Tacoma’s strategic location along the I-5 corridor and proximity to the Port of Tacoma make it a hub for commercial truck traffic. Every day, hundreds of large trucks, including 18-wheelers, tankers, and box trucks, pass through Tacoma’s highways and streets. While these vehicles are essential to commerce, their size, weight, and complexity make them particularly dangerous in a collision.
When a commercial truck crashes, the impact can be catastrophic. Victims may face severe physical trauma, emotional distress, financial burdens, and long-term disability. At Jacobs and Jacobs, our personal injury lawyers in Tacoma, WA, understand the severity of these accidents and will fight for our clients and their families to recover the compensation they need.
Truck Driving Safety Laws in Tacoma, WA
Both federal regulations and Washington state laws govern commercial truck operations. Our personal injury lawyers have deep knowledge of state and federal laws and will identify the violations of these laws in truck accident cases to establish liability.
FMCSA Regulations (Federal)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees a detailed framework of federal rules that govern commercial trucking across the United States. Violations of these regulations can form the basis for a negligence per se claim. It means that the very act of violating these rules can help establish liability in your truck accident case.
- Hours of Service (HOS): These rules limit how long a truck driver may operate without a rest break. For example, a driver cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive off-duty hours. If a truck driver exceeds these limits and causes a collision due to fatigue or drowsiness, they and their employer may be held liable.
- Vehicle Maintenance Requirements: Trucking companies are mandated to conduct routine maintenance, including brake inspections, tire checks, and lighting system assessments. Poor maintenance is a leading cause of truck crashes and may be used as direct evidence of negligence.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing: FMCSA requires both pre-employment and random testing of commercial drivers for controlled substances and alcohol. A driver under the influence at the time of a crash would face both civil and potential criminal liability.
- Driver Qualification Standards: Commercial drivers must possess a valid CDL (Commercial Driver’s License), pass medical exams, and meet age and training requirements. Unqualified or medically unfit drivers should never be allowed behind the wheel of a semi-truck.
- Cargo Securement Rules: Improperly secured loads can shift during transit, causing jackknifes, rollovers, or cargo spills. FMCSA outlines strict securement standards that all truckers must follow.
Washington State Trucking Laws
In addition to federal rules, Washington’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division enforces state-level trucking regulations that also affect liability in a crash.
- RCW 46.61.672 – Prohibition on Distracted Driving: Similar to passenger vehicles, truck drivers are prohibited from texting or using handheld devices. Distracted driving, especially in commercial vehicles, can be deadly.
- Truck Speed Limits and Lane Restrictions: In some Washington areas, trucks must use the right lane and adhere to reduced speed limits. Violating these rules often increases the risk of collisions.
- Lighting, Brake Systems & Signage Requirements: Trucks must be properly equipped with trailer lighting, reflective signage, and functional brakes. Failure to meet these safety requirements can be pivotal in proving fault.
Our experienced truck accident attorneys in Tacoma are equipped to investigate violations of these regulations. When drivers or their employers disregard the rules, we hold them accountable and seek a fair settlement for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Types of Injuries in Tacoma Truck Accidents
At Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group, our Tacoma truck accident lawyers strongly represent clients who may have suffered:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Head trauma from a truck crash may result in cognitive impairment, memory loss, behavioral changes, or permanent disability. TBIs generally require long-term care and extensive rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Whether it’s a herniated disc or complete spinal cord severance, these injuries can permanently alter a victim’s mobility, independence, and quality of life. Cases involving paraplegia or quadriplegia require complex life care plans.
Multiple Fractures and Crush Injuries
Truck crashes in Tacoma frequently cause shattered bones, particularly in the legs, arms, pelvis, or ribs. Victims may sometimes require repeated surgeries, implant placement, or the risk of amputation.
Internal Organ Damage
The blunt force trauma from a collision can rupture internal organs like the liver, spleen, or lungs, or cause internal bleeding. These conditions are immediately life-threatening and require emergency surgery.
Burn Injuries
Explosions, fuel fires, or chemical spills in a trucking accident may leave victims with third-degree burns, disfigurement, and require extensive medical treatment, including reconstructive procedures, scarring, and psychological trauma.
Emotional and Psychological Injuries
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are very real consequences of truck accidents. We work with mental health professionals to quantify these damages and fight for full compensation.
When pursuing your claim, our experienced truck accident lawyers will build a medical evidence file so complete that no insurer or jury can ignore your pain.
Role of Black Box Data and How Our Tacoma Truck Accident Lawyers Secure This Evidence
In truck accident claims, the Event Data Recorder (EDR), commonly known as the “black box,” can make or break your case. These devices, installed in most commercial trucks, record critical data both before and during a crash.
What Does the Black Box Record?
- Speed of the vehicle before the crash
- Brake application timing
- Throttle position
- Steering angle
- Engine RPM
- Sudden deceleration (hard braking)
- Use of cruise control
- Airbag deployment
This electronic data can expose reckless driving, speeding, or failure to brake. It may even reveal falsified logbooks and Hours of Service violations. But here’s the catch. Black box data may get overwritten or lost within days unless the trucking company is legally compelled to preserve it.
That’s why in truck crash-related wrongful death or personal injury claims, we move quickly with the following actions:
- Send spoliation letters or obtain a court order to prevent the destruction of data
- File emergency motions to access the truck and retrieve EDR evidence
- Work with forensic experts to extract and interpret the black box data
At Jacobs and Jacobs, our truck accident attorneys in Tacoma start trial preparation from day one. This aggressive approach puts pressure on the insurance companies and gives an edge to truck accident victims during settlement negotiations.
How Our Lawyers Use Surveillance Footage to Challenge the Truck Driver’s Version of the Accident
In case after case, we have seen truck drivers distort the truth in their version of events. Whether they deny fault, blame the victim, or lie about their speed and positioning, their statements typically don’t hold up to visual evidence. That’s where surveillance footage comes in. Cameras may capture the crash from multiple vantage points, which is vital for disproving false narratives.
Key Footage Sources We May Pursue:
- Traffic Cameras
- Commercial Property Cameras
- Dashcams (Your Vehicle or a Witness’s)
- Nearby Residences or Apartment Buildings
How We Use It:
- Cross-reference timing with black box data to expose inconsistencies
- Show the point of impact and right-of-way violations
- Illustrate the truck’s positioning or lane changes before the crash
- Capture the trucker’s failure to brake or react appropriately
We may send subpoenas, request preservation of footage, and work with private investigators when necessary. This visual evidence can be instrumental in proving liability to recover fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering in a case involving serious injury.
How Our Tacoma Truck Accident Lawyers Prove Hours of Service (HOS) Violations
Many commercial truck drivers are required to follow Hours of Service (HOS) rules, set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to prevent fatigue-related crashes. These rules limit:
- Driving time to 11 hours after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
- Total on-duty time to 14 hours per shift
- Weekly maximums with mandated 34-hour restarts
- Mandatory 30-minute breaks after 8 hours of driving
Despite these rules, logbook fraud is a known industry issue. Truckers may falsify records under pressure from employers to meet tight delivery windows. Unfortunately, these falsifications may not be apparent to law enforcement during an initial investigation after your accident and severe injuries.
At Jacobs and Jacobs, we take the following steps to prove HOS violations even when logbooks appear clean:
- Cross-reference logbooks with GPS data, fuel receipts, toll records, weigh station timestamps, and electronic communication with dispatch.
- Secure black box (EDR) data, which may reveal actual driving time and speed.
- Subpoena delivery records, cell phone logs, and time-stamped loading/unloading documents.
- Work with forensic trucking experts who know how to detect inconsistencies in mileage, hours, and rest logs.
- Interview witnesses, including co-drivers, warehouse employees, and other relevant third parties.
Falsified logbooks don’t have to derail your case. Our Tacoma truck crash lawyers know how to uncover the truth and expose violations that show the driver and their employer acted negligently.
Role of Accident Reconstructionists to Prove Liability in a Tacoma Truck Crash
In high-impact truck accidents involving disputed liability, our Tacoma truck accident lawyers at Jacobs and Jacobs may turn to accident reconstruction specialists to strengthen your case.
What Is Accident Reconstruction?
Accident reconstruction is a scientific process that analyzes the physical evidence from a crash, such as vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, and road conditions, to determine how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
In a truck accident case involving serious or fatal injuries, our team may work with board-certified engineers and nationally-recognized crash experts to:
- Map the crash scene using 3D imaging and simulations
- Analyze black box data and physical evidence
- Recreate vehicle movements, speeds, and stopping distances
- Evaluate impact angles and visibility
- Determine whether the truck’s weight, cargo, or maintenance issues contributed to the crash
- Explain complex findings to juries in a clear and persuasive manner
In a courtroom or negotiation setting, this objective and expert-driven analysis can be the deciding factor. It allows us to refute misleading claims made by the defense and to present a factually supported and persuasive narrative of how the crash occurred.
Negligence of Cargo Loaders May Contribute to Tacoma Truck Accidents
Cargo loading companies and contractors can play a role in causing or contributing to a truck accident in Tacoma.
When cargo is loaded improperly, it can:
- Shift unexpectedly, destabilizing the truck and causing rollovers
- Exceed legal weight limits, resulting in brake failure or loss of control
- Obstruct the driver’s view or mirrors, especially if improperly secured
- Fall onto the roadway, endangering nearby motorists
- Cause a jackknife accident due to an unbalanced trailer
Negligent Cargo Loading Practices We Investigate Include:
- Overloading beyond FMCSA regulations or WA state weight limits
- Uneven distribution of cargo
- Insecure tie-downs or faulty securing equipment
- Use of damaged or incompatible pallets, straps, or racks
- Failure to check for cargo movement during transit
- Not sealing or locking container doors correctly
- Loading hazardous materials without following proper protocol
Our truck accident lawyers in Tacoma trace liability beyond just the driver or carrier. In large truck accidents involving a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim, we will examine every link in the logistics chain. If a third-party cargo loader, warehouse operator, or shipping contractor contributed to the crash, we will hold them accountable.
Our Battle-Tested Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Fight for You
For over a century, Jacobs and Jacobs has served injured Washingtonians with compassion, skill, and resolve. Our roots in the Puget Sound area stretch back to 1893, and today we continue to build on our legacy by advocating fiercely for truck collision injury victims in Tacoma, WA.
Our attorneys have recovered over $113 million in settlements and verdicts in the last five years alone. We have represented more than 10,000 clients in the past decade. From the moment you contact us, we’re laser-focused on handling the legal complexities and pursuing maximum financial recovery.
Whether it takes a high-stakes courtroom battle or tough settlement negotiations with powerful insurers, we will leave no stone unturned to present a compelling case for damages on your behalf. We work on a contingency fee basis. To schedule your free consultation, call us 24/7 at 253-342-4965 or contact us online.