When a collision involving a tractor trailer occurs, the other vehicles involved are no match for the truck’s massive size and weight. That’s why commercial truck crashes often result in severe injuries, fatalities, multi-car pileups, and destroyed vehicles.
When standing up to the trucking company and its driver, victims greatly benefit from an experienced law firm. These large companies have the resources to get lawyers and experts to a crash scene quickly to protect their interests. Victims need their own team that will do the same for them.
After speaking with a person who was hurt or lost a loved one in a truck accident, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers visits the crash scene immediately to preserve evidence and witness testimony. Understanding the physical devastation of the scene often requires the expertise of accident reconstruction professionals. Together, the team determines exactly what happened and who is at fault.
If you were hurt or lost a family member in a commercial truck crash, we are ready to help. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers
‘Critical Events’ that Cause Truck Crashes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has identified three “critical events” that cause collisions involving commercial trucks:
Running out of the travel lane and into another lane or off the road
Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the travel lane
Losing vehicle control
These critical events commonly occur because the truck driver was:
Fatigued, possible violating driving hour limits
Driving while distracted
Speeding or driving too fast for the road or weather conditions
Following another vehicle too closely
Failing to keep the truck under control in an emergency situation
Driving a poorly maintained truck
What is the Average Settlement for a Truck Accident Case?
Every truck crash case is different. Factors that help determine the value of a case involving a collision with a tractor trailer include:
The severity of the injury or injuries.
The body parts affected by the injury and whether the victim will regain all function after an injury or injuries.
How long the injury and impairments from the injury last, or if they are permanent.
Whether the victim suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or emotional distress after the crash.
Whether the victim obtains appropriate medical treatment and the treating physicians provide clear diagnoses and future medical predictions (prognoses) for:
Full or partial recovery from injury pain and limitation
Future medical treatment
Future disability from employment
Medical bills and expenses related to the crash.
The length of time and extent that the victim will have to endure limitations due to injuries that affect daily activities.
The effect these injuries have, and will continue to have, on the victim’s marriage and spouse, such as changing responsibilities with children, household chores, and intimate relations.
The court and county in which a truck accident lawsuit is filed can also have a major impact on the value of a claim. Verdicts and case value vary dramatically from one county to another. Your law firm should be skilled at finding the best county to file suit and keeping it in that county – even when the insurance company fights it.
These and other unique details of a case will help determine a fair settlement for someone who was injured in a truck crash. Below are a few case examples to show what others have obtained previously with our legal representation.
Some of Our Past Cases Involving Commercial Trucks
$21.3 Million+ Verdict Against Greyhound After a Bus/Truck Crash Philadelphia County Lawsuit/ White Deer Township, Union County, PA Crash
Over $21.3 million in verdict (with additional delay damages and post-verdict interest) and settlements against Greyhound Bus Company after a seven-week trial. A Greyhound Bus operator fell asleep and crashed with a tractor trailer on I-80.
$10 Million Settlement for Client Struck by Tractor Trailer Allegheny County, PA Lawsuit / Waynesburg, Greene County, PA Crash
$10 million settlement reached 14 months post-crash for a client who had run out of gas in the right lane of I-79 when a tractor trailer operator crashed into the vehicle. The client sustained head-to-toe injuries.
$5 Million for the Estate of a Woman Killed in Tractor Trailer Crash Union County, PA Crash
$5 million recovered for the estate of a woman who died as a passenger in a highway crash on I-80. She was ejected from the vehicle after her driver collided with a tractor trailer.
$3.8 Million Binding Arbitration Award for Woman Injuredin Tractor Trailer Crash Bradford County Lawsuit / Towanda, PA Client
$3.8 million binding arbitration award for a woman whose vehicle struck the side of a tractor trailer on Route 6 at nighttime. This was a challenging case, as our client broadsided a tractor trailer at full speed and had no recollection of the crash. She client sustained a brain injury and complex fractures for which she underwent extensive reconstruction surgery.
$3.075 Million for a Client Injured in a Snowstorm Pileup Crash Pittsburgh, PA Lawsuit / Clearfield, Clarion County, PA Crash
$3.075 million settlement for a client who was severely injured in a snowstorm crash on I-80. More than 60 trucks and cars were involved in what was one of the worst pileups in PA history. Proving fault required a highly complex crash reconstruction completed by specialized experts. Witness statements of the at-fault truck driver were key in establishing that he and his employer were responsible for the crash.
$900,000 Settlement for Limited Tort Client Injured in Tractor Trailer Crash Alburtis, Lehigh County Client / Reading, PA Crash
$900,000 settlement for a client who was struck by a truck while driving a car as part of her job. Our client was exiting State Route 12 (SR 12) and proceeded through a green light when the tractor trailer operator blew through a red light. By investigating this crash immediately, Jon Ostroff was able to obtain and record witness statements that established that the truck driver was on his cell phone when he slammed into the car. As a result of this truck crash, our client fractured both hips, her right wrist, and three ribs and suffered from a severe concussion. Despite our client being covered by a limited tort insurance policy, Jon’s aggressive investigation led to a substantial settlement only six months after the crash.
Getting Legal Help After a Tractor Trailer Collision
After a truck crash, retaining legal representation can help seek compensation for medical bills, injury-related expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Even if you have limited tort insurance or were told by another lawyer that you do not have a case, contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers for assistance. Our firm has stood up to negligent drivers for decades. We have recovered millions for more than 25,000 Pennsylvania crash victims, some of whom initially thought they could not recover.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a truck crash, we can help. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers to speak with our Pennsylvania truck crash lawyers today.
