Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer

When a truck driver loses control of their rig, it can become a destructive force that leaves a wake of smashed vehicles in its wake. A fully loaded cargo truck can weigh up to 40 tons. If it is traveling at 60 mph, it would need the distance of two football fields to come to a complete stop, and any car stuck in the path of that rig would not fare well.

If you or someone in your family has been involved in a collision with a commercial vehicle, there is a lot you need to consider as part of your recovery, both for your car and your physical well-being. That recovery is a lot to take on by yourself. That is why you should consider getting experienced legal counsel from the Law Offices of Justin R. Boland, PLLC if the wreck was caused by negligence. Our Seattle truck accident lawyer can be a strong advocate for you and fight for justice and accountability after a destructive accident with a truck.

However, determining who is at fault in an accident between a truck and an SUV or sedan is not always cut and dry. We can help unpack the facts to get at the root cause. Our goal is to hold everyone accountable who shared in the events leading up to the accident. As you consider moving forward with a personal injury claim, it is crucial to understand all the factors that need to be taken into consideration.

According to data collected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 158,494 fatal and non-fatal crashes involving trucks nationwide in 2024, and the vast majority of those accidents were attributed to driver error. When putting together your truck accident claim, it is essential to establish what went wrong because that can lead to additional parties being named in the claim. Which one of these causes was a factor in your accident?

Driver Fatigue

FMCSA has created a wide range of regulations pertaining to all aspects of truck driving, starting with the hours-of-service regulations. Truck drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving time with a minimum 30-minute break after driving 8 hours. Going beyond those limits can lead to a driver becoming drowsy. That fatigue diminishes a driver’s reaction time and judgment, which creates the perfect storm for getting into an accident.

Distracted Driving

Driving a big rig is far more complicated than driving an SUV, but that doesn’t mean truck drivers are immune from the same kinds of distractions that plague every motorist. A truck driver can be found to be distracted in the following ways:

• Texting
• Using GPS
• Eating
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Making phone calls
• Adjusting media devices

Any distraction that takes the trucker’s eyes off the road for even a fraction of a second can end in a serious accident.

Speeding

Even though truck drivers are limited in their service hours, they still face pressure to make their delivery schedules. That can lead a driver to push the speed limit boundaries. A truck going 70 or 80 miles an hour is asking for trouble.

Driving Under the Influence

The Washington State Department of Licensing has established that a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) sets the DUI limit for car drivers at .08.  For commercial truck drivers, that limit is .04. It can also mean an automatic license disqualification for up to a year. The law has zero tolerance for drunk truck drivers.

Poor Maintenance

Truck drivers are supposed to inspect their rig before every trip. Regular maintenance tune-ups are also required. All of these inspections and repairs have to be carefully logged. When brakes fail or tires blow out on a truck, it can spell disaster for other cars on the road.

Shifting Cargo

When cargo shifts on a truck, it is usually because it has been improperly secured. That shifting cargo can cause the truck to tilt over on tight curves. That can lead to a rollover accident.

In order to support your claim, you need evidence. Some of the evidence you might be able to collect at the scene of the accident includes photos and videos you take with your cell. You can also take a video statement from any witness. You’ll also want to get the following information from the truck driver if you can:

• Name and contact information
• License number of the truck
• The United States Department of Transportation serial number, if available
• Name of the employer or owner of the trucking company
• Insurance carrier

A police officer responding to the scene will also write a crash report. You should also get the contact information from that officer.

The primary liable party in a truck accident would be the driver. However, that accountability doesn’t have to stop with the driver. An experienced Seattle truck accident attorney will know how to investigate all aspects of the wreck to determine if there are any other of the following liable parties:

The Trucking Company

The trucking company that employs the trucker may be held partially responsible for the accident if their hiring practices overlooked a poor driving history. If it can also be proven that the trucking company exerted pressure on the driver to make deliveries that compromised their driving, that could call into question their liability.

Cargo Loading Crew

If cargo shifts or falls off the truck, the crew who was responsible for loading the truck could be held responsible for the incident.

Government Agencies

Improperly maintained roads can also trigger a truck accident. Problems with overpasses or bridges are the responsibility of local government agencies. If they fail to maintain them, those agencies might be held liable.

Truck and Parts Manufacturers

If it is proven that any of the truck’s mechanical systems caused the accident, it could be traced back to a defective part or a manufacturing issue. There might even have been a recall issued, which supports the idea of a defect.

When you get into an accident with a truck, you are obligated to tell the police who report to the scene what happened. You don’t have to offer any suggestion that you might have been partially responsible. That is the same for any conversation you might have with the insurance company. In fact, once you’ve given your statement to the police, you should have your trucking accident lawyer in Seattle take over all the communications.

If you decide to retain the services of Law Offices of Justin R. Boland, PLLC, you will find you have a skilled advocate who is not afraid to take on a fight with a major trucking company and their insurance carrier. If we agree that your case has merit, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation into the crash and all the circumstances that led to the crash. That includes all the information about the driver’s history and their log reports. An individual driver might not have easy access to that information, but we will.

We will also work closely with you to assess all your damages. That begins with all the medical expenses you’ve incurred as a result of the accident. Any compensation you receive will have to cover your current expenses and any future expenses, such as ongoing physical therapy. We can help calculate the total amount of compensation you may be eligible for.

Additionally, you must be compensated for lost wages and future earning potential if the accident keeps you from returning to work. There are also damages associated with your pain and suffering and how this accident has diminished your quality of life.

We are extremely familiar with insurance companies’ tactics. They will always try to settle for the lowest amount possible, which is not acceptable when our clients’ financial security is on the line. We will always work to achieve the maximum benefits for our clients.

When resistance occurs, we might discuss the option of taking your case in front of a judge and jury. We won’t be intimidated by a table of insurance and trucking company lawyers. If the evidence is on our side, we’re confident that we can prevail.

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, we want to hear about it. Call to set up a consultation today.