Truck accidents don’t just wreck vehicles – they can wreck lives. Painful injuries, medical bills piling up, and endless phone calls with insurance companies can leave you wondering, “What now?”
At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, we believe you’re entitled to more than just answers – you deserve action. Truck accident claims are complicated, with powerful corporations fighting to protect their bottom line. That’s why we take a no-nonsense approach to help you get the compensation you need. Let us handle the legal aspects of your lawsuit while you focus on what matters most: your recovery.
Why Hire Us for Your Truck Accident Claim?
Commercial truck accident cases can be extremely difficult to pursue because powerful transportation companies and their insurers nearly always fight hard to reduce their responsibility. You need a personal injury law firm with the experience and dedication to stand up to both. When you choose Harris Velázquez Gibbens, you gain a partner committed to fighting for your future.
- We Know the Trucking Industry: Commercial truck drivers and trucking firms must follow strict state and federal regulations. Our personal injury attorneys examine driver logbooks, black box data, and maintenance records to uncover violations like excessive hours on the road, poorly maintained vehicles, or overloaded cargo – all key factors that make your case stronger.
- Expert Resources for Case Investigation: Trucking accident cases often hinge on evidence that requires specialized insights. Our network of reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and trucking specialists helps us uncover the root cause of a crash. From brake failures to reckless driving, we identify every contributing factor.
- Proven Negotiation Skills: Insurance companies can deploy aggressive tactics to undervalue claims. With years of experience in negotiations and litigation, we’ve successfully countered these strategies to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
- Client-Centered Service: We understand how stressful this time is for you. Our legal team keeps you informed at every stage of your personal injury lawsuit while providing the support you need to feel confident in your case.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents occur in many forms. Knowing what happened (and why) is critical for identifying who’s at fault and calculating the damages you’re entitled to. Let’s break down the most common types of commercial vehicle accidents so you can understand what’s at stake.
- Jackknife Accidents: Jackknife accidents occur when a massive truck loses control and its trailer swings out at a sharp angle, forming an L-shape with the cab. When a truck jackknifes, it can block entire highways, create multi-vehicle pileups, and leave devastation in its wake. These motor vehicle accidents often lead to severe injuries, from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries. Worse, they put everyone on the road at risk, not just the semi-truck driver.
- Rear-End Collisions: A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Now imagine that amount of force slamming into the back of a passenger car. Rear-end collisions involving trucks often result in catastrophic damage due to their sheer size. Cars can be crushed, and passengers frequently suffer catastrophic injuries like whiplash, spinal fractures, or permanent disability.
- Underride Accidents: One of the deadliest types of truck accidents, underride crashes happen when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a truck’s trailer. The top of the car is often crushed or sheared off entirely, leaving occupants with little chance of survival. While federal regulations require underride guards, some trucking companies cut corners to save costs, leaving their vehicles dangerously unprotected.
- Tire Blowouts: When a truck’s tire blows out at highway speeds, it can lead to total loss of control. The truck might swerve into other lanes, tip over, or even cause chain-reaction crashes. For drivers nearby, a flying tire or rubber debris can be just as dangerous. These blowouts are preventable when trucking companies follow strict maintenance schedules, but some prioritize profits over safety.
- Rollover Accidents: Rollover accidents happen when a truck’s center of gravity shifts too far, causing the vehicle to tip. These crashes are especially dangerous on highways, where overturned trucks can block multiple lanes and lead to high-speed collisions. Victims in these semi-truck crashes can suffer devastating injuries, including spinal cord injury, head trauma, and severe burns if the truck was carrying flammable materials.
Each of these accidents brings its own challenges, both on the road and in the courtroom. From mechanical failures to driver negligence, uncovering the exact cause is key to building a strong case. At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, our trucking accident attorneys know how to dig deep into the details to find out what went wrong and who’s responsible.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Oregon?
Truck accidents don’t just happen by chance. In most cases, they’re the result of preventable mistakes or outright negligence. Understanding the most common causes can give you insight into what went wrong and who should be held accountable.
- Drunk Driving and Drugged Driving: Impaired truck drivers are a danger to everyone on the road. Whether it’s alcohol, illegal substances, or even certain prescription medications, impairment slows reaction times, clouds judgment, and increases the likelihood of catastrophic mistakes. Despite strict regulations, some drivers take these risks, putting countless lives in jeopardy.
- Driver Fatigue: Truckers often push themselves beyond the limits of safety to meet tight delivery schedules. Long hours behind the wheel can lead to exhaustion, slower reaction times, and even falling asleep while driving. Federal rules are supposed to prevent this, but they’re often ignored, leaving the door open for accidents.
- Distracted Driving: Long hours on the road make it tempting for drivers to reach for their cell phones, eat meals, or adjust GPS systems while driving. A single moment of inattention can result in a devastating collision, especially given the size and weight of commercial trucks.
- Speeding: Speeding and reckless driving often go hand in hand. Truck drivers under pressure to meet deadlines may exceed safe speed limits or engage in risky behaviors like tailgating or weaving between lanes. These actions reduce a truck’s ability to stop in time and make accidents far more severe when they happen.
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Semi-trucks are complex machines that require regular upkeep. When trucking maintenance companies cut corners or fail to follow maintenance schedules, critical systems like brakes, tires, and lights can fail. Tire blowouts, brake malfunctions, and other mechanical issues are preventable but far too common.
- Improper Cargo Loading: Improper cargo loading is a less obvious but equally dangerous factor. When cargo is overloaded or not properly secured, it can shift during transit, throwing the truck off balance. This increases the risk of rollovers, jackknife accidents, and spills that create hazards for other vehicles.
- Bad Weather: Weather conditions like rain, fog, snow, or ice often play a role in truck accidents. While bad weather can’t be avoided, drivers are responsible for adjusting their speed and approach. Failing to slow down or use proper safety equipment in poor weather can quickly turn a manageable situation into a major crash.
- Poorly Trained Drivers: Inadequate training is another issue that’s often overlooked. Driving a semi-truck isn’t like driving a car. It requires specialized skills to handle tight turns, heavy loads, and emergencies. When drivers are undertrained or rushed into the job, their mistakes can have far-reaching consequences.
- Blind Spots: Trucks have significant blind spots on all sides, and failing to account for these areas can lead to collisions when merging, turning, or changing lanes. Smaller vehicles often bear the brunt of these mistakes.
Whether it’s human error, improper maintenance, or lack of oversight, there’s almost always a way these crashes could have been prevented. Identifying what went wrong is the first step to understanding the full scope of the problem and taking action.
What to Do If You’ve Been in a Truck Accident
A semi-truck accident is chaotic, overwhelming, and often life-altering. But what you do in the moments and days afterward can determine the strength of your case and the compensation you may recover. Let’s walk through the steps you should take to protect yourself and set your personal injury claim up for success.
- Make Safety Your First Priority: Your safety and the safety of others should come first. If you’re able to move, check yourself and others for injuries. If the accident scene is dangerous (like an active highway or a vehicle leaking fuel) get to a safe location. Once you’re secure, call 911.
- Get Medical Attention Immediately: Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, but adrenaline can mask the pain. Even if you feel okay, seek medical attention right away. Internal injuries, concussions, or whiplash may not show symptoms immediately but can worsen without treatment.
- Document Everything You Can: If you’re physically able, use your phone to document the scene thoroughly. Take photos of the vehicles from multiple angles, the road conditions, any visible injuries, and any debris or skid marks. Make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with the truck driver and collect the names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Be Careful With Insurance Carriers: After a truck crash, you’ll likely hear from insurance adjusters who seem friendly and eager to help. Don’t be fooled: their goal is to protect their bottom line, not yours. Avoid providing recorded statements or signing any documents without consulting a personal injury lawyer first.
- Call an Oregon Truck Accident Lawyer: Truck accident cases involve complicated laws, powerful corporations, and a mountain of evidence that needs to be sorted and analyzed. An experienced truck accident attorney will not only protect your rights but also build a strong case for maximum compensation.
What Compensation Can You Get After a Truck Accident?
When you’ve been in a semi-truck accident, financial compensation is meant to address the impact the crash has had on your life, now and in the future. Here’s what you need to know about the types of damages you can pursue in a truck accident case and how they add up.
- Medical Expenses: Medical bills are one of the biggest financial burdens after a truck accident. Compensation for medical expenses can extend to every aspect of your care. This includes surgeries, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments.
- Lost Wages: Truck accidents can leave you unable to work for weeks, months, or even longer. Fair compensation for lost income ensures that your immediate financial needs are covered. If your truck accident injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your earning capacity long-term, your settlement may include compensation for reduced future earnings.
- Property Damage: A collision with a commercial truck can leave your vehicle totaled or in need of repairs. Property damage compensation addresses the cost of fixing or replacing your car, as well as any personal items that were damaged in the crash.
- Non-Economic Damages: Not all losses are financial. The physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life you experience after a truck accident are real and deserve recognition. Non-economic damages provide fair compensation for these less tangible, but deeply impactful, consequences.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the truck driver or truck company acted with extreme negligence (such as driving under the influence or blatantly ignoring safety regulations), punitive damages may come into play. Unlike other forms of compensation, punitive damages are designed to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior in the future.
Make an Oregon Truck Accident Lawyer Your Partner in Recovery
A truck accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. Harris Velázquez Gibbens is here to fight for your rights, hold responsible parties accountable, and pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer. We’ve provided legal representation to hundreds of people in your position: now let us put our experience and dedication to work for you.
