A truck driver slammed into you in your SUV in Bellevue, and you have devastating injuries. You cannot work or pay your bills. What does the future look like? You are allowed in Washington to file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable truck driver or company to obtain payment for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earnings, lost earning capacity, and more.
Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers can help you receive compensation for your losses. Our truck accident attorneys in Bellevue have assisted many clients just like you in recovering fair compensation for their damages.
Why Choose Us?
Our Bellevue truck accident lawyers at Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers are dedicated to serving the best interests of our personal injury clients. Our truck crash lawyers have an impressive client service record, with many favorable truck accident settlements and jury verdicts. Our truck crash lawyers are listed on the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, so you can be confident of our experience and results. Recent results include a $1 million truck crash settlement, a $300,000 car accident settlement, and a $200,000 settlement for a serious box truck crash.
Our Bellevue truck accident law office is conveniently located at NE 40th St. and 148th Ave., near North Bellevue Community Center and only a block from the Microsoft Building. Contact our truck accident law office today at (425) 322-0577 for a free legal consultation. At Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers we offer all of our personal injury clients a free legal consultation, and we will determine the strength of your case.
Compensation In Bellevue Tractor-Trailer Accident Claims
Tractor-trailer accidents usually involve a heavy commercial truck hitting a smaller vehicle. Thus, injuries and damages can be considerable. Some of the compensation you may be entitled to in a truck crash case are:
Economic Damages
These damages in a truck accident cover tangible financial losses, such as:
- Medical expenses: Costs for emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost income: Income lost due to time off work, including potential future earnings if the injury affects long-term employability.
- Property damage: The costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle or other damaged property. A truck crash may total the vehicle, so you should receive enough money for a replacement.
- Other costs: Out-of-pocket expenses like transportation to medical appointments or in-home care after the truck accident.
Non-Economic Damages
These truck accident damages are more challenging to quantify and may include:
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain and discomfort caused by injuries.
- Emotional distress: Psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, or trauma.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Reduced ability to participate in hobbies, family activities, or daily routines. Many truck accidents lead to permanent disability, and if so, your truck accident attorney will work with your medical team to understand how your disability affects your life.
Factors Affecting Compensation
Several elements influence the amount of compensation you might receive in a Bellevue tractor-trailer accident claim:
- Severity of injuries: More severe injuries, such as brain trauma, typically result in higher compensation due to increased medical costs and life impact.
- Liability: Washington is a “fault” state, meaning the party responsible for the accident is liable for damages. It is critical to establish a clear fault, whether it’s the truck driver, trucking company, or another party.
- Insurance coverage: Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry higher liability insurance, including a minimum of $750,000 for non-hazardous cargo over 10,000 pounds. It can increase available compensation compared to typical car accidents. However, insurance companies often fight to minimize payouts.
- Multiple liable parties: Tractor-trailer accidents may involve several responsible parties, such as the driver for negligent driving or the employer for poor training and hiring practices. Identifying all liable parties can maximize your claim.
- Evidence: Strong evidence, like police reports, witness statements, truck black box data, and expert testimony, strengthens your case and potential payout.
Based on the factors listed earlier, how much you may receive in a truck accident claim can range between thousands and millions. Speak to a skilled Bellevue truck accident attorney for additional information today.
What Causes Bellevue Truck Accidents?
Like car accidents, truck crashes happen for many reasons. Most commonly, tractor-trailer accidents occur for these reasons:
- Driver error or impairment: Human error is a leading cause of truck crashes. In Bellevue, incidents of driving under the influence have been notably linked to crashes. It is illegal for truckers to drive while intoxicated or on drugs, and your truck accident attorney can use this information to prove fault.
- Weather and road conditions: Bellevue’s weather can create hazardous driving conditions, particularly in winter. In recent months, icy and snowy roads have caused multiple crashes, such as the dozen incidents on I-405 between Renton and Bellevue.
- Traffic congestion: Bellevue’s busy highways, like I-405 and SR 520, see heavy truck traffic due to the city’s commercial growth. High traffic volumes, frequent merging, and construction zones, such as along the Bel-Red Corridor, can lead to accidents.
- Mechanical failures: Faulty equipment, such as brake failures, can cause trucks to lose control. A notable example is the unoccupied truck that crashed into an auto parts store in Factoria recently due to a failed parking brake, though no injuries occurred.
- Speed and reckless driving: Excessive speed or sudden maneuvers increase the likelihood of a crash, especially on Bellevue’s urban roads. Truck drivers have a higher duty of care than others to drive safely.
- Intersection challenges: Intersections pose risks due to turning trucks and conflicting traffic. For example, a biker was recently hurt after hitting a commercial truck that was turning left at Lakemont Boulevard Southeast in Bellevue.
Common Bellevue Truck Accident Injuries
Truck crashes often trigger devastating injuries that are expensive and painful to treat, such as:
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
These occur when the head and neck are suddenly jerked forward and backward, often due to rear-end collisions. Whiplash can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Back and Spinal Injuries
The force of a truck crash can cause damage to the spine, including herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or even spinal cord injuries, which may result in partial or complete paralysis.
Head and Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions, and skull fractures are common, especially if the head strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. These can range from minor (headaches, dizziness) to severe (cognitive impairment, coma).
Broken Bones
The impact of a truck collision often fractures bones, particularly in the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis. Rib fractures can also lead to complications like punctured lungs.
Internal Injuries
The blunt force trauma from a crash can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs, which may not be immediately visible but can be life-threatening.
Cuts and Lacerations
Shattered glass, twisted metal, or loose objects in the vehicle can cause deep cuts, which, if untreated, can lead to blood loss or infection.
The potential severity of truck accident injuries means you should always retain a Bellevue truck accident attorney to represent you.
Fighting The Insurance Company After A Truck Crash
Truck accidents usually trigger serious injuries; the last thing you want is an insurance fight when recovering. Common truck insurance issues after a serious accident include these:
Truck Accident Claim Delay Or Denial
One frequent issue is the insurance company delaying or denying your claim. Trucking insurance companies often aim to minimize payouts to protect their bottom line, mainly since truck accidents can involve significant damages or injuries due to the size and weight of the vehicles.
They might argue that their driver wasn’t at fault, request excessive documentation, or claim the damages exceed policy limits. To counter this, document everything meticulously, such as photos of the crash scene, police reports, witness statements, and your injuries or property damage. Don’t rely solely on the insurer’s investigation, as it may favor their interests. Turn over all truck crash evidence to your lawyer.
Low Truck Crash Settlement Offers
Another problem is lowball settlement offers. Adjusters might contact you quickly after the crash, offering a fast payout that seems tempting but doesn’t cover long-term medical costs, lost income, or other expenses. They can use tactics like feigning sympathy or asking leading questions to get you to downplay your injuries. Avoid accepting any offer immediately; you can’t renegotiate once you sign, even if new issues emerge later.
Communicating With The Adjuster
Communication can also be a headache. Adjusters might be hard to reach, or they can pressure you into giving a recorded statement that they’ll twist to reduce liability. Limiting what you say is best; just stick to basic facts and avoid admitting fault or speculating. Better yet, let someone with experience handle it for you.
The complexity of trucking cases adds another layer. Multiple parties might be involved, including the driver, the trucking company, or even a cargo loader, and each can have different insurers. Figuring out who’s liable and which policy applies can feel like a maze. Federal regulations might come into play, but companies can still lack adequate coverage if they cut corners.
The many complicating factors of truck crashes and insurance claims mean you are best served by hiring a tractor-trailer accident attorney in Bellevue. They will take over all insurance company headaches and negotiations so you can focus on your recovery.
What You Should Do After A Bellevue Truck Accident
You were in a truck crash in Bellevue. You wonder what you should do next. After getting immediate medical attention to ensure your health, you should take the following actions to ensure the best-case outcome:
- Document the wreck scene: Gather as much evidence as possible while still at the scene if it’s safe. Take photos or videos of the vehicles, damage, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Write down what you remember about the crash, including the time, weather, and events leading up to it. This documentation can be vital for proving liability later.
- Collect contact information from all parties: Exchange contact and insurance details with the truck driver and any other involved parties. Get the driver’s name, license number, trucking company details, and insurance information. Also, note the truck’s license plate and company logos or identifiers. If witnesses are present, ask for their names and contact information; they can provide valuable statements later.
- Never admit fault: Be cautious about what you say at the scene. Don’t apologize or suggest you were at fault, even if shaken up. The fault is determined through evidence, not casual statements, and anything you say can be used against you by insurance companies or in court. No good is served by commenting about fault immediately after a truck crash.
- Call the police: Ensure they are called to the scene, as their report can serve as an official record of the incident. Give them an accurate account of what happened, but stick to the facts without speculating. Afterward, request a copy of the police report; it’s a key piece of evidence for your case.
- Go to doctor’s appointments: Stick to your doctor’s treatment plan, attend all follow-up appointments, and keep detailed records of your medical visits, prescriptions, and expenses. It shows you’re taking your injuries seriously and helps prove the extent of your damages. Insurance companies may argue your injuries aren’t severe if you skip treatment.
- Contact a Bellevue truck accident lawyer the same day: Hire an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Truck cases can be complex, involving federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and aggressive insurance tactics. A lawyer can investigate the crash, preserve evidence, and negotiate for the best settlement.
Speak To A Bellevue Truck Accident Attorney Today
Being seriously injured in a truck accident is terrible, and you should not face the problem alone. You may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and losses after the truck crash. Contact our Bellevue truck accident attorneys at Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers at (425) 322-0577. Remember, you do not pay legal fees for your truck crash claim unless Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers obtains money for your injuries and losses.