Vancouver, WA Trucking Accident Attorneys
The logging and timber industry in the Pacific Northwest results in a high number of large trucks and trailers carrying heavy loads over a variety of roadways. In the event of a car-truck collision, the size and weight of semi-trucks compared to that of most other motor vehicles is likely to cause serious injury or death to the occupants of the smaller automobile. At Caron, Colven, Robison & Shafton, we have successfully represented numerous victims of personal injury or wrongful death caused by collisions with semi-trucks throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Given the limited mobility and vision of these vehicles, automobile drivers should be careful when maneuvering around trucks. Even a careful driver, however, can become the victim of a truck driver’s negligence. Truck drivers are under constant pressure to travel long distances in short periods of time, meaning that drivers may continue to drive after they are fatigued and not fully alert, or they may be under the influence of drugs in an attempt to keep operating the vehicle past a normal workday. Drivers may further risk accidents by speeding or driving recklessly in an attempt to cover more ground in less time. In combination, these factors can lead to serious accidents.
The trucking company itself may also be to blame for overloading or improperly loading the truck, failing to properly inspect and maintain the vehicle, or failing to adequately train or supervise its employees. An experienced personal injury trial lawyer knows the importance of investigating all the contributing factors to a crash and ensuring that recovery is sought from the responsible parties.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration puts forth a comprehensive set of regulations that touch upon many aspects of trucking safety. These regulations specify how trucks are to be loaded, driven, and maintained and require that periodic inspections be performed by trucking companies on their equipment. Additionally, drivers and their employers must maintain logbooks, maintenance records, and other trip documentation. In the event of an accident, these records can be inspected to establish whether the truck was maintained properly and whether the driver was following regulations while driving. These documents must be carefully scrutinized, however, to determine whether they were doctored after the fact in an attempt to hide driver or company liability for the accident.
Caron, Colven, Robison & Shafton has represented clients in numerous million-dollar trucking accident cases. Our Vancouver lawyers regularly go up against the trucking corporations and their insurance companies to fight for the rights of individuals and families who have been harmed. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or other big rigs, contact Caron, Colven, Robison & Shafton today for a free consultation.
