Our Washington Truck Accident Lawyer Will Help You Fight for the Damages You Deserve If Hurt in a Backup Truck Accident
All vehicle collisions have the potential for people to experience serious medical issues, such as crushed bones, organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries—and this is especially true in commercial truck accidents. Even the largest SUV is no match against a fully loaded semi.
But with all the federal regulations mandating over-the-road transportation, why do these incidents—especially backup truck accidents—still happen? And what recourse do you have to pursue injury compensation? Our Washington truck accident legal team at Max Meyers Law has decades of experience fighting for the rights of crash victims. Here, we explain the reasons for backup truck accidents and how we can help your case.
How Negligent Operators Cause Washington Truck Backup Crashes
A fully loaded semi truck weighs as much as 80,000 pounds. Even without cargo, most big rigs average around 25,000-35,000 pounds. A passenger vehicle, a motorcycle, or worse, a pedestrian, don’t stand a chance against that kind of force. Now, factor in the dimensions of a commercial truck and how much more difficult it is to steer and maneuver, even if they have safety features like backup cameras.
Understanding the major causes of truck backup accidents may help you identify the reason for yours. In our experience, they’re usually the result of:
- Reversing too quickly. If a trucker is moving too fast while backing up, they won’t have enough time to stop for a motorist, motorcyclist, bicycle rider, or an unexpected pedestrian.
- Not checking around the truck. Commercial trucks have large blind spots that drivers can’t see from their cab. A trucker can cause a preventable wreck if they fail to walk around their truck before attempting to reverse.
- Not looking for blind spots. This same attention to detail is necessary once drivers get behind the wheel. We can obtain the truck’s dashcam footage and other evidence, which may help prove the trucker failed to check for blind spots before reversing and causing your crash.
- Not using a spotter. When a trucker is backing up in a parking lot with a lot of vehicle and foot traffic or into a parking spot, they may not be able to do it safely without a spotter guiding them. If they failed to use one in your truck accident, they could be liable to compensate you.
- Backing up into traffic. If a trucker must reverse into traffic from a parking space rather than pull forward—which is always the safest way for them to park—they can cause a catastrophic collision.
- Engaging in other negligence. Hitting the accelerator instead of the brakes, turning in the wrong direction, failing to yield the right of way, or other negligent actions are other ways truckers cause backup crashes.
- Not maintaining their truck. In some cases, wrecks are caused by the trucker’s failure to repair or replace broken lights, mirrors, or warning sirens.
- Inexperience. Driving commercial vehicles requires special skills. When an operator isn’t fully trained, or simply hasn’t logged as many hours on the roads as more seasoned professionals, any of the above mistakes can happen.
How Trucking Company’s Negligence May Have Contributed to Your Backup Truck Accident
This fact might surprise you: the fleet company might also face liability if their driver’s negligence caused your collision. First, they may be considered vicariously liable for the trucker’s actions under Washington’s vicarious liability laws. In addition, the company’s negligence may be contributory, such as violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.
Our investigation often reveals company responsibility when it:
- Failing to maintain its fleet. If a truck maintenance issue caused your accident, the company could face liability for failing to properly maintain the vehicle as required under FMCSA rules. Our legal team may also be able to hold a repair facility liable if the company contracted out the maintenance and repair of their fleet.
- Failing to hire a qualified trucker. If the driver’s lack of experience was a contributing cause of your crash, the company could face liability for failing to properly check on their qualifications, which is also an FMCSA violation.
- Not training the driver. As we mentioned above, the operator needs thorough training in this profession, so every hiring company has a duty to uphold this. If we’re able to prove it didn’t and this was a contributing factor to your crash, the company may be held responsible.
- Not complying with other FMCSA regulations. We’ll also determine if there were any other violations of the FMCSA rules, such as the hours of service regulations limiting the hours a trucker can drive without taking a rest break. If so, we’ll fight to hold the trucking company accountable.
What Possible Injury Compensation Is Available For a Backup Truck Accident?
You’re entitled to compensation for your injuries if you prove the driver or trucking company were at fault for the collision. However, you need to understand what damages you can potentially recover under Washington law so you know what to expect when filing a claim. At Max Meyers Law, our team does a complete valuation of your economic and non-economic damages to structure a settlement that includes:
- Medical expenses. We factor in all past and future medical expenses necessary to treat your injuries—surgeries, hospitalizations, doctor visits, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and medications, for example.
- Lost income. If you can’t work while you’re recovering from your injuries, you have a right to be reimbursed for the wages, sick and vacation time, and any other income from your job that you lost and will lose in the future.
- Lost earning capacity damages. You might also be eligible for lost earning capacity compensation if you become disabled or must change jobs and take a pay cut because of your injuries.
- Pain and suffering. If found responsible, the trucking company and driver must also reimburse you for the pain, suffering, and emotional distress you experienced because of your injuries and how they affected your quality of life.
Additionally, if a family member lost their life in a truck accident, you can recover their funeral and burial expenses, medical bills for their injuries, and the loss of your loved one’s financial and emotional support.
It’s all too easy to think that a backup truck accident isn’t a big deal compared to, say, a high-speed crash on the I-405. But if you were hurt in any way, that’s reason enough to ask for legal help. Trust that we’ll work tirelessly to investigate the causes and preserve the proof you need to build a strong case.
