Damages Claims in Oregon Truck Accident Litigation
At Miller & Wagner, our trial lawyers understand the important differences between car accident claims and truck accident litigation. To learn how our experience with the pursuit of damages in complex cases can benefit you and your family in a lawsuit against a commercial vehicle owner, contact our office in Portland for a free consultation.
Not All Motor Vehicle Claims Are Created Equal
Three factors in particular tend to distinguish truck accident litigation from private passenger vehicle injury claims: the severity of the injuries, the amount of the insurance coverage, and the impact of federal safety regulations.
A collision at highway speeds with a semi tractor-trailer or logging truck is likely to cause disabling or fatal injuries. In a car accident case, such severe injuries mean that you'll generally settle for the policy limits once liability becomes clear. All the coverage available under consumer car insurance policies will usually fall far short of what you need to cover your losses in a personal injury or wrongful death case.
In a truck accident lawsuit, each defendant will typically carry liability coverage that starts at $1 million. While this provides some assurance that you'll be able to collect the damages you prove, the defense will have plenty of incentive to defend clear proof of your damages in detail. This means that your attorneys will need expert support and specific documentation on such issues as the degree of disability, the extent of lost income, and the projected expenses of future treatment and in-home assistance.
Our decades of experience with the proof of complex brain or spinal cord injury damages can improve the likelihood that your settlement or jury verdict will cover the full range of your financial losses. If the negligence of a drowsy truck driver, substandard vehicle maintenance, or other factors caused the crash, we know how to prove liability.
Our Investigation of the Facts Can Uncover Safety Violations
Proving the violation of federal safety regulations can clear a path toward proof of liability against truck operators, owners, contractors or shippers. Our skillful analysis of driver logs, maintenance records and electronic on-board "black box" data can often expose signs of safety violations.
Many of the principles of personal injury and wrongful death litigation that experienced attorneys use to benefit clients in heavy truck accident litigation apply as well in accidents involving lighter commercial vehicles, such as delivery vans or construction trucks. To learn how the lawyers of Miller & Wagner can represent your interests in a truck accident case, contact our office in Portland for a free consultation.
