Northeastern Pennsylvania Truck Accident Attorneys

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in a Truck Crash?

Living in Northeastern Pennsylvania likely means that you travel frequently on local highways such as Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. When you drive on these highways, you are sharing the roadway with commercial trucks and tractor-trailers, vehicles that outweigh your car by several thousand pounds. Unfortunately, a collision with one of these vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries, including death. Just like with a car accident, if you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Types of Trucks on the Road

In addition to tractor-trailers, trucking accidents may involve a variety of large trucks, including:

• Dump trucks and Garbage trucks
  • These types of trucks suffer from large blind spots and obstructed views. 
• Flatbed trucks
  • These types of trucks have open trailers and carry cargo such as logs, pipes, and heavy machinery. They do not have walls or sides to safely hold the cargo in place. If the truck cargo is not secured or loaded properly, it can cause the truck to be unstable and the driver to lose control.
• Tanker trucks
  • These types of trucks usually carry liquid or gas, with contents that can be either flammable and/or toxic. Because of this, even a minor accident involving this type of truck can have catastrophic consequences. 
• Box/Moving trucks
• Cement trucks
• Moving trucks
• Tow trucks

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

There are a variety of factors involved in truck accidents, including:

• Distracted Driving
  • Truck drivers could be distracted because they rely on GPS to map out their routes and use electronic devices to communicate with other driver and their dispatchers.
• Fatigued Driving
  • Truck drivers often have routes that cover great distances and usually have delivery deadlines that they have to make, this can cause a driver to continue driving even though they are fatigued.
• Driving Under the Influence
  • Again, truck drivers have to cover great distances in a certain amount of time, this can cause them to consume substances, both legal and illegal, so that they can stay alert.
• Non-Compliance
  • This can encompass numerous things, such as trucks that are not properly inspected and working properly, as well as drivers working beyond the number of hours they are allowed under the law. 
• Speed/Reckless Driving
  • Truck drivers that speed, make improper lane changes and drive recklessly, frequently cause truck accidents.
• Weather/Road Conditions
  • Various weather conditions, such as snow, rain and ice can contribute to bad road conditions, contributing to an accident.
• Negligent Hiring/Driver Error
  • Sometimes trucking companies hire inexperienced poorly trained drivers and put them on the road. Due to their inexperience driving a truck, accidents can occur.
• Improper Loading
  • Trucks that are too heavy or improperly loaded can become difficult to maneuver, increasing the risk of an accident.

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can occur in numerous ways, including the following:

• Rear End Collisions
  • Rear-end crashes may occur when a large truck is unable to stop in a timely manner. When a heavy truck plows into the back of a passenger vehicle, serious property damage and injury are likely.
• Jackknife Crashes
  • This type of accident generally occurs when a truck driver forcefully slams the brakes. This can cause the truck's drive axle to lock and cause the trailer to skid and stop at a 90-degree angle to the tractor. When this happens, drivers lose control of their vehicles and serious accidents may occur.
• Rollovers
  • There are various circumstances which can cause a rollover to occur:
    • Speeding;
    • Improper loading;
    • Taking curves too quickly;
    • Steep inclines and declines;
    • Swerving to avoid objects or other vehicles
• Underride Accidents
  • This can occur when a truck stops suddenly, and a car that is following too close behind rear-ends the truck and gets lodged under the trailer. Because of the height difference of the two vehicles, a car can slide underneath the tractor trailer, even causing the car's roof to be sheared off. This type of accident frequently results in fatalities. Although federal law mandates underride guards, faulty or improperly maintained guards contribute to these dangerous situations.
• Blind Spots
  • This type of accident can occur due to large blind spots, causing a trucker not to see a passenger vehicle as he or she changes lanes.
• Brake Failure
  • If the truck's brakes are Improperly installed or poorly maintained, or the truck driver uses improper braking techniques, the brakes can overheat, contributing to an accident.
• Lost Load Accidents
  • This occurs when unsecured or unbalanced cargo falls from a truck in transit, the loose cargo poses an immediate danger to vehicles hit by it, as well as to drivers trying to avoid it.
• Wide Turn Collision
  • This occurs when a truck driver underestimates the amount of space needed to complete a turn or fails to notice a smaller vehicle in the path of a trailer. The trucks swings out wide to complete a turn and in the process fails to notice a smaller vehicle in its path.
• Tire Blowouts
  • If a tire blows out on a large heavy truck, this can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. This can happen when the tire tread is dangerously worn.

Who are the Defendants in a Truck Accident Case?

Truck accidents often involve multiple parties, including the following:

• Truck Driver 
  •  The truck driver's negligence will be used to hold him or her accountable for the accident.
• Trucking Company
  • Trucking companies are typically responsible for injuries caused by their drivers due to negligent driving. Trucking companies are also responsible for training their drivers and for ensuring that their drivers maintain excellent driving records. Trucking companies are also responsible for keeping their fleet of trucks in good condition. If a trucking company fails to complete routine maintenance on its trucks, or if it ignores warnings from its drivers about mechanical issues, it may be held accountable in an accident case if one of these issues caused the accident.
• Cargo Loading Companies
  • In some instances, a third-party company loads cargo onto a truck before the driver begins transporting it. If the cargo is improperly loaded, it could shift and cause the truck to become unstable. If this subsequently causes an accident, the loading company may be held liable in a truck crash claim.

     

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one have been injured as the result of a truck accident, call Sklarosky Law today at (570) 283-1200 or use our online contact form and tell us about your potential case. Truck accident claims can be complex and challenging.  Do not wait, call us today so that we can help you obtain the financial compensation you may be entitled to.