Seattle, WA Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyer

When a passenger vehicle is rear-ended by a large commercial truck, it’s not uncommon for passenger vehicle occupants to suffer severe injuries, such as head and neck trauma, spinal cord injuries, or broken arms or wrists. These injuries can leave you not only with debilitating pain but also with serious financial and emotional stress.

Even when you’re sure that the truck driver is liable for crashing into the back of your car, it’s not always easy to prove. At Caffee Law, our Seattle truck accident attorneys have the knowledge, resources, and skill set needed to recover the financial compensation our clients deserve. We have been representing accident victims in the Seattle area for over ten years and always fight skillfully and vigorously for justice.

The Seattle, WA rear-end accident lawyer of Caffee Law have seen the effects of rear-end truck accidents again and again. You could end up with months or years of treatment, expensive medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injury. You should not have to bear this burden alone. We will fight by your side and pursue the maximum recovery you need to move forward.

Call us today at (206) 312-0954 to find out more about our legal service or for a free consultation to evaluate your case and legal options.

Take Action Immediately After Your Rear-End Truck Accident

Ideally, following your accident, you would collect insurance information from the driver, gather the contact information of witnesses, and take pictures and collect evidence from the scene. Accidents involving large trucks often cause severe injuries and fatalities, however. If you’re seriously injured, your main concern should be seeking medical treatment.

When you call emergency services, the police will also investigate the crash and create a report that will be crucial to you later when you need to file an injury claim. It will usually include the contact information of everyone involved in the crash, as well as their insurance information. It will also include the officer’s opinion about the cause of the accident.

Whether you or someone else called 911 to report the crash, an ambulance should arrive at the scene to transport you to a nearby hospital. The emergency room physician will evaluate your injuries to determine a diagnosis and might refer you for additional treatment. It is critical that you listen to their instructions and follow up with any doctors they recommend that you see.

Auto insurance companies focus on ways to deny accident victims’ claims or get away with offering a low settlement that doesn’t even come close to covering all the necessary expenses. If you don’t follow your doctor’s orders or allow too much time to pass between each appointment, the insurance adjuster will use the gaps in treatment as evidence that you didn’t get hurt in the accident or your injury isn’t serious enough to require medical care.

While you’re attending your appointments to recover from your injuries, your Seattle, WA rear-end accident lawyer of Caffee Law will handle all the legal aspects of your case. When you hire us, our legal team will immediately begin an investigation into the crash to determine how it happened, who was at fault, and gather the evidence we need to find to prove liability.

Some of this evidence might include:

• Video surveillance of the collision
• Pictures from the accident scene
• Repair estimates for all vehicles involved
• Collision report
• Copies of your medical records and medical bills
• Documentation proving you’re unable to work or earning fewer wages than usual
• Statements from eyewitnesses
• Truck driver’s employment and driving history and driving logs
• Copy of the truck driver’s insurance policy
• Trucking company’s vehicle maintenance and repair reports, hiring practices, training programs, and other relevant information

We know the evidence insurance companies look for when they’re reviewing insurance claims and how to maximize the value of your case. You should not have to suffer because of someone else’s carelessness and be forced to pay for your past and future medical treatment and associated expenses. Our legal team will do whatever it takes to hold the truck driver or their employer accountable and get the insurance company to pay what they owe you.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions With Commercial Trucks

Tailgating is one of the most common causes of rear-end accidents, not just with large trucks but also with all vehicles. When one driver follows another too closely, there isn’t much distance between the vehicles to stop in case of an emergency, traffic congestion, or a hazard in the road. Without anywhere else to go, the driver behind ends up colliding with the back of the vehicle ahead.

Besides tailgating, some of the most common causes of rear-end truck accidents include:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving, such as weaving in and out of traffic
• Fatigued driver
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failure to check blind spots before merging or changing lanes

Truck drivers are supposed to follow federal regulations that prevent accidents and keep other motorists safe. Unfortunately, many ignore these rules and engage in actions that cause hazards for everyone around them.

Compensation You Might Be Entitled to After a Rear-End Accident

Washington follows what is known as a “fault system” after motor vehicle accidents. This determines that the person who is at fault for a rear-end collision becomes financially responsible for the injured victim’s various losses, such as:

• Medical bills
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Disability or disfigurement
• Out of pocket expenses
• Loss of consortium

The truck driver should have liability insurance with minimum coverage required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The minimum limit is $350,000, and liability coverage could go up to as much as $5 million, depending on the commercial truck’s weight and the type of cargo it’s carrying.

When you file a liability insurance claim, you could pursue compensation for your total losses up to the coverage amount listed on the truck driver’s insurance policy. If the limits aren’t high enough to cover your past and future losses, you could file a lawsuit. Caffee Law will review your case to determine the best legal option to get you the results you want.

Contact Us

Your Seattle, WA rear-end accident lawyer and the legal team from Caffee Law take cases like this seriously. We know the impact a rear-end truck accident can have on your life. Many of our clients end up struggling financially from the expenses they incur and worry about how they’re going to afford adequate medical treatment. When you hire us, you can depend on us to work diligently to recover the insurance settlement or jury verdict to help you heal and get your life back on track.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a rear-end truck accident, call us at (206) 312-0954 immediately for a free consultation.