Washington Big Rig Accident Caused by Sleepy Truck Driver
As a skilled Washington injury attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that a number of Washington truck accidents occur because truck drivers are extremely fatigued. Why does this occur? Very often they end up driving longer hours than they are supposed to under the law. Truck drivers are mandated by law not to go over a certain number of hours. The drivers are also required to keep a log of the number of hours they drive and the number of hours they rest. Unfortunately, trucking companies, which impose unrealistic deadlines, turn a blind eye when their drivers break these rules or even falsify their logs. This often has catastrophic consequences. Fatigued truck drivers end up falling asleep at the wheel and causing deadly accidents, which can result in major injuries or death to the truck drivers themselves or the occupants of smaller vehicles that are involved in the accident.
A recent big rig accident in Marysville, Washington, is a perfect example of how this can happen. According to a KOMO news report, the semi-trailer driven by a sleepy truck driver went off the right side of the northbound Interstate 5 and crashed into a tree. The crash destroyed the truck’s cab and tore apart the box trailer. The driver, fortunately, survived with minor injuries, but Washington State Patrol troopers say the trucker was extremely lucky to be alive. Traffic investigators believe that the truck driver was either sleepy or fell asleep behind the wheel.
It is even more fortunate that there were no other smaller vehicles in the path of this big rig that day. Had this driver crashed into another passenger vehicle, this could have led to devastating personal injuries and even fatalities. In cases where a truck driver’s negligence results in injuries or death, the driver and the trucking company could be held liable. If you have been injured in a Washington truck accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group. Our team of skilled, aggressive accident lawyers will investigate your case, determine whether there was any negligence involved and hold the negligent parties responsible for their actions. Call us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your Washington truck accident claim.
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