In the fight for compensation after an 18-wheeler accident, it helps to have a Bellevue truck crash lawyer on your side.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, over 4,300 trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes in 2015—an 8 percent increase from the year prior.

Unfortunately, this statistic fails to account for the thousands of accidents involving semi-trucks or 18-wheelers that result in minor or serious injuries, which can cause trauma that can still damage victims and their families.

On the bright side, truck accident victims in the state of Washington can often find relief, at least in a financial sense, by filing a personal injury claim. For help with your claim, contact a Bellevue truck accident lawyer at Craig Swapp & Associates.

Fault in Commercial Truck Wrecks

To understand how fault works in commercial trucking wrecks in Washington state, it’s critical to understand the basics of the standard of comparative negligence. Comparative negligence considers the fact that multiple motorists may be at fault in a given accident and allows liability to be assigned to multiple parties.

While this feature may sound benign at first, it can limit the amount of damages you are eligible to receive if you are determined to be partly at fault. For example, holding 25 percent liability in your crash would eliminate a full quarter of the damages you would receive in a successful suit.

Because a lot of money may be on the line in the case of a serious Bellevue truck crash, it’s extremely important to not jeopardize your case through an unwitting mistake. Talking to an insurance adjuster, for instance, and telling him or her something that may be used against you, could become a slip-up that proves fatal to your claim.

Fortunately, a Bellevue 18-wheeler accident lawyer can do the talking for you and make sure you’re fairly compensated.

What You Should Document in Your Claim

First and foremost, truck accident victims must document all of the injuries they have suffered. Without documentation, your injuries may not be taken seriously in court.

Below are some examples of injuries you would definitely want to include in your claim:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Facial or ocular damage
  • Spine damage
  • Whiplash
  • Amputations
  • Burns
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Organ damage
  • Internal bleeding

In addition, you will need to make sure to account for any damages you have sustained, such as medical expenses, lost wages or earning potential, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and reduced quality of life.

Make sure you account for injuries and losses you’ve sustained in the past and present, along with any you expect to experience in the future because of your Bellevue 18-wheeler crash.

Work with a Bellevue Semi-Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents are scary enough; you don’t need to live in fear over how you’ll pay your rent or mortgage, much less those sky-high medical expenses. Luckily, whether you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or other commercial vehicle, you may be eligible for financial relief in the form of compensatory damages.

To team up with someone who can win you the compensation you deserve, contact a Bellevue truck accident lawyer at Craig Swapp & Associates. Give our firm a call at 1-800-404-9000 or enter your information into the form below to schedule a no-cost, no-pressure consultation.