Portland Truck Accident Lawyers

What types of truck accidents do you handle?

Our Portland truck accident lawyers are skilled at showing you were involved in a head-on crash, broadside, rear-end collision, passing accident, or other types of accidents comparable to car accidents.

Our personal injury lawyers also handle accidents that are generally unique to trucks including:

• Truck rollovers. These accidents occur because the center of gravity of trucks is higher than for cars. Trucks are prone to roll over if the driver turns too quickly or the cargo shifts while the truck is in transit. Truck rollovers endanger the truck driver and any vehicles near the truck.
• Blindspot accidents. It’s common knowledge that trucks have terrible sightlines. There are no rear windows or windows extending the truck's length. Drivers need to use extra caution when turning or shifting lanes. Truck owners and companies should ensure their trucks have the latest camera and video blind spot technology.
• Jackknife accidents. When a tractor and a trailer travel in different directions or at different speeds, the trailer and tractor can close in on each other like the blades of a jackknife. Common causes of jackknife accidents are speeding, skidding empty trucks, curved roads, and shifting cargo. Jackknife accidents in Portland endanger the truck driver and any vehicle or person near the tractor-trailer.
• Wide turn crashes. It’s pretty easy to see that trucks need a lot of room when they turn. Most trucks need to shift into another lane to complete the turn. Any vehicles to the side of the truck or close to the truck can be crunched when the truck turns. It helps, but it’s not enough, that trucks have warning signs about the dangers of wide turns. Truck drivers need to protect other drivers when they turn at intersections or elsewhere.
• Underride crashes. When cars and trucks collide, the cars can slide under the truck or the truck can drive over the car. Commercial trucks are now generally required to have rear guards to prevent truck underride accidents. Trucking companies can help protect the people in small cars if the trucks also have side guards.
• Cargo overloads and improperly loaded cargo. Trucks shouldn’t be properly loaded more than any Oregon or federal truck weight limits permit. Each type of cargo (gas, liquid, and solid) should be properly loaded so the cargo doesn’t shift while the truck moves. Shifting cargo can cause a truck driver to lose control. Cargo that spills can cause multiple collisions as other vehicles try to avoid the spilled cargo or the truck.
• Truck tire blowouts. Just one tire blowout can cause a truck driver to lose control of their truck. Truck drivers and trucking companies should regularly check the condition and pressure of each truck tire.