Seattle Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyers
There are a number of potential causes of Washington truck accidents. Truck drivers who speed, drive fatigued, drunk, or distracted, and those who fail to inspect and properly maintain their vehicles can cause devastating injury accidents. Another possible cause of a truck crash is an overloaded trailer. Overloaded trucks may veer out of control and cause catastrophic accidents. Anyone injured in a Washington truck crash would be well-advised to seek legal guidance from a skilled Seattle traffic accident injury attorney who will better explain their options.
Possible Consequences of Overloading a Truck
There are a number of potentially dangerous circumstances that may result from overloading a truck. Trucks that are overloaded might:
- Have a blown tire, causing the trailer and the truck to veer out of control.
- Accelerate out of control while going downhill because of the excessive weight.
- Have difficulty traveling uphill and therefore pose a threat to approaching vehicles not prepared for a slow moving truck.
- Be subject to rollover accidents if the weight gives the trailer a higher center of gravity.
- Have difficulty stopping because of the added weight.
- Cause serious control issues for the driver if most of the weight is in the back. This type of loading error may lift the front tires slightly off the road making it extremely difficult to steer.
- Cause substantial roadway or bridge damage.
Liability Issues in Washington Overloaded Truck Accident
One of the reasons why it is important to work with an experienced Seattle pickup truck accident attorney following an overloaded truck accident in Washington is because there are a number of potentially liable parties. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer will work with investigators to determine which of the parties may be held responsible for the crash. Truck drivers are responsible for inspecting their vehicle and their load before each trip. Trucking companies are responsible for monitoring their trucks and for the negligent actions of their employees.
Fighting Insurance Companies and Trucking Companies
Injured victims of truck accidents usually have to deal with large corporations and insurance companies. These types of businesses have teams of lawyers who either act quickly to offer an inadequate settlement to save them money or who fight any and all allegations aggressively in court. In either case, it is in the best interest of the injured victim to fight back with an attorney who has experience successfully handling truck accident cases in Washington.
The Seattle accident attorneys Hardwick & Pendergast know how to get injured victims of overloaded truck accidents the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington truck accident, please contact us right away for a free and comprehensive consultation.
