Injury and Fatality Cases

Crashes with 18-wheelers are devastating to the victims and their families. The emotional and financial tolls that result from these tragic incidents can be huge. Our attorneys work closely with truck crash victims to help make sure they receive the compensation to which they are entitled. Here are the stories of just a few of the families we’ve helped.

Woman Killed, Fiancé Seriously Injured in 18-wheeler Crash

A woman and her fiancé were on their way to a family reunion in South Carolina one night when, out of nowhere, a car hit their Nissan Pathfinder head-on. The car had been rear-ended by an 18-wheeler and sent hurling across the median, where it collided with the couple’s vehicle. The woman in the Pathfinder was killed instantly. Her fiancé suffered permanent injuries. A woman and a 7-year-old child in the other car were also killed that night. The driver of the 18-wheeler, who had been cited numerous times for driving offenses and had even had his driver’s license suspended, had fallen asleep at the wheel. Need some case info, like settlement or verdict.

Motorcyclist Severely Injured Due to Negligent Trucking Company

A twenty-one-year-old man from Eugene, OR, suffered serious orthopedic injuries when his motorcycle collided with a turning car. Because a log truck was illegally parked in the center lane, neither driver could see the other until it was too late to avoid the accident. After a week-long trial, the jury found that the motorcyclist’s injuries were caused by the trucking company’s negligence and assessed over $560,000 in damages.

10-year-old Child Killed in Head-on Collision

An 18-wheeler loaded with pipe was traveling on Highway 34 in rural Oregon. Coming around the curve in the opposite direction was a ten-year-old child, her grandmother and aunt. The commercial tractor-trailer lost control, crossed the centerline, and smashed into the family’s car head-on. The Corson & Johnson Law Firm prosecuted a wrongful death claim for the surviving family members. The case was settled before trial for $550,000.

Man Permanently Blinded in Collision with 18-Wheeler

A man was traveling north on Interstate 5 in southern Oregon on his way to work. An 18-wheeler was traveling in the opposite direction when it lost control, breeched the median, and collided with the man’s vehicle. As a result of the accident, the man suffered severe injuries to his face, including total and permanent blindness in both eyes. The case settled on terms that included payment of the trucking company’s $2 million available insurance policy limits.

Young Child Dies in Multi-truck Crash

A nine-year-old girl and her mother were traveling down Interstate 5 one night when the valley filled with smoke. Due to poor visibility, the mother stopped the car behind a flatbed truck that had also stopped because of the smoke. Two 18-wheelers behind the stopped vehicles, one a gasoline tanker, continued driving through what both truck drivers estimated to be about a mile of smoke. Unable to see that traffic was stopped ahead, the gasoline tanker crashed into the back of the family car, pushing it into the fast lane. The second tractor-trailer then ran over the family car. Tragically, the little girl died in the collisions. The case settled after extensive litigation for $475,000.

Tractor-trailer Loses Load, Kills Pick-up Truck Driver

A 37-year-old man was on his way to work when a tractor-trailer lost part of its load of hay bales on the highway. The hay bales smashed into the man’s pick-up truck, demolishing the vehicle and killing the driver. An investigation proved the trucking company knew the tractor trailer had received 23 or more safety violations three days before the fatal incident, none of which had been addressed or corrected. The driver of the 18-wheeler did not have the skills or the required commercial license to drive the truck more than 150 miles. The load was improperly secured, was well over the legal weight limit, and had not been properly inspected.

8-year-old Killed in Collision with Truck Carrying Hazardous Load

An eight-year-old girl was traveling with her mother when a truck loaded with flammable materials crashed into the family’s car. The girl was severely injured and later died as a result of her injuries. During the wrongful death case brought against the operator of the truck and her employer, it was discovered that the truck was traveling at excessive speeds, the driver failed to maintain control of the vehicle and respond to hazardous road conditions. The driver was also negligent in failing to stop or change lanes to avoid crashing into the family’s vehicle.

Multiple Truck Collision Results In The Wrongful Death Of A Child

One night in southern Douglas County, Oregon, thick smoke filled a long valley through which the Interstate 5 freeway travels. A nine year-old girl was in the back seat of her mother’s car, stopped behind a flatbed truck that had also stopped because of the smoke. Two big trucking rigs, one a gasoline tanker, barreled down the freeway through what both truck drivers estimated to be about a mile of smoke. The gasoline tanker smashed into the back of the family car, sending it into the fast lane and the guardrail. The second tractor-trailer then ran over the family car. The little girl died in the collisions. The case settled after extensive litigation.

Continue reading Rachel’s story…

18-wheeler Collision With Car Results In Blindness

An 18-wheeler was southbound on the Interstate 5 freeway in southern Lane County, Oregon early one morning. A local man named Larry had just driven his Toyota Celica onto the freeway and was going north on his way to work in Eugene. The southbound tractor-trailer lost control, plowed through the median, crossed over into the northbound lanes, and smashed into the small car. The crashed caused Larry to suffer extensive injuries to his face, including total and permanent blindness in both eyes. The case settled in favor of Larry, but his life was changed forever.

Continue reading Larry’s story…