With so many tractor-trailers and box trucks on highways and roadways across Pennsylvania, it is no surprise to hear that these commercial vehicle operators cause serious accidents in the Commonwealth every day. To make matters worse, these incidents often have particularly severe consequences, because of the size and weight of these vehicles.
If you were hurt due to the negligence of a truck driver, their employer, or anyone else affiliated with the trucking industry, you have a right to seek financial recovery. Our respected personal injury lawyers at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have successfully handled many truck wreck claims.
In one recent case, Founding Partner Jon Ostroff represented an injured client who ran out of gas on a major Pennsylvania interstate, before a tractor-trailer truck collided with his car at full speed. Immediately after he was hired, Jon used an emergency court motion to stop the trucking company from destroying or modifying evidence. Additionally, he worked quickly to obtain key witness statements.
Because of Jon’s proactive work on this case, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers was able to recover $10 million for our client. This settlement was reached about a year after this crash occurred.
In another truck crash case, Jon recovered over $21 million in verdicts and settlements for the group of injured passengers he represented. If you or a loved one was harmed in a truck crash, reach out to our Bensalem truck accident lawyers as soon as possible.
Who Can Be Negligent in a Commercial Truck Crash?
Although professional truckers must receive special training and be licensed to operate commercial vehicles, they may engage in reckless or careless behavior while driving. Just like any driver, a tractor-trailer operator may violate the rules of the road, drive while too tired, distracted or drunk, or simply lose focus at the wrong moment. Any of these reckless acts could constitute legal negligence if they directly lead to a collision that results in your injuries.
However, truck drivers are not the only individuals who might be at fault for a truck crash. In fact, the operator is usually only one of several defendants that need to be sued in a truck crash case. Even if a truck driver is acting recklessly when they cause a truck crash, their employer may also be partially responsible for negligent hiring, retention, supervision or training, failing to adequately maintain the truck, and more.
At-Fault Trucking Companies
Under the principle of respondeat superior, trucking companies can be held legally and financially responsible for the negligent actions of their employees. These companies have a duty to maintain safe hiring practices and train their workers appropriately.
Furthermore, a trucking company may be directly responsible for a collision. For example, if an employer requires their drivers to violate federal trucking laws in an attempt to save money, the company can be held directly liable.
Other Potentially Responsible Parties
Other potentially at-fault parties include the supplier, mechanic, or vehicle manufacturer. For example, a supplier may be responsible for an accident caused by unsecured cargo. Likewise, the vehicle manufacturer can be held liable if a defective part caused the collision. A Bensalem attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will immediately investigate your crash, identify all at-fault parties that need to be sued and file a lawsuit against the parties at fault for your semi-truck crash.
Fighting Allegations of Partial Fault After a Tractor-Trailer Wreck in Bensalem
Even though commercial trucks are much larger and have a much greater potential to cause catastrophic harm than commuter cars, the commuter car driver involved in the wreck can still be found partially to blame for their own injuries. For example, if you collided with a skidding tractor-trailer because you were following too closely, you may be partially at fault for your injuries even though the trucker who lost control of their vehicle was primarily to blame for the wreck.
In this kind of situation, 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102 allows juries to reduce damage awards by whatever percentage of total fault a party shares. Prompt representation soon after a crash with a renowned semi-truck accident lawyer in Bensalem is critical when it comes to contesting accusations of partial fault and maximizing financial restitution.
Speak with a Bensalem Truck Accident Attorney Today
Commercial trucks play an essential role in numerous industries across the United States, but they can also be extraordinarily dangerous if operated unsafely. If you sustained injuries because of reckless or careless behavior by a trucker or their employer, fully recovering for your losses is essential to preserving your financial security.
By retaining an experienced Bensalem truck accident lawyer, you can substantially improve your odds of winning fair compensation. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today for a free consultation.