Truck Accident Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania
According to the Department of Transportation statistics, 286,000 large truck accidents happened in the United States in 2009. Almost 3,400 died as a result of trucking crashes in 2009. Driving a truck requires a great deal of attention and alertness. Of all drivers, truck drivers must be the most cautious when driving on the road with other cars and motorcycles. Commercial truck drivers need to exercise extreme caution due to the immense weight and size of their vehicles which, when colliding with other vehicles, can lead to fatal consequences. This is why there are so many rules and regulations that drivers and trucking companies must adhere to in order to ensure everyone's general safety. Unfortunately, there are times when truck drivers or truck companies are negligent, or disobey regulations. From inadequate training to overloading, truck drivers and companies often partake in reckless actions that can lead to catastrophic motor vehicle accidents once the vehicle is on the road.
When truck drivers fail to exercise caution or when trucking companies do not follow regulations, and other drivers are injured, the driver and company can be held liable. After a person has been injured in a trucking accident, he/she is legally entitled to seek compensation. A trucking accident victim may seek monetary damages for his/her: medical expenses, injuries, lost wages, lost future income, physical and mental impairment, property damage, and pain and suffering.
A trucking accident occurs when large commercial trucks and tractor trailers collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. More than half a million trucking accidents happen every year in the United States. Approximately 5,000 trucking accidents are fatal. According to the National Traffic Safety statistics, one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves some sort of a truck crash.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents:
- Improper Training
- Negligent Supervision
- Unlicensed Driver
- Speeding
- Disobeying Safety Procedure
- Motor Vehicle Inspection Failure
- Repair & Maintenance Failure
- Failure to Yield The Right of Way
- DUI / DWI
- Driver Fatigue
- Truck Rollover
- Backing Up/Moving In Reverse
- Collisions with Cars
- Mechanical Defect
- Brake Failure
- Tires Blow Up
- Transporting Equipment with Trailers
- Overloaded Trucks or Trailers
- Loads That Shift Weight
Types of Truck Accidents
Every year thousands of motorists and truck drivers get injured or killed in tractor-trailer accidents caused by drivers' errors and negligence of trucking companies. Tractor-trailer drivers and their employers have a duty to operate trucks in a safe and responsible manner. Reckless driving, oversized loads and negligence are major causes of truck accidents.
Highway safety is an important issue of concern to most Pennsylvania motorists and residents. Our attorneys at the Lassen Law Firm have the experience you need for cases involving trucking safety and trucking accidents. Semi truck and 18-wheeler accidents present unique problems that may differ significantly from a typical motor vehicle accident. Some issues that are particular to truck accidents include:
- Tractor/Trailer Maintenance
- Negligent Maintenance
- Negligent Hiring and Supervision
- Sleep-Deprived Truck Drivers
- Government Regulations
- Defective Manufacture of Tractor/Trailer/Parts
- Risk of serious injuries and deaths
- Insurance coverage Issues
- Federal Regulations
- State Regulations
- Drug Testing
- Trucking Records and Logs
Should Large Trucks Comply with Federal Rules and Regulations of the DOT?
Yes. All commercial motor vehicles must comply with the federal rules regulating commercial motor vehicle driving. Generally, large trucks are considered commercial motor vehicles if
- they weigh 10,001 pounds or more,
- are used as part of a business and
- involved in interstate commerce.
In addition, a truck is considered a CMV if it is involved in interstate or intrastate commerce and is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards.
The Department of Transportation sets out safety rules that truckers and trucking companies must follow. The rules relate to proper loading, securing and transporting the material. They also cover pre-trip inspections that must be performed before the truck is ready to travel. The DOT also imposes a variety of restrictions on the number of hours a trucker may drive, breaks he/she must take and other rules. The DOT rules are often changing to create safer road conditions and to prevent overworked, sleepy drivers from getting behind the wheel.
In most crashes, there is some kind of a DOT rule violation. Strictly complying with the DOT rules may be costly to trucking companies and they may choose to ignore them, engendering the safety of their own truckers and other drivers on the road.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
If you have been the victim of a serious collision, you should consult with an experienced Pennsylvania truck crash lawyer to learn about your rights. If you suffered trucking crash-related injuries as a result of the negligence of a driver, you may be able to sue the driver, the trucking company and, in some cases, governmental agencies responsible for road conditions. Only an experienced trucking accident lawyer should file a lawsuit against all the responsible parties raising proper claims. If governmental agencies are liable for creating dangerous road conditions, strict deadlines may apply. A competent Pennsylvania truck crash lawyer will make sure you file a lawsuit as soon as possible so that your case is not time barred. The statue of limitations in Pennsylvania is two years since the date of the injury. The Lassen Law Firm urges you to consult an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney without delay. At the Lassen Law Firm, we have been successful in bringing our clients, truck crash victims, the results they were seeking. Thus, in a trucking crash case this year, we were able to reach a settlement of $396,450 for the injuries sustained by a car driver who was hit by a truck.
Personal Injury Lawyer Pennsylvania
Once people have been seriously injured in truck accidents, they may feel helpless. It is hard enough for people to deal with their physical symptoms and recovery, let alone the financial difficulties that are often associated with truck accident injuries.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, the last thing you or your family should have to worry about is your financial security. At the Lassen Law Firm, we believe that our clients should be allowed to focus on getting better without having to stress over their future well-being. We are skilled Philadelphia personal injury attorneys who will aggressively fight for maximum recovery of damages for our clients' truck accident injuries.
The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.
Stop Searching. Start Calling. 215-510-6755
Authored by: Christian Lassen