Kirk Bernard
Fatal Washington Truck Accident
A 46-year-old motorist was killed in a Washington truck accident after he lost control of his car that slid into the back of a semi-truck on the northbound Interstate 205, near State Road 500 in Vancouver. According to a KGW news report, the semi-truck had pulled into the right shoulder because of ice on the freeway. The motorist was changing lanes in his 1991 Mazda pickup truck when he lost control and struck the rear of the tractor-trailer. Police suspect the weather conditions coupled with the speed of the vehicle given those conditions, may have contributed to this fatal car accident.
This account gives another instance of how bad weather could also contribute to devastating crashes. Washington truck accidents are sometimes caused by driver error. In this particular car accident, that seems to have been the case, if the news report is accurate. But there are many cases where truck driver errors could lead to catastrophic auto accidents. What’s clear is that when a truck and a smaller passenger vehicle are involved in a collision, it is usually the occupants of the smaller sized vehicle who are badly affected, often suffering severe damage and injuries.
If you are a victim of a Washington truck accident that you suspect was due to the negligent actions of a driver, please consult with the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm. We will schedule a free and comprehensive consultation for you immediately. Our accident reconstruction experts will be on the scene right away in order to secure the important evidence that is needed in your truck accident case. Call Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team today to get a FREE informational brochure about Washington truck accidents and to find out how we can help you get the best possible results in your truck accident case.
Fatal Seattle Truck Accident
A 78-year-old woman, who was crossing at a Seattle street intersection, sustained fatal injuries after being hit by a semi-truck. According to a news report on KOMO News, the elderly woman was walking at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Andover Street when the truck hit her. She died at the scene, Seattle police officials said. The truck driver apparently told police that he was trying to make a right turn from Andover to the northbound lanes of Rainier when he hit the pedestrian. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal pedestrian collision, but they don’t believe alcohol or drugs played a part.
Washington law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in an unmarked or marked crosswalk at a street intersection. In this case, it appears that the woman was walking at a street intersection. Officials are probably looking into why the driver, who was making the turn, did not see the woman.
According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1): “The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”
If your loved one has been seriously injured in a Seattle pedestrian accident, please contact a Seattle personal injury attorney right away. In any vehicular accident it is crucial to get to the scene of the crash before it is cleared. Eyewitnesses are also critical to pedestrian accident cases. People who saw the accident can help answer important questions such as: Who had the green light? Was the pedestrian in the crosswalk? Was the driver going too fast? The answers to these questions will usually help determine whether or not there was negligence involved on the part of the driver.
If you need to schedule a consultation about your Seattle pedestrian accident case, please call The Bernard Law Group today. Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team will provide a free consultation and will get to work on your case immediately. You can also call us to get a free copy of a brochure that will give you comprehensive information about pedestrian accidents in Washington.
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.
Kirk Bernard’s Five Tips to Avoid Washington Truck Accidents
As a Washington truck accident lawyers, Kirk Bernard has seen first-hand, the serious personal injuries caused by truck accidents. A number of these accidents are caused by truck drivers. But Washington State Patrol authorities say that a number of these catastrophic big rig accidents can be prevented if drivers of passenger vehicles took more precautions and preventive steps to avoid them. Here are seven tips that I can offer, based on my experience representing injured truck accident victims:
- Do not drive in a trucker’s blind spots. It’s always a bad idea to linger alongside a truck. For such a large vehicle, understand that there are larger blind spots. The truck driver may not be able to see you if you hang around in a blind spot. The best thing to do is to pass trucks quickly or let them pass.
- Do not tailgate a large truck. If you follow too closely, you’re asking for trouble. Leave plenty of distance between you and the truck.
- Be very cautious in bad weather situations or at night time when visibility is lower.
- Maintain your vehicle properly. Make sure that if you need to make a sudden stop to avoid an accident, your brakes are working properly.
- Report a trucker who is driving or behaving dangerously. If you observe a truck driver that is operating the truck erratically or without proper equipment, please note the registration numbers on the vehicle. Who knows? You may have helped save someone else’s life by taking a dangerous truck driver off the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Seattle tractor trailer accident or you wish to discuss your truck accident claim, please contact one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation and case evaluation.
