Commercial vehicle accidents can be a disaster, leading to serious injuries and significant financial losses. At Park Chenaur Injury Lawyers, we understand the complexity and severity of these accidents. Our commercial vehicle accident lawyers in Tacoma are here to guide you through the legal process, protect your right to fair compensation, and support you personally.
Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
These vehicles are used for business or transportation of goods and services. These vehicles are larger, heavier, and more challenging to maneuver than regular vehicles, posing a more serious risk in a collision. These accidents may involve any of the following types of commercial vehicles:
- Semi-trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers
- Delivery trucks (such as Amazon, FedEx, and UPS trucks)
- Box trucks
- Company-owned cars or vans
- Buses (school, city, private, tour buses)
- Construction vehicles (dump trucks, cement trucks, etc.)
- Tow trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Shuttle vans
- Taxi cabs or rideshare vehicles (Uber, Lyft)
- Corporate fleet vehicles
Common Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents occur for a variety of reasons. In many cases, these dangerous or deadly collisions result from negligent driving behavior, either on the part of the driver or the company owning the vehicle. Common causes of commercial vehicle accidents include the following:
- Driver fatigue: Commercial drivers work long hours and may be operating a vehicle while fatigued, leading to poor judgment or dangerous driving behavior.
- Distracted driving: Drivers using cell phones, GPS systems, or other in-vehicle systems while operating the vehicle.
Improper maintenance: Failing to service and maintain commercial vehicles regularly can lead to mechanical failures. - Overloading: Carrying more cargo than the vehicle is rated for can lead to poor handling or tire blowouts.
- Unevenly loaded cargo: A commercial truck with unevenly distributed cargo is less stable on the road and more challenging to control.
- Driving under the influence: Alcohol or drug intoxication by a commercial vehicle driver can be the underlying cause of catastrophic commercial vehicle accidents.
- Speeding or reckless driving: Large commercial vehicles require longer stopping distances and are much more difficult to control when speeding.
Types of Injuries from Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving commercial vehicles lead to more severe injuries due to the power of the impact of a heavy, large vehicle on a lighter passenger car or truck. Some of the most common injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Burns and lacerations
- Amputations
Who is Liable in a Commercial Vehicle Accident?
Determining fault in a commercial vehicle accident is often more complex than in a standard car accident. Multiple parties may be liable, including the following:
- The driver: If the driver was distracted, speeding, or violating other traffic laws.
- The employer or trucking firm: If the company failed to maintain the vehicle, pushed drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations, or hired unqualified drivers.
- The vehicle maintenance firm: If a failure to maintain the vehicle contributed to the collision, the maintenance firm may be named as a liable party.
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers: If a mechanical defect or failure contributed to the accident, these parties must be named in a claim or lawsuit.
Park Chenaur Injury Lawyers: Let Us Fight for You
At Park Chenaur Injury Lawyers, we are focused, dedicated, and genuinely care about achieving justice for the people we serve. We will thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, consult experts, and analyze records to take action to hold the responsible parties accountable. With our large, experienced team, we have access to top industry professionals, accident reconstruction experts, and medical specialists to strengthen your case—resources smaller firms often cannot offer. With over 25 years of experience and a reputation for achieving favorable outcomes in personal injury claims and lawsuits, our commercial vehicle accident attorneys in Tacoma, WA are driven to achieve real-world results. Contact us for a free consultation if you’ve been injured in a commercial vehicle accident. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve.