Construction Truck Accidents Pose Risks to Drivers and the General Public

When people talk about the dangers of truck accidents in Oregon, they are often referring to those that occur on major roads and highways involving semi-trucks, tractor trailers, and other big rigs. However, these types of accidents can also involve various types of construction vehicles and can end up impacting other drivers, as well as workers, nearby pedestrians, and anyone nearby. 

Construction Truck Accidents in Oregon

A recent construction truck accident in Bend, Oregon left one motorist injured and resulted in criminal charges for the truck driver involved. According to an April 22, 2020 report by News Channel 21, a Redmond man who was operating an excavator on Highway 97 north fled the scene after lowering the extended boom on the construction truck he was driving, causing it to pull down nearby power lines and knock over a telephone pole. As a result, a guy wire from the pool went smashing into the windshield of a nearby motor vehicle, resulting in serious injuries for the driver.  Police report that the accident happened at 2:45 p.m. near mile marker 131. The excavator driver faces charges of felony hit and run for leaving the scene of the accident. 

Unfortunately, truck accidents in Oregon occur on a regular basis. The Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports that as many as 1,500 truck accidents happen throughout the state each year. While many of these center on semi-trucks, 18-wheeler, tractor trailers, and other big rigs, a significant portion involve construction trucks such as the following: 

• Backhoes;
• Bobcats;
• Bulldozers;
• Cement mixers;
• Cherry pickers;
• Cranes;
• Dump trucks;
• Earth movers
• Fork lifts;
• Front-end loaders;
• Other types of construction equipment and utility vehicles. 

Who Is to Blame for Construction Truck Accidents?

Due to their large size and bulk, construction truck accidents can result in serious and potentially life-threatening injuries for other drivers on the road. They can also impact nearby pedestrians and members of the general public. Crane collapses and accidents that pull down poles and power lines, such as the one detailed above, can impact people on surrounding streets. When they happen in local neighborhoods, they can even jeopardize the safety of people in their own homes. 

Who is responsible for a construction truck accident? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) the following factors are often to blame: 

• Reckless actions on the part of the construction truck driver;
• Construction vehicle malfunctions;
• Lack of proper operator training;
• Company policies, such as overscheduling or not taking certain safety precautions, that make truck accidents more likely to occur. 

If you suffer injuries as a result of a construction truck accident, it is important to be aware that the driver, the company they work for, and the truck manufacturer or parts suppliers may all be to blame. 

Let Us Help You Today

At the Johnston Law Firm P.C, we help you hold those at-fault in truck accidents accountable in a claim. To discuss your case, call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Oregon truck accident attorneys online and request a consultation.