Trucks are part of daily life on the Eastside. Semis on I-405 and I-90. Dump trucks and concrete mixers at downtown building sites. Delivery vans on every block. When one of them hits you, you need help fast. Bellevue truck accident lawyer Rich Martin once persuaded a jury to award $2 million to a client injured in a tractor-trailer crash. Our office is here in Bellevue.
Bellevue: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle (crashes in the Seattle case area)
- Major roads
- I-405, I-90, SR 520, Bellevue Way NE, NE 8th Street
- Hospitals
- Overlake Medical Center (Level III trauma center)
- Population
- 158,300 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is in town, at 11811 NE 1st Street.
Hurt in a truck crash in Bellevue?
Truck crashes are rarely simple. The driver may work for one company, drive a truck owned by another, and haul cargo loaded by a third. Each has its own insurer, and each will try to blame someone else.
We sort that out for you. We find every company that may be responsible, save the evidence, and deal with all the insurers while you recover.
Truck traffic on the Eastside
- I-405, the Eastside’s main freight route between Tukwila and Lynnwood.
- I-90, the route over Snoqualmie Pass for trucks heading east.
- SR 520, connecting Bellevue and Redmond to Seattle.
- Downtown Bellevue and the Spring District, where building sites bring cranes, dump trucks, and concrete trucks.
- Neighborhood streets, where delivery vans stop, double-park, and back up.
Crashes on the freeways are usually investigated by the Washington State Patrol. Bellevue Police handle city streets. Statewide, 79 people died in crashes involving a heavy truck in 2024 (preliminary), according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Construction and work trucks
Bellevue keeps building. That means heavy equipment and work trucks on busy streets, often in tight spaces. These trucks can cause crashes when they turn wide, back up without a spotter, block lanes, or drop debris.
In these cases, the construction company, a subcontractor, or the equipment owner may share the blame. Work-site rules and safety plans can be strong evidence.
Delivery vans and box trucks
Online shopping has put delivery vans on every street. Drivers are often rushing to meet quotas. They stop suddenly, pull out without looking, or park in bike lanes. The delivery company may be responsible for its driver’s mistakes. Read about box truck crashes in Bellevue.
Who can be responsible
| Party | Why they may share the blame |
|---|---|
| Truck driver | Speeding, distraction, fatigue, unsafe turns or lane changes |
| Trucking or delivery company | Unsafe schedules, poor training, or hiring a risky driver |
| Construction company or subcontractor | Unsafe work-zone traffic, no spotter, debris on the road |
| Cargo loader | An overloaded or loose load |
| Maintenance shop or parts maker | Bad brakes, worn tires, or a defect |
Hours-of-service limits
Federal law caps how long most interstate truckers can drive (49 CFR 395.3).
Federal driving-time limits for truck drivers
Most trucks must also record driving hours on an electronic logging device (49 CFR 395.8). When a crash happens near the end of a long shift, the logs can tell the story.
Evidence we protect right away
- Electronic driving logs and GPS data.
- Engine and crash data showing speed and braking.
- Inspection and repair records, which carriers must keep for at least a year (49 CFR 396.3).
- Dash cams and nearby building cameras.
- The driver’s training and safety history.
- Work-site safety plans for construction trucks.
Some of this evidence can disappear fast. We can send a letter right away telling the companies to save it.
Truck insurance is different
A carrier hauling general freight across state lines needs liability coverage of $750,000 or more, with higher minimums for hazardous cargo (49 CFR 387.9). Local delivery and construction companies often carry commercial policies too.
More insurance can mean more money for serious injuries. But commercial insurers fight hard and have lawyers ready on day one. You should too.
Injuries from truck crashes
- Brain injuries. Read about traumatic brain injuries.
- Disc and spine damage. Rich’s $2 million jury verdict involved a disc injury. Read about spinal injury compensation.
- Broken bones and crush injuries.
- Deaths. Families may bring a wrongful death claim.
What to do after a truck crash in Bellevue
- Call 911 and get medical care.
- Get a photo of the cab door, where the carrier’s name and USDOT number are painted.
- Get names of the driver, the company, and witnesses.
- Send the carrier’s adjuster to us instead of answering questions.
- Call us quickly so evidence can be saved.
Partly at fault? You can still recover.
Washington’s pure comparative fault rule lets you recover even if you share some blame (RCW 4.22.005). Your payment goes down by your share. Truck insurers will try to raise your share. We answer with logs, data, and video.
Deadlines
Most truck injury claims must be filed within three years (RCW 4.16.080). When a public vehicle such as a city work truck or a county bus caused the crash, you file a government claim form first, then a 60-day wait (RCW 4.96.020). If your case goes to court, a crash in Bellevue is heard in King County Superior Court in Seattle.
What your Bellevue truck accident case may be worth
Heavier vehicles cause heavier injuries, and commercial carriers usually have more coverage, so these claims can be substantial. Value still comes down to the injury, the evidence, and the policies.
- $9.0 million: a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck, resolved in mediation.
- $2.0 million: a jury’s award for a disc injury caused by a tractor-trailer.
Past results don’t guarantee future results. Read our Bellevue truck accident settlement guide and semi-truck crashes in Bellevue.
How we work your truck case
We start with the evidence, because it fades fastest. Then we look at every company involved and every insurance policy. We work with crash experts when needed, and with your doctors to understand your future care. You don’t pay any of these costs up front.
Learn how a truck accident lawyer helps and read about fatal truck crashes in Bellevue.
Common truck crashes
- Rear-end impacts in I-405 slowdowns, when a loaded truck can’t stop in time.
- Lane-change crashes from a truck’s blind spots, often on freeway merges.
- Wide right turns downtown, where a truck swings out and traps a car or bike.
- Backing crashes at loading docks, building sites, and alleys.
- Jackknife and rollover crashes on ramps and curves.
- Unsecured loads that spill gravel, debris, or cargo onto the road.
- Brake and tire failures tied to skipped maintenance.
The type of crash tells us where to look. A backing crash points to spotters and site rules. A brake failure points to repair records. A freeway crash points to driving logs.
Schedules, fatigue, and phones
Many commercial drivers work under tight delivery windows. That pressure can push them to skip breaks, drive past their limits, or check a phone at the wheel. We compare logs with fuel stops, delivery records, and phone data. When the numbers don’t add up, it can show the driver and the company cut corners.
Out-of-state trucking companies
Many rigs on I-90 and I-405 are registered in other states. Their home base doesn’t control where you sue. A Bellevue crash can generally be brought in a Washington court and decided under Washington law, and we handle the out-of-state adjusters.
Too many insurance companies
One truck crash can involve the carrier’s policy, a separate policy on the trailer, a contractor’s coverage, and your own auto policy. Each wants someone else to pay. Let us take those calls.
Give every insurance company our number. We’ll handle them all and keep your words from being used against you.
If you’re asked to give a deposition
In a lawsuit, the other side’s lawyer may question you under oath in an office setting. This is a deposition. We prepare you ahead of time and sit with you the whole time. Read what to know before a deposition.
Your care comes first
Show up for every appointment and stick with the treatment plan. Commercial insurers look hard for gaps in care. If paying for treatment is the obstacle, let us know. PIP and health coverage can bridge the time until the case resolves.
Questions to ask before you hire a truck lawyer
- Have you won a truck case at trial?
- Will you personally handle my case?
- How fast can you get the truck’s records saved?
- Do I pay anything up front, including costs?
Here’s how we’d answer. Trial: Rich won $2 million from a jury in a tractor-trailer case. Personal handling: yes, Rich does the work. Records: a demand to preserve them can go out immediately. Up-front costs: none, under No Win, No Fee.
Building sites: who’s in charge?
When a construction truck causes a crash near a Bellevue building site, the first question is who controlled the truck and the traffic. It might be the general contractor, a subcontractor, a trucking company hired for the job, or a flagging company. Site plans, permits, and contracts show who was responsible for keeping traffic safe.
What happens in the first month
- Days 1 to 3: medical care, photos, and a call to us.
- Week 1: we send letters asking every company to save its records.
- Weeks 2 to 4: we gather the police report, video, and witness statements.
- Month 1 and on: you focus on treatment while we build the case.
How a truck case is valued
We start with what you’ve lost: medical bills, future care, lost pay, and lost earning power. Then we add the harm that bills don’t show, like pain and the things you can’t do anymore. Finally, we look at every insurance policy that applies. In truck cases there’s often more than one.
We won’t put a number on your case until we understand your recovery. Settling too early can leave you paying for future care yourself.
Hurt while working?
If you were on the job when you were hurt, you may have two claims. Workers’ compensation through L&I pays some medical bills and lost wages. But if someone outside your company caused the injury, Washington law lets you also seek damages from that person or company (RCW 51.24.030). That second claim can cover losses L&I doesn’t, like pain and suffering.
These two claims affect each other, so the order and timing matter. Tell us right away if you were working when you got hurt.
Visit our Bellevue office
We’re at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, in the Eastridge Corporate Center near I-405. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If you can’t travel, we can talk by phone.
Why truck crash clients hire Rich Martin
- A $2 million truck verdict. He’s proven it in front of a jury.
- He handles your case himself.
- Engineering training. Rich holds a mechanical engineering degree from UW, useful for reading crash data.
- No Win, No Fee. No recovery, no fee, and no bill for costs.
Meet Rich Martin or see our Seattle truck accident lawyer page.
Speak with a Bellevue truck accident lawyer
Tell us what happened. The conversation costs nothing. Phone (425) 635-2000 or write to us. For car crashes, see our Bellevue car accident lawyer page.
Truck Accidents: results for our clients
Past results don't guarantee future results. Every case is different. See all results →
Your attorney: Rich Martin
28 years. More than 2,000 injury cases. More than 30 jury trials. When you call, you talk to Rich, and he handles your case himself.
About Rich Martin →Questions about Bellevue truck accidents
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Who is responsible when a delivery van hits me?
Often the delivery company, because it's responsible for its drivers on the job. Sometimes a contractor company is involved too. We sort out who pays.
A construction truck caused my crash. Who do I file against?
Possibly the construction company, a subcontractor, or the truck owner. Work-site records help show who was in charge.
Where will my Bellevue truck case be filed?
If it goes to court, in King County Superior Court in Seattle. Most cases settle before trial.
How quickly should I call?
As soon as you can. Some truck records can be lost or overwritten. We can ask the companies to save them right away.
The trucking company is based out of state. Does that matter?
Usually not for where you file. A Bellevue crash can generally be brought here and decided under Washington law.
What's my deadline?
Three years from the crash in most cases (RCW 4.16.080). A city or county requires a claim form before any lawsuit.
The carrier's insurer wants a statement. Should I give one?
Talk to us first. Recorded statements and signed forms tend to help the insurer, not you.
Do I have to go to your office?
No. Many clients start with a phone call. If you'd like to meet, our office is at 11811 NE 1st Street in Bellevue. Call ahead to set a time.
What if I was hurt while working?
You may have an L&I claim and a separate claim against whoever caused the injury (RCW 51.24.030). The two affect each other, so tell us early.
Do truck cases always go to trial?
No. Most settle. But trucking insurers pay more when they know your lawyer is ready for trial, and Rich has won a $2 million truck verdict.
Which records must a carrier keep?
Duty-status logs, inspection reports, and repair records, among others. Repair and inspection records must be kept for at least a year (49 CFR 396.3). We demand that they be preserved immediately.
Police didn't cite the trucker. Can I still claim?
Yes. A citation is helpful but not necessary. Logs, engine data, video, and witnesses can prove fault on their own.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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