Side-Impact Truck Accidents in Kirkland

When most people think of tractor-trailer crashes, they imagine the setting being an interstate or multi-lane highway. However, commercial trucks travel on smaller streets and local roads quite often. Unfortunately, this means that semi-trucks are sometimes involved in T-bone collisions and other types of side-impact wrecks with smaller passenger vehicles. Whether an accident occurs at an intersection or near a loading deck, side-impact truck accidents in Kirkland can cause life-altering harm to every party involved.

Civil litigation over side-impact truck collisions can be uniquely complicated in several ways, especially without the guidance of a seasoned truck accident lawyer. Our firm could help you recover fair restitution for your avoidable injuries. Contact us today to discuss your unique case with a dedicated attorney.

Recoverable Damages After Side-Impact Truck Wrecks

Being hit by a tractor-trailer while driving or riding in a standard commuter car is an exceptionally dangerous event. In rear-end and even head-on collisions, commuter car occupants may at least benefit from safety features like airbags and seatbelts, as well as get some protection from the frame of their vehicle being between them and the direct force of the impact.

The same often cannot be said for side-impact truck accidents in Kirkland, though, especially those occurring at relatively high speeds. Accident victims are often lucky if they escape with comparatively “minor” injuries like lacerations and bone fractures that will heal with time and professional medical care. In many situations, these types of wrecks may cause lifelong disfigurement and/or disability through severe burns, brain and/or spine damage, internal organ trauma, and crushing injuries that may lead to limb amputation.

Comprehensive compensation after being T-boned or sideswiped by a semi-truck should account for both past and future losses relative to the initial filing date, such as:

• Short-term and long-term medical expenses
• Lost earning capacity and/or earned income
• Vehicle replacement or repair costs
• Psychological trauma from the accident
• Lost consortium and/or enjoyment of life
• Physical pain and suffering

A knowledgeable legal representative could go into more specific detail about potentially recoverable losses during a private initial consultation.

Are Truck Drivers Always at Fault for T-Bone Crashes?

Because truck drivers have a much greater capacity to cause serious harm, it might seem fair to assume that they should be legally at fault for a wreck. However, there are many situations where a Kirkland resident who gets hurt in a side-impact truck crash may be partly or even primarily to blame for their accident—for instance, if they ran a red light while a commercial truck driver was advancing with a green light.

Fortunately, Washington state law does not forbid injured individuals from pursuing civil compensation from another negligent person or entity, no matter how much blame they personally bear for their own damages. That said, Revised Code of Washington §4.22.005 allows courts to reduce the total compensation available to an injured plaintiff based on whatever percentage of total fault the court decides that plaintiff holds.

Discuss Side-Impact Truck Accidents in Kirkland with an Attorney

Whether you got sideswiped, T-boned, or injured in any other kind of side-impact wreck involving a commercial truck, understanding your legal rights could be vital to protecting your long-term best interests. Even if you are not sure exactly how your accident happened or who might be to blame, an attorney could guide you through the ensuing legal processes of your case.

A dedicated truck accident lawyer could discuss your side-impact truck accident in Kirkland during a confidential consultation. Schedule yours by calling our firm today.