Car accidents are dangerous enough on their own, but when a commercial truck is involved, they can result in even more serious injuries.
Many people who are injured in truck accidents may find themselves facing a difficult recovery, with a heavy financial burden on top. Fortunately, you don’t have to recover all on your own.
If the truck driver involved was acting negligently, as is often the case with these accidents, you can sue that driver for the damages that you’ve suffered as a result of the accident. In addition, there may be other parties that you can hold legally liable, such as the trucking company.
The truck accident attorneys at the Gilbert Law Firm in Spokane, Washington help people in Washington and throughout the U.S. receive the compensation that they deserve to help them on the road to recovery. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about suing the truck driver who caused your accident.
Common causes of truck accidents in Washington
Car accidents can be caused by any number of factors, often more than one at the same time.
The sheer size and weight of semi-tracks mean that there are typically more factors involved in accidents than may meet the eye. However, there are some common problems that often lead to accidents involving commercial trucks:
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Brake failure
- Maintenance issues
- Bad road conditions
- Failure to yield or improper lane change
- Improper backing up or loading
Establishing liability in a Spokane, Washington truck accident case
Many of the accident causes listed above can be traced back to a mistake on the part of the driver. Truck drivers in Washington work long hours under the pressure of deadlines and employers who push them to drive longer and take fewer breaks. As a result, fatigue is a major problem in the trucking industry that can lead to many accidents.
If you can prove that a truck driver broke traffic laws, violated trucking industry regulations, or was acting negligently in any way, you can argue that they are liable for causing the accident.
However, there may be other options.
“Respondeat Superior” is a legal doctrine translated from the Latin phrase “let the master answer”, which means an employer is responsible for any accident if their employee is acting within the scope of their job. Although certain requirements may need to be met to prove respondeat superior applies, generally, when a driver’s negligent actions are responsible for your accident, you might be able to sue the driver or the trucking company that they work for.
Who else can be held liable in a Washington truck accident case?
As discussed above, truck drivers are often simply responding to the pressure of their job, and may not be ultimately responsible for the negligent circumstances leading to your accident.
Here are some other parties that may be liable for your trucking accident:
- The cargo shipper, if the trucking company was contracting with a separate company
- Other vendors involved in the transportation of the goods
- The manufacturer of the truck, if a mechanical problem was the cause of the accident
- The manufacturer of specific parts within the truck, if a specific part malfunctioned
- Government agencies, if features of the road or the environment were responsible for the accident
- Another driver, if that driver’s negligent actions caused the truck to crash in the first place
The best way to get to the bottom of who is liable for your injuries is to contact an attorney with years of experience representing people injured in truck accidents.
Contact a Washington truck accident attorney today
At the Gilbert Law Firm, you can expect honest and compassionate representation dedicated to getting you the compensation that you need. Our dedicated truck accident attorneys have years of experience standing up to companies who have seemingly never-ending resources to fight for justice.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Disclaimer: The blog published by the Gilbert Law Firm marketing team for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice or a substitute for legal advice. There is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.
