A Guide for Victims & Their Families
A collision with a semi-truck or commercial vehicle is nothing like a regular car accident. These crashes often leave victims and their families facing life-changing injuries, overwhelming medical bills, lost income, and a complicated legal process that isn’t easy to navigate alone.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a trucking accident, this guide will help you understand why these cases are different, what steps to take, and how an experienced truck-accident attorney can protect your rights from day one.
Why Trucking Accidents Are So Complex
Commercial truck crashes involve layers of responsibility that don’t exist in typical car accidents. Instead of dealing with just one insurance company, you might be up against:
- A trucking company
- The driver
- A shipping company
- A maintenance or repair contractor
- A manufacturer of parts or equipment
These companies often have powerful insurance teams whose job is to protect their bottom line—not you. Evidence can disappear quickly after a truck crash, including logbooks, maintenance records, and “black box” data that can prove what really happened.
That’s why it’s critical to understand your rights and take action early.
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
Many truck crashes happen because of preventable safety failures. Some of the issues we see most often include:
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
- Distracted, impaired, or speeding drivers
- Overloaded or improperly loaded trailers
- Brake or tire failures
- Lack of proper maintenance or inspections
- Companies pressuring drivers to meet unsafe deadlines
These kinds of failures aren’t just mistakes, they can be signs of negligence. And proving negligence is essential to getting the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
If you’re recovering from a crash or trying to help a loved one, here are the most important steps to protect your case:
1. Get medical care immediately
Even if injuries seem minor, trucking accidents often cause internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage. Early medical documentation is vital.
2. Don’t speak to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster
They may sound friendly, but their goal is to minimize your claim. Let an attorney handle these conversations.
3. Preserve all evidence
Photos, medical records, witness statements, and damaged property all strengthen your claim.
4. Contact an experienced truck-accident attorney as soon as possible
A lawyer can send preservation letters, investigate the crash, access black-box data, and ensure you’re not taken advantage of during this vulnerable time.
Understanding Your Right to Compensation
Because commercial truck accidents often cause severe injuries, the damages available to victims can be significant. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency and ongoing medical care
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation and long-term care
- Loss of companionship or support
- Wrongful death damages (when families lose a loved one)
A skilled truck-accident attorney knows how to calculate the true cost of your injuries, not just for today, but for the months and years ahead.
How Bastion Law Helps Truck Accident Victims
We’re not a settlement mill. We’re trial lawyers who go up against trucking companies and their insurers and win.
When you work with Bastion Law, you can expect:
- A free consultation
- No fees unless we win
- A full investigation of your crash
- A legal team ready to take your case to trial if needed
- Clear, honest communication every step of the way
We’ve represented victims of spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, and permanent disability caused by truck crashes across Washington.
Whether you’re a Washington resident who’s been sidelined by an injury — you deserve better than a quick payout and a handshake.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Start With a Free Consultation
If you’ve been seriously hurt in a trucking accident, don’t wait. Evidence disappears fast, and insurance companies move quickly to protect themselves.
Let Bastion Law protect you. We’ll review your case, deal with the insurer, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.