Colburn Law

Spokane Truck Accident Lawyer

When an 80,000-pound semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the results often prove catastrophic—leaving victims with life-altering injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and profound emotional trauma. The sheer size disparity between trucks and cars means even low-speed crashes can cause devastating harm to occupants of smaller vehicles.

Colburn Law advocates tenaciously for truck accident victims in Spokane. For years, we have held truck drivers, their employers, and other parties accountable for the harm that they cause due to negligence. If you have been injured, trust our Spokane personal injury attorney to fight for you.

Call (206) 919-3215 to get a free consultation with an expert attorney today.

Why Trust Colburn Law to Fight for Your Rights?

• Our firm has secured substantial settlements for victims of truck accidents throughout Washington. This track record of success includes a $1.8 million settlement for a motorcyclist struck by a truck and $1 million for a driver hit by a truck while his vehicle was disabled.
• We have extensive experience handling complex truck accident claims and consistently stand up to trucking companies and their insurers. We have the resources and knowledge to thoroughly investigate these complicated cases.
• You will not pay any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your truck accident claim. With this contingency fee arrangement, you can access legal representation without worrying about upfront costs during your recovery.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Spokane

Truck accidents stem from numerous factors, often involving a complex interplay of driver behavior, vehicle maintenance, and external conditions. Some of the most common causes include:

• Driver fatigue
• Inadequate training
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Improper loading
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Following too closely
• Unsafe lane changes
• Brake failures
• Tire blowouts
• Blind spot errors
• Drug or alcohol use
• Equipment malfunction
• Aggressive driving

Many of these causes are similar with car accidents — if you were involved in a collision, contact a Spokane car accident attorney for legal assistance.

Understanding Washington State Truck Accident Laws

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations form the foundation of commercial trucking safety across the United States. These rules govern everything from driver qualifications to vehicle maintenance standards. FMCSA regulations apply to all commercial vehicles involved in interstate commerce, including many trucks that operate solely within Washington state.

For example, every truck driver operating in Washington must possess a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and undergo regular medical examinations and drug testing. All trucking companies must adhere to strict FMCSA hours of service limits to prevent driver fatigue and follow detailed requirements for vehicle maintenance, inspection, and transport of hazardous materials.

When trucking companies or drivers fail to follow these regulations, they face substantial penalties and increased liability risk in accident cases. For example, if a collision occurs after a driver has exceeded their allowed hours of service, the victim has the right to file a legal claim against the driver and, in many cases, the trucking company that employed them.

Washington maintains its own set of commercial trucking regulations that complement federal rules. Multiple state agencies oversee these regulations, including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Licensing, and the Utilities and Transportation Commission.

These state-specific rules typically address local concerns such as weight limits on particular roads, seasonal restrictions, and special permit requirements for oversized loads.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

The moments following a truck collision can feel overwhelming, but what you do next can impact your ability to recover compensation. Here are the steps that you need to take if you are involved in a Spokane truck accident:

• Your top priority should be the safety of you and your passengers. If you can, move your vehicle to a safe location and turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers in the area. Call 911 right away to request both police and emergency medical services, even if you do not think your injuries are serious initially.
• Seek immediate medical attention right away and maintain detailed records of your treatment. Accept medical evaluation at the scene, as adrenaline can mask serious injuries, and go to the hospital as soon as you can. Keep thorough records of all medical treatments, including appointments, medications, physical therapy sessions, and follow-up care.
• Gather essential information from all parties involved. Write down the truck driver’s full name, employer information, insurance details, CDL number, and the truck’s identification number. Record the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident occur; their statements could help prove how the accident happened.
• Document evidence at the scene of the collision. Take photos and videos of all vehicles, damage, skid marks, and the overall crash scene from multiple angles. Note any nearby businesses or traffic lights that may have cameras that could have captured the crash.
• Be careful what you say and do after the crash. Do not apologize or talk about who was at fault—insurance companies can use this against you later. Do not give any recorded statements to insurance adjusters until you have talked to a lawyer. Avoid posting about your accident or activities on social media, even if your accounts are private.
• Contact a Spokane truck accident lawyer right away. Your attorney will know how to preserve important evidence, deal with insurance companies, and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Truck Accident

A truck accident can disrupt every aspect of your life. These collisions can leave you facing devastating injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and an inability to work or care for your family. The emotional and physical toll of such a traumatic event often affects not just you, but your entire household. By filing a truck accident lawsuit, you can recover compensation for both the economic and non-economic damages you sustained.

Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses that result directly from the accident. These include current and future medical expenses, which can be substantial in truck accident cases due to the severity of your potential injuries.

You can also claim lost wages and reduced earning capacity, especially when injuries prevent you from returning to work or force you to accept a lower-paying position. Property damage and rehabilitation costs also fall under this category.

Non-economic damages address the intangible but equally significant impacts of truck accidents. These damages compensate you for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life when injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once loved.

Non-economic losses can be harder to quantify than economic ones, but your attorney from Colburn Law will carefully document how the accident has impacted every aspect of your life and leverage common formulas to accurately calculate them.

Time Limits for Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Washington

Washington state law establishes a three-year statute of limitations for filing truck accident claims. This means that you will need to file a truck accident lawsuit within three years from the date of the crash or the court will likely dismiss your case.

RCW 4.16.080. Actions limited to three years.

The following actions shall be commenced within three years:

(2) An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another not hereinafter enumerated.

To protect your right to compensation, speak to a Spokane truck accident lawyer at Colburn Law right away. An attorney can help you identify your filing deadline and take the appropriate steps to initiate your claim before the statute of limitations expires.

Common Truck Crash Injuries in Spokane

The enormous size and weight difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles often lead to catastrophic injuries when a collision happens. Victims often suffer life-altering injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Bone fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Severe burns
• Crushing injuries
• Amputations
• Facial disfigurement
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

If you were involved in a truck accident, always go to the hospital—even if you feel fine. Some serious injuries may not show symptoms immediately. By seeking medical care, you not only receive appropriate treatment before these conditions worsen but also establish a clear record of your injuries. This helps connect the harm that you suffered directly to the truck accident.

How a Spokane Truck Accident Lawyer Strengthens Your Case

Truck accident cases demand deep legal knowledge and resources that exceed those required for typical car accident claims. The involvement of commercial vehicles introduces layers of complexity: federal regulations, the need to request internal company records, and several potentially liable parties.

In these situations, a Spokane truck accident attorney from Colburn Law can provide the experience and resources that your claim needs. We understand complex federal trucking regulations, such as hours of service rules and maintenance requirements, and will conduct in-depth investigations to determine the cause of the crash.

Your attorney will obtain and analyze electronic control module data, which provides critical information about the truck’s operation before and during the crash. We will also enlist the help of accident reconstruction experts who can help determine what happened. Our firm will work to identify all liable parties, including the trucking company, driver, maintenance contractors, and cargo loaders.

Perhaps most importantly, our firm holds strong investigative abilities that we will leverage to obtain and examine corporate safety records and driver qualification files. These documents, which can be difficult to obtain on your own, can uncover crucial evidence of negligence that might otherwise go undetected.

Get Help with Your Spokane Truck Accident Claim Today

If you or a loved one was involved in a Spokane truck accident, do not wait to seek help. Colburn Law can protect your rights and fight for the justice that you deserve.

Contact us today online or call (206) 919-3215 to schedule your free consultation and let our firm start building your case for compensation.