ERIE, PA TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Some of the most devastating types of motor vehicle accidents are those involving commercial trucks. These vehicles are massive in size and can obliterate nearly any other type of vehicle that comes in their path.

If you were injured in a truck accident, you may have the right to recover financial compensation when someone else is at fault. Find out what legal options may be available to you when you schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Erie, PA truck accident attorney at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman.

ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS FOR FILING AN INJURY CLAIM DUE TO A TRUCK ACCIDENT?

Statutes of limitation differ for each state, but in Pennsylvania, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not file within this time period, you are barred from pursuing your claim. In Pennsylvania, minors have until their 20th birthday to file a personal injury suit.

HOW COMMON ARE TRUCK ACCIDENTS?

In 2017 there were 6,807 recorded accidents. Of those accidents, 145 were fatal injury crashes. Passenger vehicles almost always suffer injury and not the truck driver. Last, rural roads have a higher rate of truck accidents than other roadways. Truck accidents are trending upwards which means the likelihood of a truck accident is increasing. If you are hit by a truck, an injury is very likely.

CAN I SUE THE TRUCK DRIVER’S TRUCKING COMPANY FOR MY INJURIES?

Yes. Truck companies invest heavily in insurance policies for the company and its drivers. If you are injured due to a truck accident, you may have the option to sue both the driver and the company. The driver and the company may be held responsible for the negligent behavior resulting in your injury. Because insurance companies are involved between driver and company, our professional attorneys will actively negotiate to make sure you get the coverage you need for your recovery.

WHY IS A TRUCK ACCIDENT MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY THAN ONE INVOLVING PASSENGER CARS?

Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. and can be up to 53 ft. in length. A regular 4-door sedan is around 20 feet in length and can weigh up to 4,000 lbs. Trucks can cause more damage to property and personal injury because the impact is stronger; the length of the trailer can hit multiple vehicles at a time; because of the height of the truck, cars can get stuck under the trailer, and trailers can topple over onto cars—crashing the cars and people inside them.

Across Pennsylvania, there are a total of more than 300 reportable motor vehicle collisions every single day, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Although motor vehicle accidents involving heavy trucks are less common than car crashes involving passenger vehicles, truck accidents are more likely to cause severe injuries and fatalities.

According to the same PennDOT report, heavy trucks are involved in approximately 140 fatal crashes, 2,900 accidents involving injuries, and more than 6,700 total collisions. Since truck accidents tend to be more devastating, destructive, and fatal in their nature, damages and losses caused by a typical truck accident can total $500,000 or millions of dollars.

Whether or not you can obtain that amount of compensation as a victim of a truck crash depends on whether you are represented by a truck accident attorney.

HOW TO PROVE FAULT IN A TRUCK ACCIDENT?

Here at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our skilled lawyers can help you pursue a personal injury claim by proving that the truck driver and his or her trucking company violated federal trucking regulations.

Proving the other party’s fault in a truck crash has a lot to do with whether you have evidence that the trucker and/or their trucking company failed to adhere to federal truck regulations imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Our experienced truck accident lawyer in Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania can help you collect sufficient evidence proving that the other party violated the following federal trucking regulations to establish fault:

  • Licensing regulations for commercial drivers
  • Background checks and screening
  • Training for truck drivers
  • Insurance requirements
  • Hours of service regulations
  • Size and weight of cargo
  • Securing the cargo
  • Total vehicle weight
  • Vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements
  • Appropriate and safe driving maneuvers and behaviors by truck drivers

That is not the full list of trucking regulations imposed by the FMCSA. To delve into the topic of truckers and trucking companies violating FMCSA regulations, schedule a free consultation with a truck accident attorney from Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman. If your lawyer can find evidence of a violation, you will be able to use it in out-of-court negotiations or court trials to prove the other party’s liability.

WHO WILL YOU SUE IN YOUR ERIE, PA TRUCK ACCIDENT CLAIM?

The only way that you can pursue a claim for a truck accident in Erie is by proving that someone else is at fault for causing the accident. In order to do this, your attorney will need to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your collision to determine fault.

Some of the different parties who are found culpable for Erie, PA truck accidents include:

  • Truck drivers
  • The trucking company
  • The truck owner
  • Cargo loaders
  • Safety inspectors
  • Truck parts manufacturers
  • Truck mechanics

CONTACT A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IN ERIE, PA

When you have been seriously injured in a commercial trucking accident and you are unsure of where to turn for help, contact a dedicated Erie, PA truck accident attorney at  Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman.

Our firm proudly offers free, no-obligation consultations to injury victims and accident survivors across the state of Pennsylvania. Take advantage of this opportunity today. Schedule yours when you call our office at 888-988-9467. Or complete our convenient contact form to get started on your case.

How Can We Help You? Contact Us For A Free Consultation