Norristown Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, often leaving victims with severe injuries, costly medical bills, and emotional trauma. Due to commercial trucks’ sheer size and weight, these collisions are often more destructive than typical car accidents.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Norristown, understanding your rights and the legal options available to you is critical. At Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C., we are committed to helping truck accident victims seek justice.
What Are Common Types of Truck Accidents?
Here are some of the most common types of truck accidents:
- Jackknife Accidents: These occur when the trailer swings toward the front of the cab, forming a sharp angle. They are typical when the driver applies the brakes too hard or too quickly or during inclement weather that causes slippery conditions.
- Underride Accidents: These occur when a vehicle hits the side or rear end of a semi and temporarily slides under it. Drivers attempting to make wide turns, failing to check blind spots, or changing lanes without signaling can cause this type of accident. Unfortunately, these can be some of the most severe types of truck accidents involving decapitation or internal bleeding.
- Rear-End Accidents: Drivers who are potentially distracted and unable to stop in time could create unsafe conditions by plowing into the rear end of another vehicle. Whiplash, spinal contusions, and neck injuries are all possible injuries in this type of scenario.
- Rollover Accidents: Due to their high center of gravity, high speeds, improper load distribution, and sharp turns can all lead to rigs overturning. As a result, nearby vehicles can become casualties that are crushed, which can lead to entrapment, internal injuries, or broken bones.
- T-Bone Accidents: A T-bone accident occurs when a driver collides with the side of a semi or vice versa. It can occur if a driver fails to yield to oncoming traffic or misses a stop sign or other traffic-regulating signal. Injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal lacerations, and fractures to extremities such as the arms and legs.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident?
With so many possible scenarios, examining the circumstances surrounding the accident and who may be at fault is important. While operator error is considered the most common cause of truck accidents, there could be other underlying reasons for an accident that are not entirely the driver’s fault. In such cases, it is possible to sue the trucking company that employs the driver for negligence.
In certain cases, it is possible to sue the driver and the trucking company for the following reasons:
- Failure to maintain the safety of the vehicle. All trucks are required to adhere to certain standards that make them safe for travel for both employees and the motoring public. For this reason, maintenance is typically logged and kept in a ledger that remains with the vehicle to ensure all systems are functioning properly. Any company that tries to cut corners in how often the vehicle is serviced could be held responsible in the event of an accident involving mechanical failure, such as brakes, steering, transmission, or engine components.
- Employing someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle under the influence and causes an accident can expect consequences. However, an employer who knowingly puts a driver on the road that could potentially cause harm to other drivers may be found guilty of endangering the public. For this reason, many employers require drivers to submit to random drug tests to prove that they are safe to entrust with company property. Those who cannot produce evidence of drug testing their employees could be found negligent and be forced to accept responsibility for a less-than-safe driver.
- Creating unsafe conditions in the hours behind the wheel. Drivers are required to comply with federal regulations that mandate how long they are allowed to be behind the wheel of a truck. The intent is to force drivers to take safety breaks to ensure they get adequate rest and do not try to push the limits to meet unrealistic schedules. However, some have been known to break the law and haul back-to-back loads to increase profits while causing unsafe conditions for drivers and motorists. Anyone caught in violation will not only face penalties and repercussions but could be sued for negligence if they are found to be violating federal laws and safety mandates.
What Is a Truck’s Black Box?
In addition to gathering information at an accident scene, such as getting a police report, collecting contact information for eyewitness accounts, and taking photos to document the scene, one other useful tool might be helpful. Known as the event data recorder, commercial trucks are equipped with what is commonly referred to as the vehicle’s black box. It records pertinent information, such as:
- How fast the vehicle was going.
- Whether the driver was wearing a seat belt.
- The number of hours the truck has been in operation.
This means that the black box can be used after a crash to paint a picture of how the driver operated the vehicle in the moments before the incident, whether they were attempting to apply the brakes and their steering movements just before impact. Essentially, this information can be given to police, insurance claim adjusters, and even judges to determine who is at fault in a truck collision.
It is important to note that the black box is the trucking company’s property, and they may not willingly share the data. Access to it is often required by legal process, such as a subpoena or court order. This is why it is essential to have a truck accident lawyer.
Norristown Truck Accident Lawyer at Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C. Will Help You Understand Your Rights
Knowing the laws governing truck drivers and trucking companies is not your job, which is why it is essential to turn to a Norristown truck accident lawyer at Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C. Call 267-861-7100 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, we proudly serve clients in Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Norristown.