Spokane Truck Accident Lawyer
Although we call them “truck accidents,” few of them actually are. Because when an accident could have been prevented, it isn’t an accident.
At our law group, we work toward the goal of eradicating the carelessness, recklessness, corner-cutting, and systemic negligence that happens far too often in the trucking industry. And when this kind of negligence causes “accidents,” we make sure the victims are treated with the fairness and dignity they deserve.
Trucking Injury Law Group handles truck crashes, and truck crashes alone. We commit our entire legal practice to what we believe is our life calling—standing up for the rights of trucking negligence victims when no one else does.
If you’re searching for answers, we’re ready to help you find them. Contact a Spokane truck accident lawyer for a free consultation.
Are Truck Accidents Common in Spokane?
Spokane, WA is the second largest city in the state and the only metropolitan area in eastern Washington. Our city is also intersected neatly in half by Interstate 90 (I-90)—the longest interstate highway in the nation. Connecting the Pacific Northwest all the way to the Atlantic in the east, I-90 brings a steady stream of commercial truck traffic through the center of our city.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crash data shows that, in 2022, Spokane experienced:
- 187 big rig accidents (the 2nd highest of any city in the state)
- 37 suspected injury truck crashes
Spokane County, during the same year of data, experienced:
- 347 truck accidents
- 71 suspected injury truck crashes
- 4 fatal truck accidents
Commercial trucks—including semi-trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, 18-wheelers, and other big trucks—cause serious injuries when involved in collisions.
Last year alone, 81 people were killed, and hundreds more suffered serious injuries in a total of over 6,000 truck accidents throughout the state of Washington.
How We Help You File a Truck Accident Claim
These numbers only tell a small fraction of the story. No individual is a statistic.
The reality of a trucking accident is painful, devastating, life-shattering, and financially crippling. At Trucking Injury Law Group, we understand what life has become in the aftermath of your crash.
Our Spokane truck accident lawyers provide top legal counsel to accident survivors navigating complicated personal injury claims.
In Spokane, state law holds negligent parties financially responsible for the damages incurred by victims. But it is up to you, the plaintiff, to prove your right to compensation. It’s our job to help guide your truck accident case through the claims process to a successful outcome.
We accomplish this by:
- Investigating the cause and consequences of your collision
- Identifying at-fault parties and securing evidence to hold them liable
- Calculating full and fair compensation on your behalf
- Communicating and negotiating with trucking and insurance companies for you
- Securing a fair settlement or verdict through negotiations or in court
- Providing emotional support through every step of the process
We wield a deep understanding of the state and federal laws set forth by agencies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), comprehensive knowledge of trucking industry standards and insurance requirements, and a strong network of legal connections and resources that can support your case.
If you or a loved one was involved in a commercial truck crash, we invite you to learn more about how we can help you seek justice and recovery. There is no cost or obligation to contact a Spokane truck accident attorney from our law office for a free case consultation.
What Causes Most Tractor-Trailer Accidents?
With such massive vehicles as these, a lot of things can go wrong. While there are often numerous factors that combine to precipitate trucking accidents, some of the most common causes include:
- Driving over the speed limit or too fast for conditions
- Cell phone use and other forms of distracted driving
- Drug (illegal or prescription) and alcohol use
- Reckless driving
- FMCSA regulation violations
- Driver fatigue
- Bad brakes, tire blowouts, and other mechanical issues
- Driver error or miscalculation
- Lack of training or experience
- Defective truck parts
- Poor truck maintenance
- Overloading or improper loading practices
Determining Liability After a Truck Crash
Truck accident cases are wholly different from car accidents. When someone runs a red light and strikes you in an intersection, determining who is at fault is fairly straightforward.
But determining fault is much more complicated when big rigs are involved.
By the time a truck reaches the road, it has passed through many, many hands. Trucking operations are governed by numerous federal and state laws. Trucking insurance coverage is also complicated business, and more than one insurance company may be responsible for damages caused in a crash. And because they’re driving a commercial vehicle, the driver’s actions aren’t just their own—they’re reflective of the company they work for.
So even if a truck driver was speeding, for example, it may later come to light that they were undertrained, hired without the proper commercial driver’s license (CDL), and forced to complete an unrealistic route on time by the company that employed them. When this is the case (as it often is), the trucking company must be forced to take responsibility for its role in causing the crash.
When truck accident lawyers like us investigate cases, we examine the actions of all parties involved to determine if negligence was a factor. If someone is found negligent, it means they failed to exercise reasonable care and injured someone through their actions. For example, truck drivers found to be texting at the time of the crash can be held liable for this negligent behind-the-wheel behavior.
Truck accident attorneys often identify one or more of the following parties as liable for a crash:
- Truck driver
- Commercial trucking company
- Independent contractor driver
- Shipping, loading, or warehouse company
- Truck owner (if not owned by the driver or company)
- Truck or truck parts manufacturing company
- Government entity responsible for road design and maintenance
- Drivers of other vehicles on the road
Investigating the Truck Driver and Trucking Company
Truck drivers and the commercial trucking companies that employ them are most often named as defendants in truck accident cases.
Whether driver fatigue or negligent truck maintenance caused the wreck, your truck accident attorneys will need to work quickly to obtain the evidence to prove fault.
Escaping liability can save money for a commercial trucking enterprise—money that should have gone toward your medical bills and other damages. As such, many truck companies are highly motivated to act fast to erase evidence, hire a team of lawyers, and do whatever they can to avoid liability.
Our law group does not let corporate greed stand in the way of fair compensation for our clients. We make sure companies uphold their duty to take responsibility for the harm caused by their negligence.
We’ll seek out any evidence that helps build a strong claim, including:
- Truck black box data
- Electronic logging device (ELD) and hours of service (HOS) logs
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Company safety ratings
- Proof of past violations
- Dashcam, traffic cam, or truck cab interior camera footage
- Expert testimony from traffic reconstructionists
- Driver cell phone records
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Witness statements
- Traffic citations
- Police reports
- Photos of the collision scene
If negligence caused your accident and injuries, your truck accident attorney from Trucking Injury Law Group will secure the evidence to prove it.
What To Do After a Spokane Truck Collision
As much as you are able, we recommend taking the following steps after a collision to protect your health and your rights:
- Call 911
- Seek medical attention
- Take photos and video of the accident scene
- Exchange information with involved drivers
- Take down contact information for any eyewitnesses
- Notify your insurance company
- Schedule a case evaluation at a trucking injury law office
Information To Get From the Truck Driver
If you are physically able, exchange information with the truck driver and any other individuals involved while you are still at the accident scene.
This step is not only required by law but is also an important way to keep track of vital details you will need for an insurance or legal claim. A police officer responding to the accident scene can also help facilitate this exchange of information.
Make sure to obtain:
- Names of involved drivers
- Trucker’s employer
- Trucker’s CDL number
- Auto insurer and policy number
- Driver contact information
- Trucking company address and contact info
Types of Accidents Involving Commercial Trucks
Some of the most common types of truck accidents we see in Spokane include:
- Jackknifes
- Tire blowouts
- Underrides and overrides (when smaller vehicles become trapped under a truck)
- Rollovers
- Rear-end collisions
- Blind spot accidents
- T-bones (broadside collisions)
- Side-swipe crashes
- Head-on crashes
- Multi-vehicle pileups
The Danger of Lost Load Accidents
Another danger unique to tractor-trailers is lost cargo.
Imagine driving down the highway behind a semi hauling a load of 50-foot logs. One of the most terrifying things you could imagine is those logs coming loose at 65 mph and flying toward the windshield of your car.
But that’s exactly what happened on US 101 west of Olympia last year when a logging truck spilled its cargo onto the highway.
Lost load accidents are a serious concern in the trucking industry. Because of the potential for lost cargo, the FMCSA has created a series of regulations governing cargo securement, referring to many safety aspects regarding:
- Tie-downs
- Anchor points
- Front-end structures and header boards
- Dunnage bags
- Shoring bars
- The positioning of cargo
- Load limits
- Weight restrictions
- Commodity-specific securement requirements for cargo such as logs, metal coils, and concrete pipes
- And more
The violation of even one of these safety laws could be fatal to passenger vehicle occupants.
Injuries Caused by Large Truck Crashes
Any occupant of a smaller vehicle involved in a big rig accident is at high risk of becoming severely injured.
Trucking accident injuries are very rarely minor.
More than any other type of auto accident, tractor-trailer collisions have the potential to be fatal—or leave victims with catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment.
Common trucking accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Burns, lacerations, and abrasions
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Permanent disability
- Neck, chest, and head trauma
- Wrongful death
Recovery for Truck Crash Survivors and Families
Suffering any one of these injuries is a life-changing event. Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and other damages are common consequences.
As your Spokane truck accident attorneys, we will devote the fullest extent of our time and effort to your recovery. We will calculate and help you recover damages, making sure you receive full compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Permanent disability
- Emotional anguish
- Pain and suffering
- And more
Learning Your Rights Is Free at Trucking Injury Law Group
Our commitment to representing truck accident victims in Spokane, Spokane County, and throughout eastern Washington is unmatched.
We want our legal services to be available to all who need them—so we never charge a fee for a case consultation. In fact, we take our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t get paid until we win your case.
Don’t let the trucking company tell you what you’re owed. Learn your rights and legal options from an experienced legal advocate at Trucking Injury Law Group.
Your free consultation with a Spokane truck accident lawyer is available now. Contact our office to arrange a time that works best for your schedule.
