At Saffren and Weinberg, Marc Alan Weinberg, Attorney and Kenneth Scott Saffren, Attorney are partners. The firm’s tagline is “The People’s Voice In Court.” They make themselves available via phone at (215) 576-0100 or by email on the Saffren and Weinberg website. Saffren and Weinberg provides a no-charge, complimentary case review and answers questions for prospective clients.
Top Causes of Truck Accidents and How An Attorney Can Help
Karen was distraught. Her 22-year-old son Mike was recently involved in a horrible auto accident while driving back home from a friend’s place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A heavy truck crashed into Mike’s car leaving him serious injuries. His arm was broken, he had lacerations on his face and had suffered a concussion as well. Mike’s car was so severely damaged, it was beyond repair.
Between trips to the hospital, Karen was not sure of what she should do. Whether it was a good idea to file a claim, or should she file a lawsuit?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the number of accidents involving heavy trucks has increased steadily every year from 2012 to 2015. While the number of crashes in 2012 was 5,891, this number went up to 6,916 in 2015. This is definitely a cause of concern for the authorities. Accidents involving heavy trucks can be quite deadly, owing to the sheer size of the vehicle involved. Casualties are higher as is the extent of damage to property.
Some of the common reasons behind heavy truck accidents in Pennsylvania are:
Distraction of drivers: Truck drivers are on the road pretty much every day. While driving for long hours, monotony can lead to boredom. If drivers get distracted and take their attention away from the road for even a split second, the results can sometimes be disastrous.
Driving under the influence (DUI): Truck drivers driving while under the influence, with blood alcohol levels beyond the permissible limits can cause accidents as alcohol impairs judgment and slows down reflexes.
Badly maintained vehicle: If the tires and brakes haven’t been checked before the truck hits the road, accidents are more likely to happen. It’s even more difficult to control a sudden tire burst for a heavy truck than a relatively smaller car.
Driver exhaustion and sleep deprivation: Despite strict regulations that have fixed the number of hours truck drivers can drive in a day, driver exhaustion is a reality. Due to lack of sufficient sleep and rest, truck drivers risk causing accidents by falling asleep at the wheel.
Speeding: A truck being driven over the speed limit can cause accidents of disastrous proportions.
Damaged roads: A broken patch on the road is likely to increase the chance of an accident, especially at night.
Extreme weather: Poor visibility or slippery roads due to snow or rain can result in crashes.
Auto accidents involving heavy trucks are likely to cause significant damage to the smaller vehicle involved in the accident. If you or a family member is an affected party, get in touch with an attorney right away.
A skilled attorney can help you recover some of your losses. A lot of times, the exact reason behind the crash is not known immediately.
Did the accident happen due to driver negligence? Was the truck driver driving under the influence? Was the driver fatigued?
An attorney can help get hold of the evidence and point the investigation in the right direction. In case of personal injury or damage to your car, an attorney can help build a strong case for you. Make sure you reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible so that you don’t lose any evidence.
Also, in such cases, time lost is money lost. Attorneys can work towards getting you the compensation you deserve against the losses suffered by you.
The insurance policies for truck accidents are quite different from regular auto accidents. Attorneys can help you file the right claims and make sure that the trucking company or the insurance company does not weasel out of paying compensation.
A truck accident can be devastating to you and your family, but a good attorney can help protect your interests. Contact Saffren & Weinberg at (215) 576-0100 to find out more information and find the right attorney for you.
