Beaverton Truck Accident Lawyer

Injured in a Truck Accident in Beaverton, OR?

Truck accidents can be devastating and life-altering, leaving victims with serious injuries and financial burdens. At Pacific Cascade Legal, we understand the toll that a truck accident can take on you and your family. That's why we are dedicated to helping victims of truck accidents in Beaverton and throughout Oregon recover their entitled compensation.

Our experienced Beaverton truck accident lawyers have helped countless clients recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from truck accidents. We have the knowledge and skill to handle even the most complex truck accident cases, and we are committed to fighting for our clients' rights every step of the way.

Call (503) 217-2600 or contact us online today to discuss your case with our skilled legal team.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

A truck accident refers to a collision or incident involving a commercial truck, which is a large vehicle designed for transporting goods. These accidents can result in property damage, injuries, and even fatalities due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. Truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including driver error, mechanical failures, road conditions, weather, and other external factors.

Common types of truck accidents include:

• Rear-End Collisions: These occur when a truck crashes into the back of another vehicle. Due to their size and weight, trucks require more time to stop, making them prone to rear-end collisions if the driver does not maintain a safe following distance.
• Jackknife Accidents: A jackknife accident happens when a truck's trailer swings out to the side, forming an angle with the cab. This can occur during sudden braking or when the trailer loses traction on slippery roads, leading to loss of control.
• Rollover Accidents: Trucks, especially those carrying top-heavy loads, can tip over onto their sides in sharp turns or when the driver loses control. Rollover accidents can be particularly dangerous due to the risk of the truck colliding with other vehicles or obstacles.
• Underride Accidents: In an underride accident, a smaller vehicle collides with the rear or side of a truck and becomes partially or fully wedged beneath it. This type of accident can lead to severe injuries for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
• Blind Spot Accidents: Trucks have large blind spots, particularly on the sides and rear. Accidents can occur when a vehicle enters a truck's blind spot, and the truck driver changes lanes or makes a turn without being aware of the presence of the other vehicle.
• Tire Blowouts: When a truck's tire suddenly bursts while in motion, it can lead to loss of control and potentially cause an accident. Tire blowouts are more likely to happen if the tires are not properly maintained or if the truck is carrying excessive weight.
• Brake Failures: Brake failures can occur due to mechanical issues or overheating, making it difficult for the truck driver to slow down or stop. This can lead to collisions, especially on downhill slopes.
• Runaway Truck Accidents: These accidents occur when a truck's brakes fail while descending a steep grade. The truck gains momentum and becomes uncontrollable, often resulting in catastrophic collisions.
• Fatigue-Related Accidents: Truck drivers often work long hours, leading to fatigue. Fatigue-related accidents can occur when a driver falls asleep at the wheel or loses concentration, resulting in a collision.
• Wide Turn Accidents: Trucks need more space to turn due to their length. Accidents can happen when a truck swings wide while making a turn, potentially colliding with other vehicles or pedestrians.

Determining Liability in a Truck Accident

Liability in a truck accident can involve several parties, depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Truck accidents can be complex, involving factors such as driver behavior, vehicle maintenance, road conditions, and more.

Here are some parties that could potentially be held liable in a truck accident:

• Truck Driver: The driver of the truck might be held liable if their negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, or violating traffic rules, led to the accident.
• Trucking Company: The company that owns or operates the truck may be held liable if they were negligent in hiring, training, or supervising their drivers, or if they failed to properly maintain their vehicles. If the driver was operating within the scope of their employment, the company could also be held vicariously liable for the driver's actions.
• Truck Manufacturer: If a mechanical failure or defect in the truck's design or manufacturing contributed to the accident, the manufacturer of the truck or its parts could be held liable for the damages.
• Maintenance Contractors: If the truck was inadequately maintained, and this lack of maintenance directly contributed to the accident, any third-party maintenance contractors responsible for servicing the truck could be held liable.
• Cargo Loaders: Improperly loaded or secured cargo can cause accidents. If the cargo was loaded incorrectly and this contributed to the accident, the company responsible for loading the cargo might share liability.
• Government Agencies: Poor road conditions, inadequate signage, or other road-related factors that contribute to the accident might lead to liability on the part of the government agency responsible for maintaining the road.
• Other Drivers: If another driver's actions on the road contributed to the truck accident, they could be held liable. For example, if a car cut off the truck and caused a collision.
• Insurance Companies: While not directly responsible for the accident, insurance companies might become involved in determining liability and compensating victims for their damages.
• Passengers or Pedestrians: In some cases, passengers or pedestrians might contribute to an accident's occurrence through their actions, leading to shared liability.
• Third Parties: Sometimes, third parties might have contributed to the accident indirectly. For instance, a company that provides maintenance parts or services could be held liable if their products or services were subpar and contributed to the accident.

Determining liability in a truck accident can be intricate and often requires a thorough investigation involving accident reconstruction, analysis of driver logs, inspection of the truck's maintenance records, and more.

At Pacific Cascade Legal, our Beaverton truck accident lawyers are committed to helping victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today at (503) 217-2600 for an initial consultation and to learn how we can help you with your truck accident case.