Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer

At any given moment, there are hundreds of trucks making their way around Philadelphia. They are delivering goods, picking up products from warehouses, and making sure whatever you ordered is dropped off at your doorstep.

The average trucker drives around 125,000 miles per year, and all trucks move $720 billion worth of goods between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Thankfully, the majority of those trucks complete their routes without incident. An accident can have devastating consequences. If that accident is the truck driver’s fault, filing an insurance claim can be complicated. That is because multiple drivers and liable parties may be involved.

That is why you need to seek counsel from Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan.

We are a team of Philadelphia truck accident lawyers who have helped many Philly residents who have been unfortunate victims of catastrophic truck accidents. Whether someone has suffered a minor fracture or a traumatic brain injury, they are entitled to seek compensation from the at-fault truck driver.

Before moving forward with your claim, you’ll need to understand the full scope of what is involved in a truck accident and the challenges you might face in pursuit of your claim.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

After you get into an accident with a truck, you’re more focused on taking care of injuries and dealing with your car issues than on how the accident happened. However, it will be vital to understand the cause of the accident to determine who is liable.

Which of these common causes of truck accidents are you dealing with?

• Driver fatigue
• Speeding over posted limits
• Driver distraction
• Severe weather conditions
• Failure to yield the right-of-way
• Shifting cargo
• Weaving in and out of lanes
• Obstructed views
• Driving under the influence
• Faulty brakes or other mechanical issues

Philadelphia's Congested Roads and High Truck Traffic

The city’s heavy traffic, narrow streets, and aging infrastructure add to the risks that big rigs bring.

Interstate 76, I-95, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike all see significant truck traffic, and these roads are known for congestion and accidents. Truck drivers often feel pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines, and that sense of urgency can lead to risky behavior.

Fatigue, distracted driving, improper lane changes, and speeding are all too common. Add in poor weather or unfamiliar road conditions, and the odds of a serious accident rise quickly.

Critical Evidence We Secure in Commercial Vehicle Cases

In the early stages of a truck accident investigation, a theory is developed that explains how the accident occurred. That theory needs to be backed up by strong evidence. We deploy a team of investigators to obtain the following types of evidence:

• Electronic logging device (ELD) data
• Paper logbooks
• Dispatch records.
• Trucking company records regarding hiring practices, driver training programs, and drug and alcohol testing policies.
• Vehicle inspection reports
• Truck maintenance history
• Cargo manifest
• Driver history, including any past violations
• Weather and road conditions at the time of the accident
• Safety violation citations
• Past accident history
• Billing Invoices
• Police crash reports

That might seem like a lot of evidence to gather, and it is. When we build a case, we don’t want to leave anything to doubt.

Types of Compensation Available for Trucking Injury Victims

After determining the cause of the accident, we help our clients calculate the full scope of damages. It is important to get that number right because once you accept a settlement, you won’t be able to refile for additional funds. You also have to factor in negotiations.

What you might consider your “ideal” number might not always be achievable.

On the other hand, you should not have to settle for a low offer that won’t come close to covering your losses.

Economic Damages

These are quantifiable, out-of-pocket expenses directly resulting from the truck accident. They should be supported by invoices, bills, and receipts.

These expenses include the following:

• Ambulance rides
• Emergency room visits
• Surgeries
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Long-term care or future medical treatments
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Car repair or replacement
• Miscellaneous expenses such as childcare during recovery and travel costs for medical appointments.

Non-Economic Damages

These are the intangible damages. They relate to the personal toll the accident has taken on your life and include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Fear of driving
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

These are damages awarded by juries and intended to punish the at-fault party for exceptionally egregious conduct, such as drunk driving.

All of these damages may also apply if the truck accident resulted in a fatality. The surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim to compensate for their loss.

We work closely with our clients to develop those calculations. We also keep our clients informed about all the turns in the negotiations. We will never accept an offer unless our client is in total agreement.

Navigating Complex Insurance Limits and Multiple Defendants

Truck accident claims are often far more complicated than standard car collisions.

The reason is that multiple parties may share responsibility for the crash. Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend beyond the truck driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, vehicle manufacturers, or other third parties.

Pennsylvania’s Fair Share Act governs how fault is allocated among multiple defendants. That is why it is critical to identify every potentially liable party and gather evidence supporting their liability. Our goal remains to maximize the compensation available to our clients by ensuring that all responsible entities are held accountable.

Insurance issues can add another layer of complexity. Commercial trucking companies often carry multiple insurance policies. Those policies include primary liability coverage, excess policies, and umbrella coverage. In catastrophic injury cases, your damages can quickly exceed the limits of a single policy.

We’ll conduct a thorough review to determine the limitations and which policies apply.