Truck crashes are often more serious than other accidents. You need an attorney with experience to guide you through these claims. With a 130+ year history of representing accident victims in Tacoma, Jacobs and Jacobs has proven it’s the firm to turn to.
Since 1893, our firm has been fighting for truck crash victims in Tacoma and the surrounding areas. We provide committed, compassionate representation and fight hard for every client. Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation with a Tacoma truck accident lawyer to learn more.
What Makes Jacobs and Jacobs The Right Choice For Your Truck Accident Claim?
Jacobs and Jacobs has everything you are looking for in a truck accident firm. You should turn to our legal team of Tacoma injury attorneys because:
- Our firm has been representing victims for over a century. Insurers know us. We have a team of experts who we know well to testify on our client’s behalf, and we know the local court rules. The depth of our experience sets us apart from most firms.
- We’ve won millions for clients. In just the past five years alone, we’ve recovered $113 million. We have the legal knowledge to build strong claims and hold trucking companies accountable.
- We are trial-ready. Our firm has been named among the National Trial Lawyer Top 100, and we have courtroom experience. We can go the distance to fight for you.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Tacoma
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, but some of the most common causes of collisions involving trucks in Tacoma include:
- Lack of driver training
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Impaired driving
- Drowsy driving when the FMCSA hours of service rules are violated
- Issues with truck airbrakes
- Negligent truck maintenance
- Overloaded trucks
- Improperly loaded or unbalanced trucks
- Tire blowouts
- Poor road design
- Bad weather
- Negligent road maintenance
Many of these causes of truck crashes are preventable. If you can show that another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to hold the driver and trucking company liable for losses.
How We Investigate Your Claim
Trucking companies often send investigators to the crash scene to try to find ways to prove the truck driver wasn’t at fault. Jacobs and Jacobs has the resources and knowledge to conduct our own investigation to help you prove your claim. We obtain extensive evidence, including:
- Black box surveillance data, or data from the truck’s onboard recorder
- Surveillance footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, home and business security cameras, and any other recordings of the accident
- The driver on duty logs to determine if there was a violation of hours-of-service rules and regulations
- Truck maintenance records showing whether the truck was properly maintained
- Witness testimony
- Evidence from the crash scene
- Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists.
Who Can Be Held Liable in Tacoma Truck Accident Cases?
Many different parties can be held liable in Tacoma truck accident cases. Some potential defendants include:
- Negligent truck drivers
- Trucking companies (under vicarious liability rules or because of the company’s own negligence)
- Manufacturers of defective trucks or defective truck parts
- Individuals or companies responsible for truck maintenance
- Truck owners, if they are different from operators, and can be held vicariously liable for actions of an on-the-job employee
- Government agencies responsible for road design or maintenance, if poorly designed or poorly maintained roads contributed to the accident
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.
What is the Statute of Limitations?
In Washington State, the statute of limitations is three years under RCW 4.16.080
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.
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.
Call Jacobs and Jacobs Today For A Free Truck Accident Case Evaluation
Jacobs and Jacobs is here and ready to fight for you, and we bring more than a century of experience to every truck accident case. Your consultation is free, and we don’t charge legal fees unless we win. Give us a call or contact us online today to talk with a Tacoma truck accident lawyer and learn how we can help.