Truck Accidents

Only minor injuries were reported in a Washington truck accident on the Interstate 82 in Kittitas County after a semi-truck and another vehicle crashed nine miles south of the Interstate 90 junction. According to a news report in the Yakima Herald, Washington State Patrol officials said victims suffered minor injuries in the accident. Fog had reduced visibility on the highway and could have played a part in this injury big rig crash.

There are many reasons why Washington truck accidents occur. In some cases, the accident is caused due to the negligence of the other driver. But there have been many instances where the truck driver’s negligence or disregard for traffic rules, cause these tragic accidents. In this particular case, the injuries were reportedly minor. However, in most Washington truck accidents, victims, especially the occupants of the passenger vehicles, suffer catastrophic injuries or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by the negligence of a truck driver, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy and even long-term care. You need the services of an experienced and knowledgeable Seattle personal injury attorney who can help hold the negligent parties accountable and help you secure just compensation for your injuries, damages and loss.

Please contact the skilled Washington truck accident lawyers with 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 about Washington truck accident cases with useful information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his aggressive legal team today.

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/18/possible-delays-on-interstate-82-outside-ellensburg

A number of truck accidents in Washington State and elsewhere in the nation occur because of reckless truck drivers. The recklessness could involve driving under the influence, distracted driving, traveling at an unsafe rate of speed, or driving an improperly maintained vehicle. Whatever the cause of a trucker’s recklessness, it is the occupant of the passenger vehicle who suffers the horrific consequences of a large truck accident. The smaller vehicles are usually unable to withstand the powerful impact of a truck accident. This results in serious injuries or even death.

A recent WKTR news report talks about a fiery truck accident on a highway in which a 24-year-old man, who was a passenger in a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass, died after a big rig rear-ended the vehicle. The car caught on fire and the passenger died at the scene. The truck driver, a 54-year-old man, has been charged with reckless driving. Officials say alcohol was not a factor in the crash. The Oldsmobile had just had a flat tire and was moving slowly along the exterior lanes. But the driver of the tractor-trailer was apparently not paying attention and struck the vehicle at 55 mph.

If you have been injured in a Washington truck accident as a result of brake failure that was caused by poor vehicle maintenance then you may be able to file an injury claim against the trucking company for their negligence. In such cases you may be able to seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of rehabilitation, hospitalization, therapy and other expenses. In cases where the victim is deceased, family members could file wrongful death claims as well.

Please contact a skilled Seattle personal injury lawyer at 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 about Washington truck accident cases with useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.wtkr.com/news/dp-now-fatal-wreck.d18,0,7835439.story?track=rss

Seattle personal injury lawyers have become increasingly concerned about commercial truck drivers and trucking companies that are violating federal laws that prohibit sick or disabled truck drivers from operating large commercial trucks. An Associated Press investigation recently showed that thousands of tractor trailer and bus drivers in the United States who are licensed to drive commercial vehicles continue to drive in spite of suffering serious health conditions and qualifying for full federal disability. Some truck drivers, for example, continue to operate big rigs despite suffering serious health conditions such as seizures, heart attacks and sudden loss of consciousness or “blacking out.”

Obviously, this is a disaster waiting to happen. According to a news report, a recent truck accident in Sumner, Washington, was caused by a truck driver who suffered a medical condition while he was driving. Washington State troopers say the driver lost control of the tanker truck, went up an embankment off State Route 167 and into the bottom of the overpass. The driver was seriously injured. It was indeed fortunate that innocent motorists were not killed in this truck accident.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 5,300 people died in accidents involving large commercial trucks or buses in 2006 and about 126,000 were injured. It is extremely important for trucking companies to monitor whom they hire. Unfit or sick truckers have caused devastating accidents across the country resulting in catastrophic injuries and deaths. In such cases, it is the trucking companies that should be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses suffered by innocent victims.

If you are the victim of a Washington truck accident, please contact the skilled Washington truck accident attorneys at 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 about Washington truck accident cases with useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his knowledgeable legal team today.

Source:http://www.nwcn.com/news/Tanker-truck-torn-open-on-SR-167-79367767.html

Officials in Ellensburg, Washington, are faulting the driver of a semi-truck for causing an injury car accident on the Interstate 82. According to a news report in the Yakima Herald, two people were injured in the accident, which occurred after the 58-year-old truck driver made an unsafe lane change forcing a Mitsubishi Lancer on to the shoulder. The car then struck a guardrail before re-entering the roadway and hitting the semi’s trailer, Washington State Patrol officials said. The Lancer’s driver suffered a head contusion and a sore chest. His passenger was hospitalized with a neck injury. Officials say drugs or alcohol were not involved. The truck driver was cited for making an unsafe lane change.

This accident is an example of how large trucks can overwhelm and intimidate other motorists on our roadways. In trucking accidents, if the truck driver is found to be at fault for the collision, his employer (the trucking company) can also be held liable for the injuries and damages caused to victims.

If you have been involved in a Washington truck accident, please call The Bernard Law Firm. We can get our accident reconstruction experts on the scene immediately so that important evidence is not lost. Trucking companies send their insurance adjusters to the scene within moments of the accident in order to protect their interests. As a victim, you need someone on your side, fighting for your rights, protecting your best interests and holding the negligent parties accountable.

Contact the knowledgeable Seattle personal injury lawyers at the Bernard Law Firm. Email us at info@bernardlawgroup.com or call 1-800-418-8282 to receive a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We will also send you a FREE informational brochure that has useful and educational information that will help you understand your legal rights to their entirety. Contact Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/02/two-men-injured-in-collision-with-semi-on-i-82

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.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78292817.html

Every year, Washington truck accidents result in devastating injuries, mostly to occupants of other passenger vehicles on the roadway. A recent Associated Press investigative report shows that a number of tractor-trailer and bus drivers in the United States have suffered seizures, heart attacks or blackouts behind the wheel that led to deadly crashes on the nation’s roadways. The deeply disturbing fact that comes out of this report is that hundreds of thousands of truck drivers carry commercial licenses despite qualifying for full disability payments. These are physically sick or disabled individuals who should not be driving, let alone driving a commercial big rig or a bus loaded with passengers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which monitors trucking companies, says it has not completed any of the eight recommendations in this area including one that sets minimum standards for officials to determine whether truckers are “medically safe.” Another prevents truckers from looking for a doctor who might overlook a serious health condition and give unhealthy truckers a clean bill of health.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a serious public safety problem, which our government needs to fix right away. We’re not talking about small health problems. These are major health issues including heart problems, seizures and sleep disorders. A trucker suffering a medical condition while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle can have disastrous consequences – and it has. There is no question that we need trucking companies to deliver our everyday goods including the food we eat. However, it simply cannot and must not be done at the expense of public safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please consult one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group to find out how we can help. Our skilled lawyers will secure just compensation to help you cover medical bills, physical therapy costs, lost wages and other related damages. Call Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team today to schedule your free consultation.

Source:http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-21-2282920414_x.htm

A recent investigative news report states that more and more truck drivers may be using drugs to stay alert and to relieve stress during long and lonely trips. According to a Fox news report, drug testing programs are attempting to catch truckers who abuse drugs, but many trucking companies and drivers are yet to get the message. Apparently, many serious injury and fatal truck collisions have been caused because truck drivers were operating under the influence of drugs.

One such accident occurred on the Chicago Skyway Toll Plaza where an 80,000-pound truck veered right, jackknifed and crashed into 22 cars causing numerous injuries. The trucker in that case had fallen asleep and later tested positive for cocaine and the trucking company – his employer – apparently had a history of failing to conduct mandated drug testing. The Fox investigation found that many companies were failing to test newly-hired drivers. Some did not even test their drivers after serious accidents and some others actually put drivers back to work on the road even after they had failed drug tests.

To imagine an out-of-control big rig on the roadway whose driver is operating this large vehicle under the influence of drugs is frightening. But even more frightening to me, is the fact that this has become a very real and prevalent problem on our highways. As we can clearly see from this report, the negligent actions on the part of such truck drivers threaten our safety as motorists on Washington State roads.

Please remember that if you have been injured by an impaired driver, you have legal rights. If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident as a result of a driver who was operating under the influence of drugs, you can file a wrongful death claim against the trucking firm, seeking compensation for medical/funeral expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. If you have been injured in a Washington truck accident as a result of a negligent truck driver, please consult the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group who will fight for your rights, represent your best interests and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Contact Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today for a free consultation.

Source:http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/investigative/drug-abuse-among-truck-drivers