To improve the accuracy of predicting bridge responses under ship-impact loads, this study proposes a response calculation method based on a simplified trapezoidal load model. Firstly, the equations of motion for the bridge are derived. Based on these equations, the state-space representation of the bridge system is further derived. Subsequently, the ship-impact load is simplified into rectangular and trapezoidal load forms, and the solution formulas of the state-space equations under these simplified loads are obtained. Finally, a finite element model of a four-span bridge is constructed to compute structural responses induced by ship-impact loads. Numerical results indicate that when the sampling frequency is 100Hz, the trapezoidal load simplification method yields response predictions that closely match the theoretical solutions, thereby demonstrating the accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed method.