Washington Truck Accident Attorneys

Trucking accidents are often deadly due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved.  A tractor trailer or 18 wheeled semi truck may weigh more than 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Any passenger car that comes into contact with such a large vehicle in a highway collision is bound to suffer tremendous damage.  Size also makes these big rigs difficult to maneuver, even by the most experienced truck drivers – especially when driver fatigue, speed and other factors are added to the mix – and a fatal trucking collision can quickly result.

The law firm of Brett Murphy concentrates in personal injury and wrongful death claims in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Vancouver, and throughout Washington State.  After nearly four decades of legal experience, we’ve seen the tragic damage caused by trucking wrecks. We know that many of these accidents are preventable – and the families impacted by fatal truck accidents are often confused about how to navigate the legal system and protect their rights. For help with your truck accident claim, contact our firm for a free consultation by calling 360-714-0900, 1-800-925-1875 or submit a request via our online form.

At Brett Murphy, we know that many truck accidents are caused by driver negligence.  In fact, drivers of large trucks are 10 times more likely to be cause of a trucking wreck than any other non-driver factors, such as weather or road conditions, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  Specific problems involved in trucking wrecks include:

• Driver fatigue
• Drive use of over-the-counter or prescription drugs
• Driver failure to brake at traffic stop
• Brake problems
• Unsecured load
• Speeding
• Traffic flow interruption
• Driver unfamiliarity with the roadway

There are steps being taken to address the problem of fatal trucking wrecks in our state – and while the Washington wrongful death attorneys of Brett Murphy remain dedicated to representing the interests of those killed, our police and lawmakers are also working hard to prevent further tragedies.

• In 2005, the state of Washington State pilot tested a program to reduce the number of truck collisions with passenger cars by educating other drivers how to drive safely around the larger vehicles.
• The federal government has imposed strict regulations on the trucking industry, including specific rules about how many hours a driver may operate a vehicle, as well as license requirements and drug/alcohol testing.

However, trucking companies often choose to ignore federal law in order to deliver cargo on time – and drivers are pressured to operate vehicles without sleep, often leading to fatigue and stimulant drug use.  The trucking industry is powerful, and the law only requires companies to maintain key documents such as driver logs for a limited time.  Insurance companies for the trucking industry want to avoid paying out huge sums of money, and meticulous compilation of evidence is integral to any negotiation with a trucking or insurance company. A lawyer’s quick action to obtain key evidence is often the difference that determines the success of a trucking accident wrongful death claim.

If you have lost a loved one as the result of a trucking wreck, the Washington wrongful death attorneys at Brett Murphy can help protect your rights and hold the negligent parties responsible for your loss. Our lawyers know the trucking regulations and we know how to successfully deal with trucking companies and insurers. Contact our firm today by calling 360-714-0900, 1-800-925-1875 or submit a request via our online form.