Portland Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents in Portland present complex legal challenges. The Rose City’s roadways serve as essential routes for commercial vehicles, meaning that sharing the road with large trucks is inevitable.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported 2,336 medium to heavy truck crashes in 2021, 97% of which involved injuries.

Unfortunately, when these accidents occur, the damage and injuries can be quite severe. For those involved in a crash with a large truck, understanding their rights and seeking fair compensation often requires the help of a Portland truck accident lawyer.

There is no time to waste after truck crashes. Trucking companies and their insurers will launch a strong offense against any injury claim that a victim files, and this process starts long before most people even realize what their legal options are.

Semi-Truck Collisions in Northwest Oregon

The trucking industry is a major employer in our state. According to the Oregon Trucking Association, there are approximately 105,170 total positions in the state—that’s about one out of every 16 jobs. That same organization’s data suggests that truckers transport around 91% of goods manufactured in our state.

If you drive in the Portland metro area, the chances are good that you share the road with big commercial trucks regularly.

Unfortunately, just because semi-trucks are a normal presence on our roads doesn’t mean that they’re safe. Consider some of the following 2021 Portland, Multnomah County, and Oregon truck accident statistics:

• There were 331 truck accidents in Multnomah County
• Of those county-wide truck crashes, 255 happened in Portland
• In total, there were 2,468 trucking accidents in Oregon

The data above paints a clear picture of how truck companies routinely fail to operate safely within our state.

Injuries Associated With Portland Tractor-Trailer Crashes

According to the 2022 National Traffic Highway Safety Administration Traffic Safety Facts, 70% of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle in 2022 were occupants of the other vehicle. Truck crashes took the lives of 5,936 people in the United States in 2022. Another 160,609 people were severely injured.

Some of the most common truck accident injuries are also some of the most severe. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, around 20 times more than the average car, pickup truck, or SUV.

The vast size and weight difference between these vehicles is the cause of many life-altering and life-threatening injuries, including:

• Broken and shattered bones
• Amputated limbs
• Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
• Permanent disability or paralysis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns and skin lacerations

Don’t let the insurance company decide how much you are owed for your medical expenses.

If you’ve been seriously hurt in a crash caused by a truck driver, you need powerful legal representation to ensure your right to compensation is preserved. A Portland truck accident lawyer in our office can help.

Compensation Available in a Multnomah County Truck Wreck Case

You’ve suffered serious injuries. You’re out of work. Your medical bills are piling up, and you’re not sure how to even begin focusing on your physical and emotional recovery while you’re experiencing acute financial distress.

So, what are you supposed to do about it?

Truck accident cases create a legal path for accident victims to recover fair compensation for a wide range of both of the following:

Economic Damages

In civil law, economic damages are awarded to compensate accident victims for their financial losses related to an accident or injury. While medical treatment is a significant category covered by this compensation, it is not the only financial loss for which you can be recompensed.

In a typical injury claim filed against a trucking company, economic damages may cover:

• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Doctor and specialist appointments
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Prescription medications
• Hospital bills
• Surgical fees
• Psychiatric care (including talk therapy)
• Auto repair bills

The above are general examples of the types of economic damages that can be awarded in a trucking accident case. Your own injury claim may encompass different financial losses.

Noneconomic Damages

The ways that your life has been impacted by truck company negligence cannot always be measured by financial losses. For this reason, noneconomic damages seek to compensate victims for the non-monetary ways their lives have been harmed or altered.

Although every case is different, an injury claim can include noneconomic damages for some of the following:

• Loss of enjoyment in life
• Lasting pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Vehicle- and travel-related phobias
• Loss of companionship and society

Federal and State Regulations That Truckers Often Violate

Trucking companies and drivers are required to follow federal and state regulations. If the driver or company fails to do so, it could be liable for any injuries and damages in a crash.

On the national level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces trucking regulations, including:

• Hours of Service (HOS) regulations
• Mandatory rest breaks
• Vehicle maintenance requirements
• Driver qualification standards

Along with that, each state may have its own specific rules that trucking companies must follow. For example, here in Oregon, trucking companies must:

• Meet state-specific weight and size limits
• Comply with local road restrictions
• Undergo additional safety inspections

Disregarding these rules puts everyone’s life on the road at risk.

Not only can these violations lead to fines and other consumer consequences, but they can also be a factor in devastating trucking accidents. Those who ignore these regulations are negligent, and they must be held accountable for their actions.

Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Portland

To file a truck accident claim, you must be prepared to collect and analyze evidence, determine the cause of the crash, and identify all at-fault parties.

Examples of evidence frequently used to substantiate these types of claims include:

• Proof of driver fatigue
• Documented violations of federal and state laws
• Accident reports created by law enforcement officers
• Medical records documenting severe injuries and treatments
• Data from an electronic logging device (black boxes)

Some of the most common causes of truck wrecks involve:

• Driver fatigue
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive or reckless behavior
• Poor maintenance
• Negligent hiring practices

Parties that may be found liable for a commercial truck crash include but are certainly not limited to:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the truck
• The trucking company
• Third-party contractors
• A shipping company
• Other drivers of passenger vehicles

Truck accidents in Portland should be completely preventable. When one or more acts of negligence allow a crash to happen, a qualified truck accident attorney can help you hold those at fault responsible for the harm they’ve caused.

Hiring a Portland Truck Accident Lawyer

As a joint venture law firm with nationwide resources and a local focus, Trucking Injury Law Group has the background, experience, knowledge, and tenacity needed to take on a negligent trucking company and win.

When you work with a Portland truck accident lawyer from our firm, you can be confident that you’ll always have a tireless advocate on your side. We don’t let the insurance company dictate how things will go.

We’re ready to get to work on your case. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.