Bellevue Truck Accident Lawyer

You may feel frustrated and annoyed after a trucking accident. Fortunately, you have legal options. If someone else is responsible for your collision, a Bellevue personal injury lawyer may be able to help you hold this party accountable for their actions. 

At Puget Law Group (PLG), we understand the challenges that may come up during a trucking crash case. With help from a Bellevue truck accident lawyer, you can overcome these challenges throughout your litigation. To learn more, reach out to us.

Truck Laws

There are commercial vehicle laws and regulations in Washington State. These are designed to keep truckers, motorists, and pedestrians safe. There are also federal requirements for trucking drivers and companies, such as:

• Drug and Alcohol Testing: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers may be subject to pre-employment and post-accident drug and alcohol tests. 
• Hours of Service (HOS): With HOS rules, truckers must take periodic breaks. 
• Transportation of Hazardous Materials: There are rules in place to regulate the transportation of hazardous materials from point A to point B. 

You cannot change the fact that a trucking driver or their employer chooses to violate any of these laws or others. If a trucker or trucking company breaks the law and is responsible for your accident, you may be able to seek damages from them. To do so, it helps to have an experienced truck accident lawyer in Bellevue at your side. 

Large Truck Definition

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a large truck refers to any medium or heavy vehicle with a gross weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds. Large trucks include car haulers, package delivery vehicles, and many others. Anyone who operates a truck is expected to follow the rules of the road. 

Those who drive a large truck in Washington must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). It is a trucking company’s responsibility to ensure every driver has a valid CDL. If a trucker gets behind the wheel without an up-to-date license and gets into an accident, this individual or their employer may be liable. 

A truck accident attorney in Bellevue can answer questions regarding trucking crashes. If you have been hurt in a truck collision, a lawyer can help you determine who is at fault. They may also be able to help you submit a request for compensation for any liable parties. 

Trucking Accident Liability

A Bellevue truck accident lawyer and their legal team may consider the facts surrounding your crash carefully. This may help your attorney figure out who is at fault for your collision. There are many parties who may be accountable for a trucking crash, including:

• Truck driver
• Truck loader
• Trucking company
• Vehicle manufacturer

PLG makes it easy to connect with an experienced Bellevue truck accident attorney. With our help, you may be able to pursue damages you can use to recover from your trucking collision. For more information, get in touch with us. 

Truck Crash Claim Statute of Limitations

Based on the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) §4.16.080, you may have up to three years from the date of your trucking crash to file a claim against an at-fault party. As such, it may be in your best interests to meet with a truck accident lawyer in Bellevue as soon as you can after your collision. Because, if you wait too long, you may be ineligible to submit your claim. 

A truck accident attorney in Bellevue can learn about your crash-related losses. They can go over your losses with you to understand the crash’s financial impact on your life. Your lawyer may advise you to seek economic and non-economic compensation. 

You may receive both economic and non-economic damages. Economic compensation may be provided for your medical bills and other quantifiable losses. Comparatively, non-economic damages may be awarded for pain and other subjective harm. 

Proving Fault in a Trucking Accident Case

Per Chapter 4.22 RCW, the contributory fault is in effect in Washington State. You may pursue damages after a trucking collision, even if you are in some way at fault. Conversely, the damages you receive may be reduced by your percentage of liability. 

Your truck accident attorney in Bellevue can help you build an argument designed to show a judge or jury you are in no way responsible for your collision. They may use accident scene videos, photos, and other forms of proof to support your argument. If they succeed, a judge or jury may clearly see the defendant is solely responsible for your crash and award you 100% of the damages you initially requested. 

To prove negligence, you must verify the defendant had a duty of care to act in a cautious and reasonable manner toward you. Along with this, you must show this party violated their legal obligation, which led to your accident. You must also confirm you are dealing with economic or non-economic damages as a result of the defendant’s actions. 

Trucking Crash Settlement

Your attorney may have helped many clients get outstanding case results in personal injury lawsuits. In your trucking accident case, your lawyer may work diligently to help you get a fair settlement. They can keep you in the loop regarding settlement proposals and let you know if the defendant makes an offer. 

When you get a settlement offer, you are under no pressure to accept it. You have the final say on any settlement proposal and have the option to approve, decline, or counter it. If you meet with your truck accident lawyer in Bellevue to discuss a settlement, you can get insights into what may happen with any decision you make on the offer. 

Your lawyer wants you to feel good about any decision you make relating to a settlement proposal. If you are not completely satisfied with a proposal, you can decline it and will not incur any penalties. In this situation, your attorney will notify the defendant about your decision, and you and your lawyer can keep looking for ways to strengthen your case. 

Hire a Bellevue Truck Accident Lawyer

At PLG, we want you to receive best-in-class legal representation throughout your personal injury case litigation. A Bellevue truck accident attorney may be able to help you submit a claim and get compensation that lines up with your expectations. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today.