By Pendergast Law on July 29, 2015
At least seven people suffered injuries in a Seattle car accident when a dump truck crossed a median and drove into oncoming traffic. According to a The Seattle Times report, the truck accident occurred on Interstate 5 near Mount Vernon. Officials say a double-dump truck hauling clay and gravel jumped the median and plowed into 22 vehicles. Two motorists airlifted in critical condition to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center are in critical condition. It is unclear what caused the accident, but investigators have not ruled out a medical condition as a factor.
Wrong way vehicle accidents can result from a number of different causes. If the truck driver was fatigued, he or she may have fallen asleep for a moment before turning into oncoming traffic. It must be determined if the driver was excessively speeding, intoxicated or let the truck veer into traffic while looking at a phone or navigation system. Some head-on collisions are the direct result of a medical emergency. In such cases, it must be determined if the medical condition was known and if the driver should have been hired to operate the vehicle at all.
Victims of truck accidents would be well advised to research their legal rights and options. Truck drivers, truck owners and trucking companies can all be held financially liable for acts of negligence that result in serious injuries. An experienced Seattle truck accident attorney can help victims and their families seek fair and full compensation for their losses.