Updated on: 11/19/2019
A driver died just before 3 a.m. today after colliding with a Washington State Department of Transportation truck in Everett. Their vehicle, which some reports are calling a pickup truck and others are calling an SUV, burst into flames after striking the WSDOT truck. Firefighters discovered the driver’s body after extinguishing the blaze, but have not yet released his or her name. No other occupants are believed to have been found in the charred vehicle.
The WSDOT truck was parked on the left shoulder of Interstate 5 at the time of the crash. A WSDOT worker who ran out with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to help the driver is being treated for a leg injury. No other injuries have been reported at this time.
Investigators from the State Patrol did not find any evidence that the driver slowed down before slamming into the back of the parked truck. According to troopers, the WSDOT truck had flashing lights for visibility and was parked on the shoulder of the freeway, not in a lane. Elsewhere in Everett, a rollover crash on southbound I-5 snarled traffic during commuting hours, with an estimated commute time of 80 minutes from Everett to Seattle at 7:30 am this morning.
What happens after a driver collides with a WSDOT vehicle?
In certain cases, a driver who slams into a large truck that they couldn’t see on a dark road may not be fully at fault for a collision. Construction vehicles, semi trucks, dump trucks, and other large vehicles are held to stringent safety standards. They are supposed to come equipped with lights and reflective patches so they can be seen even in the dark—but it’s sometimes the case that these safety features are broken or missing.
In a case handled by Davis Law Group, our client suffered a broken leg and complications including recurring infections after he slammed into an overturned dump truck. We recovered a $1.05 million settlement for the victim after finding that the driver of the dump truck had not placed flares or emergency triangles around his vehicle to warn other motorists of the dangerous obstruction in the road.
Claims involving commercial vehicles can require extensive investigation into the facts of the accident. These claims can be very difficult for victims to file on their own. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a commercial vehicle, it may be time to speak with a personal injury attorney about your rights as a victim.