seattle truck accident attorney

A dump truck that was hauling sawdust ran off the road after rounding a curve and overturned, according to a news report. The driver of the dump truck and his passenger sustained injuries. The 45-year-old dump truck driver was speeding and under the influence of alcohol. Officials apparently found containers of beer in the truck’s cab. The man’s commercial driver’s license will be automatically suspended after the results of his blood alcohol test are processed. He was issued citations for driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, exceeding a safe speed, and having alcoholic beverages in a commercial motor vehicle.

The State of Washington prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver who has a 0.08 percent or higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The 0.08 percent limit is the standard used across the United States for the “impaired” driver. The State of Washington has lower BAC limits defined for commercial drivers (0.04). The Washington State DUI law also prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver that in under the influence of a controlled substance such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, and other intoxicants. That, of course, applies to drivers of commercial vehicles as well.

If you have been injured in Washington State by a truck driver operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may file a personal injury claim against the trucking company. Victims in such cases could seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and even the cost of long-term care if the injuries are catastrophic.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington big rig accident, please contact the experienced personal injury Seattle lawyers of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.gastongazette.com/news/people-42308-truck-bessemer.html

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Be very cautious in bad weather situations or at night time when visibility is lower.
4. Maintain your vehicle properly. Make sure that if you need to make a sudden stop to avoid an accident, your brakes are working properly.
5. 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.