Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident with a large truck in Seattle, WA? You deserve an experienced Seattle truck accident lawyer who understands the complexities of these cases. Our team at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer knows how to help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Call us today at (253) 948-0250.
Our team has over 31 years of combined experience handling complex injury claims. We’re highly skilled at helping victims who were hurt in accidents involving semi-trucks and big rigs. We’ve already recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients like you.
Contact our law offices in Seattle, Washington, and schedule a free consultation today.
How Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You After a Truck Accident in Seattle
Truck accident cases can get complicated for many reasons. Multiple parties can be involved, but your lawyer can fight to hold the driver, trucking company, and even the maker of the truck’s parts accountable. Your injuries may also be serious, making an insurance battle feel impossible.
Our team at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer has been recognized with an AV-Preeminent rating from the respected Martindale-Hubbell rating service. We’ve also been listed by Super Lawyers and The National Law Journal.
While you focus on healing, our Seattle personal injury attorneys will handle all aspects of your truck accident claim, including:
- Conducting a full investigation
- Hiring experts to testify about contested issues
- Analyzing all the evidence
- Finding all the responsible parties
- Defending against claims that you share fault
- Building a custom strategy to maximize your compensation
- Negotiating with the insurance company for a full settlement
- Taking your case to trial if the insurance offer is unfair
Going it alone is rarely wise in a truck accident claim. Call our trusted Seattle personal injury lawyers to learn more about how we can help today.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Washington?
According to preliminary Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data, 1,905 accidents involving large trucks were reported across Washington State in fiscal year 2024. Three hundred sixty-eight victims were injured in those crashes. Sadly, 67 victims were killed in fatal large truck wrecks.
What is My Seattle Truck Accident Case Worth?
Comparing your personal injury claim to similar cases can be helpful, but no two cases are the same. The value of your truck accident case can vary depending on many factors.
When building your case, we’ll look at factors such as:
- The types of injuries you sustained and the severity of those injuries
- Your prospects for making a full physical recovery
- How much you’ve spent on medical care, vehicle repairs, and other expenses
- How the injury has impacted you mentally
- The physical pain you have endured
- Impacts on your earnings during recovery
- Whether your earning capacity will remain impaired even after treatment and rehab
- Any other long-term consequences of the trucking collision
- The effect of Washington’s shared fault law, if shared responsibility is at play
A lawyer can offer more insight into your case’s value during a free consultation, so there’s no reason not to contact us today to learn more.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims in Seattle?
Damages in Washington fall into two general categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the direct monetary expenses incurred due to the accident. They’re designed to offset the accident victim’s financial burden.
Examples include:
- Current medical bills
- Estimated future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Nursing care
- Specialized rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Long-term care and assistance
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal toll the accident has taken on your life.
These damages are more difficult to calculate and often include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of your ability to enjoy activities
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Damage to relationships
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are typically not available in personal injury cases under Washington law.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Pursue Compensation After a Truck Accident?
Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer works on a contingency fee basis. This model means you won’t pay a fee unless we win.
This structure ensures you can pursue fair compensation without upfront expenses. It also means we’re highly invested in maximizing your compensation award, because we only get paid if we win.
Can State Law Impact My Right to Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in Washington?
Yes. The extent of the impact will depend on how much blame you share. Washington has a pure comparative negligence law. When shared fault is an issue, blame is divided between the parties according to how much responsibility each party bears for the crash.
If you’re assigned a percentage of fault, your damages are reduced by that percentage. You typically don’t lose your right to compensation entirely.
Our Legal Team in Seattle Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Large trucks and commercial vehicles can be incredibly difficult to operate. They don’t simply stop on a dime. After all, they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When they crash into smaller passenger vehicles, those occupants tend to bear the brunt of the crash.
At Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, we represent clients who have experienced all types of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Concussions
- Back and neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Whiplash injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Burn injuries
- Amputations
- Catastrophic injuries
We’re also here to fight for families who are dealing with the wrongful death of a loved one. If you were injured in a truck crash or lost a loved one, reach out to our Seattle truck accident attorneys to explore your legal options today.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Seattle, WA?
Despite working in a heavily regulated industry, truck drivers often cause accidents. Even with regulations, they usually spend long shifts behind the wheel. Truck drivers may be more likely to be distracted, rushed, and exhausted than other drivers.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Fatigued truck drivers and violations of hours-of-service rules
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Failure to check blind spots when changing lanes
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Wide turns
- Overloaded cargo or unsecured cargo
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs, whether legal or illegal
- Dangerous road conditions
- Failure to perform required vehicle inspections and routine maintenance
- Mechanical failures
Our Seattle truck accident lawyers are prepared to help you uncover the root cause of your truck crash.
Who is Liable for Truck Accident Injuries in Washington?
Truck accidents aren’t your average fender bender. With multiple parties involved, truck accident claims can get complicated fast.
Some examples of responsible parties in truck accident cases may include:
- The at-fault driver
- A trucking company that employs the driver
- Cargo loading companies
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance companies
- Freight brokers
- Truck leasing companies
- Manufacturers of defective safety equipment
- Government authorities
- Third-party motorists
Sometimes, the trucking company’s insurance carrier may be on the hook for your damages. Count on us to pursue compensation from anyone who directly or indirectly contributed to your crash.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Washington?
You’ll need evidence to prove four elements after a trucking accident:
- The at-fault party had a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty
- That breach caused your accident
- The damages you suffered as a result (medical bills, lost income, etc.)
When you hire us, we’ll start collecting evidence quickly. The odds are good that an investigation is already underway.
Examples of some relevant types of evidence include:
- The police report
- Vehicle maintenance records
- The driver’s hours-of-service logs
- The trucking company’s hiring policies
- The driver’s experience and safety record
- The vehicle’s black box recording device
- Witness statements
- Video footage from dash cams, traffic lights, and other sources
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- Medical records
- Your pay stubs, tax records, and other proof of lost income
Contact our truck crash lawyers in Seattle today if you were involved in an 18-wheeler collision. It’s important that we get to work quickly to ensure valuable evidence doesn’t disappear.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Washington State?
You typically must take legal action within three years of the crash (with some limited exceptions). Wait longer than three years, and the statute of limitations expires. Once that happens, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
Contact an Experienced Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You don’t have to let the negligent truck driver and their employer off the hook. Our experienced Seattle truck accident attorneys at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer are here to help. Count on us to fight to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.