Bethel Park Truck Accident Lawyer

Transporting everything from food and raw materials to consumer goods and hazardous chemicals, commercial trucks are an irreplaceable part of the nation’s economy. However, their large size and bulky shape also make them a hazard on the road.

Even at low speeds, a truck can cause severe or fatal injuries to occupants of passenger vehicles. That’s why it’s so important to talk to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision.

The team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman knows how devastating a truck accident can be. We’re committed to helping victims like you get the compensation they deserve. Get help with your claim now by calling us at 412-253-2925.

How Common Are Pennsylvania Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are a fairly regular occurrence on Pennsylvania roads. Unfortunately, they are also much more dangerous than other accidents. While they comprise only 6.1% of all crashes in Pennsylvania, they make up over 10% of the state’s fatal crashes. Only 1.9% of fatalities were occupants of the trucks, indicating that people in passenger vehicles are at a much higher risk of injury or death.

In 2020, truck accident numbers were significantly lower than they were in prior years. The same is true for truck accident fatalities. Experts believe that this may be partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so future data will be necessary to see if this trend continues.

The majority of truck collisions in Pennsylvania took place on state highways like State Route 88 and State Route 19.

Causes of Truck Accidents

A wide range of issues, both human and mechanical, can lead to truck accidents. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation does maintain some data on collisions caused by truck defects. Defects that commonly led to truck accidents include tire defects, brake malfunctioning, overloaded trailers, power train failure, and steering system failure.

Remember, though, that most collisions are due to human error. Some human errors that frequently lead to collisions include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while impaired
• Drifting into other lanes
• Switching lanes without checking blind spots
• Following too closely
• Driving while fatigued
• Speeding

Different Types of Truck Collisions

The unique structure of trucks means that they are prone to accidents that other vehicles are not. These accidents include:

• Underride: These are some of the most deadly truck accidents you’ll ever see. They occur when a truck backs up over a car or a car runs into the back of a truck. The front of the car gets stuck underneath the truck and usually has its entire top ripped off. Many newer trucks have undercarriage guards built-in to prevent these accidents, but there are some trucks that do not offer this protection.
• Sideswipe: If a driver changes lanes without checking their blind spot or if a car is in a truck’s blind spot, this type of collision may occur. Depending on the speed and location of both vehicles, this can also turn into an underride accident that rips off half of a car’s top.
• Rollover: By nature, commercial trucks are very top-heavy. This means that when it’s windy or the driver has to make quick turns or swerves, a truck is prone to tipping over. This is especially dangerous when the truck is carrying hazardous materials, as the materials may get strewn all over the highway and cause explosions or fires.
• Jackknife: Jackknife collisions are often seen with new or inexperienced truck drivers. When a driver swerves to avoid an obstacle, they may lose control. This causes the trailer to swing out at a 90-degree angle from the tractor, at which point the driver no longer has any control over the truck. The truck usually spins and continues to travel forward for some time, possibly causing multiple collisions.
• Wide turn: Truck drivers often swing to the left before making a right turn. If they go too far left or miss a vehicle on their right, they can cause an accident.

What Makes Truck Crashes Different from Other Vehicle Collisions?

Truck crashes are far more likely to cause severe or fatal injuries than other types of collisions. Additionally, the presence of hazardous materials makes these accidents even more dangerous. Beyond that, there are several differences that set truck accidents apart from car crashes.

First, truck accidents involve more people than passenger vehicle conditions. In addition to both drivers, there’s the trucking company, the truck company’s insurance provider, the cargo owner, the company that loaded the cargo, and the legal teams for all parties involved. This can make the settlement process far more complicated, as you need to sort out liability on all fronts before reaching a settlement.

Finally, there is a lot of evidence involved in a truck accident. Beyond the evidence available in every type of vehicle crash, there’s the trucking log, the vehicle’s black box, the vehicle’s GPS, the other driver’s history, and the truck company’s operating procedures.

How Our Team Can Help You

Since truck accidents are so complicated, you need an attorney with extensive experience in this type of case. Your attorney will need to make your case to the trucking company, their legal team, the cargo loading company, and everyone else with a vested interest in the accident.

Your attorney will take care of investigating the accident, gathering evidence that can help you, and creating a case proving other parties’ negligence. By creating a clear trail from the liable party’s negligence to the accident to your injuries, your lawyer can advocate for you.

Be aware that the insurance company will work hard to avoid paying your claim out fairly. They may downplay your injuries, shift blame, or use your own words against you. Your attorney can protect you from these and other unethical tactics.

Don’t Wait Any Longer—Contact Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman Now

Your search for compensation begins here. The team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman is ready to work with you and fight on your behalf. Just call us at 412-253-2925 or get in touch online to set up a meeting time now.