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Semi-Truck Accident? You Need An Oregon Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial truck accidents can be particularly severe simply because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved. A fully-loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds while an empty truck can weigh around 35,000 pounds. If you have been injured in a commercial accident in Oregon, you need the services of an experienced commercial truck accident attorney.

Companies with large fleets have attorneys on hand ready to immediately address any issues their drivers may have on the road. Drivers are often under pressure to meet quotas and may drive over their allotted hourly limits. When in an accident, a commercial truck driver may attempt to conceal their hours of service and you will need a personal injury lawyer to assist you when uncovering these types of deception to help you get a fair insurance settlement.

If you have been severely hurt or injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, or you are a family member of someone who has been severely injured or killed, you will want to consult with an Oregon commercial accident lawyer to determine your rights.

Here is a short guide to commercial accidents and how Lance Youd, Oregon’s commercial accident attorney can help you recover a fair settlement. To discuss the details of your case call us for a free consultation at (503) 399-8967.

What Should I Do If I Get in An Accident With A Commercial Truck or Semit-Truck Has Hit Me?

In the immediate aftermath of an accident, it can be difficult to remember the steps you need to take, especially if you’ve been injured. If you experience an injury, your first priority is to get medical attention for you and anyone else involved in the crash and you should call the police

Once you have obtained immediate necessary medical care and you are not in a dangerous position on the roadway, you should do the following:

  • Fill out and make an accident report to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The police and your commercial accident lawyer will help you with this step.
  • Take photographs of the damage to all the vehicles involved, the license plate on the commercial vehicle or semi-truck, the owner listed on the door or side panel of the commercial vehicle, and the scene of the accident. Take photos of your injuries as well.
  • Call a commercial vehicle accident attorney at Youd Law at 503-399-8967

Calling a commercial truck accident attorney as soon as possible is essential. Your attorney will lead you through the steps of reporting the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles and to the appropriate insurance companies.

Your commercial accident lawyer can also give you excellent guidance regarding the applicable insurance to cover the treatment you need for your injuries, lost wages, and to cover the damage to your vehicle. 

Another benefit of contacting an attorney immediately is that your lawyer will have the opportunity to have the accident further investigated, if necessary. In many cases, having an attorney hire an engineer to reconstruct the accident will be crucial. The sooner the engineer can study the scene of the accident, the better. Evidence at the scene of the accident will be lost over time.

One tip is to always let your family be aware of your wishes in case you are ever in an auto accident. Make sure they have the number to Youd Law to call should you ever be in the unfortunate situation where you are unable to call or speak for yourself. 

Do I Need To Hire An Oregon Truck Accident Lawyer?

If you have been injured or hurt in an auto accident where you were not at fault or due to the other driver’s negligence, you should speak to an auto accident attorney right away. While you are not required to hire an attorney, you should be aware that most large companies have attorneys on staff ready to limit their liability and reduce the amount that you may be entitled to. In almost all cases, you will benefit from the support of an attorney who can protect your financial interests and work to secure you the best settlement possible.

Who Will Work On My Commercial Semi Truck Accident Case?

At Youd Law, attorney Lance Youd will meet with you personally and work on your case. In addition to Mr. Youd’s legal expertise, you will also receive the full support of his highly experienced team which includes a paralegal and two full-time legal assistants.

Our team is dedicated to providing you with the best representation possible and will work diligently to keep your case moving along as effectively as possible. 

Can I File A Claim For Compensation?

If you were injured by the negligence of a third party, you are entitled to recover for the damages you sustained. Each personal injury case is unique and your claim will be evaluated to determine the extent of damages and injury. 

What Type Of Compensation Can I Expect From A Semi-Truck Accident?

To determine the extent of damages caused by the commercial truck accident, you should first consult with Lance Youd regarding all damages you believe you incurred. These damages can take several forms, but here is a list that may include but is not limited to:

  • Current and future medical bills
  • Current and future wage loss
  • Damage to a motor vehicle
  • Personal property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Long and short-term disabilities
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Compensation for these damages and others you may have experienced will be variable depending upon your personal situation. Your commercial accident lawyer, Lance Youd, can help you determine what settlement you are entitled to and will fight on your behalf to get you the justice you deserve.

Can You Provide Examples Of Previous Cases That Are Most Similar To My Commercial Semit-Truck Accident Case?

Yes. Attorney Lance Youd has practiced personal injury law for 27 years. In that time, he has handled hundreds of cases which include cases that are similar to your commercial truck accident case. Due to his experience, he will have a good idea of how your case will proceed and can advise you on how to best respond and what the likely outcomes will be. 

What Resources Do You Have To Support My Commercial Truck Personal Injury Case? 

Youd Law has a full staff of professionals supporting attorney Lance Youd who will work on your case. We are willing to wait to receive payment for our services until your case is settled or results in a jury verdict. We are also willing to pay all costs of litigation until the case is settled or results in a jury verdict. Expenses include charges for copies of medical records and police reports, fees of reconstruction engineers if necessary, fees of expert medical witnesses, court filing fees, and deposition fees, among others. 

This means that until you receive a settlement, you pay no out-of-pocket expenses for us to litigate your case.

What Strategies Will You Use To Win My Commercial Semi Truck Accident Case?

With over 27 years of legal experience litigating commercial accidents, we have a variety of tactics we can employ to get you the best results. We will first apply the maximum amount of pressure possible on the insurance company to obtain the best settlement possible. If a reasonable settlement cannot be obtained, then we will file suit and take your case to trial. 

What Potential Obstacles Do You See In My Case?

After your initial consultation and after further analysis, commercial accident lawyer Lance Youd will discuss all potential obstacles and how he will address each one. With over 27 years of experience handling commercial injury cases, Lance Youd has effectively overcome multiple obstacles in injury cases.

How Are Commercial Truck Accidents Different From Car Wrecks?

Commercial trucks have commercial insurance and their drivers drive for a living, often for large national corporations that are well represented. The insurance company, the corporation, and the driver have a lot of exposure and, therefore, have a lot to protect. Because of this, they can be even more difficult to deal with than a private insurer and driver.

Both their insurance representatives and their legal representatives will be immediately called upon to protect their interests and limit their liability. This is why it is so important to immediately get legal representation to work on your side, especially if you are involved in an accident with a commercial automobile including trucks, semis, and buses. 

What Evidence Is Needed For A Semi-Truck Accident Claim?

While every case has its own evidentiary needs, you will want to immediately record the following if you are able to:

  • Photographs of the vehicles involved
  • Photographs of the accident scene
  • Photographs of your injuries
  • Any medical records and bills
  • Documentation of medical treatment
  • Documentation of lost wages
  • Documents showing other financial damages

After you are involved in a commercial truck accident, much of the evidence you need will not be known until Lance Youd can discuss your case with you, review police reports and other materials, and determine what damages may have occurred. At that point, he will work to help you gather the evidence you need. 

When Should I Settle My Claim?

You should not settle your claim until you are medically stationary (not necessarily 100% better, but at least not receiving active medical care.) You should then only settle your claim when you receive the best reasonable offer possible from an insurance company or defendant. 

Patience is a virtue in accident claims. If you try to settle too early, you will not know the full extent of your damages. You may run the risk of not identifying all medical bills due and insurance company liens to be reimbursed. Plus, you are sending a message to the insurance company that you are desperate for funds. In that case, the insurance company will not make you a fair offer. 

Can You Represent Me In Court?

Yes, Lance Youd can represent you through the whole process, including in court if necessary. While we try to settle with insurance companies rather than going to trial, we will file suit and go to court if that will result in the best outcome for your case.

Do You Have Experience Facing Corporate Legal Teams?

Lance Youd has 27 years of experience facing corporate legal teams. It is not uncommon to litigate against corporate legal teams. When the facts are on your side and you have the expert witnesses to prove your case, you really do not have anything to worry about. View our results here.

What Are Some Of The Most Common Tractor Trailer Accidents?

Rear-end accidents are the most common type of accident involving semi-trailer trucks. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 85,000 pounds and have a difficult time stopping. Other types of common semi-trailer truck accidents involve truck drivers failing to see vehicles driving on the sides of their truck or trying to turn left in front of oncoming vehicles.

What Are The Common Causes Of Commercial Truck Accidents?

Semi-trailer truck accidents are commonly caused by drivers going too fast, failing to see vehicles driving to the sides of their trucks, and failing to appropriately judge the distance and speed of oncoming traffic. In some cases, drivers are impaired or are violating hours of driving regulations. In most cases, truck accidents are due to driver error. In a limited number of cases, mechanical failure and negligence in truck maintenance may have been the underlying cause of the accident. 

This is why it’s so important to hire a commercial truck accident lawyer. They can hire accident reconstruction engineers and subpoena driver records to determine whether a driver was over their on-the-road hours, impaired, had a history of impairment or bad driving, and other factors that may have caused the accident that injured you.

How Soon Do I Need To Bring A Case In A Commercial Truck Collision?

You should hire a commercial accident truck attorney to contact the insurance companies as soon as possible. There are statutes of limitations that legally identify the period of time someone has to file suit. 

The standard statute of limitations in Oregon is two years, meaning you must either settle the case or file suit within two years or you lose the right to even make a claim for damages. 

If the vehicle involved was a public vehicle that is owned or was being operated on behalf of a government agency, there is also a 180 day ‘Notice of Tort Claim’ requirement. This means that you must give appropriate notice to the government agency within 180 days or less, or you lose the right to make a claim for damages against the government agency.

Minors may also have extended statutes of limitations, depending on their age and the circumstances. 

In every case, the longer it has been since the accident, the less likely it is that you’ll recover on-the-scene evidence. To preserve the evidentiary value of items recovered from the scene, you must call a commercial accident attorney immediately.

Because Lance Youd has 27 years of experience, he fully understands tort law and the statutes of limitations in each circumstance and Oregon state-specific laws that may apply. For the most effective and timely representation, call his office immediately following a collision with a commercial truck. 

What Should I Look For In A Commercial Truck Accident Attorney?

If you are involved in a commercial truck accident and you need a personal injury lawyer who specializes in commercial truck cases, look for someone with a lot of experience and a proven track record of dealing with corporate attorneys and commercial insurance companies. Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer, Lance Youd has over 27 years of experience successfully litigating and handling commercial truck accidents. 

How Do I Know What To Ask A Truck Accident Attorney?

An experienced commercial truck accident attorney will be prepared to lead the conversation. Lance Youd will ask for needed information from you and will advise you of what you need to know and what steps you need to take. 

Why Should I Seek Help From Youd Law For My Commercial Truck Accident Case?

We have 27 years of experience handling semi-trailer truck accident cases and commercial accident cases. Our proven track record of recovering damages for our clients is well documented. In fact, Youd Law has always recovered damages for our clients who were injured in semi-trailer truck accidents. 

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