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Crashes with tractor trailers have catastrophic consequences for others on the road
Semi-tractor trailers are to cars, trucks, and SUVs like those smaller vehicles are to pedestrians. In an accident of a semi vs. almost any other type of vehicle, the semi will do much more damage than it, and its passengers, would receive. These trucks take longer to correct if they’re on a disastrous path, as well. Their drivers have to be extremely careful and focused at all times behind their wheels. Therefore, when truck drivers drive recklessly, negligently, distractedly, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the effects can be devastating. These can be complex claims, as not all injury accidents clearly or easily reveal the singular at-fault party. It can be a combination of factors that lead to an accident. If you have been involved in a wreck with a tractor trailer, you're likely full of questions about how to receive compensation for your losses. Click to learn more.
Negotiating a claim after a drunk truck driver hit you is often too challenging for accident victims
18,000 pounds of metal speeding down the highway with a drunk driver is an unconscionably dangerous scenario, and yet it is not unheard of on Whatcom or Skagit County roads. If a drunk commercial truck driver hit you on any road in Washington, you need skilled representation fast. It is highly likely you’re facing the aftermath of a deadly, catastrophic wreck and you should not do so alone. Focus on rebuilding your life and do not attempt to negotiate with the trucking company responsible for this devastation. Most accidents that occur between a commercial truck, or semi-tractor trailer, and another vehicle are complex. The trucking companies involve multiple parties, and have a vested interest in avoiding paying high settlements. So what do you do if you've been in an accident with a drunk commercial truck driver?
Semi-tractor trailers have multiple blind spots and "no zones"
Truck accidents that involve negligence can cost commercial trucking companies millions of dollars in liability, and they know it. These kinds of accidents can be complex, and the companies have resources to put on these cases, and fight them tooth and nail. If you’ve been involved in an accident with a semi-truck trailer, you have options for how to best approach what happens next. The trucking company, rest assured, will have a team of lawyers backing them. What about you?
The challenges of a wrongful death claim against a trucking company
A vehicle accident is scary, frightening, and awful. When that wreck results in the death of your loved one, it is one of the hardest things in life to go through. If it’s because of a truck driver or company’s negligence, it’s unconscionable. While you might want to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties, the thought of that might feel insurmountably difficult. You know it will be a long, uphill battle, and will take lot of mental and emotional preparation. Truck companies can be ruthless in dealing with accident victims, and will be trying to discredit you or simply fluster and frustrate you when you’re grieving, and just trying to stay afloat after a loved one’s death. Is your best option to simply take what the trucking company offers you in a wrongful death claim?
When a truck's trailer becomes a runaway, collisions can be devastating
If you’ve spent any time traveling along Washington mountain highways, you have most likely noticed them: runaway truck ramps. These are provided for trucks that get into a very scary situation: when the trailer begins to go faster than the tractor to which it’s attached. Situations like this are extremely volatile, and all it takes is seconds for catastrophe to occur. Trailers can become detached, and will take out all that’s in front of it until it comes to rest. Imagine more than 80,000 pounds barreling at you. Assuming you can survive being in its path, you will have experienced a terribly traumatizing event, not to mention the property damage that resulted. These are some of the most horrific kinds of wrecks one can imagine. For more information on commercial trucks and runaway trailer accidents click here.
Overweight truck accidents occur increasingly often
Though semi tractor trailers are designed to carry heavy loads, they can be overloaded. When a truck carries more than it is supposed to, major, catastrophic wrecks can occur. These wrecks, as they tend to happen on interstate highways at high speeds, can happen on any road. It’s a sad fact that many trucks are overloaded typically, on any given day. Truckers and their companies are under pressure to maximize each trip, and sometimes this means trucks are loaded too heavy, or too quickly so they are not properly balanced. If you or a loved one were hit by a commercial truck, it would be hard to tell if overweight or improper loading contributed to the wreck, or increased its severity unless you know what to look for. If this is a factor in your accident, then someone you love, or yourself, was hurt from negligent behavior. Were you hit by an overloaded truck? Learn more.
When a semi jackknifes: how it happens, how to prevent it, and what to do if you're in an accident with one
Most likely you’ve seen the harrowing pictures in the media, as these are usually significant, scary accidents. When a truck jackknifes, it’s a big deal. Jackknifing means that the trailer skids up and folds against the tractor at a very acute angle. You can think of it like a pocket knife partly opened. Any other vehicles nearby are vulnerable to being hit by the trailer as it swings around, and, as you can imagine, worst case scenarios can happen in the blink of an eye. A car can be smashed in between the tractor and its trailer, or it can be hit at any angle by the trailer as it swings out of control. Often in these accidents, especially since they tend to occur on highways at fast speeds, fatalities and serious injuries occur. If you or a loved one has been involved in a wreck with a semi tractor trailer that jackknifed, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages and losses.
In accidents with a semi truck, the other vehicles almost always have more damage
Commercial Truck Drivers Are Especially Susceptible to Fatigued Driving
Commercial truck drivers by and large are behind the wheel longer than anyone else on the road. Increasingly, these drivers are under pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines which can make a driver feel like cutting back on sleep or using alcohol or drugs to cope with the stress. However, there are strict rules governing how long truckers must rest, though they're not always followed correctly. If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, click to learn more about your options.
One case study of how an expert witness made all the difference for an injured truck driver
When dealing with the aftermath of an accident, one can feel overwhelmed and isolated. There are many decisions to make, and many different agendas of other people and companies trying to influence those decisions. And an accident victim wants only to focus on healing. Here is a short case study of how one commercial truck driver in Bellingham, Washington, was injured in a fluke accident due to someone else's mistake, and how his case relied on the testimony of an expert witness.