Truck Accident Lawyer in Salem, OR
Oregon Personal Injury Firm Serving Truck Accident Victims Since 1991
When a commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle, the results are rarely minor. Victims face traumatic injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and an opposing legal team that starts working against them within hours of the crash. At Smith Morgan LLP, we’ve represented Oregon truck accident victims since 1991, and we know what it takes to stand up to the insurers and carriers who dominate these claims.
The numbers reflect the danger. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 4,354 people died in 2023 crashes involving large trucks in the U.S., and about 65% of those killed were passenger vehicle occupants. The I-5 corridor through the Salem area is one of Oregon’s busiest freight routes, carrying heavy commercial traffic between Eugene and Portland every day. That volume means Salem-area drivers share the road with tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and tanker trucks constantly, and when something goes wrong, the consequences are severe.
These cases are also legally complex in ways that ordinary car accidents aren’t. Large commercial trucks are governed by both Oregon state motor carrier regulations and federal FMCSA rules covering hours-of-service limits, electronic logging devices, driver medical qualifications, and vehicle inspections. Untangling that regulatory record, identifying every liable party, and preserving time-sensitive evidence requires a focused investigation from the start.
We obtained a $2,500,000 policy limit settlement in a semi-truck collision involving a husband and wife killed by a semi-truck driver. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome in your case, but that result reflects the level of commitment we bring to every truck accident claim we handle. Clients at Smith Morgan LLP work directly with their attorney from the first call through resolution, not a case manager or intake coordinator.
Call (541) 248-6979, or connect with us online for a free case evaluation with a Salem truck accident attorney. We offer convenient virtual consultations for those who are unable to travel to our office. Hablamos español. Available 24/7.
Why Salem Truck Accident Victims Can’t Afford to Wait
Oregon’s personal injury statute of limitations gives most truck accident victims two years from the date of injury to file a claim under ORS 12.110. Missing that deadline typically bars a claim entirely, but the timeline pressure begins long before that cutoff.
Trucking companies and their insurers routinely deploy claims teams and defense counsel within hours of a serious crash. While that process is underway, critical evidence is at risk. Federal FMCSA rules require carriers to retain electronic logging device data, driver hours-of-service logs, and maintenance records for set periods, but those periods are finite. Black box and event data recorder information, onboard camera footage, and dispatch communications can be lost or overwritten without a prompt legal hold letter requiring their preservation.
The sooner we get involved, the stronger your position can be. We can issue preservation demands, begin our own investigation, and work to secure the evidence that helps show what happened before it disappears.
Our Settlements & Verdicts
-
$1,500,000 Pedestrian Hit By Drunk Driver
Settlement for a pedestrian struck by a drunk driver, which included recovery from the bar that overserved the driver.
-
$175,000 Hit-And-Run Accident
Arbitration award against a driver who fled the scene and attempted to blame someone else.
-
$2,500,000 Semi-Truck Accident
Policy limit settlement for a husband and wife tragically killed in a collision with a semi-truck driver.
-
$1,250,000 Road Construction Worker Fatality
Policy limit settlement for a worker killed by an inattentive driver in a construction zone.
-
$1,000,000 Mother Injured In Auto Accident
Arbitration award for a 39-year-old mother injured while driving her children home from school.
-
$250,000 Uninsured Motorist Claim
Why Truck Accident Claims Are More Legally Complex Than Car Accident Cases
A collision with a big rig or tractor-trailer isn’t just a larger version of a car accident. The legal landscape is fundamentally different, and the opposing resources are substantially greater.
Who May Share Liability in a Commercial Truck Crash
Multiple parties may bear responsibility depending on how the crash occurred. Identifying all of them requires a thorough review of the regulatory record and the facts of the collision.
- The truck driver for fatigue, distraction, or hours-of-service violations documented in ELD records
- The trucking company through vicarious liability and potential negligent hiring, training, or supervision
- Maintenance providers if faulty repairs or deferred inspections contributed to the crash
- Parts manufacturers if a defective component failed
- Cargo loaders if improper load securement caused a jackknife or rollover
Federal & State Regulations That Shape These Claims
Federal FMCSA regulations govern hours-of-service limits, mandatory rest periods, electronic logging device requirements, driver medical qualifications, and load securement standards. Oregon state motor carrier rules add another layer on top of those federal requirements. Violations of either are critical evidence in a truck accident claim, but identifying and preserving them takes prompt action and familiarity with the regulatory record.
Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence rule: a victim found less than 51% at fault can still recover compensation, but the recovery is reduced by their share of fault. Commercial trucking insurers know this and may look for any basis to shift fault to the injured party. In cases where a carrier or driver acted with reckless disregard for safety, Oregon law may also permit punitive damages.
How Smith Morgan LLP Handles Truck Accident Cases
From the first call, you work directly with your attorney. No intake coordinator, no case manager as your primary point of contact. That direct access shapes everything that follows.
What we do for truck accident clients:
- Prompt, free case evaluation with no upfront legal costs; we work on a contingency fee basis
- Same-day or next-day case evaluations and after-hours availability
- Immediate evidence preservation demands, including black box data, ELD records, driver logs, and camera footage
- A thorough independent investigation: gathering evidence, mapping the crash scene, and reconstructing what happened
- Consultations with medical, engineering, and vocational experts to document current and future losses
- Skilled negotiation with commercial insurers, and full trial readiness when a fair settlement isn’t offered
We’ve handled over 4,000 cases since 1991 across the Greater Willamette Valley. That experience means we understand how Oregon courts handle these claims, what commercial trucking insurers may argue, and what it takes to build a case strong enough to support a real result.