Seattle Pickup Truck Accident Lawyers
Pickup trucks and SUVs are popular in Washington. These types of vehicles are larger than passenger cars and are therefore safer in some types of collisions. There are design defects, however, in pickup trucks that can make them dangerous for motorists. If you have been injured by a pickup truck or while riding in a pickup truck in an accident, you would be well-advised to seek legal guidance from an experienced Seattle truck accident attorney.
Overloaded Truck Beds
One of the most convenient parts of owning a pickup truck is the ability to haul heavy items in the truck bed. However, overloading or loading a truck bed improperly can result in serious injury accidents. Having too much cargo or unevenly distributed cargo could result in:
- Limited visibility: Drivers who cannot see through their rear window because of too much cargo put everyone on the roadway at risk.
- Flying debris: Items that fall off the back of pickups have been known to both crash through windshields as well as force drivers to swerve and crash into other vehicles or the center median. Drivers are responsible for properly securing the goods they are hauling.
- Loss of control: When a truck bed is weighed down in the back and not the front, the front tires may be lifted slightly off the ground, which could make the truck difficult to steer.
- Slower braking time: The heavier the load, the longer a driver needs to slow down the pickup. Drivers who fail to properly adjust their slowing distance can cause serious rear-end collisions.
- Runaway trailers: When trailers are not secured properly to a pickup truck, they can come loose and cause catastrophic crashes. It is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that any load or trailer is properly secured.
Rollover Dangers
Like SUVs, pickups have a high center of gravity, which makes them prone to rolling over. In situations where a passenger car may spin out of control, a pickup truck may roll over. Rollover accidents commonly result in:
- Occupant ejections
- Roof crush
- Catastrophic injuries such as multiple fractures, head injuries, and spinal cord damage
Whenever someone is injured in a vehicle rollover accident in Washington, they would be well-advised to preserve the vehicle for a thorough inspection. If it can be proved that a defective part or design caused the crash, the injured victim may hold the at-fault manufacturer liable for the injuries and damages suffered.
Pickup Truck Driver Negligence
Because they are larger than normal passenger vehicles, when a motorist drives a pickup truck negligently or recklessly, it can cause devastating damages. Forms of driver negligence that can result in serious injury pickup truck accidents include speeding, driving drunk, driving distracted, making unsafe lane changes, driving fatigued, and tailgating. Washington statute 46.61.500 defines a reckless driver as "any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property." Victims of negligent and reckless drivers may pursue financial compensation through civil litigation.
The skilled pickup truck accident lawyers in Seattle at Hardwick & Pendergast know how to help victims of pickup accidents get the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. We help injured victims determine liability and we fight to hold the at-fault party accountable for the damages suffered. Call us today for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim.
