Hermiston Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucking accidents can leave you badly injured and with high financial costs related to your injuries, impacting you and your loved ones. If a negligent defendant caused the injury, you have the right to seek legal responsibility from them with the assistance of an injury attorney. Truck drivers, trucking companies, and others may be financially liable for your injuries, so you should seek legal help to investigate all parties responsible. If you suffered injuries in a tractor-trailer crash, an experienced Hermiston truck accident lawyer from Hess Injury Law is ready to assist you.

How Truck Accidents Occur

The cause of a truck accident is critical to determine when attempting to prove a personal injury claim or lawsuit. When a trucking defendant’s negligence is the reason for the accident, it is essential to identify the breach of a legal duty that caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
This legal causation is better expressed through examples, such as the following reasons truck accidents involving large commercial vehicles or tractor trailers might have occurred:

  • Untrained or improperly trained drivers
  • Driver exhaustion or long hours imposed by the trucking company
  • Improper loading of a truck, causing unbalanced loads
  • Defective truck parts
  • Negligent maintenance of trucks or trailers
  • Violations of driving laws
  • Driving too fast for conditions (including snow and ice)
  • Improper following distance (tailgating)

Proving the specific cause of the accident is essential to a potentially successful claim. If you know the cause of the trucking accident, your Oregon attorney can use that information to prove negligence, which can help you increase your settlement amount. To have the best chance at success, plaintiffs should work with a knowledgeable attorney in Hermiston to file their car accident claim.

Determining Responsibility in Hermiston Truck Wrecks

Most truck accidents require an in-depth look into who caused the accident. The first assumption is that the truck driver may have been the cause of the accident or at least contributed to it. For instance, driver distraction or negligence is a common reason for truck accidents. Their mistakes behind the wheel can result in devastating consequences for those around them. Additionally, truck drivers work very long hours. Although regulated by state and federal law, many employers push their drivers past these limits and force them to drive while exhausted. This might impart liability to not only the driver but also their employer. If the employer can be held liable for your truck crash, then it is essential to know about the respondeat superior:

Respondeat Superior in Semi-truck Accident Claims

Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine that holds an employer responsible for the negligent acts of their employees. When an employee is negligent while driving, the employer is likely accountable financially for any injuries they cause. Vicarious liability is not the only method for holding employers responsible. The trucking company may have caused the accident through negligent hiring practices, improper maintenance, and much more—direct liability for the crash may be appropriate in these circumstances. It is crucial to consider all of these possibilities and more when filing your truck accident claim. An experienced truck accident attorney will look at your specific case to determine who can be held liable for your damages.

Filing a Hermiston Claim in Time

Oregon Revised Statutes § 12.110 obligates a plaintiff to file their Oregon truck accident claim for negligence within two years of the date it occurs. This is an important deadline to respect. The court can dismiss it summarily if the tractor-trailer wreck lawsuit is not filed in time. This means the court will not examine the case to determine whether it has merit. Hiring a lawyer in Hermiston quickly after a truck wreck is essential to help preserve the evidence and move the claim forward.

FAQ: Hermiston Truck Accidents

What types of damages can I claim from my truck accident?
You can claim economic and non-economic damages you suffered from your truck accident.
Some common examples of monetary damages include:

  • Current and future medical bills
  • Current and future lost wages
  • Property damages
  • Out-of-pocket expenses

Meanwhile, non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment in life.

How much is my truck accident case worth?
Every truck accident case differs, so your settlement amount will depend on various factors. For example, if you sustained severe or chronic injuries from the crash, you may earn more than if you only sustained minor injuries. Consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer to get an estimate for your claim.

How can I prove negligence in my case?
To prove negligence, you must show that the defendant violated a duty of care they owed you. As a truck operator, it is the driver’s responsibility to drive safely and avoid endangering other drivers. So if you can prove that they were driving recklessly, that is one way you can prove negligence. You can also try to find evidence that the truck company acted negligently, thus resulting in your accident.

Pursue Compensation with a Hermiston Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents can leave you injured and in debt, but it does not mean you are helpless or have to suffer alone. A properly proven injury lawsuit may result in substantial monetary damages to help you pay for your costs and be compensated for the suffering you have gone through. Contact an experienced Hermiston truck accident lawyer from Hess Injury Law today to learn about your potential rights. Our team of skilled car accident lawyers is available to assist you in holding the responsible parties accountable.