Being the victim of a trucking accident is no laughing matter. Because the size and weight of commercial trucks, getting into an accident involving one, especially if you are not the driver of the truck, can have much more severe impacts, resulting in sustaining much more severe injuries and often coma or death. Knowing the common causes of such serious accidents can help you prevent yourself from ever getting into one (or another one). Understanding liability in Pennsylvania trucking accidents could one day save you or someone else’s life.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Pennsylvania

Large commercial trucks are more likely to get in accidents under certain scenarios. This is because larger vehicles on the road have limitations that make driving more difficult. A normal automobile driver will often find driving a big U-Haul to a new home, for instance, very stressful as these vehicles drive very differently.

The most common causes of truckings accidents are:

• Large vehicle blind spots
• Improper cargo loading
• Driver error and inexperience
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Equipment failure
• Going too fast when turning

Laws and Regulations Surrounding the Commercial Trucking Industry

There is a wide variety of federal laws surrounding the trucking industry due to the size and limitations of commercial- sized trucks. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations details most of these rules that drivers, owners, and companies must follow when using and operating a truck. There are also many agencies that regulate truck driving such as the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Some regulations may include things such as carrying capacities, speed limits for trucks on highways vs regular roads, proper technique for changing lanes and working with blind spots, maintenance rules and how often certain truck parts must be checked or replaced, etc.

Truck Accidents and Trucking Company Liability

If you are involved in a trucking accident, there are many factors that have to be considered whether you, the driver, the truck owner, or the trucking company will be at fault. Did the trucking company properly train the driver? Did the driver take drugs or was he extremely fatigued? Did you do something wrong? Did the truck owner not properly maintain the vehicle? Any and all of these must be considered in an accident claim. It could even be the fault of the company that leased the truck from an owner in order to transport cargo. For instance, they could have neglectfully added too much cargo for the truck in question to transport safely.

Whether you will have to sue the owner, leaser, trucking company, or driver, will highly depend on factors such as if there were independent contractors, the driver’s employee status, who owns the truck or equipments, who was in charge of inspections, etc. Having a quality trucking accident attorney at your side can make it easier to get to the bottom of such a complicated investigation.

Contact a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Trucking Accident Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a truck accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Law Office of Mark A. Smith represent clients injured because of trucking accidents in Pittsburgh, Homestead, Erie, Greensburg, and throughout Pennsylvania. Call (412) 567-9598 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.