have to give a statement then take a step back. Get the advice of someone that knows what they’re doing and then proceed accordingly. Whether that is to give the statement or not, but more often than not, almost equivocally we say no, don’t give a statement. Don’t give the insurance company a head start. It doesn’t do anything for you and at the end of the day they’re using that information to figure out how not to compensate you properly.

Insurance companies have a very high incentive to settle your case early versus understanding the true nature and extent of the injuries. If they can get you paid with a low-ball settlement, the quicker you’re off the books. Most often their offer doesn’t cover all of your expenses including medical, but in a time of need, people feel as if they have to settle or they’re being told this is the only offer.

Video Transcript: Is The Insurance Company’s Offer Fair?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: Following an injury, has the insurance company offered you a lowball settlement? Have they said, “Here, we’d be happy to cut you a check?” or that they’re here for you, they’re here to take care of you? There’s a particular reason why you’re being offered that low-ball settlement. Insurance companies have a very high incentive to settle early versus understanding the true nature and extent of the injuries. Because as soon as they can get you paid, with some low-ball settlement, the quicker you’re off the books.

There’s so much missing. They don’t compensate for all the medical expenses. They don’t compensate for the true nature of the injury, but in a time of need people feel as if they have to settle or they’re being told this is the only offer. We get calls time and time again from people that have been offered settlements that doesn’t fully compensate them and they feel as if they have to take it because there will be no other options.

We’re here to tell you that that’s not the case. Give us [Washington Law Center] a call. We would be more than happy to let you know whether or not this is a proper and fair settlement or just a low-ball settlement that is attempting to close your claim and not get you properly compensated.

There’s a misconception that a personal injury attorney costs too much money and that you can’t afford one. Washington Law Center is different. We do not get paid upfront. Unless we get you compensated there are no attorney fees.

Video Transcript: How Much Does A Lawyer Cost?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: The question is often asked, “How much does an attorney cost?” And there’s a misconception in that “an attorney costs way too much and you can’t afford one.” We’re different. We do not get paid up front. We do not take a deposit. We do not take a retainer. We don’t ask for your credit card information. We simply are paid based on the value and money earned on your case.

So if there’s no recovery, then there are no attorneys fees. It’s as simple as that. Following an injury is often when people have the least amount of resources. They may be out of a job. They may need to pay medical expenses and just keep food on the table.

We let you focus on the things you need to for your family, and we’ll focus on your case, on your specific claim, so that you don’t have to. Unless we get you compensated, there are no attorneys fees. So, give us a call early, maybe following the injury, and we’d be more than happy to get going.