Truck Driver Labor and Personal Injury Attorneys in Vancouver WA
Located on the north bank of the Columbia River in the state of Washington is Vancouver — Portland, Oregon’s largest suburb. The county seat for Clark County has an estimated population of 172, 860, making it one of the most populous cities in the state.
In the 1900s, the city experienced an economic boom, thanks to its three shipyards. Since then, Vancouver has seen a rapid growth, with multiple annexations occurring throughout its history. During the 1940s, the industrial sector soared to greater heights with the addition of a paper mill and more shipyards.
Today, Vancouver’s economy largely relies on the service industry and highly technical jobs, with many of its residents commuting to Portland. The city is home to The Holland (a parent company of the Burgerville, USA restaurant chain) and the corporate headquarters of Nautilus, Inc.
The Port of Vancouver, which is the third largest in the state, currently has a port on the Columbia River. It handles over 400 vessels each year, as well as a number of barges.
The city’s busy economic scene has increased the demand for logistics and other necessary services — including hiring more truck drivers.
Trucking Industry in Vancouver, WA
The demand for truck drivers are not as competitive in Vancouver, unlike its fellow WA cities, the area sits in the remote southern end of Washington State. Its small trucking community will then enjoy an influx of jobs, but the news is not all positive. Several challenges balance out the benefits that the employment opportunities bring. Health concerns, extended working hours, and road safety are just a few of them.
Truck drivers have the right to perform their job in a safe environment. It is important to ensure that they receive fair treatment and compensation in case of an accident, as well.
Truck Driver Rights exists to give them just that. Our attorneys in Vancouver aim to meet your legal needs. We handle different cases concerning truck driver rights, including wage, personal injury, compensation and benefits, and hour class action.
Proper Wages
US truck drivers operate under unique pay structures. Most of them receive their salary on a “piece rate” system. Employers pay them per mile, per load, or per percentage of load. These payment systems are legal, but they do not always reflect the amount truck drivers really deserve.
Another disadvantage of this payment system involves traffic delays, which impede the number of miles a driver can complete. Inclement weather conditions and breakdowns can also stop truck drivers from completing any miles.
Under Washington Law, truck drivers are entitled to receive separate payments for rest breaks and non-driving time, such as pre- and post-trip inspections. They also have the right to take a 10-minute break for every four hours of driving.
We protect drivers who weren’t properly compensated. Our lawyers will look at your case and help you get the payment you deserve.
Fair Working Hours
Reasonable work hours is a common concern in the trucking industry. For example, there has been an issue regarding the way truck drivers log their time. In 2017, a number of truck drivers paused operations in protest of a Federal law that forced them to log in their driving hours electronically.
For years, truck drivers used logbooks to keep track of their work hours. The time they logged on paper wouldn’t be affected if they chose to rest before continuing their trip. The new system ties the record of the driver’s time with the truck’s engine. Once the engine starts, the clock starts ticking. If a driver takes a lengthy break to rest, they will lose hours on the road.
Most long-haul truck drivers spend more than 10 hours on the road. They skip meals or lose sleep just to meet their deadline. Not only does this go against the rule that states drivers can only work a maximum of 11 hours per shift, but it also places drivers in unsafe working conditions.
Making the required miles and meeting tight schedules while tired increase the risk of truckers sleeping on the job and getting into road accidents.
Our truck driver attorneys will stand by your side when it comes to hour class actions. Trust us to fight for your right to have just working hours. We will also defend your legal rights if you sustained injuries while on the road.
Safety is a Priority
Truck drivers are responsible for their safety. In some cases, however, employer negligence compromises the safety of drivers. Some companies, for instance, require their truck drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines or force them to travel despite inclement weather. Should one of their drivers fall asleep behind the wheel and cause an accident, the employer is accountable for the incident.
Truck Driver Rights advocates for the safety, well-being, and right to just compensation of our VA truck drivers. Let our personal injury lawyers help you file injury claims in court and represent you against negligent employers.
We Fight For Your Rights
Many truck drivers have a hard time pursuing legal avenues to resolve personal injury or wage problems. Filing a case could jeopardize their career and good relationship with their employer.
We’ll help you preserve both while getting results.
Truck Driver Rights offers aggressive representation for compensation, personal injury, and class action lawsuits. Our team will represent you in matters relating to lack of fair treatment, violations of employment compensation, and employer negligence. Ease your worries with our results-oriented and client-centered services.
We work on a “no win, no-fee” basis, which means that clients won’t have to pay us until we reach a settlement. Our team, however, is always determined to get a ruling in your favor. We apply our years of experience to achieve the best legal action possible. By choosing our law firm in Vancouver, you can rest in the knowledge that you have an expert fighting with and for you.
Protect your rights with a law firm that cares. Get in touch with Truck Driver Rights and schedule your FREE consultation today.