State College Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial vehicles are a common sight on Pennsylvania highways, with about 70 percent of the nation’s goods delivered by trucks. However, if a driver of a big rig is careless, motorists can be critically hurt if a collision occurs. If a reckless or negligent truck driver has injured you, a State College truck accident lawyer may be able to help you recover the monetary damages you need. By obtaining a dedicated personal injury attorney, you could increase your chances of a successful recovery.

Causes of Commercial Vehicle Crashes

An exhausted or fatigued driver is the most common cause of commercial trucks crashing into other vehicles. Commercial trucking lines often pay their drivers a certain amount per mile, which encourages drivers to make many deliveries as quickly as they can. Pennsylvania law governs the actions of truck drivers who carry property to locations within the state, and federal law regulates drivers who make interstate runs.

Drivers are limited on how many hours they can operate a truck. In some cases, a driver will drive longer than the law allows and fail to enter the actual hours into the logbook or skip rest breaks to make additional money. Other common causes of truck wrecks include:

• Reckless driving, such as speeding or using a cell phone on the road
• Defective truck parts
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Carrying an overweight or poorly secured load

The federal and state laws are complicated, and a Pennsylvania truck crash attorney could help make sense of them. Knowing the cause of the accident could also help a skilled lawyer determine who is responsible.

Who is Negligent for a Truck Collision?

Most truck accidents give rise to claims of negligence. There could be several defendants in truck accident cases, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and the cargo loaders. In some cases, a system or part on the truck may be faulty, and a suit might be brought for product liability, which is against the manufacturer. For example, if the hydraulic brakes on a truck malfunction because of a design flaw, and the truck crashes into a motorist, he or she might be able to seek compensation from the brake manufacturer. A State College attorney experienced in truck crash cases could help a client determine who the proper defendants might be.

Recoverable Damages

Almost 70 percent of the injuries and deaths caused in truck accidents happen to drivers and passengers in passenger cars that are hit by the truck, far more than to the driver of the truck. Due to the size of the commercial vehicle, injuries can be catastrophic. Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple broken bones, severe burns, and even death are common injuries if a truck is involved. Injured parties may require long-term care, which can be expensive. An injured party can contact a Pennsylvania attorney to review the procedure to get just compensation from the negligent truck driver.

A Pennsylvania truck driver who causes an accident with injuries could be liable for damages that are measurable, such as medical bills and lost wages and those that are subjective, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and decreased earning capacity. Even if the injured party is partially at fault for the accident, a judgment may still be won.

Contact A State College Truck Accident Attorney for Help

If you are injured in a truck crash, your free consultation with a State College truck accident lawyer could help you organize and implement the steps you need to take to get just compensation for all your losses.  There is a two-year statute of limitations for an attorney to file a lawsuit for personal injury, so do not delay in contacting a lawyer. Schedule your free consultation today.