PORTLAND
TRIMET ACCIDENT
LAWYER
TriMet Accident and Injury Lawyer Serving Portland and Beaverton
In Portland and Beaverton, riding a TriMet bus or MAX train should be a safe and reliable way to commute. Unfortunately, accidents, assaults, and other injuries happen all too frequently. As a common carrier serving the Portland Metro area, TriMet owes its passengers the highest duty of care under Oregon law. Despite that duty, accidents and injuries involving TriMet passengers occur on a regular basis. Our Portland-based law office has extensive experience representing clients in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and throughout the metro area in cases against common carriers like TriMet. If you or a loved one has been injured in a TriMet accident, assaulted, or the victim of a crime while on a TriMet bus, TriMet MAX train, or TriMet property, we're here to help. Let us handle the complexities of your legal claim so you can focus on what's most important—your recovery and well-being.
5-STAR RATED PORTLAND TRIMET ACCIDENT LAWYER
For over two decades, the Law Office of Benjamin B. Grandy has represented people in injury cases against major corporations, hospitals, motor vehicle carriers, and insurance companies. Our Portland TriMet Accident and Injury Lawyer has recovered millions for our clients by building strong cases and not backing down. We aren’t intimidated by going to court. The Law Office of Benjamin B. Grandy has the experience, resources, and grit to fight for the compensation you deserve. Our office serves clients throughout the Portland and Beaverton areas. Instead of trying to handle a complicated injury case alone, let our office guide you through it and protect your rights. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Contact our Portland law office today for a free consultation. We proudly serve clients in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and the surrounding areas.
Safety on TriMet continues to be a top concern of Portlanders
A recent survey shows that safety on TriMet continues to be a top concern of people in the Portland metro area. About 46% of respondents said safety concerns had kept them from riding MAX trains at times, and 37% had opted out of bus trips due to safety concerns. However, for some people, taking a TriMet bus or MAX light rail train to work or school is a necessity. And riding a TriMet bus or MAX train should not put your life in danger. The Law Office of Benjamin B. Grandy has considerable experience litigating against TriMet. When considering a lawsuit against Trimet, a public transportation agency, it's essential to understand the unique challenges involved in suing a public body in Oregon. Trimet, like many public entities, is protected by laws that can make litigation against them more complex. Our office has the skill and experience necessary to help you overcome these obstacles and get you the compensation you deserve.
TriMet's Duty to Protect Passengers from Criminal Assaults
Trimet is a common carrier. A common carrier means anyone “who transports for hire or who holds himself out to the public as willing to transport for hire.” The common-carrier doctrine applies not just to motor vehicles but to any form of paid-for transportation. Common carriers can, for example, include trains, airplanes, and taxis. Common carriers don’t only owe their passengers the duty not to be negligent; they owe a heightened duty. In Oregon, a common carrier owes its passengers the highest degree of care and skill practicable for it to exercise. That duty includes the duty to protect passengers from criminal assaults and other foreseeable crimes. Under the OTCA, public entities like Trimet can be held liable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm, including the criminal acts of others.
Recent incidents highlight the ongoing safety challenges faced by Portland and Beaverton commuters who rely on TriMet for transportation
There is a long history of passengers being attacked on TriMet vehicles and TriMet property. Unfortunately for Portlanders and TriMet customers, these incidents appear to be continuing. There have been several recent incidents of criminal assaults on Trimet, highlighting the ongoing safety challenges TriMet is having. These incidents emphasize the critical need for Trimet to implement effective security measures.
On January 3, 2023, police arrested a suspect accused of violently attacking and seriously injuring an older man at a TriMet MAX station platform in Gresham, Oregon.
In June 2023, a man brutally sexually assaulted a woman at a TriMet station in Hillsboro, Oregon.
On September 2, 2023, a man uttered a racist slur and then stabbed two Black teenagers on a TriMet MAX light rail train.
In March 2024, a TriMet passenger was punched in the eye, spit on, and called a homophobic slur by a fellow passenger. The TriMet bus driver did not call 911.
On March 29, 2024, a TriMet passenger was stabbed to death Friday evening on a MAX train by a man who later told police he heard voices.
For more information on Crime Victims’ Rights and our office’s representation of Crime Victims in both criminal and civil litigation, please visit our Crime Victims practice page.
Millions recovered For clients
30+ Years of experience
No Fee Unless we Win Your Case
The Challenges of Suing a Public Body
Suing a public body like TriMet involves navigating specific legal hurdles. One significant challenge is the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which protects government entities from being sued without their consent. However, the Oregon Tort Claims Act (OTCA) provides a pathway for lawsuits against public bodies under certain conditions. Under the OTCA, claimants must adhere to strict notice requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Tort Claims Notice Requirements: Public bodies, like TriMet, must be given notice of your claim within 180 days for personal injuries and within 1 year for wrongful death claims. This requirement can be strictly applied with limited exceptions, such as if you are incapacitated by the injury or because of minority, incompetency, or other incapacity and are unable to give notice. Even then, the extension is only 90 more days. See ORS 30.275. There are also requirements as to the form and content of the notice, which is why it is so important to consult with an experienced TriMet accident lawyer as soon as possible about your claim.
Damage Caps: The OTCA limits the liability of the State of Oregon and other public bodies such as TriMet. The amount of damages that are allowed depends on which public body is at fault, when the injury or death occurred, and whether there are multiple claimants. For example, if a local public body were at fault for a personal injury or death occurring after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, the maximum damages allowed for multiple claimants is $1,660,400. There are, however, legal precedents where injured parties have been able to break through the caps and recover more. Maximizing the damages recoverable under the OTCA or analyzing whether, in your case, some type of legal challenge to the caps might exist requires an experienced lawyer familiar with the statutory framework and legal precedents.
Shorter Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death: In Oregon, the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party for personal injuries is generally two years from the date of the accident. When the personal injury claim is against a public body, a two-year statute of limitations also applies. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally three years from the date of death. However, if the wrongful death claim is against a public body subject to the OTCA, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death. In Oregon, if the statute of limitations expires in your personal injury or wrongful death case, you lose the right to pursue a legal claim against the party who caused your injury. However, there are many exceptions to these general rules, so it's critical to consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible to determine your rights.
Call us to find out how we can help
Given the complexities involved in suing a public body like TriMet, it is crucial to seek experienced legal representation. A knowledgeable attorney can help navigate the procedural requirements and also assist in gathering critical evidence, such as surveillance footage or witness statements. While suing Trimet can be challenging due to the protections afforded to public entities, justice is still achievable with the right legal strategy. You don’t have to face this process alone. Our office has significant experience litigating against TriMet and other public bodies. If you or someone you love has been injured while using TriMet services, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Let us help you explore your options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Last Updated: 1-4-2025
Written by: Benjamin B. Grandy
NO FEE UNLESS
WE WIN YOUR CASE
Our law office accepts cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means that you will not pay any legal fee unless we get you compensation.
THE LAW OFFICE OF BENJAMIN B. GRANDY, PC, REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED PERSONAL INJURY OR WRONGFUL DEATH THROUGHOUT OREGON INCLUDING IN
Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Woodburn, Canby, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Corbett, Wood Village, Hood River, Gladstone, Tigard, King City, Newberg, Dundee, Molalla, Kaiser, Silverton, Estacada, Astoria, Cannon Beach, Seaside, St. Helens, Scappoose, Damascus, Tillamook, and Oregon City, and in the counties of Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Marion, Tillamook, Yamhill, Hood River and Lane.