Eugene Oregon Personal Injury Attorneys

Ignoring 18 Wheeler Safety Rules Causes Death

Two Central Oregon agricultural businesses made the fatal decision to ignore tractor-trailer safety laws in order to make a profit. On the morning of March 4, 2010, their tractor-trailer lost part of its hay bale load on Highway 58. 37-year-old Gregory Muller was then driving his rig in the opposite direction. The hay bales crashed into Greg’s truck. The cab was demolished, and Greg was crushed. His family was left with an emptiness that will never be filled.

Our investigation and case preparation revealed:

1. Defendants’ tractor-trailer was unsafe and had received 23 vehicle safety violations three days before. None had been addressed, much less fixed;
2. The defendant driver did not have the experience or the required commercial license to drive the tractor-trailer more than 150 miles, and far exceeded that limit for this trip;
3. The load of hay bales were not properly strapped down and were 20,000 lbs the over weight limits; and
4. The load had not been properly inspected.

We co-counseled this wrongful death case with Nevada attorney Jack Kennedy. The case was settled at a judicial settlement conference.