Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents can change lives in an instant. With the growing number of commercial trucks on Washington’s roads, serious injuries and tragic losses are becoming all too common. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, the Seattle truck accident attorneys at Elk & Elk are here to help you seek justice.
With decades of experience handling complex truck accident claims, our team is committed to standing by your side and fighting for the compensation you deserve. Let our Seattle personal injury firm handle the legal challenges — so you can focus on healing and moving forward.
Schedule your free consultation through our online contact form or by calling (844) 355-9378.
Why Choose Elk & Elk For Help With Your Truck Accident Claim?
After a serious truck accident, the last thing you need is more stress. At Elk & Elk, we do more than just handle your claim — we take the pressure off of you so you can focus on healing. Here’s why people across Seattle and Washington trust Elk & Elk with their truck accident cases:
- Proven results: Our team has recovered over $1 billion for injury victims
- Local experience: From I-5 to the busy shipping areas near the Port of Seattle, we know Seattle.
- Personal communication: You’ll never feel left in the dark about your case.
- No upfront fees: We work on a contingency-fee basis meaning you pay nothing unless we win for you.
- Relentless advocacy: We know insurance tactics, and we won’t settle for less than you deserve.
When you work with Elk & Elk, you get more than a lawyer — you get a team that’s dedicated to protecting your future, holding negligent parties accountable, and giving you peace of mind when you need it most.
Our Truck Accident Case Results
$1,850,000 | $1,100,000 | $1,050,000 | $650,000
Navigate This Page
Click on any of the following links to jump down to the section on the page.
- Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
- What to Do if You Were In a Truck Accident in Seattle
- How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?
- Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident in Washington State?
- Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in Washington State
- Examples of Negligence in Trucking Accidents
- What Compensation Could I Receive After a Truck Accident?
- Contact Our Seattle Truck Accident Attorney
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Commercial truck accidents can involve a wide variety of vehicles — each with their own risks and challenges. At Elk & Elk, we represent clients injured in accidents involving:
- Semi-Truck Accidents
- Garbage Truck Accidents
- Cement Mixer Accidents
- Delivery Truck Accidents
- Tanker Truck Accidents
- Flatbed Truck Accidents
- Box Truck Accidents
- Construction Vehicle Accidents
- Tow Truck Accidents
- Logging Truck Accidents
This is not a complete list of the truck accident cases we handle. No matter the type of truck involved in your accident, we encourage you to contact our Seattle truck accident lawyers for a free consultation. We’re ready to discuss your case and help you explore your legal options.
What To Do If You Were In a Truck Accident in Seattle
Trucking accidents are often incredibly serious and can threaten the life of a truck accident victim. In King County alone in 2024, there were 6,022 truck accidents that resulted in 53 fatal truck accidents. Taking appropriate steps following the accident will be important in ensuring that you and your loved ones are out of harm’s way.
- Move to safety – If possible, get to a safe area away from traffic and potential hazards like fires or explosions. Staying in a dangerous spot could put you at further risk.
- Check for injuries – Your health comes first. If you or anyone else is seriously injured, try to stop excessive bleeding and provide basic first aid while waiting for emergency responders.
- Call 911 – Reporting the accident immediately ensures that police and paramedics arrive to provide medical care, document the scene, control traffic, and gather witness statements. A police report will be important for any legal claims.
- Gather evidence – If you’re able, take photos or videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get the truck driver’s name, employer, insurance details, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, collect their names and contact information.
- Contact a Seattle truck accident lawyer – An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you have to option to file a wrongful death claim. Our Seattle wrongful death attorney can explain your legal options if you choose to go this route.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Seattle?
In Washington State, under the RCW 4.16.080, you have three years to begin legal action surrounding a personal injury, although in some cases there are exceptions. While this may seem like a lot of time at first, your legal team needs ample time to build a strong case for your proceedings.
What Does a Seattle Truck Accident Lawyer Do?
A Seattle truck accident lawyer can handle many important tasks to protect your rights and build a strong case after a crash, including:
- Accident investigation: Investigating the accident thoroughly by gathering evidence such as police reports, driver logs, black box data, and witness statements.
- Identifying liable parties: Identifying all potentially liable parties, which may include the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, or manufacturers.
- Expert collaboration: Working with experts like accident reconstruction specialists to understand how the crash happened.
- Insurance communication: Handling all communication with insurance companies and opposing attorneys to protect your best interests.
- Calculating damages: Calculating the full extent of your damages, including medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and pain and suffering.
- Settlement negotiation: Negotiating for a fair settlement that reflects the true value of your claim.
- Court representation: Representing you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Client support: Providing guidance and support throughout the legal process so you can focus on your recovery.
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident in Washington State?
The liability of a truck accident is determined through a complex process. Different accounts and collections of evidence can change who is to blame for an accident. While opposing legal teams may attempt to blame you for an accident to avoid paying damages, they may be the ones at fault.
Liable entities may include:
- Truck drivers
- The trucking company
- Owner of the truck or trailer
- Parts manufacturers of the truck or its components
- The shipping company
- Loaders of the shipping goods
What Are Common Causes Of Truck Accidents?
Establishing the cause of the accident will be the first step your Seattle truck accident attorney will take. Different causes of truck accidents can include:
- Driver fatigue and error
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo
- Improper truck maintenance
- Failing or malfunctioning equipment
- Driver negligence
- Inadequate driver training
If another party caused or contributed to the accident in any way, they may owe you compensation for your damages.
What Are Examples of Negligence in a Truck Accident?
It is very common for a large truck accident to involve negligence. Washington State is a comparative negligence state, meaning that an injured party can recover damages based on a proportional amount of responsibility for the accident. Nevertheless, signs of negligence by truck drivers, trucking companies, and their shipping partners are quite common.
Examples of negligence can include:
- Failure to yield to traffic
- Failure to properly assess road and weather conditions
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Driving drowsy or without break
- Hiring an unqualified or inexperienced driver
- Lack of training given to the truck driver
- Failure to supervise the driver
- Excessive speed
- Loading trucks over maximum capacity
- Not maintaining the equipment of the truck
- Driving without required vision or hearing correction
- Driving without a license
- Operating the vehicle in prohibited zones that do not permit large trucks
- Failure to properly weigh truck at required locations
- Failure to double-check blind spots
- Reckless driving
What Compensation Could I Receive After a Truck Accident?
In truck accident cases, the severity of damages is often significant due to the size and force of commercial vehicles. When pursuing compensation, you may seek both economic and non-economic damages, each of which affects the overall value of your claim differently.
Economic Damages
Economic damages, sometimes referred to as “special damages,” are tangible, calculable losses directly tied to the accident. These include:
- Medical expenses: Lengthy hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and ongoing medical treatments.
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other personal property damaged in the crash.
- Lost wages: Compensation for time missed at work due to recovery, including partial or total disability.
- Loss of earning capacity: If the accident results in a long-term or permanent inability to work, you may seek compensation for reduced future earning potential.
Since these losses are based on actual expenses and estimated future costs, they are generally straightforward to calculate and document with bills, receipts, and employment records.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, or “general damages,” cover intangible losses that do not have a set dollar amount but impact your quality of life. These may include:
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and resulting injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Reduced quality of life due to limitations imposed by injuries, such as the inability to enjoy previous activities or hobbies.
- Emotional distress: Mental health impacts such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress following the accident.
Since non-economic damages are more subjective, they are often harder to calculate but can substantially influence the overall case value. Attorneys or courts may use various methods to assess these damages, including the severity of the injury, impact on daily life, and duration of suffering.
What Our Clients Have to Say
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team to represent my case…”
– Lori
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Contact Our Seattle Truck Accident Attorney Today
We know that the injuries from a collision with a semitrailer can be catastrophic, and they can leave you with large financial hardships and many uncertainties. We also know how important the outcome of your case is to your future. For that reason, our Seattle truck accident attorney will work diligently to help you recover the financial compensation you need.
Reach out to us to see how we can assist truck accident victims and their families in the pursuit of justice today. Call our Seattle office at 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) or schedule a free consultation using our online contact form.