Tacoma Truck Accident Lawyers: Fighting for Justice After a Serious Crash

Every day, large commercial trucks roll through Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, and the surrounding South Sound region—hauling freight from the Port of Tacoma, making deliveries to local businesses, and transporting goods along I-5. These commercial vehicles are vital to our area’s economy, but when a truck accident happens, the consequences are often catastrophic. The size and weight of semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large trucks mean collisions can cause serious injuries, devastating property damage, and even fatalities.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you need more than just good legal help. You need an experienced, Tacoma-based attorney who understands the complexities of truck accident cases, the trucking industry, and Washington State law. At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, we’ve been fighting for accident victims since 1959. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.

Why Are Truck Accident Cases Different from Car Accidents?

While some aspects of a truck accident claim may resemble a car accident case, the stakes—and the challenges—are often far greater. Commercial trucking is governed by both state and federal regulations, and multiple parties may share liability. That means more insurance companies are involved, and each of those insurers often has entire teams of adjusters and lawyers ready to defend their clients aggressively.

Truck accident claims often require:

• Detailed investigation into hours-of-service violations (driver fatigue)
• Review of maintenance records and inspection logs
• Analysis of black box data from the truck’s onboard systems
• Understanding of federal trucking regulations under the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
• Coordination with accident reconstruction experts and industry specialists

Without skilled legal representation, accident victims risk being overpowered by well-funded trucking company defense teams. That’s where RHHK can help.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

The moments after a collision with a large truck are often overwhelming. The vehicles are bigger, the damage more severe, and the legal stakes higher than in most passenger car crashes. Unfortunately, even though you’ll certainly be in shock, the next few things you do will affect the outcome of your truck accident claim. While every situation is unique, there are critical steps that can help protect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover fair compensation:

• Call 911 immediately: In addition to getting medical responders on the scene, a police report is essential. With commercial vehicles, law enforcement may also document driver logs, cargo details, and trucking company information.
• Seek medical attention right away: Even if you “feel fine,” collisions with large trucks often cause high-impact injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, or spinal trauma that may not show symptoms immediately.
• Gather evidence while it’s fresh: Photograph the accident scene, damage to all vehicles (including the truck’s USDOT number and company markings), skid marks, debris, road conditions, and visible injuries.
• Get witness contact information: Names, phone numbers, and statements from people who saw the crash can be crucial when multiple insurance companies are involved.
• Avoid discussing fault at the scene: With multiple parties potentially liable—from the truck driver to the trucking company or cargo loaders—even an offhand comment could be misinterpreted later. Stick to the facts when speaking with police or other drivers.
• Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible: Trucking companies often deploy rapid-response teams to accident scenes to start building their defense immediately. The sooner you have legal representation, the better your attorney can preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and protect your claim.

Our legal team works closely with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and investigators familiar with the trucking industry to ensure no crucial detail is missed, from analyzing the truck’s black box data to reviewing the driver’s hours-of-service records.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Western Washington

Heavy truck traffic is part of daily life in Tacoma and the surrounding region. Large trucks move in and out of the port, travel Highway 16 toward Gig Harbor, and run up and down I-5 between Seattle and Olympia. Unfortunately, this constant flow increases the risk of truck crashes.

Some of the most common causes of truck crashes we see in Washington State include:

• Driver error or negligence: Speeding, tailgating, failing to yield, or improper lane changes can be deadly in a large truck.
• Driver fatigue: Long hours and pressure to meet delivery deadlines can cause truck drivers to push beyond legal (and human) driving limits.
• Distracted driving: Texting, adjusting GPS, or other in-cab distractions can take a driver’s focus off the road.
• Driving under the influence: Alcohol or drug use, including prescription medications or stimulants common to long-haul trucking, can impair judgment and reaction time.
• Negligent hiring and training: Trucking companies that fail to properly vet or train drivers can be held accountable.
• Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo: Shifting loads can cause rollovers or jackknife accidents, often with devastating effects on numerous other vehicles.
• Defective truck parts: Faulty brakes, tires, airbags, or steering components can lead to catastrophic failures.
• Poor road conditions: Potholes, worn pavement, or inadequate signage can contribute to collisions.

Each of these causes may involve different liable parties, from the truck driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, or even a government agency responsible for road maintenance.

Types of Injuries in Truck Accident Cases

Given the massive size difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, the types of injuries in these collisions are often severe. Some common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Ranging from concussions to severe brain damage, TBIs can affect memory, cognition, mood, and overall quality of life. Recovery can take months or years, and some victims never fully regain their previous abilities.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis. These injuries often require lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, and adaptive living arrangements.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: The force of impact in a truck crash can shatter bones, requiring multiple surgeries, implants, and long-term physical therapy.
• Internal Organ Damage: Blunt force trauma can injure vital organs, causing internal bleeding and life-threatening complications.
• Disfigurement and Scarring: Burns from fuel explosions or lacerations from shattered glass can leave permanent physical reminders of the crash.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Whiplash, torn ligaments, and muscle damage may seem minor but can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility.
• Wrongful Death: Tragically, many truck accidents are fatal. Surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim to seek justice for their loss and financial security for their future.

These serious injuries don’t just cause physical pain. They can also lead to emotional trauma, financial strain from medical bills and lost wages, and long-term changes in lifestyle.

Here’s Who May Be Liable in Truck Accident Cases

One of the complexities in truck accident claims, given the number of commercial trucking-adjacent entities that are often involved, is determining all liable parties. Potential defendants may include:

• The truck driver: For negligent or reckless driving.
• The trucking company: For unsafe policies, negligent hiring, or poor training.
• Cargo loading companies: For improperly loaded freight.
• Truck or parts manufacturers: For defective components.
• Maintenance providers: For failing to identify or fix mechanical problems.
• Government entities: For dangerous road design or maintenance failures.

Identifying every responsible party is critical to maximizing your recovery and ensuring no one escapes accountability.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to Recover

A successful Tacoma truck accident lawyer will pursue all available forms of compensation to make sure you and your family are not left struggling financially. These may include:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, and future medical treatments or surgeries—it all adds up quickly. Washington law allows you to recover all reasonable and necessary medical costs connected to the accident.
• Lost wages and earning capacity: If your injuries force you to miss work, you can recover the income lost during recovery. In personal injury cases where your ongoing ability to earn a living is affected, compensation can also extend to lost future earnings.
• Pain and suffering: This compensates for the physical pain and emotional toll caused by the accident, and varies widely based on injury severity, recovery time, and impact on daily activities.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in aspects of life you once enjoyed, this can be factored into your claim.
• Property damage: Compensation for damage to your vehicle or personal property involved in the accident.
• Wrongful death damages: If a loved one died as a result of a car accident, family members can pursue damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support and companionship, and more.

Typical settlement ranges vary greatly depending on injury severity, available insurance coverage, and the number of liable parties. Severe or catastrophic injuries can result in settlements or verdicts reaching into the millions. Our experienced lawyers work to identify all possible damages in your case, and negotiate for a settlement that fully reflects your needs, not just the minimum offered by the insurance company.

Next Steps:

Working your way through Washington state’s legal process after a truck accident can be stressful and confusing, but having a good sense of what’s ahead can significantly ease anxiety. Here’s what you can expect when working with our Tacoma truck accident lawyers:

• Free case evaluation: We listen to your story, review evidence, and explain your options.
• Investigation: Gathering police reports, maintenance records, black box data, and witness statements.
• Identifying liable parties: Determining all responsible individuals and entities.
• Medical documentation: Working with your healthcare providers to document injuries and treatment needs.
• Demand and negotiation: Presenting a strong case to the insurance providers and negotiating for a fair settlement.
• Litigation: If the insurer refuses to be fair, we are ready to go to trial.

Our legal team keeps you informed at every step so you can focus on healing while we handle the legal fight.

Why Choose Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC

For more than six decades, the RHHK law group has been guided by one singular focus: pursuing justice. And we’re not only justice-minded, we’re compassionate. Truck accident victims come to us having often suffered severe trauma, and it’s our privilege and duty to seek justice—and compensation—for them.

We combine this deep trial expertise and years of experience with a comprehensive understanding of Washington State personal injury law. We offer our clients:

• Decades of experience: Serving Tacoma and Washington State since 1959.
• Track record of results: Proven success in complex truck accident cases.
• Local knowledge: We understand Tacoma’s unique traffic patterns, port-related trucking, and South Sound roadways.
• Client-focused service: You’ll work directly with your attorney, not be handed off to a case manager.
• Contingency fee: No attorneys’ fees unless we win your case.

Our Tacoma personal injury lawyers are committed to fighting for maximum compensation and providing compassionate support throughout the legal process.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

RHHK has been protecting the rights of truck accident victims across the South Sound for more than 60 years. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, or anywhere in Washington State, don’t face the insurance companies alone.

Call 253-364-4966 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation. Let our experienced Tacoma truck accident attorneys fight for the justice and fair settlement you deserve.