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February 22nd, 2026
If you’ve ever driven along I-84 through Eastern Oregon, you know the weather can change in an instant.
For commercial truck drivers hauling heavy loads through this region, these rapid weather changes create serious dangers.
At Hess Injury Law in Hermiston, we see far too many truck accidents caused by drivers who failed to adjust their driving for Eastern Oregon’s challenging weather conditions. Understanding how weather contributes to these crashes can help you stay safe on the road—and if you’re injured in a weather-related truck accident, it can help you understand your rights.
Eastern Oregon isn’t like the western part of the state. While Portland deals with rain, we deal with snow, ice, high winds, and sudden weather changes that can make driving treacherous—especially for 80,000-pound commercial trucks.
• Winter storms moving through the Columbia River Gorge that can close I-84 for hours
• Heavy snowfall in the Blue Mountains near La Grande
• Dangerous conditions on the Cabbage Hill grade
• High winds on open stretches between Hermiston and Pendleton
• Black ice forming without warning
In just the past few years, we’ve seen massive pileups on I-84 involving dozens of vehicles—many of them commercial trucks. These crashes often happen during sudden weather events where visibility drops to nearly zero and road conditions deteriorate faster than drivers can react.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Under normal conditions, it takes much longer for a truck to stop than a regular passenger car.
Add ice or snow to the equation, and stopping distances increase dramatically.
When roads are slick, truck drivers need to slow down significantly and leave much more following distance. But we’ve all seen trucks barreling down I-84 in bad weather like conditions are perfect. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Black ice is particularly dangerous in Eastern Oregon. When temperatures drop after rain or when moisture freezes on the road, you get patches of ice that are nearly invisible. Truck drivers hitting black ice at highway speeds often lose control completely, jackknifing or sliding into other vehicles.
Blowing snow is common along the open stretches of I-84. When wind picks up fresh snow from the ground and carries it across the highway, visibility can drop to just a few feet in seconds.
This creates terrifying situations where drivers suddenly can’t see the vehicles in front of them.
Recent Example: In February 2025, over 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on I-84 near Multnomah Falls during near-whiteout conditions. Multiple semi-trucks were involved in the crashes.
When you can’t see what’s ahead, you can’t react in time to avoid a crash. That’s why so many weather-related truck accidents on I-84 involve multiple vehicles.
Eastern Oregon is known for high winds, particularly through the Columbia River Gorge. These winds create serious problems for commercial trucks, especially those pulling tall trailers or carrying light loads.
What high winds can do to trucks:
• Push a truck out of its lane
• Tip over empty or top-heavy trailers
• Make steering difficult and unpredictable
• Create dangerous conditions on bridges and overpasses
Box trucks and trailers act like sails in high wind. The larger the surface area, the more vulnerable the truck becomes. Smart drivers slow down significantly when wind advisories are posted. Unfortunately, not all drivers make that choice.
While winter gets the most attention, spring and fall bring their own weather-related truck accident risks in Eastern Oregon.
After long dry periods, the first rain can make roads extremely slippery. Oil and debris that have built up on the pavement surface mix with water, creating conditions almost as dangerous as ice.
Truck drivers who don’t reduce speed when the first drops start falling can quickly lose control.
Early morning fog is common in areas near the Columbia River and in agricultural regions around Hermiston. Thick fog reduces visibility to dangerous levels, yet some truck drivers continue at highway speeds.
By the time they see stopped traffic or an obstacle ahead, it’s too late to stop.
Eastern Oregon sees big temperature swings, especially in spring and fall. Roads can be wet during the day and frozen at night.
Watch out for: Bridges and overpasses that freeze before regular roadway. Shaded areas that stay icy longer. Morning ice that melts by mid-day.
Yes. Oregon has specific requirements for commercial trucks during winter weather. When chain laws are in effect, trucks must either have chains installed or use adequate traction tires.
The fines for violating chain laws increased significantly in recent years—now up to $880—because trucks without chains cause so many problems.
Here’s what frustrates many drivers on I-84: it’s common to see commercial trucks from out of state that don’t chain up when required. These drivers either don’t know Oregon’s laws or choose to ignore them.
The result? They slide around on the highway, block traffic when they jackknife, and cause accidents that could have been prevented.
When a truck driver fails to chain up when required by law, and that failure contributes to an accident, it’s strong evidence that the driver wasn’t meeting their responsibilities.
After a weather-related truck accident, you’ll often hear the trucking company or their insurance adjuster say something like, “Well, the weather was bad. The accident was unavoidable. No one’s really at fault.”
That’s simply not true.
Professional truck drivers are trained to handle adverse weather conditions. It’s part of the job.
When weather deteriorates, they’re supposed to:
• Slow down significantly
• Increase following distance
• Ensure their equipment is properly maintained
• Use chains when required
• Pull over and wait it out if conditions become too dangerous
Just because it was snowing or icy doesn’t mean the accident was unavoidable. If a truck driver was going too fast for conditions, following too closely, failed to use chains when required, or chose to keep driving when they should have stopped, they can be held responsible—even if weather was a factor.
We see certain patterns repeatedly in weather-related truck accidents on I-84 and other Eastern Oregon highways.
Happen when visibility drops quickly and drivers don’t slow down enough or leave enough space. One vehicle sliding leads to a chain reaction.
Occur when truck drivers brake too hard or turn too sharply on slippery surfaces. The trailer swings out and blocks multiple lanes, often causing secondary crashes.
Happen when trucks travel too fast during wind advisories. The truck drifts out of its lane or tips over, striking other vehicles.
Take place when truck drivers maintain highway speeds despite reduced visibility. They can’t see stopped or slow traffic ahead until it’s too late.
Common near La Grande and other areas with significant elevation changes. Trucks lose braking ability on downhill grades, running into vehicles stopped at intersections or traffic lights.
1. Get to safety: If possible, move to a safe location away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights.
2. Stay in your vehicle during storms: If you’re on I-84 during a snowstorm, stay in your vehicle until help arrives—it’s dangerous to walk on the highway in those conditions.
3. Call 911: Report the accident even if injuries seem minor. Having a police report documenting the weather conditions, road conditions, and what happened is important.
4. Document everything: Take photos if you can do so safely. Document the weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle damage, and the scene itself.
5. Check for chains: Pay attention to whether the truck driver had chains on if chain laws were in effect. This information should be in the police report.
• Don’t accept blame or apologize for the accident
• Don’t agree to any settlement offers before talking to an attorney
• Don’t give recorded statements to insurance companies
Yes. When a truck driver causes an accident because they failed to adjust for weather conditions, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages from missed work
• Pain and suffering from your injuries
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Any other losses directly resulting from the accident
Insurance companies often try to use weather as an excuse to reduce their payout or deny claims entirely. They’ll argue that the accident was “an act of God” or that the weather made it unavoidable.
Don’t fall for this.
An experienced truck accident attorney knows how to investigate these crashes and prove that the driver’s actions—not just the weather—caused the collision.
• Black box data showing the driver was speeding for conditions
• Driver logs indicating fatigue may have played a role
• Maintenance records revealing improper tires or brakes
• Chain law violations documented by police
• Trucking company policies about when drivers should stop for weather
• Weather reports and road condition data at the time of the crash
Handling a weather-related truck accident case in Eastern Oregon requires understanding the specific conditions we deal with here.
An attorney from Portland might not fully grasp:
• How quickly weather can change on I-84
• How dangerous the Cabbage Hill grade becomes in winter
• How common high winds are through the Gorge
• Local patterns in weather-related crashes
At Hess Injury Law, we live and work in Hermiston. We drive the same roads you do. We’ve seen firsthand how weather affects truck traffic on I-84. We understand the local conditions and how they contribute to accidents.
This local knowledge matters when building your case and negotiating with insurance companies. We can explain to adjusters and juries exactly what conditions were like and why the truck driver should have known better than to continue at unsafe speeds or without proper precautions.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident during bad weather anywhere in Eastern Oregon, don’t assume the weather means you have no case.
Professional truck drivers are supposed to handle adverse conditions safely. When they fail to do so and cause accidents, they should be held accountable.
At Hess Injury Law, we know how to investigate these crashes, prove driver negligence despite weather conditions, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
You shouldn’t have to pay the price for a truck driver’s poor decisions during bad weather.
Contact Hess Injury Law today to discuss your weather-related truck accident case.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel.
Peter J. Hess grew up in Walla Walla, Washington. He is a 1996 graduate of Walla Walla High School and a 2000 graduate of the University of Washington, with a B.A. in Business Administration/Information Systems.
Peter graduated from Willamette University College of Law, with honors, in 2007. While at Willamette, he was an Associate Editor of the Willamette Law Review, he was a Teacher’s Assistant for a Legal Research and Writing professor, and he worked as a Personal Injury Law Clerk at Swanson, Lathen, Alexander & McCann in Salem, Oregon. After graduation from Willamette, Peter began working here at Hess Injury Law. In 2012, he became a partner in the firm. He is licensed to practice law in both Washington and Oregon.