What Are the Benefits of Hiring An Allentown Truck Accident Attorney?
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident and want to pursue compensation for injuries, contacting an Allentown truck accident lawyer is a sensible place to start. You’ll be able to discuss your case with a legal professional that has the knowledge, resources, and determination needed to improve your chances of a positive outcome.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Allentown
Negotiating a settlement is a complex process and rarely something to attempt on your own. Finding an Allentown personal injury attorney with experience handling similar cases may increase your chances of obtaining a fair settlement.
It’s not very surprising that truck accidents are usually more complex than car accidents. After all, trucks tend to be more dangerous by default, mostly due to their immense size and weight. Some common causes of truck accidents in the US include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Exhaustion
- Poorly trained drivers
- Reckless driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Lack of proper truck maintenance
- Overweight cargo
- Improperly secured truck
- Failing to comply with federal trucking regulations
For severely injured truck accident victims, it might seem as if nothing will ever be the same after a severe crash. Sometimes victims even die due to preventable accidents. The ones that survive may be forced to live with life-altering injuries and/or disabilities.
You may feel as if your entire world is crumbling after a truck accident. If things feel overwhelming, know that there are professionals who dedicate their lives to helping victims like you cope physically, emotionally, and financially.
How can an Allentown truck accident lawyer help with the complexities of commercial truck accidents?
According to the American Trucking Association, in the year 2019 commercial trucks were responsible for transporting 11.84 billion tons of freight, or 72.4% of the country’s freight.
Commercial trucks include semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large trucks. These vehicles can weigh 10,000 pounds or even more.
According to Injury Facts, the number of large trucks that were involved in fatal crashes in 2020 was 4,842. This was a 4% decrease when compared to the previous year. However, there has been a whopping 33% increase in fatalities since 2011. In 2020, large trucks accounted for 4% of registered vehicles, 10% of total vehicle miles traveled, and 9% of fatal crashes.
If you or your family member has sustained a serious injury from an 18-wheeler accident, discuss your case with an experienced Allentown truck accident attorney. Your attorney can collect evidence that may prove negligence of the liable party (or parties).
Conducting a thorough investigation and collecting evidence will also help build a strong case. Attorneys will understand what to (and what not to) discuss with insurance representatives and how to negotiate with them.
What are the different types of truck accidents in Allentown?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), 10.4% of severe crashes in Pennsylvania in 2020 were caused by tractor trailers. The number of fatal crashes has not shown a decline for 5 years.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Pennsylvania now ranks 5th for motor vehicle crashes. In 2020, PennDOT recorded that Lehigh County had been one of the 10 counties that reported maximum traffic fatalities. In Allentown and beyond, some types of potential truck collisions include:
- Truck tire blowout crashes
- Head-on truck crashes
- Rear-end truck accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Big-rig rollover accidents
- Underride truck accidents
Truck accidents can be more dangerous than Allentown car accidents, owing to the trucks’ gigantic size and weight. However, truck wrecks will vary depending on the load and the weight of the truck.
Along with this, there are several other factors that determine the severity of the accident, including the speed of the truck and more. Some accidents are severe enough to lead to wrongful deaths.
Who is held liable for a tractor-trailer accident in Allentown?
After a tractor-trailer collision takes place, following are some the parties that may be held liable:
- Trucking company
- Loading company
- Inspector that last inspected the vehicle
- Vehicle or parts manufacturer
- Insurance company
- Maintenance company
An experienced Allentown truck accident lawyer will help identify the cause(s) of the accident and even discuss these matters in court if necessary. Establishing liability in an accident is almost always complex. Therefore, increasing your chances to preserve your future health and happiness is paramount. This may necessitate a detailed investigation and other tasks to ensure the negligent party is held liable.
Need Legal Help? Contact The Law Offices of Samuel Fishman
Allentown truck accident lawyers know how to ensure that your case is as robust as it can be. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the amount of money you may receive after a truck accident is not fixed; it will depend on many factors including the severity of your injuries. Contact us today to get a FREE consultation to discuss how to proceed for your unique accident situation.