Truck Accident

Why Do More Truck Crashes Occur in Seattle over the Holidays?

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 15, 2016

The holidays are a great time to see family, spend time with friends, and reflect on years past, as well as the new one about to begin. Unfortunately, the holidays also mean a lot of travel for people and companies, especially trucking companies. And while of course, truck accidents can happen at any time of the year, there is an increased risk over the holidays, and during the entire winter season. There are a number of reasons for this, just a few of which are listed below…

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Fish Truck Accident Near SeaTac Proves Fatal

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on February 7, 2016

A 42-year-old woman was killed and four others were injured in a Washington car accident between an SUV and a semi-truck hauling frozen fish. The fatal truck accident occurred on Interstate 5 near the 200th Street exit near SeaTac. Officials say the driver of the SUV, for unknown reasons, let the vehicle cross the center-line, where it hit the truck. The semi rolled over, taking the SUV with it.

One of the passengers in the SUV died at the scene. The driver was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition and a third person in the SUV sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger in the semi truck were hospitalized as well. Read the rest »

Role of Driver Fatigue in Seattle Truck Accidents

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on September 17, 2015

Drivers who refuse to pull over and rest when they feel drowsy put everyone on the road at risk. Tired or sleepy drivers often struggle to focus or even keep their eyes open. When a fatigued driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer, the consequences of a truck accident can be devastating. This is why the federal government imposes strict hours-of-service regulations to ensure that truck drivers are properly rested whenever they are on the road. Read the rest »

Seven Injured in I-5 Crash Involving Dump Truck

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on July 29, 2015

At least seven people suffered injuries in a Seattle car accident when a dump truck crossed a median and drove into oncoming traffic. According to a The Seattle Times report, the truck accident occurred on Interstate 5 near Mount Vernon. Officials say a double-dump truck hauling clay and gravel jumped the median and plowed into 22 vehicles. Two motorists airlifted in critical condition to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center are in critical condition. It is unclear what caused the accident, but investigators have not ruled out a medical condition as a factor. Read the rest »

Sleeping Truck Driver Crashes into School Bus

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on March 9, 2015

Dozens of children were injured and a driver was killed when a truck crossed the centerline and struck a car and an Orondo School District bus. According to a Seattle Press Intelligencer news report, the fatal truck accident occurred on Highway 97, five miles north of Orondo. Officials believe the 54-year-old male truck driver from Yakima fell asleep at the wheel before the truck crossed into oncoming traffic.

The 53-year-old female driver of the school bus swerved before the collision. Officials believe her actions could have helped prevent serious injuries to the bus passengers. Of the students on board, 43 were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation. The driver of the car, a 22-year-old woman, died at the scene and her 12-year-old female passenger was treated and released. Officials have taken a blood sample from the truck driver, but they reportedly believe that he fell asleep behind the wheel. He was previously cited for crossing the centerline in an injury collision just last year. Read the rest »

Washington Truck Accident Involving Two Big Rigs Kills Man

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 13, 2013

The Washington State Patrol is looking for witnesses in a crash involving two big rigs that killed a man north of Cusick in Pend Oreille County. According to a KREM news report, a 51-year-old man was driving a truck south on Highway 20 when he crossed the centerline. He lost control of the semi, which tipped over onto its side. At the time, another semi crashed into the tipped-over truck. The driver of the first truck was killed while the other driver was uninjured. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Officials are still seeking witnesses who may have seen the crash or the events leading to it.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Fatigued Drivers: Sleepy truck drivers cause a significant number of crashes on Washington’s highways. Truck drivers are required under the law to take adequate breaks and maintain logs that show how long they were on the road. Read the rest »

Two Injured in Washington Truck Accident

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on November 28, 2013

Two people were injured in a Washington truck accident after a big rig lost its brakes on Highway 18 and crashed into a minivan. According to a KOMO news report, the accident occurred near the intersection of Highway 18 and Issaquah-Hobart Road. Washington Highway Patrol officials say that the semi-truck was heading westbound on the highway from Tiger Summit when it lost its brakes.

The driver exited the highway and slammed into a minivan. The truck driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, and the female driver of the minivan was rescued by emergency personnel. Neither driver suffered life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Read the rest »

Study Shows Caffeine Reduces Truck Accident Risks

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on April 12, 2013

Truck drivers who are fatigued from long hours of work are much more likely to cause injury accidents. According to a University of Sydney study, truck drivers who consume caffeine are 63 percent less likely to crash than those who do not. During the study, researchers interviewed approximately 500 drivers who have been in an accident and a comparable number of drivers who have not crashed in the past year. About 43 percent of drivers reportedly drank caffeine or took caffeine tablets to stay awake. The study found that those who consumed caffeine were less likely to crash.

It is important for all truck drivers to remember that the benefits of taking caffeine are short lived. Caffeine is only an effective way to treat fatigue for a brief period of time. Drivers who are experiencing fatigue should pull over and rest before returning behind the wheel. Truck drivers should also take regular breaks and adjust their work schedule to allow for adequate rest. Read the rest »

How Truck Underride Guards Save Lives

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on April 1, 2013

In the event of a rear-end collision involving a large truck, an under-ride guard is designed to prevent the rear vehicle from going underneath the trailer. According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), under certain conditions, these guards play a vital role in preventing under-ride truck accidents, but there is considerable room for improvement. An official with the IIHS says that these rear guards are most effective when the collision involves a direct hit from the rear, but provides less protection when the car strikes the trailer at an angle.

In the year 2011, 260 of the 2,241 fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants involved in large truck crashes were killed when the front of their vehicle went underneath the rear of a big-rig. That is a considerable drop from the 460 people killed in under-ride accidents in 2004. The IIHS suggests, however, that this decrease was due to fewer trucks being on the roadway because of the weaker economy. Read the rest »

Teamsters Raise Safety Concerns about International Trucking

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 14, 2012

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced a pilot program that would open the U.S.’s southern border to Mexican trucks and truck drivers shipping goods into the United States. In response, the Teamsters Union argued the program ought to be halted because it puts U.S. motorists at increased risk of accident and injury.

Many experienced attorneys have noticed that truck driver error accidents often result from a driver’s or company’s failure to follow federal safety regulations. Regulations on basic driver health are key, as are regulations that require trucks to meet certain clean-air requirements in order to reduce the risk of asthma and other illnesses among the general population. The FMCSA and DOT pilot program, however, would allow Mexican trucking companies to fall short of U.S. rules in these areas, as long as the trucks and their drivers met Mexico’s requirements. Read the rest »