Automobile, Trucking, Railroad, and Transportation

We have litigated hundreds of transportation accident cases leading to favorable settlements, and we have been successfully trying transportation accident cases to juries throughout the State of Oregon for decades.

Our experience extends throughout the automobile, trucking (including log trucks, tankers and commercial fleets), and railroad industries. We are experienced with wrongful death, serious injuries, and injuries caused by various component parts that are standard to the transportation industry.

Our representative cases include:

  • Defense of a log truck company in a serious, permanent injury and wrongful death case involving multiple plaintiffs
    • Kristin Olson defended a log truck driver in a complex permanent injury and death case.  At trial, multiple plaintiffs asked the jury for over $2.7 million. Kristin achieved a net jury verdict of $104,000, with the jury awarding nothing in pain and suffering damages to two of the plaintiffs. This was upheld on appeal.  Estate of Ibarra v. Lilly, 245 Or App 294, 263 P3d 1053 (2011). 
  • Defense of a serious injury case allegedly caused by the component part of a railroad car
    • Kristin Olson defended a railroad car cleaning company in a $425,000 complex personal injury case where the plaintiff claimed her hand was crushed by a railroad car.  The jury awarded only $35,000---less than a tenth of the amount requested. Subsequently, plaintiff filed a motion requesting her attorney fees of $40,000. Kristin won this motion and the plaintiff was denied all attorney fees.  Wells v. Union Pacific et al., Multnomah County Case No. 070404620 (2007).  
  • Hundreds of accident defense cases, some of which were tried to verdict, involving commercial trucks and cars
  • Defense of a commercial truck and trailer company in an environmental and personal injury case involving a fuel tanker truck that hit an elk where thousands of gallons of fuel were spilled
  • Defense of an airport transportation company involved in an accident that allegedly caused serious injuries
  • Complete defense jury verdict in an admitted fault automobile accident case where the plaintiff alleged serious and permanent injuries and damages of $1 million 
    • Kristin Olson achieved a defense jury verdict in a $1 million admitted fault personal injury case. Kristin defended a math teacher in an automobile accident case where the plaintiff alleged serious permanent injuries and the teacher admitted fault for the accident.  Kristin successfully argued that her client did not cause the plaintiff's injuries.  Johnson v. Emmons, Multnomah County Case No. 090303028 (2009).  
  • Roll overs and improperly loaded or unsecured trailers
  • Road rage
  • DEQ, ODOT and DOT investigations and inspections
  • Hours of Service violations
  • Transmission and brake failures on automobiles and trucks
  • Punitive damages claims
  • Diesel, gas, and other hazardous material spills
  • Environmental remediation required by federal EPA, Oregon DEQ, and ODOT regulations