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Whether you use the Turnpike, I-80, the Schuylkill, or I-79, you know that truckers often drive like they own the roadway. Pennsylvania truck accidents often occur because truckers drive too aggressively. When this happens, the consequences can be deadly. Motorists may suffer serious injuries in the cars these big trucks demolish. Each truck accident lawyer at Ostroff Injury Law is committed to making truckers and trucking companies pay for the catastrophic injuries they cause.
Driving a Semi-Truck is Dangerous
Driving a semi-truck or other type of commercial vehicle requires much more skill and care as opposed to driving a passenger vehicle. There is a special license needed to drive a commercial vehicle. Medical certifications are necessary, hours of driving are monitored and limited, cargo weight is restricted, and tractor-trailer maintenance must be documented.
A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration noted three major “critical events” that lead to truck-related accidents:
- Running out of the travel lane into another lane or off the road
- Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the truck’s travel lane
- Losing vehicle control
Why do these events occur? The most common causes of crashes involving large trucks usually fall into the following categories:
- Driving too fast for conditions or speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Hours of service violations
- Vehicle maintenance (including inadequate tires and tire check rules)
- Driver distraction
- Following too closely
- Failure to keep the truck under control in an emergency situation
The majority of trucks on the road are part of large companies that profit greatly from the cargo they transport. For this reason, when a large truck is in a crash, the companies have the resources to have lawyers and experts at the scene to protect their interests within hours. These professionals take statements and preserve evidence to protect the trucking companies, not the interests of those that were injured.
Why Truckers Rush
Businesses rely heavily on the trucking industry to deliver their products on time. Truck owners often impose challenging deadlines on the drivers they employ. If a trucker gets tied up in traffic, with a customer, or at a rest stop, he or she must make up for the delays. Other times, truckers are impatient and rush because they are anxious to finish their day. Pressure to make deadlines and meet high demand from businesses can lead truck drivers to make poor decisions that cause Pennsylvania truck accidents. Strict deadlines and ignoring safety rules and regulations can lead to devastating Pennsylvania truck accidents.
Truck Crashes in Poor Weather Conditions
Truck drivers must take all possible measures to prevent accidents during bad weather. Failure to do so can result in jackknifing, rollovers, multi-car pileups, and other devastating crashes. Below are some of the common adverse weather conditions and why they can be dangerous.
- High Winds. Due to blowing snow or dust, high wind speed can decrease a truck driver’s visibility and reaction time. Debris and snow that blows into the road can also obstruct lanes. A driver may need to quickly move out of the way or drive over it. Either decision can endanger nearby motorists.
- Rain and Snow. In addition to creating slippery roads, precipitation can decrease the distance a truck driver is able to see. Drivers may have less time to react to a sudden stop or other issue as a result. When rainy conditions lead to flooding, travel lanes can become submerged, forcing truck drivers and other motorists to change lanes unexpectedly.
- Fog. At any time of the day, fog can substantially diminish visibility and drivers’ reaction time.
Regarding long-term effects, adverse weather can greatly affect the pavement on highways and small roads, resulting in infrastructure damage and year-round hazardous road conditions for trucks and passenger vehicles alike.
If Other Lawyers Told You “No”
Jon doesn’t care what other lawyers told you. If other lawyers have told you that you don’t have a case, call Jon anyway. He has recovered millions of dollars for clients whom other lawyers told they didn’t have a case.
In fact, one client of Jon’s was blamed when she drove into the side of a tractor trailer late one evening. The police, the trucker, and even an eyewitness blamed Jon’s client for this serious collision. The client’s family called a few local lawyers before they called Jon. The other lawyers agreed with the police and were unwilling to investigate further. Jon used a well-respected nighttime visibility expert to prove that, because the truck failed to have proper reflective tape on it, his client couldn’t see the side of the truck when she struck it. He proved the other local lawyers wrong and overcame the negative police investigation and eyewitness account to win a $5.7 million award for this small-town client.
Jon doesn’t care that the police blamed you. If the police blamed you for the truck crash, but you know it wasn’t your fault, call Jon.
In one small Pennsylvania town alone, Jon recovered millions for two different clients, in two different accidents, even though the police blamed each of them for the accident they were in. Jon proved the police wrong, and his two clients recovered millions as a result. Jon will use everything he has learned from the 25,000 accident victims he has helped over the past 25 years.
Truck Crash with Limited Tort
If you have limited tort insurance and heard that you cannot get a recovery, call Jon. He may be able to find an exception so limited tort does not apply to you, even if you chose it.
Call Jon at 800-818-8148 for a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney at Ostroff Injury Law. We’ll explain how we can help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are truck accident lawsuits different from other accident lawsuits?
Due to the massive size and weight of tractor trailers, truck crashes often result in more injuries for other motorists involved as well as their vehicles, sometimes without causing visible damage to the truck. In addition, the defendants in a truck accident lawsuit may extend beyond just the driver. Injured victims may be able to seek compensation from the trucking company and other parties who acted negligently and contributed to the cause of the crash.
The police blamed me for the crash, but I know I wasn’t at fault. Can I still sue?
Even if the police initially blamed you for the truck accident, you could still win your case. In fact, in one small Pennsylvania town alone, Jon Ostroff recovered millions of dollars for two different clients. The police blamed each of them for the accidents. Other lawyers may have also told you that you don’t have a case. It’s important to contact our truck accident lawyers anyway. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients whom other lawyers told didn’t have a case.
What is accident reconstruction and how does it help my case?
Truck accident experts use scientific principles to investigate details of the crash including the moment of impact, the speed of the vehicles involved, weather and road conditions, and more. The complexity of truck accidents leads many attorneys to seek the help of investigators to get answers and build a strong case.
How long will my lawsuit last until I receive compensation?
Every case is different, and there are many factors that change the timeline between filing suit and obtaining compensation. Ostroff Injury Law aggressively represents each client to ensure the process is as efficient and successful as possible. We work hard to obtain a substantial settlement for clients. However, we will also go to court if the defendants won’t pay what we feel is fair.
Does Ostroff Injury Law have the experience to successfully handle my case?
Our firm has more than 25 years of experience handling over 25,000 injury claims, many of which involved commercial vehicles. In addition to our extensive legal experience, we also have the aggressive attitude to stand up to big truck companies and make them take responsibility for their negligence.
Contact Ostroff Injury Law for Help
Ostroff Injury Law has forced truckers and the companies they work for to pay millions to clients across Pennsylvania. With offices in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas, you will get a big city advantage with Jon Ostroff and Ostroff Injury Law. Few lawyers in America have achieved the status of a 25/25 attorney. Jon is one of these rare attorneys. Jon has helped more than 25,000 Pennsylvania accident victims over the past 25 years. Some of these victims were seriously injured or killed by negligent truck drivers. Jon knows how to win these accident cases.
Contact our firm today to speak with a truck accident lawyer about how we can help you.
Read More About Truck Accident Law
Trucking Accidents Caused by Driver Error
Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics
Trucking Company Responsibilities
