Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Our commerce runs on the back of the commercial trucking industry. But accidents involving these large vehicles are uniquely dangerous. When drivers of smaller passenger vehicles are injured in accidents with a large commercial vehicle, it can result in catastrophic injuries and, all too often, heartbreaking fatalities. 

Specific federal laws govern the trucking industry. And to further complicate this, 18-wheeler accident lawsuits can have many different points of liability. Because of the unique nuances of these claims, if you have been injured in an accident with a large commercial vehicle, you should get the assistance of a Wilkes-Barre catastrophic injury attorney who is experienced in 18-wheeler accident lawsuits. At Saffren & Weinberg, we are here to help. 

What Distinguishes a Catastrophic Injury?

The term “catastrophic injury” refers to an injury or illness that is particularly serious and has a considerable impact on an individual. Catastrophic injuries require extensive medical and rehabilitative treatment and can affect a person for months, years, or even a lifetime. 

While catastrophic injuries are wide-ranging, they often affect whole body systems, including the central nervous system, circulatory system, skeletal system, and others. Some examples of catastrophic injuries include paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, extensive burns, disfigurement, or limb loss. Because most of these injuries will require long-term treatments and care, they can be financially overwhelming. This is why pursuing a catastrophic injury case requires specific expertise. 

How Do Commercial Trucking Accidents Differ from Other Motor Vehicle Accidents?

The size and weight of commercial vehicles make them far more dangerous in an accident situation with smaller passenger vehicles, particularly on fast-moving highways. Tractor-trailer combinations often weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when they hit the average passenger vehicle, these accidents and injuries resulting from them can be devastating.

• Injuries are more serious — The impact from a large semi can cause serious injuries that can affect a victim and their family for months, years, or the rest of their lives. Many injuries suffered by individuals in commercial vehicle accidents are catastrophic in nature. 
• Increased chances of fatalities – While large commercial trucks make up only 4 percent of the vehicles on our roadways, they account for approximately 10 percent of all highway fatalities. 
• Greater medical costs and other damages — The more serious the accident and extensive the injuries, the greater the financial burden on victims due to the additional medical and rehabilitative costs, loss of wages, and long-term interventions and professional care.
• More property damage — When a passenger vehicle meets a large commercial truck in a collision, the car is typically the loser. The damage to a passenger vehicle and surrounding property increases exponentially in a commercial trucking accident.
• Difficulty in determining liability — Determining negligence and liability in a trucking accident is far more complicated. And because these large companies have large insurance policies, the insurance companies have much more to lose in a trucking accident claim. Consequently, navigating truck accident insurance claims can be extremely complicated.
• Specific laws regulating the trucking industry – Commercial trucking is regulated by industry-specific federal laws that make investigating and representing an 18-wheeler accident lawsuit highly nuanced. 

At Saffren & Weinberg, our catastrophic injury lawyers in Wilkes-Barre have built our practice on our industry expertise, specifically regarding complicated injury claims. We pursue each case with unwavering care so our clients can be assured of getting the maximum compensation possible for their damages. This is even more critical when they are suffering from a catastrophic injury that will affect them and their family for years to come.  

What Commonly Causes Large Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Like any other type of motor vehicle accident, many circumstances can cause an accident involving large commercial trucks, but some are uniquely particular to the trucking industry. 

• Driver error — Given the tight scheduling demands and mileage goals that the movement of goods requires, driver drowsiness, speeding, alcohol and drug impairment, and driver distraction are some of the most common causes of trucking accidents on our highways.
• Vehicle maintenance — These vehicles put a significant amount of mileage on each year, which demands periodic vehicle maintenance. However, vehicle downtime affects a company’s bottom line. When large commercial vehicles aren’t properly and consistently maintained, it puts everyone on the road at risk.
• Improperly loaded or secured cargo — When heavy freight is improperly loaded or secured, it can cause serious spills, cargo shifts, and rollover accidents, representing a hazard to all other vehicles in the vicinity.
• FMCSA Hours of Service violations — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the trucking industry to ensure the safety of all trucking operations. This includes the number of hours drivers can actively be behind the wheel of their rig transporting cargo. Companies and drivers will sometimes skirt regulations to meet schedule demands. When commercial drivers drive drowsy, it puts both truckers and other drivers at risk. 

What Can You Be Entitled to as a Victim of a Catastrophic Injury?

As the victim of a catastrophic injury caused by another driver’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation for your costs and other damages. These can include:

• Your medical costs, including any ongoing treatment you will need for your long-term injuries
• Lost wages
• Future loss of wages if you can no longer earn income because of your injuries
• Pain and suffering due to your injuries
• Wrongful death compensation for immediate family if an accident resulted in the death of their loved one
• Punitive damages if the at-fault driver’s conduct went beyond negligence and was found “recklessly indifferent” to the safety of others

Getting the expertise of an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Wilkes-Barre is pivotal in these types of claims. At Saffren & Weinberg, we thoroughly investigate your accident, gathering records, evidence (including the truck’s “black box” computerized data), insurance information, police reports, medical records, and any other critical information needed to create a successful catastrophic injury case. 

Not all injury lawyers are alike. Let the experienced attorneys at Saffren & Weinberg put our expertise to work for you. Call us at (215) 576-0100 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. 

Disclosure:

This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with Saffren & Weinberg, we are not your legal representatives.