If you were injured in a truck accident in Puyallup, Washington, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group today for a free consultation with a Puyallup truck accident lawyer.
We are one of the most established personal injury firms in Washington State, with a history dating back to 1893. Our truck accident attorneys in Puyallup have recovered more than $100 million for clients in the last five years alone, giving you experienced legal representation from the start.
If another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, contact our Puyallup personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.
We take it from here, handling the investigation, insurance companies, and legal process while you focus on your recovery. Call (253) 364-7042 to get started.
Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group Will Fight For You
Truck accident cases bring a level of complexity that the average car accident case doesn’t, due in large part to the fact that they can be worth substantial amounts of money. For that same reason, you can count on the trucking company and its insurer to fiercely oppose your claim from the start.
Jacobs and Jacobs is here to fight for you throughout the entire legal process, including in the courtroom if that’s what justice demands. A few reasons to consider hiring our Puyallup personal injury lawyers include:
- We’ve been in business for well over a century, making us one of the longest-standing personal injury law firms in the nation
- Our lead attorney, Tom Jacobs, is currently handling more personal injury claims than any other lawyer in Pierce County and has 40 years of experience practicing law
- We’ve consistently won cases for our clients in the six- and seven-figure range
- We’ve been recognized by the Pierce County Bar Association, the Washington State Association for Justice, and other prominent legal organizations
Contact our truck accident lawyers in Puyallup, WA, today for a free case review. We’re ready to get to work on your claim right away.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Puyallup?
Truck accident claims often involve more than just the driver who caused the crash. Depending on how the accident happened, several parties could share legal responsibility, such as:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that hired/contracted the driver
- A cargo loading company
- A maintenance provider
- The manufacturer of a defective truck component
Each of these parties may carry its own insurance coverage, which could, in turn, increase the overall amount of compensation available to you significantly.
How Does Washington State Address the Issue of Contributory Fault?
Washington is a favorable state for accident victims when it comes to the issue of shared fault. The state follows a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame for the crash. However, your damages can be reduced based on your level of responsibility.
For instance, being 25% at fault can lower your damages by 25%, though you won’t be barred from recovering compensation altogether at any point, like you would in most other states.
Trucking companies and their insurers frequently try to shift blame onto the other driver to reduce what they have to pay. It makes sense to hire a truck accident attorney if this is happening to you, so that we can help you respond to these kinds of allegations appropriately.
What Will It Cost To Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Puyallup?
Most truck accident lawyers in Puyallup, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay anything up front to hire us, and there are no hourly rates to pay either. With a contingency fee, you only owe attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you at the conclusion of your case.
You will sign an agreement at the beginning of the process that spells out exactly how it works, so that there are no surprises down the road. This setup allows you to hire experienced legal representation regardless of your financial situation and also keeps us motivated to get you the most compensation we possibly can.
FAQs on Puyallup Truck Accident Claims
Can I sue both the truck driver and the trucking company in my Puyallup truck accident case?
Yes, Washington law allows you to pursue claims against both the negligent driver and their employer under the doctrine of vicarious liability or for independent negligence, like poor hiring practices or failure to supervise.
What if the truck driver who hit me was an independent contractor?
Even if the driver is classified as an independent contractor, the trucking company may still be held liable depending on how much control they exerted over the driver’s schedule, route, and working conditions.
What should I do if the trucking company destroyed important records?
If a trucking company engages in spoliation of evidence, our attorneys can seek court sanctions against them and request an adverse inference that the destroyed evidence was unfavorable to them.
Is black box (EDR) data admissible in court?
Yes. We frequently secure and use EDR data from commercial trucks to demonstrate speed, braking patterns, and throttle position, which can strongly support liability in your claim.
How are truck accident cases different from car accident cases in Puyallup?
Truck accidents often involve federal FMCSA regulations, larger insurance policies, more severe injuries, multiple parties, and a higher burden of investigation and expert testimony.
Although truck crashes are more complex than typical collisions, our car accident attorney in Puyallup also represents victims injured in other serious motor vehicle accidents.
Can I recover damages for PTSD or emotional trauma from a truck crash?
Absolutely. Washington law permits recovery for mental anguish, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages if properly documented and linked to the accident.
What if I was injured by a truck carrying hazardous materials?
Truck accidents involving hazardous cargo may involve special federal safety rules, and additional claims may be pursued against the carrier or shipper responsible for failing to label or secure the material properly.
What if the at-fault truck driver left the scene (hit-and-run)?
We can help you pursue compensation through your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy and investigate to identify the hit-and-run driver using surveillance footage and witness leads.
Can I sue a third party, like the cargo loader or a repair shop?
Yes. If an improperly loaded truck or negligent maintenance caused the accident, our Puyallup truck accident attorneys can pursue personal injury claims against those responsible third parties.
What happens if the truck wasn’t properly maintained?
Our investigation will include inspection records, maintenance logs, and expert mechanic evaluations. If maintenance negligence is found, we will hold the trucking company or maintenance provider accountable.
Can you still help if I don’t live in Puyallup but was injured there?
Yes, we represent clients statewide and out-of-state who were injured in truck accidents in Puyallup. We can handle everything remotely or arrange to meet you where it’s most convenient.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Secure After a Truck Accident in Puyallup?
You can receive both economic and non-economic damages as the victim of a truck accident in Puyallup. These “compensatory damages” are meant to make you whole again, at least as best as possible in a financial sense.
Economic damages cover your financial losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Future treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Other out-of-pocket costs
Non-economic damages address the personal toll:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
If your family lost a loved one in a fatal commercial vehicle collision, our wrongful death attorney in Puyallup can help you pursue compensation.
Washington does not impose caps on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. However, note that punitive damages generally aren’t available unless explicitly authorized by statute.
How Much Time Is There To File a Truck Accident Claim in Washington?
Washington’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under RCW 4.16.080. If you do not take legal action before that deadline, you could lose your right to pursue compensation altogether.
There are limited exceptions to this three-year time limit, but they are rare. In truck accident cases specifically, acting quickly is also important to ensure that important evidence isn’t destroyed by the defendant. Contact our personal injury lawyers as soon as you can so that we can protect that evidence and make sure your claim stays on solid ground.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Puyallup?
Puyallup sits along a busy stretch of SR-512 and is also close to the Port of Tacoma, with heavy commercial traffic flowing through the area daily. Many of the truck accidents that occur here are preventable and come down to someone cutting corners on safety.
Some of the most frequent causes include:
- Truck drivers exceeding hours of service limits and driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle
- Failing to adjust for wet road conditions
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Deferred maintenance on things like brakes and tires
- Trucking companies pressuring drivers to skip rest breaks and meet tight delivery schedules
When any of these factors contribute to an accident, the responsible parties can be held liable for any resulting injuries that occur. Federal FMCSA regulations set strict standards for how trucks must be operated and maintained; violations of those standards often serve as compelling evidence of negligence.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Award-Winning Puyallup Truck Accident Attorneys
A truck accident in Puyallup, WA, can change your life in an instant. If this has happened to you or a loved one, Jacobs and Jacobs is here to help you pursue maximum compensation.
Call our Puyallup truck accident attorneys today at (253) 364-7042 to schedule a free consultation. We’ve won over $100 million for our clients and are ready to get to work on your case as soon as you’re ready.