Call Us atWhile Kenmore is fairly removed from the hustle and bustle of larger cities, it still sees its fair share of commercial truck traffic transporting cargo to and from local businesses. Unfortunately, smaller local roads provide opportunities for negligent truck operators to cause collisions with other vehicles, potentially resulting in devastating injuries and losses that responsible driving could have prevented.
Filing suit over a commercial truck wreck can be complicated in ways that traditional auto accident claims are not. Anyone unfamiliar with the unique aspects of these cases is likely to end up with an unsatisfactory case result when they do not hire a personal injury attorney. When you have been hurt because of a truck driver or trucking company’s misconduct, contacting a Kenmore truck accident lawyer could be a vital first step toward obtaining the compensation you need.
Establishing Liability for Specific Losses After a Truck Crash
Because of how much longer, wider, taller, and heavier tractor-trailers are than vehicles, collisions that involve semi-trucks colliding with commuter cars often result in life-altering trauma, even at relatively low speeds. This means it is especially important to account for expected long-term losses when demanding civil compensation for the effects of a truck wreck, such as:
- Costs of future medical, rehabilitative, and maintenance care
- Lost working and earning capacity
- Home and vehicle modification costs and other disability-related expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological and emotional trauma
- Lost enjoyment of life, including lost consortium
While an individual truck driver may be the person most directly to blame for causing losses like these through a traffic accident, it is rarely prudent to file suit solely against a single trucker who likely does not have the assets to cover long-term damages in their entirety. Fortunately, it is often possible to hold a trucking company vicariously liable for their employee’s misconduct or to take legal action against third parties like mechanics or suppliers whose misconduct contributed to causing a wreck. A seasoned truck accident attorney in Kenmore could determine who to include in a complete claim for compensation.
How Could Comparative Fault Impact a Truck Crash Claim?
No matter how serious someone’s injuries stemming from a truck accident are, they may still miss out on much-needed compensation when they hold some of the blame for causing their injuries. Per Revised Code of Washington § 4.22.005, anyone assigned a percentage of comparative fault for their accident based on their own negligent conduct is subject to having any damage award reduced in proportion to their share of total fault.
Fortunately, Washington is a pure comparative fault state, so no amount of comparative fault held by a plaintiff would be enough to prohibit them from recovering any compensation at all. Still, this can be a massive obstacle to getting paid fairly after a catastrophic crash, and guidance from a seasoned truck accident lawyer in Kenmore could be vital to navigating around it.
Discuss Legal Options with a Kenmore Truck Accident Attorney
Commercial truck drivers have an especially important duty to drive safely and responsibly, given how much damage they can cause when they fail to do so. Nevertheless, truck accidents still happen regularly, and the injuries they result in can serve as the basis for civil litigation.
Assistance is available for anyone who has been hurt in an incident of this nature from a dedicated and dependable Kenmore truck accident lawyer. Call today to get started.
