Graham Truck Accident Lawyer

Types of Recoverable Damages in Graham Truck Accident Cases

The damages you could pursue after a truck accident will depend on your situation, as each person suffers unique personal and financial losses. We will need to talk to you and investigate the accident before we can determine what you may be eligible to recover.

Here are some of the types of money damages we have recovered for our truck accident clients:

• Medical expenses. People who survive truck crashes often have a stack of medical bills for the treatment of their severe injuries. You should not have to pay medical bills for an accident that was not your fault.
• Lost wages. Usually, injured people need time away from their jobs to recuperate. If your boss did not pay you your full regular wages or salary, you have financial losses that we can help you recover.
• Lost earning capacity. Even after a person completes their medical treatment and reaches the maximum expected level of recuperation from their injuries, they might still have limitations from their injuries. These impairments could leave them unable to earn as much money as before.
• Long-term care. After a devastating injury that results in loss of motor function or independence, an injured person might depend on at-home or long-term nursing care.
• Pain and suffering. This category encompasses the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the truck accident and the individual’s injuries.

You might have additional losses. Your Graham truck accident attorneys want to know about all of your damages from the collision, so they can pursue them.

Damages Related to the Loss of a Loved One

If you lost a loved one because of a truck crash, we are sorry for your loss. We know how difficult it can be to make ends meet while you’re grieving, especially if you lost a source of income. We can pursue a wrongful death claim or lawsuit to secure compensation on behalf of surviving family members. Compensable losses in these cases include end-of-life care costs, funeral and burial costs, lost income, and pre-death pain and suffering.

What Herschensohn Law Does for Truck Collision Clients

We recently won a $1.2 million settlement for the family of a retired man who lost his life in a truck crash. His family deserved compensation for their loss and the suffering they endured, and we made a fair resolution happen for them.

When you put your truck accident or wrongful death case in our hands, you can focus on rebuilding your life. You will not have to deal with the defendants or their insurance carriers because we take care of those things for you.

We negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer and try to reach a fair settlement. If appropriate, we can file a lawsuit to hold the careless party accountable for their actions.

How Contingency Fees Work in Graham Truck Crash Injury Claims

You will not have to pay us any upfront legal fees to get our help on your truck accident case. We use contingency-fee arrangements in personal injury cases, including truck collisions. This means we only get paid when you win. That way, you never pay out of pocket for our help.

The Filing Deadline for Truck Accident Cases in Graham

Generally, you have three years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Washington, according to RCW 4.16.080. If you exceed this time limit, called the statute of limitations, you may be barred from pursuing your case.

Our firm wants to help protect your right to compensation by tracking these deadlines on your behalf.

Who Can Be Liable for Your Injuries After a Graham Truck Collision?

One of the reasons that truck crash injury claims are more complex than car accidents is that there could be more than one liable party.

For example, many truck drivers are employees, not contractors. If that is the case, their employer may be vicariously liable for the harm they caused on the job.

Other potentially liable parties include:

• Cargo loading companies
• Truck maintenance technicians
• Fleet owners
• Truck and truck part manufacturers
• Third-party motorists
• Municipalities

We will uncover evidence that demonstrates liability and pursue the responsible parties for what you deserve.

How We Establish the Liability of the At-Fault Party in a Graham Truck Collision

Washington law does not allow you to pursue the at-fault party for monetary damages unless you can prove these four factors:

• Duty of care. The defendant must have owed you a duty of care. Let’s use a hypothetical to understand more. Say that the truck driver is the defendant in an injury case. Truck drivers have an obligation to drive safely and follow traffic laws.
• Breach of duty. A truck driver can fail to uphold their duty if they behave negligently. In our example, the truck driver drove 20 miles over the speed limit. Speeding is an example of negligent behavior.
• Causation. The careless activity must be what caused the collision. Because the operator of the tractor-trailer was speeding, they could not stop in time when they encountered stopped traffic and slammed into the back of a car.
• Damages. The person seeking compensation from the at-fault party must have measurable losses from the crash. These losses could include medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

When we can prove these four elements of liability, we can hold the defendant accountable for your injuries and other losses.

Three Things to Do After Getting Hurt in a Truck Crash in Graham

We assume that, by the time you read this, you have already gotten an initial medical examination and received treatment for your known injuries. If you have not gotten medical attention, we urge you to do so right away.

Every case is unique, and you should always do what is sensible in your situation. Here are a few suggestions of what to do if you were hurt in a commercial truck accident:

• Preserve the evidence. Take photographs of the accident scene before someone alters the conditions. Skid marks, debris in the road, and other critical items can disappear quickly.
• Continue your medical treatment. Even if you feel like you don’t need to continue treatment, you must finish your treatment plan according to your physician’s instructions. This is beneficial for both your physical and financial recovery. The defendant might try to pay you less money if you do not finish your physical therapy or other treatment.
• Talk to a truck accident law firm that serves Graham, Washington. You do not have to go through this process by yourself or deal with aggressive claims adjusters. We can take all of that off of your plate so you can rest and recuperate.

Four Pitfalls to Avoid After Suffering Truck Accident Injuries

There are many things you should do after a car accident. Seek medical attention. Take photos of your vehicle’s damage. Yet, there are also some things you should avoid, such as:

• Forgoing legal help. Do not let the claims adjuster talk you out of hiring a Graham truck accident attorney. It is only fair to have an attorney fighting for your best interests. The insurance company will have its own advocates. Why shouldn’t you?
• Forgetting the insurance company’s role. No matter how friendly the insurance adjuster seems, they have one goal: to save money on injury claims. The adjuster’s job is to deny your claim or pay as little money as possible. They have little legal obligation to make a fair offer.
• Making a recorded statement. Recorded statements can hurt your case because the insurer will study the transcript for anything they can use to devalue your claim. We advise our clients not to give recorded statements. Instead, we can provide all the information the claims adjuster needs to evaluate your injury claim.
• Posting sensitive information on social media. While your case progresses, you should pause your social media activity. The insurer can access your photographs and posts and use them against you. Even a photograph of you smiling at a family event could put your injury’s severity into question.

When we take care of your injury claim, we can protect you from issues that could damage your compensation action.

Choose Herschensohn Law for Your Truck Accident Case in Graham, Washington

The lawyers at Herschensohn Law offer a free initial consultation with no obligation. Come find out how we can help you. Simply reach out to us at (253) 320-8524 to get started.