Beaverton Truck
Accident Lawyer

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

A collision involving a commercial truck can leave victims facing devastating injuries, mounting medical expenses, and significant financial uncertainty. With busy routes like Highway 217, US-26, Canyon Road, and Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway carrying commercial and commuter traffic, serious truck accidents can happen throughout Beaverton, including near Cedar Hills Crossing, Downtown Beaverton, and the Washington Square area.

This is where Johnston Law Firm comes in. Although our firm is based in Portland, we represent clients in Beaverton and throughout Oregon. Marc A. Johnston has over 20 years of experience handling truck accident claims, and our whole legal team is committed to holding negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, and other responsible parties accountable. 

If you or a loved one was injured in a Beaverton commercial truck collision, reach out to a truck accident lawyer at Johnston Law Firm. Call (503) 546-3167 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

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Why Rely on Us for Your Beaverton Truck Accident Claim?

Truck accident claims can be particularly complicated because they often involve multiple liable parties, commercial insurance policies, and federal trucking regulations. Our founder and principal attorney, Marc A. Johnston, is a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) and is committed to providing injured victims with personalized, results-focused legal representation.

When you contact us, you will speak with a personal injury lawyer specializing in Beaverton truck accident claims who can:

• Hear your story, evaluate your claim, and answer your legal questions;
• Investigate the collision and preserve critical trucking evidence;
• Review driver logs, maintenance records, and trucking company safety practices;
• Identify all potentially liable parties, including drivers and trucking companies;
• Calculate your economic and non-economic damages, including future losses;
• Handle insurance communications, settlement negotiations, and legal paperwork;
• Work with accident reconstruction specialists and other qualified experts;
• Take aggressive legal action to pursue the maximum compensation available.

We prepare every truck accident case as if it could go to trial. This means that we are prepared to negotiate from a position of strength and challenge insurance companies that refuse to offer fair compensation. If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to court and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

We understand how overwhelming the aftermath of a serious truck accident can be. That’s why our team provides personalized guidance throughout the whole process, while fighting diligently for your rights. We are committed to helping injured individuals and families in Beaverton secure the justice and financial recovery they deserve.

Types of Truck Accidents We Commonly Help Clients With in Beaverton

While accidents involving large trucks may seem infrequent, the fact is that it is challenging to control a truck of any size and even a minor problem the driver experiences could end up impacting numerous others. Among the most common, and potentially dangerous, truck accidents include:

• Head-on collisions: These often occur near the highway exits and entrance ramps. Being unfamiliar with a specific area is a contributing factor.
• Rear-end collisions: Considering the massive weight of most trucks, they require more time to come to a stop. Rear-end collisions are common in heavy traffic or when truck drivers engage in tailgating.
• Rollover accidents: These can happen to pick-up trucks, delivery vans, and large 18-wheelers, impacting other drivers on the road. Uneven loads and going too fast around curves are common causes.
• Side-swipe accidents: Visibility is reduced when driving a truck. Swerving into another driver’s lane or attempting to pass can cause these crashes.
• Side-impact accidents: These are common when truck drivers run red lights or stop signs, often leaving other motorists with life-threatening injuries.
• Multi-vehicle pile-ups: These accidents often occur on busy highways when truck drivers fail to maintain a safe following distance, drive too fast for traffic conditions, or cannot stop in time to avoid a collision.
• Accidents involving out-of-state vehicles and drivers: Truck drivers unfamiliar with Beaverton’s roads, intersections, and highway exits may make sudden lane changes, miss turns, or cause collisions while navigating unfamiliar routes.

The Difference Between Car Accidents and Truck Accidents

As commercial trucks share the road with passenger vehicles, it is natural to think a crash involving one is similar to an accident involving another. Truthfully, though, there are many differences between truck accidents and car crashes. These are as follows:

• Severity of injuries: A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the weight of the average passenger vehicle is just a fraction of that, with these vehicles weighing approximately 4,000 pounds. This weight difference means that occupants of passenger vehicles are going to sustain the most serious injuries when they are involved in a crash.
• Insurance disputes: Due to the fact that truck accidents cause such serious injuries, victims are often entitled to large settlements. Insurance companies do not want to pay out on these claims because they prioritize their own profits over the safety and well-being of accident victims. Negotiations with insurers are typically much more difficult after a truck accident.
• Determining liability is complex: Determining which party is at fault for any accident is never easy. After a truck crash, it is even more complicated. There are many potentially liable parties for truck accidents, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the loading company, and maintenance and inspection companies. A full and comprehensive investigation is needed to determine who is liable for a truck accident, which is challenging for victims who are trying to recover from serious injuries.

Law Violations That Typically Lead to Truck Accidents in Beaverton

There are many state and federal laws in place regarding trucks that are meant to keep everyone on the road safe. Unfortunately, truck drivers and trucking companies do not always comply with these laws, which can result in serious accidents. These violations are not always clear during an initial police investigation, and it requires a full analysis of the accident scene. Some of the most common violations of the law a Portland truck accident attorney will investigate are as follows:

• Hours of operation violation: Truck drivers are limited by a number of laws that dictate how many hours they can be on the road without taking time off for a meal or to sleep. Truck drivers do not always comply with this law, as they are under immense pressure to deliver their cargo on time. As a result, many truck drivers are incredibly drowsy while they are behind the wheel, which takes their focus from the road and can cause a crash.
• Driving while impaired: Truck drivers are responsible for controlling the largest vehicles on the road. To try and ensure this goes smoothly, truckers are held to much higher standards than other motorists when it comes to driving while impaired. A trucker’s blood alcohol content (BAC) cannot exceed 0.4 percent. However, many truck drivers believe that drinking or using drugs will help keep them awake and so, they drive while impaired quite often.
• Negligent hiring practices: Trucking companies often skip important steps during the hiring practice in an effort to take shortcuts and save time and money. They may not perform background checks on their drivers, or they may fail to train them properly. When trucking companies prioritize their own bottom line over the safety of others, they can be held liable.
• Improperly loaded cargo: It is essential that cargo is loaded properly in the truck. If it is not, it will shift during transport and could throw the entire truck off balance. It then becomes very difficult for the truck driver to control, and could cause a crash.

What To Do If You Are Injured In A Truck Accident

Truck accident injuries have the potential to be severe. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that they claim the lives of more than 5,000 people each year while leaving tens of thousands of others suffering serious personal injuries. Victims may be unable to work for weeks or even months after, while facing mounting medical expenses.

Rather than having to pay out of pocket for these costs, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable in a claim. Steps to take to protect yourself and your rights if a truck accident in Portland happens include:

• Report it to the police immediately;
• Exchange personal and insurance information with the trucker and any other drivers involved;
• Make note of the trucking company they work for;
• Gather evidence, such as the names of witnesses and photos or videos of the scene;
• Seek medical attention right away, regardless of the severity of your injuries;
• Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding follow-up care and work restrictions;
• Speak to our Portland truck accident attorneys before making any statements to the truck company or accepting a settlement.

Common Injuries from Truck Accident Cases

Among the most common types of truck accident injuries include:

• Broken bones and multiple fractures;
• Burn injuries, due to contact with hot engine parts or fluids;
• Crushing injuries, causing damage to body limbs and internal organs;
• Head injuries, which can result in traumatic brain injuries;
• Injuries to muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues;
• Spinal cord injuries, result in partial or complete paralysis.

When these and other types of truck accident injuries happen, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable. This includes the truck driver, the trucking company they work for, and other motorists on the road who may all share a portion of the blame.

Compensation We Can Help You Secure After a Beaverton Truck Accident

A serious truck accident can affect your health, finances, career, and overall quality of life. Under Oregon law, injured victims may pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. At Johnston Law Firm, we carefully evaluate your damages to pursue the full compensation available for your injuries.

• Economic damages: Medical bills, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, prescription medications, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and other accident-related expenses.
• Non-economic damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and other consequences that affect your daily activities and well-being.

Under ORS 31.710, Oregon law distinguishes between economic and non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

In exceptional circumstances, punitive damages may also be available under ORS 31.730. These damages require clear and convincing evidence of particularly egregious misconduct, such as reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm, and are intended to punish and deter wrongful conduct rather than compensate victims for their losses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beaverton Truck Accident Claims

If you have driven on the roads in Oregon, you know that large commercial trucks are a common sight. All of the trucking companies using our roads have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. Unfortunately, that does not always occur. When semi-truck accidents do happen, the consequences can be truly catastrophic.

At the Johnston Law Firm, we have extensive experience handling truck accident injury claims. Our law firm holds negligent trucking companies liable. Here, our experienced Portland semi-truck accident attorney answers some of the most frequently asked questions that injured victims have regarding truck crashes.