Investigation and Reconstruction – Truck Accident Attorneys in the Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett Area

It is quite common for there to be a dispute over who is responsible for a trucking accident, and the determination of fault usually requires careful investigation. At Phillips & Webster, our truck accident attorneys collaborate with experts in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and across the state to present an accurate, straightforward depiction of the collision in question.

• Common Causes of Truck Accidents
• Proving Fault in a Truck Accident
• Evidence in a Truck Accident
• Experts in Accident Reconstruction
• Determining Damages from a Truck Accident
  • Compensatory Damages
  • Punitive Damages

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Accidents are caused by a wide range of factors, which often overlap. It is the job of truck accident attorneys and accident reconstruction experts to determine causation behind a collision.

Washington law specifically designates the maximum number of hours truck drivers can be on duty without taking a rest, and if these rules are ignored, the results can be disastrous. Defective design and manufacturer negligence can lead to fatal malfunctions in truck and car components. Finally, environmental factors such as poor weather conditions can complicate matters even further. Our truck accident attorneys know the Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett areas well and understand that inclement whether conditions make safe driving practices that much more important.

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Proving Fault in a Truck Accident

Often, more than one party may be at fault in a truck accident. The trucker, trucking company, truck manufacturer, and other passenger vehicles may be responsible for different elements of the collision, such as negligent driving, disregard for hours of service laws, and producing defective products. Our truck accident attorneys work side by side with Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett-area reconstruction experts to determine which parties are responsible for causing various elements of a collision, including property damage, injury, or death.

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Evidence in a Truck Accident

There are several types of evidence that may be collected at the site of a trucking accident, including the documentation of skid marks, points of impact, and vehicle damage. Although police officers collect this type of data at the scene of a collision, they do not always have training in accident reconstruction. Generally, it requires the collaboration of an attorney and accident reconstruction expert to adequately analyze this information and determine who is at fault.

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Experts in Accident Reconstruction

Our truck accident attorneys consult experts in accident reconstruction and forensic analysis to help determine the various circumstances surrounding a collision.

• A forensic engineer is specially trained to investigate materials, products, and structural components that have malfunctioned or failed to perform as intended. Forensic engineers have expertise in biomechanics (whether injuries are consistent with the mechanical aspects of a collision), restraint systems (seat belts), vehicle dynamics (the physical causes of an accident), and vehicle component analysis (whether the malfunction of a specific vehicle part was responsible for a collision).
• An accident reconstructionist has been certified by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR) to analyze various pieces of evidence surrounding a collision and answer questions about vehicle speed, impact, driver behavior, whether or not passengers were wearing their seatbelt, etc. Accident reconstructionists can also create diagrams and models to help members of the court visualize how the collision took place.

Our attorneys will often consult these reconstruction experts to determine the cause or fault of personal injury or wrongful death in a trucking accident.

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Determining Damages from a Truck Accident

There are two main types of damages that victims can collect following a collision: compensatory and punitive. Our truck accident attorneys can determine if you are eligible for one or both of the following:

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are non-taxable dollar sums that are intended to help pay for the victim's financial losses. Often, victims must take a significant amount of time off work, resulting in lost wages. Compound onto that the barrage of medical, prescription, and physical therapy fees they must pay, and victims face a hefty financial burden indeed. Compensatory damages are simply meant to help victims back to where they were financially before the truck accident.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are dollar amounts that the at-fault party must pay as penalty for reckless behavior. You may be eligible for punitive damages if the at-fault party was driving recklessly or failed to properly maintain his or her vehicle. Our qualified truck accident attorneys serving the Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett areas, can determine whether you are entitled to punitive damages, and help you gain a sense of justice for the injuries you or your family have suffered.

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Contact Leading Truck Accident Attorneys

If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is crucial that you have a team of seasoned experts on your side. Our truck accident attorneys provide Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and surrounding communities with qualified legal counsel and expert accident reconstruction services. For an evaluation of your case, contact Phillips & Webster today.

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