Kirkland Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck drivers have difficult jobs. The technical requirements and long hours can put a strain on a driver’s attention span and self-awareness. As a result, some drivers may seek out distractions or engage in unsafe driving habits to keep themselves entertained on the road.

Truck drivers who forgo their roadway duty of care put you and your loved ones at risk. Fortunately, you can take legal action against a negligent truck driver with help from a reliable attorney. Working with a Kirkland truck accident lawyer could help you effectively prove liability for your wreck.

Requirements for Commercial Drivers

Truck crashes are often the result of another person’s negligence. The term “negligence” does not solely address inattention on the road, though. Rather, a truck driver may be deemed negligent if they violated their duty of care to other drivers.

This duty of care requires truck drivers – and all parties associated with the truck – to operate with the safety of others in mind. For trucks, in particular, this means that the rig must be weighed appropriately, the driver must be allowed rest, and the vehicle must be maintained.

It also means that truck drivers may perform due diligence when driving around other cars. Any driver who violates the rules of the road, either by texting while driving, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence, puts other people at risk. A Kirkland lawyer could assist an injured claimant with proving a truck driver or their employers were in violation of their duty of care.

Who Could be Liable for an 18-Wheeler Wreck?

After a truck crash, it is easy to assume that the commercial driver may bear all of the responsibility for an injured party’s losses. This is not always the case. Therefore, it can be complicated to try and assign liability in a semi-truck accident case without the help of a Kirkland attorney. While a truck driver’s negligence may have contributed to a person’s losses, other liable parties may include:

• The truck driver’s parent company
• The mechanics who last operated on the truck
• The individuals who loaded the truck
• The parties that leased out the truck

Assigning liability in a truck accident case takes time. A dedicated lawyer may work with a third-party investigator and the local police department to undertake this effort while injured parties and their loved ones focus on recovering.

Filing a Tractor-Trailer Crash Case in Kirkland

Washington state establishes rights for those parties injured by a negligent truck driver or other liable party. So long as injured individuals submit a comprehensive complaint within Washington’s statute of limitations, as defined by the Revised Code of Washington §4.16.080, they may pursue compensation for their losses. This gives all injured parties three years from the day their big rig accident takes place to connect with an lawyer in Kirkland and discuss the next best course of action.

Injured parties who file their complaints may be entitled to both economic and non-economic compensation for their losses. These forms of compensation cover accident-related medical bills and lost income as well as pain and suffering. The court may even choose to apply punitive damages to an injured party’s case, depending on the severity of the negligence in question.

Learn More from a Kirkland Truck Accident Attorney Today

Semi-trucks are dangerous vehicles due to their immense size and weight. These dimensions put other parties at substantial financial and physical risk, especially if a driver is not paying attention to the road.

If you wish to file a complaint, a Kirkland truck accident lawyer could help. You can discuss the details of your accident as well as your potential compensation during your initial case consultation with our team. Call now.