According to data from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), both Olympia and Thurston County generally have seen a significant number of crashes involving heavy trucks in recent years.
Injuries like these can have serious long-term consequences on every aspect of a victim’s life. Impairment and disability can make it difficult or impossible to earn a living or care for oneself. Severe injuries often prove fatal.
Trucks must be in good shape to be on the road. This means regular checks and repairs to make sure everything is working right, like brakes and lights. Vehicles must be inspected once every 12 months, and trucking companies must keep records of that inspection for at least 14 months afterward.
Trucks can’t have a gross vehicle weight of more than 80,000 pounds. They cannot have more than 20,000 pounds on a single axle or more than 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle. These weight limits keep roads and bridges safe from damage and help prevent accidents.
There are special rules for trucks carrying dangerous materials, like flammable chemicals. Trucking companies engaged in HazMat transportation must have rules in place to make sure that these materials are packed and transported safely.
Truck drivers must pass tests to show they haven’t been using alcohol or drugs. Testing is conducted before hiring, after an accident, and at random. This helps make sure drivers are alert and can make safe decisions.
Drivers need a special commercial driver’s license to drive a large truck. Getting this license requires passing tests about driving safely and knowing the rules.
In addition to these rules, the FMCSA sets minimum insurance requirements for commercial vehicles. These limits are much higher than the minimums on non-commercial vehicles, reflecting the greater damage large trucks can cause in an accident. Trucks weighing at least 10,001 pounds and transporting freight across state lines must carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance and up to $5 million if the cargo is especially hazardous.
An Olympia truck accident lawyer is well-versed in these laws and regulations and knows how to use them to maximize your chances of a successful outcome.
An experienced Olympia truck accident attorney can communicate with the insurance companies for you, protecting your rights and avoiding the common traps insurers set to avoid taking liability for your losses.
The compensation you may receive will depend on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the extent of your losses, the degree of fault attributed to the various parties involved, and the extent of available insurance coverage. An Olympia truck accident lawyer can help you assess the value of your claim and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
If the at-fault parties caused your injuries through particularly egregious conduct, a court could also award you punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages do not pay you back for something specific you’ve suffered. Instead, they punish the at-fault party and deter them from engaging in similar behavior in the future. Punitive damages are fairly rare; ask your lawyer if they might apply to your case.
Most truck accident lawyers offer free initial case reviews. That’s a good way to get a feel for the attorney and their abilities before you commit to hiring them.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Olympia or the surrounding areas, don’t wait to seek legal help. The sooner you contact an experienced truck accident attorney, the better your chances of securing a fair settlement or verdict.
Freeman Law Firm, Inc. offers free initial consultations to help you understand your rights and options. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe any attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
We are proud to represent victims of truck accidents in Tacoma and Olympia, and we stand ready to help you, too. Call our Olympia office today at (360) 338-6886 or use our contact form for a free, no obligation consultation to get started.
