Large semi-trucks and delivery trucks transport goods throughout Pennsylvania and across the United States. However, due to the size and weight of these commercial vehicles, accidents can have devastating consequences for the smaller vehicles involved.
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a truck collision, speaking with a dedicated personal injury attorney. With a skilled legal advocate by your side, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver or trucking company accountable. A DuBois truck accident lawyer from Marcus & Mack could help you file a strong claim for recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why You Should Hire Marcus & Mack to Help With Your DuBois Truck Accident Claim
Founded in 1977, Marcus & Mack has provided unmatched legal representation to clients in DuBois and other areas of Pennsylvania for nearly 50 years.
We are a well-established personal injury law firm with deep ties to our communities, and we’ve achieved considerable success helping clients obtain maximum compensation for their injuries and losses stemming from truck accidents and other forms of negligence.
For example, we’ve recovered $1.9 million and $1 million awards for truck accident victims. While these case results offer no guarantee of an outcome in your case, you can rely on us to fight hard to help you get the full compensation you need and the justice you feel you deserve.
You can rely on our legal team’s more than 100 years of collective experience to help you navigate the claims process effectively and improve your odds of a successful outcome.
We value honesty, integrity, and compassion when dealing with our clients, and our lawyers have received numerous top client reviews along with national recognition for our impeccable professionalism and outstanding legal skills.
Also, you won’t have to worry about how to pay for an attorney since our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. We won’t charge you anything out of pocket to represent you and only accept attorney fees if we obtain compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award.
To speak with a local DuBois truck accident lawyer about your case, contact Marcus & Mack by calling (724) 717-2137.
What Causes Truck Accidents in DuBois?
Various factors can lead to truck accidents in DuBois, including:
- Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue, impairing reaction times and decision-making. Hours-of-service regulations are in place to prevent excessive driving hours, but violations can occur.
- Distracted Driving: Distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, or using in-cab electronic devices can divert a truck driver’s attention from the road, leading to accidents.
- Speeding: Driving at excessive speeds increases the likelihood of accidents. Trucks, due to their size and weight, require longer stopping distances, making speeding a significant risk factor.
- Intoxication: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious hazard. Impaired truck drivers pose a significant risk to themselves and others on the road.
- Aggressive Driving: Aggressive behaviors, such as tailgating, improper lane changes, and road rage, can lead to accidents involving trucks.
- Failure to Signal or Check Blind Spots: Trucks have significant blind spots, and failure to signal or check these blind spots can result in collisions with other vehicles.
Along with truck driver negligence or wrongdoing, other factors can cause truck accidents as well, such as:
- Improper Loading: Trucks must be loaded and secured properly to maintain stability on the road. Improper loading can lead to accidents, especially if cargo shifts during transit.
- Inadequate Training: Insufficient training for truck drivers can contribute to accidents. Drivers need proper training in handling large vehicles, understanding regulations, and responding to different road conditions.
- Inadequate Supervision by Trucking Companies: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their drivers comply with regulations and maintain safe practices. Inadequate supervision or pressure to meet tight schedules can contribute to accidents.
- Mechanical Failures: Truck accidents can occur due to mechanical failures, such as brake malfunctions, tire blowouts, or other equipment issues. Regular maintenance is crucial for preventing such failures.
- Road Conditions: Poorly maintained roads, construction zones, or unexpected obstacles can contribute to truck accidents. Infrastructure issues can increase the risk of accidents.
- Poor Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or fog, can contribute to truck accidents. Reduced visibility and slippery roads can make it challenging for truck drivers to control their vehicles.
Proving Liability in a DuBois Truck Accident Case
Proving liability in a truck accident can be complex due to the involvement of multiple parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, and potentially others.
Work with an experienced truck accident attorney who has the skills and resources to establish the key elements of negligence, which are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Proving these elements is essential to establishing liability, and your attorney can prove negligence by:
- Gathering evidence, such as photographs, witness statements, and any available video footage. This evidence can help determine how the truck accident occurred.
- Obtaining the official accident report filed by law enforcement. This document may contain crucial information about the parties involved, witness statements, and the officer’s initial assessment of the accident.
- Obtaining the trucker’s driving records, including their driving history, qualifications, and any violations. Many commercial trucks are equipped with electronic logging devices (ELDs) that track driving hours. This data can be crucial in establishing whether the driver exceeded legal driving limits.
- Reviewing truck maintenance records to determine if proper inspections and maintenance were conducted. Poorly maintained trucks can contribute to accidents.
- Gathering statements from witnesses who observed the accident. Their testimonies can provide additional perspectives on what occurred.
- Consulting with accident reconstructionists, medical experts, or other relevant specialists. Their input can help in recreating the accident, analyzing contributing factors, assessing the full extent of your injuries, and establishing liability.
- Examining the trucking company’s policies and procedures. Failure to follow industry regulations, inadequate training, or lax safety protocols may contribute to liability.
- Investigating whether the driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.
- Checking whether the truck was loaded properly and within legal weight limits. Improper loading can contribute to accidents, especially if it causes the truck to become unstable.
- Ensuring that all parties involved, including the trucking company, complied with federal and state regulations governing the trucking industry.
Seeking Damages After a Truck Wreck
In a truck accident claim, you can seek various forms of compensation for your injuries and losses.
Damages typically fall into three categories: economic, non-economic, and, in rare cases, punitive.
- Economic damages include medical expenses, property damage, legal expenses, and lost wages, among others. You may also pursue lost earning capacity if the accident left you disabled and unable to work or perform the same job duties.
- Non-economic damages, in contrast, are damages that cannot be easily calculated as they are intangible. These damages are intended to compensate you for pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, or decreased quality of life. You could also pursue compensation for other adverse effects on your life, such as emotional distress, loss of consortium, and more.
- In certain rare cases, the court may award punitive damages if it finds that the defendant’s conduct was egregiously reckless, negligent, or unlawful. These damages aim to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior from others.
An experienced truck accident attorney in DuBois could help you calculate your total potential recovery and fight throughout the process to ensure you get the most allowed under the law.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in DuBois?
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for personal injury allows you only two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit in civil court. The same deadline applies to wrongful death lawsuits arising from trucking accidents. If you don’t have an attorney file suit for you within two years, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you’ll have no other legal resource to seek compensation.
Certain exceptions could extend the time you have to file, but you need to speak with an attorney right away about your case to learn if any exceptions apply to you. Also, claims against government agencies usually have much shorter deadlines, so you need to contact an attorney immediately if you believe a government entity bears responsibility for the trucking accident and your injuries.
Request a Consultation With a DuBois Truck Accident Attorney
Filing an injury claim for a truck collision that was not your fault can be a challenging, time-consuming task. A DuBois truck accident lawyer from Marcus & Mack could calculate the damages you could seek in a claim, gather evidence, and establish liability.
To request a meeting with one of our attorneys and get a free consultation concerning your rights and options for seeking compensation, contact Marcus & Mack at (724) 717-2137 today.
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