Philadelphia Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer
Get Compensated for the Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries You Sustained
Our skilled Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney at The Villari Firm is aware that representing tractor-trailer and other heavy truck accident victims requires particular skills and knowledge.
Our personal injury attorneys fight to recover the numerous types of damages and compensation to which our clients are entitled, such as medical expenses, hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost earnings, future wage losses, lost earning capacity, physical disabilities, scars, limb loss, brain and head injuries, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, grief, and pain and suffering.
The tractor-trailer accidents attorney at The Villari Firm has extensive experience assisting injured people like you in obtaining the compensation to which they are entitled. Do not allow a negligent truck driver or the company that employs them to cause you severe physical harm and financial hardship without consequence. Call us instead to schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss how we can assist you.
Why Do I Need a Tractor Trailer Attorney in Pennsylvania?
You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries following a truck accident in Philadelphia. However, it can be difficult to obtain the money. There may be multiple parties involved, including truck drivers, their employers, trucking companies, and insurers. Each opponent will fight you at every turn.
They will do everything possible to restrict or deny you the money you deserve. You already have enough on your plate without the added stress of a lawsuit. You are not responsible for dealing with the consequences on your own. Employing legal counsel levels the playing field. It allows you to concentrate on recuperating from your injuries.
Allowing our competent Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney to handle your case also positions you to maximize your compensation. At The Villari Firm, we’re a family. When you seek assistance from our tractor-trailer accident attorney following an injury, you become a member of our family.
We understand how difficult it can be after an unexpected accident. Therefore, we will do everything possible to secure compensation on your behalf. As your personal injury lawyers, we will:
- Protect you when insurance companies attempt to reduce the value of your claim or completely deny it.
- Investigate the circumstances of your collision to determine why it occurred and to identify those responsible for your injuries.
- Demand compensation from everyone who contributed to your accident.
- Consult with Philadelphia’s foremost injury specialists to determine the value of your case.
- Defend yourself by minimizing your role in the collision if you are held responsible for your injuries.
Our objective is to assist you in obtaining a settlement offer or jury award for your injuries. Call us immediately to discuss your case.
How is a Tractor-Trailer Collision Distinct From Other Truck Collisions?
Transportation of tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles must adhere to federal regulations and minimum safety standards. These regulations are known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), and they frequently play a significant role in tractor-trailer accident cases:
- How long a driver can remain on the road continuously before stopping to rest
- Requirements for preventive maintenance and inspection of trucks
- Specifications for cargo loading and securing
- Employment, training, and supervision prerequisites
- Rules governing the timing of trucking companies’ delivery scheduling so as not to encourage speeding or exceeding the maximum number of driving hours
What Are the Different Types of Tractor-Trailer Accidents?
Driving a semi-truck or tractor-trailer requires extensive training, up-to-date vehicle maintenance, and heightened awareness of the road environment. When drivers of commercial trucks disregard these factors, they run the risk of causing catastrophic or fatal truck accidents.
There are numerous causes of truck accidents that have severe and painful effects on truck accident victims. Some examples include:
- Speeding truck accidents
- Defective trucking equipment
- Reckless driving truck accidents
- Tailgating truck accidents
- Side impact truck accident
- Rollover truck accident
- Fatigued truck driving accident
- Texting while driving truck accidents
- Jackknife truck driving accident
- Blind spot truck accident
- Overweight truck accident
- Intoxicated driving truck accidents
What Are the Most Common Causes of Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Pennsylvania?
How did this accident occur? One of the most important questions we must answer when building your case. Frequently, we discover that the “accident” was not an accident at all but rather the result of a series of negligent actions, company policies, and failures.
Too frequently, we discover that the collision that caused your injuries or the death of your loved one could have been avoided. These are frequent causes of tractor-trailer accidents:
Truck Driver Exhaustion
Truck drivers have difficult jobs that require long hours behind the wheel, frequently overnight or early in the morning. Many tractor-trailer drivers develop sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that prevents restful sleep and causes excessive daytime fatigue due to the nature of their work and the lifestyle associated with long-distance trucking.
The Federal Motor Carrier Administration regulates the maximum shift length for truck drivers before they must take a break to sleep, but truckers frequently exceed the maximum shift length to be paid. Consequently, drivers become less vigilant and may even fall asleep at the wheel while driving an 80,000-pound vehicle at 65MPH+ down the highway.
Distracted Driving
For all drivers, distractions involving technology, communication, food, and navigation are now among the leading causes of traffic accidents. We have observed drivers who were distracted by texts, social media, sports games, phone and video calls, and even movies.
If a distracted driver caused your accident, our Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney has the knowledge and resources to prove it and obtain justice for you.
Hiring and Training Methods in the Transportation Industry
If transportation companies fail to hire and train safe drivers, they could be held liable if one of their employees causes injuries in a tractor-trailer accident. Negligent hiring practices include failing to conduct background checks, hiring drivers with phony or expired licenses, and failing to adequately train employees on safe practices and company policies, among other things.
Transport Firm Negligence
In addition to their hiring and training practices, trucking companies may engage in other negligent actions that endanger truckers and the general public. They may not ensure that their vehicles are in proper operating condition. They might turn a blind eye when employees violate safety procedures.
To meet delivery deadlines, they may even exert pressure on their drivers to disregard hours of service limits and other regulations. Numerous instances have occurred over the years in which trucking companies either lacked policies to protect their drivers and the general public or failed to enforce these policies, putting lives in danger.
Mechanical Breakdown
If trucks are not properly inspected, maintained, and repaired, they pose a threat to both the driver and other motorists. Mechanical issues such as brake failure, tire blowouts, electrical problems, and others can result in fatal collisions. If transportation companies fail to maintain their vehicles or falsify inspection reports, they must accept responsibility.
Reckless Driving or Driving Under the Influence
Speed is one of the leading contributors to fatal crashes. Not using turn signals, driving too fast for road conditions, tailgating, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are also unacceptable. Our investigation into your accident will seek to identify any of these behaviors that may have contributed to it.
What Are the Most Common Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries?
Due to the sheer size and weight of semi-trucks and tractor-trailers, the injuries sustained in a severe truck accident can be more severe than those sustained in a typical car accident. Serious injuries caused by the negligent party violate the rights of the motorist.
You deserve fair compensation for the pain, suffering, and anguish caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company if you were injured in a truck accident. Typical tractor-trailer accident injuries typically involve:
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Bone, ligament, and disc injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Partial or total immobility
- Spinal cord damage
- Organ damage or internal bleeding
- Bruises, lacerations, and abrasions
- Broken ribs
- Wrongful death
The tractor-trailer accident attorney from The Villari Firm can be trusted. We have years of experience successfully representing clients who have been injured in tractor-trailer accidents.
What to Do Following a Pennsylvania Tractor-Trailer Accident?
In the immediate aftermath of an accident involving a tractor-trailer in Pennsylvania, you can take a variety of actions. This consists of the following:
- Calling 911. The police must arrive at the scene of any collision involving a large truck to conduct a preliminary investigation and determine fault, if possible.
- Seek Immediate Medical Treatment. Any individual involved in a truck accident must seek immediate medical attention. Even if the injuries appear minor, a physician must conduct an evaluation.
- Collecting Evidence. If it is safe to do so at the scene of the collision, an uninjured bystander should use their phone or another camera to take photographs of vehicle damage, causes of the collision, injuries, traffic and weather conditions, and other factors. In addition, the names and contact information of any crash witnesses must be collected.
- Notifying Your Insurer of the Accident. Any individual involved in the collision must immediately notify their insurance company. During the initial report, there is no need for extensive detail. The insurance company only needs to know that an incident occurred, that a tractor-trailer was involved, and the names and contact information of those involved.
- Ongoing Medical Treatment. All accident victims must continue to receive medical care until their doctor determines that they have reached their maximum medical improvement. The parties involved cannot settle until medical care has been completed.
- Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer. Victims of large truck collisions should contact our skilled Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney as soon as possible so they can assist them in filing a claim, negotiating with all parties involved, and obtaining maximum compensation.
Who Can Be Held Legally Liable for Your Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries?
One of the most challenging aspects of a collision involving a large truck is that multiple parties may be held liable. Determining liability is typically much more involved than determining fault. After determining fault in the majority of auto accidents, you can typically assume that the party at fault will also be liable for the incident.
However, this may not be the case with the accident involving the semi-truck. The following are some of the most common parties held liable in the aftermath of a tractor-trailer accident:
- Truck Driver. This is the party that most people believe would be held liable following a collision involving a large truck, especially if the truck driver’s negligence is determined to be the cause of the collision. If the driver is also the owner-operator of the truck, they may be held fully liable for the incident.
- Trucking Firm. If a truck driver employed by a motor carrier company causes an accident, the trucking company will likely be held liable. In general, the theory of vicarious liability holds that an employer can be held liable for an employee’s actions if the employee was acting within the scope of their duties at the time of the incident.
- Truck Manufacturer. If a faulty truck causes an accident, the vehicle’s manufacturer could be held liable for any injuries or other losses.
- Parts Manufacturer. Frequently, it is not a defective truck as a whole that causes an accident but rather a defective component. The manufacturer of the component could be held liable for an accident.
- Truck Maintenance Team. The owner or operator of a truck has to have their vehicle routinely inspected and maintained. If a maintenance company or team fails to maintain a vehicle adequately, they may be held liable if an accident occurs as a result of inadequate inspection or maintenance.
How to Prove Liability After a Tractor-Trailer Accident?
If you were involved in a tractor-trailer accident that was caused by the truck driver’s negligence, you are entitled to damages, personal injury, and pain and suffering. In addition to the cost of vehicle repairs and potential income loss caused by hospitalization, medical expenses can quickly accumulate.
As for establishing liability, this is where things can become complicated. Evidence from the accident scene, eyewitness testimony, and the police report can be used to determine fault. In addition, the accident is frequently reconstructed by an expert to determine what occurred and who or what is at fault.
Our versed Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney will then review the details of the accident and the case, explain the legal options for pursuing compensation, and identify the responsible parties so that they can be held accountable. Investigating the truck driver and trucking company is an additional step in establishing liability.
Several aspects must be investigated, including the driver’s training, the number of hours they worked, and the condition of the truck involved in the accident. Frequently, drivers are under pressure to meet deadlines or lack adequate training, both of which can contribute to an accident.
By obtaining the driver’s logbooks, GPS data, and any other evidence that proves negligence, our tractor-trailer accident attorney can determine whether or not the trucking company is at fault.
Can I Get Compensated If I’m Blamed for My Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries?
Similar to many other states, Pennsylvania is a comparative fault state. If you were partially responsible for your accident, you are not automatically barred from seeking compensation.
However, someone else, or multiple individuals, must be primarily accountable for your accident and injuries. Sharing fault will also affect the amount of compensation you can receive for your injuries. Your damages will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. If you are 10 percent at fault, 10 percent of your damages will be reduced.
Prepare yourself to receive blame from truck drivers, trucking companies, and anyone else from whom you seek compensation. Others will attempt to place as much blame on you as possible. The less fault they are assigned, the less money they must pay. It is prudent to hire our personal injury attorney to handle your case.
How to Calculate Lost Compensation Damages in a Pennsylvania Tractor-Trailer Accident?
In addition to affecting your medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, the severity of your injury may also have longer-lasting financial consequences, depending on its severity. Truck accident victims may require lifelong care, in-home nursing, specialized transportation, rehabilitation, and years of additional medical care.
This type of treatment could easily exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars. The victim’s ability to work will also be affected by the severity of the injury. If you are required to miss months of work due to an injury, you should be compensated for your lost income. A permanent disability may impede your ability to work or prevent you from finding employment.
Under these conditions, the amount of future income you will lose will be substantial. Our Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney will employ financial experts and use evidence of your income before the tractor-trailer accident to calculate the amount of income you will have lost throughout your lifetime and claim this amount as damages for lost earning capacity.
What is the Compensation for Pain and Suffering After a Pennsylvania Tractor-Trailer Accident?
Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are frequently a significant portion of the damages recovered in a lawsuit involving a large truck accident. Similar to your medical expenses, pain and suffering compensation is usually proportional to the severity of your injury.
If you fractured your leg and were back on your feet in six months, you will receive less compensation for pain and suffering than if you sustained a lifelong injury to your neck that causes pain and physical limitations.
Why Should I Not Settle a Pennsylvania Tractor-Trailer Accident Claim Too Quickly?
Insurance companies make a profit by avoiding settlement payments. They employ accountants, attorneys, and adjusters to limit their liability and payouts. Due to the severity of injuries sustained in truck accidents, insurance companies are frequently concerned about large verdicts.
To avoid a potentially large payout, an insurance company may offer a quick settlement for a lesser amount than your claim’s actual worth. Unfortunately, rising medical expenses and lost wages may make their offer appealing to truck accident victims. Our law firm never recommends an early settlement for a variety of reasons, the most prevalent of which is that an injured person’s condition is likely to deteriorate over time.
Our Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney has learned over the years of advocating for the injured that it is difficult to estimate the full economic, physical, and mental costs of a truck accident immediately after the incident. Consult with our qualified Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney for assistance with calculating damages in your truck accident injury case.
What Damages Are Available After a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Pennsylvania?
A large truck accident can completely alter one’s life. Medical expenses and lost income can make it difficult to make ends meet. After your accident, you may be rendered unable to work, affecting your ability to earn a living. The emotional trauma of your accident may prevent you from enjoying life for years to come.
If someone else caused your injuries in a truck accident, they should also be held liable for your injuries. Our Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney will fight tirelessly on your behalf to recover monetary damages. This could include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Health care
- Damage to property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages and earnings
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life’s pleasure
- Disability and more
Call our law office today. We will examine your case, explain your legal rights, and discuss all of your available legal options. If you wish to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit, we will be by your side from the beginning.
What is Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations for Tractor-Trailer Accident Claims?
After a large truck accident, it may take weeks or even months to get back on your feet. You may not be fully recovered from your injuries even then. However, it is essential to consider a personal injury claim as soon as possible. The state imposes a strict statute of limitations on accidents involving large trucks.
You have two years from the date of your tractor-trailer collision to file a claim for damages. If you wait too long to get started, you risk losing out on valuable funds.
Discuss Your Case With Our Philadelphia Tractor Trailer Accidents Attorney Today
In the event of a large truck accident, trucking companies and insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid responsibility. For this reason, you need our knowledgeable Philadelphia tractor-trailer accident attorney, who has successfully handled truck accident cases similar to yours.
The Villari Firm is familiar with these strategies and understands what is required to help you win. When you hire our law firm, we will explain how to file a claim and diligently negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company.
To learn more about your legal options, please call our qualified tractor-trailer accident attorney immediately.
Aside from tractor-trailer accidents, we also help with the following cases:
- Birth injury
- Camp Lejeune water contamination
- Construction accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Vehicle accidents
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Sexual abuse
