Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer

When a commercial truck slams into your car, you’re not dealing with a typical fender-bender that got out of hand. These crashes operate under completely different rules.

Federal transportation laws govern everything from how long the driver has been on the road to how the cargo was loaded. Pennsylvania has its own layer of commercial vehicle requirements. Insurance policies for trucking companies work differently than the coverage on your Honda Civic. Even the investigation process follows a different playbook.

If you were hurt in a collision with a truck in the Lehigh Valley, you’re suddenly facing a corporation with deep pockets, experienced legal teams, and investigators whose job is to protect the company’s bottom line. They’re not looking to pay more than they have to—it’s simply business.

If you have questions about a truck accident that injured you or someone you love, call Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers for a no-cost discussion about your case at (215) 567-7600.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY

Why Choose Hill & Associates for Your Allentown Truck Accident Claim?

A Record of Standing Up for the Injured

Since Leonard Hill founded the firm in 1999, we have focused exclusively on representing individuals, not corporations or insurance companies. This singular focus has allowed us to help people through some of the most challenging periods of their lives. Our firm has secured more than $250 million in verdicts and settlements for clients.

A Client-Focused Approach

We measure our success in the clarity and sense of justice we provide to people who have been through a traumatic event.

• No-Cost Case Review: We will listen to what happened, review the details of your accident, and explain your options without any upfront cost or obligation. 
• You Pay Nothing Unless We Win: We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. Simply put, our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
• Direct and Personalized Attention: Your case will be handled by our dedicated team. You will have a direct line of communication and will be kept informed about the progress of your claim every step of the way.

Deep Understanding of Life-Altering Injury Claims

Truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic harm. Our firm has years of experience in serious injury cases, including wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other conditions that change a person’s life forever. We understand the long-term medical and financial support these injuries demand and work to ensure any resolution fully accounts for them.

What is a Truck Accident Claim in Pennsylvania Worth?

The goal of financial compensation is to restore you, as much as possible, to the position you were in before the crash. It includes covering every loss the collision caused, both the ones with obvious price tags and those that are much harder to measure.

Economic Damages: The Tangible Costs

This category covers the direct financial losses you have already sustained and will continue to face because of the accident. We work to document these costs with precision.

• Current and Future Medical Bills: This includes everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room treatment to surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and medications.
• Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: You could be compensated for the paychecks you’ve already missed. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or affect your ability to earn a living in the future, that loss of potential income is a key part of your claim.
• Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal items damaged in the wreck.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses: This includes the costs of getting to medical appointments, making your home or car accessible for a disability, or hiring help for daily tasks you are no longer able to do on your own.

Non-Economic Damages: The Human Impact

This addresses the non-financial ways the accident has affected your life. These losses don’t come with a receipt, but they are incredibly real, and Pennsylvania law allows you to seek compensation for them.

• Pain and Suffering: This is compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries and the recovery process have caused.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This accounts for the inability to engage in hobbies, family activities, or daily routines that were a source of joy and fulfillment before the accident.
• Emotional Anguish: A serious collision may trigger anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, all of which are recognized as compensable harms.

How Might Your Own Actions Affect Compensation?

The trucking company’s defense team may argue that you were partly responsible for the accident. In Pennsylvania, this doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. The state follows a rule called modified comparative negligence. This means you are still able to recover damages as long as your share of the blame is not 51% or more. Your total compensation is then reduced by your percentage of fault. 

What Makes a Truck Accident Case Different?

In a car accident, you usually deal with one at-fault driver. A commercial truck crash could involve several parties who share the blame.

• The Driver: Was the driver tired, distracted, speeding, or breaking other traffic laws or federal safety rules?
• The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): Did the company fail to properly train the driver, enforce safety protocols, maintain its fleet, or push the driver to ignore regulations to meet a deadline?
• The Cargo Owner/Loader: Was the truck’s trailer loaded improperly? An unbalanced or overweight load can make a tractor-trailer dangerously unstable and hard to control.
• The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer: Did a defective part, like faulty brakes or a failed steering component, play a role in the crash?
• A Maintenance Company: If a third-party mechanic performed poor repairs or missed a serious mechanical problem, they could also be held responsible.

Unpacking the Federal Rulebook for Trucks

Commercial trucking is a highly regulated industry for one reason: public safety. Investigating violations of these rules is a key part of building a strong claim.

• Hours-of-Service (HOS) Rules: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict limits on how long a driver should be on the road to prevent fatigue. Driver log violations are a frequent factor in serious crashes.
• Maintenance and Inspection Requirements: Trucks must be regularly inspected and kept in safe operating condition. We often subpoena maintenance logs to see if a mechanical failure was preventable.
• Hiring and Training Standards: Trucking companies have a duty to ensure their drivers are properly licensed, trained, and have a safe driving history.
• Drug and Alcohol Testing Protocols: Strict federal rules govern substance testing for commercial drivers, both before they are hired and under other specific circumstances.

What Evidence is Used to Build a Claim?

While witness testimony and police reports are important, truck accident cases often turn on technical evidence that tells the true story of what happened in the moments before impact.

• The “Black Box”: Most modern trucks have an Event Data Recorder (EDR). This device captures objective data like the truck’s speed, whether the brakes were applied, steering inputs, and the force of impact. This is one of the first pieces of evidence we act to preserve.
• Driver’s Logs: Federal law requires drivers to log their hours to prevent fatigue. These logs, now mostly electronic (ELDs), show if a driver was pushing or exceeding the legal limits for time behind the wheel.
• Maintenance and Repair Records: These documents reveal a history of mechanical problems, shoddy repairs, or a company’s failure to keep its vehicles in safe condition.
• Cargo and Dispatch Records: These show whether a truck was overloaded or if a company was pressuring a driver to speed or violate HOS rules to meet an unrealistic delivery schedule.

Understanding the Severity of Truck Accident Injuries

The immense size and weight of a commercial truck mean that when a collision occurs, the injuries are often severe and life-altering. 

• Head and Brain Injuries: Even a seemingly minor concussion could have lasting effects. More severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) tend to permanently impact memory, concentration, and personality.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may lead to chronic pain, herniated discs, or paralysis, changing a person’s life in an instant.
• Internal Injuries: The force of a truck crash could cause organ damage or internal bleeding, which are life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical intervention.
• Broken Bones: The impact can easily shatter bones, often requiring surgery, pins, and plates to repair, followed by a long and painful rehabilitation.

Where Do Truck Accidents Happen in the Allentown Area?

While a wreck could happen anywhere, the mix of heavy traffic, high speeds, and challenging road designs makes certain corridors particularly dangerous. We see incidents happen frequently on:

• Interstate 78 (I-78): Known for having one of the highest volumes of semi-trucks in the country, the stretch of I-78 through the Lehigh Valley is a site of frequent and often severe crashes.
• Route 22: Heavy congestion, narrow lanes, and constant merging traffic make this a challenging road for large trucks and passenger cars to share safely.
• Route 309: This route is known for its heavy truck traffic, steep inclines, and sharp turns that are usually difficult for large, heavy vehicles to manage, especially in poor weather.
• Route 33: As a key connector between I-78 and Route 22, it sees a combination of high speeds and sudden lane changes that could lead to devastating accidents.
• The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476): The combination of high speeds and heavy commercial and passenger traffic on the Northeast Extension contributes to a significant number of truck-related incidents.

How We Handle the Trucking Company’s Insurance Carrier

A trucking company’s insurer is a business. Its primary responsibility is to protect its client and its own financial interests. Their adjusters and investigators are skilled at managing this process.

What to Expect After the Crash

Soon after a serious accident, you will likely be contacted by an insurance adjuster or investigator for the trucking company. You can expect:

• Requests for a Recorded Statement: They may ask you to provide a recorded account of what happened. You are not legally obligated to do this. Your words could be taken out of context or used in ways that may harm your claim later on.
• A Quick Settlement Offer: In some cases, an insurer might make an early settlement offer. This can be tempting as medical bills start to arrive, but it is often made before the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs is known.
• A Detailed Investigation: Their team will conduct its own thorough investigation. They will be looking for any evidence to argue that you were at fault. Our role is to conduct our own independent investigation to ensure the facts are presented accurately and no blame is unjustly placed on you.

Take the First Step Toward Protecting Your Rights

Getting clear, straightforward answers from a knowledgeable source is the first step toward regaining a sense of control. Our team at Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers is here to provide that clarity.

If you were injured in a truck accident in Allentown or anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us handle the legal process so you can concentrate on your recovery. Call us today at (215) 567-7600.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY

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Hill & Associates – Leonard Hill Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers – Philadelphia Office

1700 Market Street, Suite 3150
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ph: (215) 567-7600