Negligent Truck Driving Accidents: What You Need to Know
Semi trucks, tractor trailers and commercial vehicles constantly drive through our roadways here in the Pacific Northwest. Recently, there were two separate semi truck accidents in Tacoma and Olympia, resulting in one fatality and multiple people injured. While the exact cause of these accidents are still unclear, it is a stark reminder of how dangerous large trucks can be.
There are many potential factors that could result in a Washington negligent truck driving accidents. One of the causes may be truck driver negligence.
Statistics on Negligent Truck Driving Accidents
For many Seattle and Tacoma drivers, traveling alongside large trucks can make us nervous on the road. Even a minor collision with one of these multi-ton vehicles can easily lead to serious injury, property damage and possibly death.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about one in ten highway fatalities involved a collision with a large truck. In fatal collisions with a passenger vehicle and a large truck, 97 percent of the deaths were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
Examples of Truck Driver Negligence
Truck driver negligence can come in many forms, including but not limited to:
- Lack of proper training or qualifications
- Distracted driving by talking, texting or other similar behaviors
- Aggressive driving or driving too fast for weather or road conditions
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failure to properly inspect the condition of the vehicle
- Overloading the vehicle or failure to secure the load properly
Although the trucking industry is regulated by the government, some truck drivers violate the rules and work longer than permitted. Due to the pressures of delivery quotas or maintaining exhausting driving schedules, fatigue is a common issue from many truck drivers. Driver fatigue accounts for roughly 30 percent of all commercial truck accidents.
Washington Negligent Truck Driving Accidents
If you’re involved in a Washington negligent truck driving accident truck accident, it’s important to hire an injury attorney who is familiar with this area of law. My team and I at Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel not only have experience working with truck accident cases, we’re passionate about it. Truck accident cases require an extensive understanding of state and federal trucking regulations. We also have the resources to comprehensively investigate your claim.
If you suspect negligence played a factor in your accident, you may have a claim against the truck driver and possibly the employer. For any questions regarding truck accidents, don’t hesitate to contact me.