Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer

truck accident
truck accident

Were you injured in a truck accident in Philadelphia? You may expect the truck driver or trucking company to accept responsibility and provide you with the funds you need to offset the harm they caused you. Unfortunately, many trucking companies and insurance companies are more concerned about their bottom line than they are about making things right with you after a truck wreck.

After a truck accident, truck drivers and carriers often take extraordinary steps to deny responsibility and limit their obligation to support crash victims. This behavior leaves victims needing professional legal assistance to secure fair compensation for their losses.

Don’t get pushed around by big companies and their insurers. Contact Eisenberg, Rothweiler Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C. for help getting the money and accountability you’re owed. Consultations are free and come with no obligation, so there’s no risk in speaking with a Philadelphia truck accident lawyer from our firm.

Truck Accident Statistics in Philadelphia

The following crash facts from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shed light on the frequency and severity of truck accidents statewide:

  • In one recent year, there were 6,344 “heavy truck” crashes throughout the state of Pennsylvania, which accounted for 6.1 percent of statewide crashes that year.
  • That year, 2,523 (39.8 percent) of all truck accidents resulted in injuries. Injury crashes involving heavy trucks accounted for 5.6 percent of all such crashes in Pennsylvania that year.
  • That same year, 110 Pennsylvania truck accidents resulted in fatalities. Fatal crashes involving heavy trucks accounted for 10.4 percent of fatal crashes statewide.

Truck Accident Liability in Philadelphia

Truck drivers are not the only parties responsible for the operation of their vehicles. Depending on the circumstances, any of the following parties may be liable in a Pennsylvania truck accident case:

  • Truck drivers and owner-operators
  • Truck owners
  • Trucking companies
  • Cargo loading teams
  • Manufacturers of defective truck parts
  • Negligent truck repair shops or mechanics
  • Government entities responsible for road maintenance

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

A truck accident may be the result of multiple contributing factors, such as:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting while driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driving too fast for conditions
  • Following too closely
  • Failure to check blind spots
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Improper turning or merging
  • Driver inexperience
  • Cargo shifts and spills
  • Overloaded cargo in trailers
  • Jackknifing and rollovers
  • Underride and override collisions
  • Defective truck parts
  • Poorly maintained trucks
  • Poor road conditions

Common Injuries Associated with Trucking Accidents

When a large truck hits a much smaller passenger vehicle, the smaller vehicle’s occupants usually suffer more severe injuries. Common truck accident injuries include:

  • Arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
  • Dislocated and broken bones
  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement
  • Amputation or loss of limb
  • Leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Potential Compensation for Semi-Truck Accidents

A successful third-party claim against a truck driver or another at-fault party could provide you with compensation for:

  • Hospital bills and other crash-related medical expenses
  • Lost wages from any time you miss work due to your injuries
  • Projected losses in earning capacity, if your injuries are permanent
  • Subjective losses, such as pain, suffering, and lost quality of life

How Big Truck Companies Fight Paying Fair Compensation to Truck Accident Victims

Many truck accidents cause significant property damage and catastrophic injuries, resulting in expensive legal claims. Big trucking companies and their insurers would prefer not to pay these legal claims and often deny liability by:

  • Blaming the accident on victims or other road users
  • Claiming the driver was an independent contractor or non-employee
  • Repairing or junking trucks to hide evidence of mechanical defects
  • Deleting or concealing documentation of unsafe company practices