Truck Accidents In Philadelphia

Truck accidents are frequently more dangerous than just a regular car accident, largely because of how much heavier trucks are than other vehicles – often twenty to thirty times that of an average car. All of that extra weight, together with their higher ground clearance, makes truck accidents far more serious than most other car accidents. These accidents often result in injuries that are more severe than many other kinds of auto accidents and are more frequently fatal.

This is why the personal injury attorneys at the Philadelphia law firm of Gilman & Bedigian fight for those who have been hurt in a truck accident. By sticking up for victims of truck accidents, we do all we can to ensure you get the compensation that you need and deserve after such a costly crash.

Truck Accidents in Philadelphia

In 2015 alone, 3,852 were killed in truck accidents, according to numbers provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The overwhelming majority of these fatalities – 69% – were in passenger vehicles when the truck accident occurred. Another 15% of those who were killed in truck accidents were motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists. In fact, in a fatal accident involving only a truck and a passenger vehicle like a car, 97% of the people who were killed in the crash were occupants in the passenger vehicle. Only 3% of the time was the truck driver fatally hurt.

Unfortunately, fatal truck accidents happen frequently. 11% of all motor vehicle deaths in the country in 2015 involved a large truck.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are numerous reasons why a truck can occur. From driver negligence to environmental hazard to vehicle malfunction or defect, no two accidents are quite the same.

For the most part, the same factors involved in car accidents apply to truck accidents, as well. Distracted or reckless driving are frequent culprits for a truck accident, including excessive speed, driver fatigue, and distracted driving.

However, there are a few accident causes that are more common in truck accidents than car crashes. Because truck drivers load and unload their payloads frequently, they constantly have to adjust their driving techniques based on how much weight they are carrying. When they make a mistake, it can be devastating. By underestimating how long their truck will need to come to a stop, they can cause a serious rear-end accident that can severely hurt those in the vehicles ahead of them.

Driver fatigue is also a common factor of a truck accident. Truck drivers are professional carriers and are allowed by federal regulation to work up to 11 hours in a row on the road, and up to 77 hours in a week. Driving so much puts a strain on even the best truck drivers, increasing the risk of causing a terrible truck accident. Nevertheless, because drivers are pushed by their employers to deliver their cargo as quickly as possible, they likely violate these regulations and drive even more.

Truck Accident Injury Claims

Because of the extra weight in a truck, truck accidents often involve more injuries than car accidents, with those injuries being more severe, and often fatal.

If you or someone you love gets hurt in a truck accident, or worse, the accident claim process can be especially complex. Even if a wrongful death claim is not a part of the lawsuit, truck drivers are generally employed by a trucking company. This means that, in the immediate aftermath of a truck accident, the trucker will do all that they can to pin blame on you out of fear for their own job. Additionally, it also means that you will be dealing with a large company that has a lot on the line if their insurance premiums go up. You can expect them to fight against your claim with extra vigor.

Philadelphia Truck Accident Attorneys

This is why the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian fight for the rights and interests of those who have been involved in a serious or fatal truck accident. By legally representing you both in and out of court, we can ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve from those who were ultimately responsible for your loss. Whether this means dealing with the insurance companies involved or taking your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit before a judge and jury, the attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian will get you what you most need.

Contact our Philadelphia law office online or at (800) 529-6162.