Albany Truck
Accident Attorney

We Handle Motor Vehicle Claims Involving Semi Trucks, 18-Wheelers & Other Large Trucks in Albany and Throughout Oregon

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There are over 13 million registered trucks in the US. Every day, many of these trucks travel across the country transporting consumer goods and other items. With a fully loaded semi-truck potentially weighing 80,000 pounds, a collision with a 3,000-pound car can be catastrophic. 

In Albany, Oregon, where major highways and commercial routes intersect, these types of accidents are not uncommon, unfortunately. In the aftermath of a truck accident, victims are often left to deal with severe injuries, medical bills, and legal hurdles. 

This is where an experienced and compassionate truck accident lawyer can help. An attorney can be your strongest ally. Your personal injury lawyer can explain your legal rights, investigate the cause of the crash, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Johnston Personal Injury Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation. 

Types of Albany, OR Truck Accidents Our Law Firm Handles

Truck accidents can occur under a variety of circumstances and for many different reasons. Here are some common types of truck accidents in Albany and throughout the US.

Rollover crashes

Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity, making it fairly easy for them to tip over. It becomes even more likely if cargo is loaded improperly. 

These accidents are extremely dangerous and can affect multiple lanes of traffic. Any cars in the vicinity can be struck or lose control. 

Rollover accidents may happen due to the following:

• Driver error: If the driver over- or understeers, he or she could lose control of the truck
• Speeding: The center of gravity can shift if a driver goes too fast or doesn’t brake before a turn
• Improper maintenance: The trucking company may cut corners by intentionally putting a defective vehicle on the road
• Unevenly loaded cargo: The weight may shift during the trip, or it could have been unevenly loaded onto the truck

Jackknife accidents

A jackknife accident happens when the trailer of a truck swings out from behind the cab, forming a 90-degree angle. Jackknife accidents can be extremely dangerous because any vehicles in the vicinity can be struck with an extreme amount of force, or even crushed. 

Common causes of jackknife accidents include:

• Sudden braking
• Slippery roads
• Unbalanced loads
• Equipment failure

Parked vehicle crashes

One type of truck accident that has affected the community of Albany, Oregon, is a semi hitting a parked vehicle. In March 2023, the driver of a semitruck crashed into a van parked along I-5. This tragic truck accident killed 7 people and injured 4 others. 

The following are some causes of parked vehicle truck accidents:

• Driver distraction or fatigue: Long hours behind the wheel can lead to lapses in attention or microsleeps
• Limited visibility: Blind spots on large trucks can prevent drivers from seeing parked cars, especially when reversing or making tight turns
• Improper maneuvering: Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers may misjudge space when parking or turning
• Weather conditions: Rain, snow, or ice can make stopping or steering more difficult, increasing the chances of hitting a stopped vehicle

Rear-end collisions

It can take twice as long for a tractor-trailer to come to a stop as a passenger vehicle traveling the same speed. If a car in front of a truck stops suddenly, the truck driver may be unable to stop before colliding with the vehicle in front. 

The weight of the truck crashing into the car could potentially crush the smaller vehicle or push it into a smaller car. 

Some causes of rear-end truck accidents are:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Fatigued driving
• Mechanical failure
• Distracted driving

Underride accidents

An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle crashes into the rear or side of a truck and slides underneath the trailer. Sadly, these types of accidents are often fatal. 

Causes of underride accidents are:

• Sudden braking by the truck
• Poor visibility
• Lack of underride guards
• Inadequate lighting or reflectors on the truck

Sideswipe accidents

Large trucks have significant blind spots, often referred to as “no-zones”. If a truck driver fails to check these areas when changing lanes or turning, he or she may collide with a vehicle in an adjacent lane. 

Causes may include:

• Failing to check mirrors
• Using turn signals improperly
• Changing lanes aggressively

Head-on collisions

If a driver ends up in the wrong lane, a head-on crash could occur. This type of accident is particularly devastating since both vehicles absorb the full force of their combined weight and speed. 

Reasons a truck driver may drift into the wrong lane are:

Tire blowout or other mechanical malfunction

Texting and driving

Driving while drowsy

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

Get the legal counsel you need to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim.

Determining Liability After a Truck Accident

Understanding what type of truck accident happened is important when it comes to recovering financial compensation for your injuries. 

It can help your truck accident lawyer figure out the answers to the following questions:

• Who is at fault? Different crash types point to different causes, such as poor maintenance, driver error, or bad loading practices.
• Who can you file a claim against? Sometimes it isn’t just the truck driver. The trucking company, cargo loaders, or truck parts manufacturers could also be responsible.
• What evidence needs to be collected? For example, a rollover might require looking at how the truck was loaded, while a tire blowout calls for maintenance records. 
• What laws were broken? Many types of crashes involve violations of federal trucking rules. 
• What is your case worth? Some crash types cause more severe injuries, which means a higher potential settlement or verdict. 

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Albany, OR

After a serious crash, your safety and health should be your top priority. 

If possible, take the following actions after being involved in a truck accident:

• Call 911 immediately: Get help for anyone who is hurt
• Move to a safe place: If you can, move your car out of traffic
• Take pictures and video: Get shots of the vehicles, the road, any skid marks, and injuries
• Get information: Write down the truck driver’s name, company name, license plate, and insurance details; also, get contact information from any witnesses. 
• See a doctor: Even if you feel ok, some injuries may not become apparent until later
• Don’t talk to the truck company’s insurance yet: The trucking company’s insurer may try to get you to say something that hurts your case
• Contact a truck accident attorney: An Albany personal injury attorney can protect your rights and help you get the money you deserve

Why Hire an Albany, OR Truck Accident Attorney

Hiring a truck accident attorney means you have a legal advocate by your side who can:

• Investigate the truck accident, including reviewing driver logs, truck black box data, and maintenance records
• Work with accident reconstruction experts to determine the cause of the crash
• Handle communication and negotiations with insurers, trucking companies, and other parties
• File a truck accident lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t reached through negotiations
• Navigate state and federal laws, including FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) regulations and Oregon-specific traffic laws

In Oregon, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically 2 years from the date of the accident, so don’t delay. Waiting too long can jeopardize your case and cause you to lose out on your right to compensation. 

Types of Compensation in an Albany, Oregon Truck Accident Case

Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to a wide range of compensation, including:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical care
• Lost wages 
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress 
• Loss of emotional distress

If you have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in death, you may pursue wrongful death damages. This type of compensation may provide money for funeral expenses, burial costs, loss of companionship, and coverage of medical bills incurred from the accident.

Can You Recover Compensation If You Were Partially At Fault?

Oregon follows a legal rule called modified comparative negligence. This means that even if you were partially at fault, you may still be able to recover compensation for your injuries, as long as you were less than 51 percent at fault for the accident. 

Here is how it works:

• If you are 0 percent at fault, you can recover 100 percent of your damages
• If you are up to 50 percent at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you are not eligible to recover damages

As an example, let’s say the court determines you were 30 percent at fault because you were speeding at the time of the collision. If your total damages are $100,000, you would receive $70,000.