What Causes Truck Wrecks in Renton?

Posted Friday, October 7, 2022 by Chris Thayer

In one way or another, vehicle size causes most large truck wrecks in Renton. A fully-loaded large truck weighs over 80,000 pounds. This size magnifies aggressive driving and other errors. Little mistakes that noncommercial drivers get away with are usually negligence, or a lack of care. That is especially true since the duty of care is so high in truck wreck cases. Additionally, large trucks are so big that these drivers must bring every bit of their experience and skill to bear in every moment of every trip.

Vehicle size also complicates these claims. Truck crashes often cause catastrophic injuries, like spine injuries. The lifetime medical bills in such instances often exceed $5 million. Additionally, trucks are loaded with goods from another company. The company that owned these goods, or the shipping or transportation company which employed the driver, is financially responsible for damages, in most cases. Because of these additional dimensions, only the most experienced Renton truck wreck lawyer should handle these cases.

*Aggressive Driving* We mentioned aggressive driving above. Most companies pay most drivers by the trip and not by the hour. So, the faster they finish trips, the more money they make. Some examples of aggressive driving include:

• Speeding: Excessive velocity multiplies the risk of a wreck and the force in a collision. Speed multiplies stopping distance. At speeds under 30mph, most vehicles stop almost as soon as drivers apply the brakes. At 60mph, these vehicles keep traveling forward for at least eighteen vehicle lengths.
• Tailgating: The recommended stopping distance for passenger vehicles is about two seconds. For large trucks, the recommended following distance is about eight seconds. Many truckers overlook this requirement, especially on busy highways.
• Changing Lanes Unsafely: A trucker often blames the other driver when the truck cuts off a car or truck. In some states, if both drivers were partially at fault, the victim may be eligible for compensation. But Washington is a pure comparative fault state. So, in most cases, multiple at-fault parties only reduces the victim’s compensation, at most.

As mentioned, Washington truck drivers have a higher duty of care. Therefore, there’s usually no such thing as an aggressive driving “accident.” Pretty much any excess velocity, tailgating, or anything else is negligence, or a lack of care.

*Impaired Driving* Some truck crashes start before the trucker gets behind the wheel. The aforementioned duty of care requires truckers to be at their best, mentally, physically, and otherwise, when they hit the road. Some kinds of impaired driving include:

• Excessive Fatigue: Truckers are under so much pressure to make on-time deliveries that they often stay behind the wheel too long. That’s especially true since the government has recently watered down many HOS (hours of service) rules. Driving after 18 consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC, which is above the legal limit for truckers in Washington.
• Substance Abuse: Drug use and fatigue among truck drivers are connected. About half of truckers admit they use amphetamines while they drive. These drugs might make people feel more alert. But these drugs do nothing to address the effects of fatigue, such as poor judgment and slow motor skills. Furthermore, when these drugs wear off, users crash hard and fast.
• Medical Condition: This form of impairment is often related to fatigue as well. Many truckers suffer from sleep apnea, mostly because they sit for such long periods. This condition closes the primary airway during sleep. Thus, people with sleep apnea nap all night instead of getting deep, restorative rest. So, they are fatigued the next morning, no matter how much rest they had that night.

Compensation in a truck crash case usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. A Renton personal injury lawyer can obtain additional punitive damages as well, in some extreme cases.

*Reach Out to a Thorough King County Attorney* Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Renton, contact Pivotal Law Group, PLLC. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.