Monroeville Truck Accident Lawyers

Large commercial big rig trucks are everywhere, especially along rt. 22 in Monroeville, PA, where they drive to deliver goods to Sam’s Club on William Penn Hwy, or to Giant Eagle Supermarket on Monroeville Bld.

Unfortunately, truck accidents happen in Monroeville every year. The good news is if you’ve been injured, you have the right to collect damages. It all starts with meeting the right attorney and scheduling a consultation. Call Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman at 412-391-9860 to set up a meeting time now.

Monroeville, PA Truck Accidents Can Cause Massive Damage

While truck accidents are relatively uncommon when compared to crashes that only involve passenger vehicles, they can be devastating when they do occur. A full tractor-trailer can easily weigh several dozen times more than a passenger vehicle. This means that even at low speeds, a truck can crush a smaller car and cause fatal injuries to those that are involved.

On top of that, the odd shape of trucks makes them much less safe than passenger vehicles when it comes to visibility. Tractor trailers have four “no zones,” or large blind spots that other drivers should avoid. They include about 20 feet in front of the truck, behind the truck, and any area directly next to the truck that is not visible in the side view mirrors. People stuck in these no zones could be involved in a crash if the truck stops, speeds up, or tries to switch lanes.

You must also remember that tractor-trailers often carry hazardous materials and chemicals. Should a crash happen, these chemicals can end up all over the highway, putting hundreds of others at risk.

Pennsylvania Truck Accident Facts

In recent years, Pennsylvania roads have become increasingly safer in terms of truck accidents. Total crashes did increase for a bit in 2018 and 2019, but hit a five-year low in 2020, per the DOT. Fatalities reached a five-year low as well. While many crashes were the result of human error, quite a few were traced back to vehicle failures. Common defects include tire defects, brake malfunctions, and overloaded trailers.

Crashes were the most common state highways, which is also where most fatalities occurred. This may include local highways like I-376, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and U.S. Route 22.

When fatal crashes occurred, those in the other vehicle were far more likely to be the victims. Although there were 110 fatal crashes in 2020, only 20 of those fatalities were people in the truck.

What Makes Truck Collisions Different?

While the general process of filing a Monroeville, PA truck accident claim is the same as any personal injury claim, there are several things that set it apart from other types of car crashes. To start, there is an enormous amount of evidence that isn’t available in other types of collisions.

Truck drivers are required to keep detailed logs of their inspections, how far they drive when they take breaks, and when they finish a delivery. This can be useful information if your attorney suspects that the truck driver or their employer violated federal law by driving too long or taking too few breaks.

Additionally, the truck’s black box is an excellent source of information and evidence. Impairment, fatigue, and distractions are relatively common in truck accidents. If this is indeed the case, it’s likely that the black box will back that up. It shows if the truck driver jerked or swerved before the crash, which may occur if they wake up the moment before a crash and try to correct their course. It may also show random speeding and slowing down, which is common among distracted drivers.

What makes these claims more difficult than passenger vehicle accidents? There are many more parties involved in the investigation and settlement process. Even if the driver is at fault, they likely are not directly liable for the crash. Their employer will instead be held liable.

In addition to the driver and their employer, you’ll also have to deal with their insurance companies, the person who owns the cargo, the company responsible for loading the cargo, and possibly local and federal investigators if the crash was serious enough.

This can make getting fair compensation difficult. While everyone is quick to say that it “wasn’t their fault,” no one is in a hurry to tell you who is at fault and who can help you.

How Our Monroeville, PA Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help  

That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced truck accident attorney. At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, we have helped many truck accident victims get the fair compensation they deserve after a trucking accident has changed their lives.

We spring into action right away to preserve important evidence, get our hands on trucking logs and black box data, and talk to eyewitnesses. We strive to investigate and figure out what happened before the trucking company can try to cover it up.

We understand that the financial stakes are very high in truck accidents. It’s likely that you’re looking at tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, vehicle damage or replacement, and lost wages. The liable party will not pay up unless they are forced to do so. We know exactly what type of evidence will back the liable party into a corner and put them in a position where they must do what is right.

After an accident, everyone is looking out for themselves—you need someone whose only goal is to help you. We are here to fight aggressively on your behalf as you recover from your accident.

Call Us Today—We’re Here to Help

The earlier you contact the team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, the sooner we can start working for you. Take the first step right now by calling us at 412-391-9860. You can also reach out to us online and a team member will contact you about your next steps.