Seattle Commercial Truck and 18-Wheeler Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents vary widely in severity and the lasting effect they can have on victims. Some people miraculously walk away with only minor injuries, including abrasions and contusions. Others have devastating injuries they must live with for the rest of their lives. Many fall between these two extremes, with injuries serious enough to require treatment and make them miss work. Some injuries our team has encountered in their work with truck accident victims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions and other head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Traumatic amputations
• Burns, scarring, and disfigurement
• Fractures
• Internal injuries
• Joint injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Serious lacerations
• Other injuries that require medical assessment and care

Ambulance transportation, assessment, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation may be necessary. Medical care is expensive these days and these costs add up quickly. Those with catastrophic injuries could accrue $1 million worth of medical bills in the acute phase alone. In addition, ongoing care and support may be necessary for some victims. At the same time, these families often must worry about how to pay for vehicle repair or replacement, as well as other required expenses. The victim likely missed earning their usual income while undergoing treatment, and some cannot return to their previous job. Our team believes crash victims shouldn’t have to pay for these expenses and losses. They didn’t act negligently and didn’t cause the collision. This is why we work to hold the at-fault trucker and their employer legally responsible, pursuing justice, and compensation for our client.

Recoverable Damages Based on Your Accident and Injuries

Recoverable damages in a Seattle truck accident include all the expenses and losses the victim incurred because of the collision. We document these during our investigation into the case and demand the insurance company or liable parties provide a just payout that includes them. Examples include:

• Medical bills and related costs
• Future or ongoing care expenses
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity because of lasting injuries
• Property damages
• Other related expenses
• Pain and suffering damages

The evidence used to support our pursuit of fair compensation includes receipts, medical bills, estimates for car repairs, and more. If you suffered truck accident injuries, save your paperwork from the first day on. Keep a file folder with all related receipts, no matter how small. This should include everything from building a ramp at your home to paying to park at the hospital. We also work with experts and use our own experience to determine the value of some of your recoverable damages. For example, a doctor may be able to help us understand your prognosis and the need for ongoing therapy and medical evaluation if you have a traumatic brain injury.

Wrongful Death in a Seattle, Washington, Truck Accident Case

Not all truck accident victims survive their injuries. Because of the enormous size and weight of a tractor-trailer truck, the occupants of smaller passenger cars can suffer devastating injuries. After a fatal crash, RCW 4.20.010 (Washington’s wrongful death law) allows the deceased’s personal representative to pursue damages. These damages benefit:

• The surviving spouse
• A state-registered domestic partner
• Their children and stepchildren
• Their parents (if the deceased had no spouse or children)
• Siblings (if there are no other relatives)

In a wrongful death case, we still need to show that the truck driver and their employer are liable. We can build a case and present evidence to the insurance company, legal team, or judge and jury. We can document what happened and seek compensation for damages that include:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Expenses related to the accident and their death
• Final medical bills (if they succumbed to accident injuries later)
• Lost income
• Loss of services
• Non-economic losses suffered by surviving family members

Our team takes these cases very seriously and works diligently to learn what a fair settlement might look like based on the family’s unique damages. We want to help our clients pursue justice and hold the at-fault parties accountable. Lastly, we want to ensure they do not have to face financial stress in addition to the tragic loss they’ve already endured.