Bad Weather Truck Accidents in Seattle | Poor Driving Conditions

Inclement weather can create hazardous driving environments, particularly for large trucks. Bad weather truck accidents in Seattle are alarmingly common due to the prevalence of extreme weather conditions, especially close to the shore. Even though drivers are trained to handle these poor conditions, the danger remains. Some reckless drivers may ignore the conditions entirely, and potentially cause a major accident.

If a truck driver failed to take bad weather into account and caused your collision, the driver or their employer could be held liable for the damages caused. An experienced truck accident attorney could assess whether a truck driver’s carelessness caused your accident and if financial compensation is possible.

Poor Weather Conditions That Could Cause a Truck Accident

Inclement weather conditions can quickly lead to dangerous situations for truck drivers and those around them. Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are especially susceptible to hazardous conditions and can cause a great deal of damage in an accident.

Conditions that could increase the chances of a bad weather truck collision in Seattle include, but are not limited to:

Heavy fog
Extremely sunny conditions
Snow and ice
Heavy rain and storms
High winds that may cause rollovers

It is up to the truck driver’s discretion to determine when conditions are safe to drive, and their failure to account for bad weather may be considered negligent. This means that the injured party could be entitled to pursue compensation for their injuries.

How Negligence Occurs in Bad Weather Conditions

Negligence could majorly affect how bad weather leads to an accident. Sometimes, truck drivers may go faster than conditions allow because they want to reach their destination promptly. This action makes the semi-truck prone to rollover accidents that could cause significant harm.

Another major risk is that a truck could jackknife because of inclement weather conditions. A truck “jackknifes” when the trailer folds up against the cab. This is especially likely to happen when the roads are slick from rain, snow, or ice.

Additionally, the truck could block traffic, leading to pileups and other dangerous accidents. If a driver’s negligence caused dangerous driving conditions for others on the road, they might be held liable for any accidents that result from their carelessness. An attorney could examine a Seattle poor weather truck accident and help determine if driver negligence was present.

Negligent Maintenance and Bad Weather

To successfully operate in poor weather conditions, the truck driver needs a vehicle that is properly maintained by their employer. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies to maintain their fleet to avoid accidents that may cause harm. Failure to keep a truck maintained could result in such an accident.

Improper maintenance of a truck could include:

Failure to check and repair brakes
Failure to check tire pressure
Failure to replace windshield wipers
Utilizing defective truck parts
Not changing a tire when the tread is low
Improperly loading or balancing the trailer’s load

If someone was involved in a collision due to an improperly maintained truck, they might be entitled to financial compensation. A Seattle attorney could help the injured party file a claim for damages sustained in an inclement weather trucking collision.

Speak to an Attorney about Bad Weather Truck Accidents in Seattle Today

It is the truck driver’s responsibility to assess weather conditions before proceeding with their drive. If they fail to act with caution and put the lives of other drivers in danger, they may be held responsible for any injuries that are caused.

A truck accident lawyer could help you discover if financial compensation is possible in your case. Contact our firm to discuss bad weather truck accidents in Seattle with an attorney today.