In the vast majority of crashes involving a truck, the injured victim is in a passenger car or other vehicle other than the truck. That might seem unfair, but this is not the only unfair thing about truck accidents in Pennsylvania.

Truck accidents victims may find it extremely difficult to pursue the compensation they deserve because trucking companies are no strangers to hiring Pennsylvania’s best defense lawyers.

For many victims, hiring a truck accident lawyer is the only way to get the compensation that they need to recover. A truck crash can have life-changing consequences as motor vehicle collisions involving 18-wheelers, logging trucks, tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, semi-trailers, and other large trucks tend to result in severe injuries, devastating emotional trauma, and enormous property damage.

What Makes Trucks So Dangerous and Deadly?

A truck is the most dangerous type of motor vehicle even when operated by a careful, attentive, and sober trucker due to its size, blind spots, reduced braking abilities, cargo, and lack of maneuverability.

But when a truck is negligently operated, the risk of injury or death increases tenfold. Let’s review some of the most critical factors that make trucks so dangerous:

  • Size: The weight of a passenger car is around 4,000 pounds. The weight of the average large truck is up to 80,000, which is why a passenger vehicle colliding with a truck can lead to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death of the driver and occupants in the passenger car.
  • Reduced braking ability: A truck needs a greater distance to come to a stop when traveling at the same rate of speed as a passenger car.
  • Blind spots: An average truck has four blind spots (on the left and ride sides under the cab mirror, the area directly behind the trailer, and the area in front of the cab). When driving negligently, a trucker can forget to check these blind spots.
  • Lack of maneuverability: Truck drivers require special training to learn how to operate trucks, as these vehicles need more time and space to alter the course of movement than a passenger vehicle.
  • Cargo: The presence of cargo can make a truck even less maneuverable and further reduce its braking abilities, not to mention that improperly secured or loaded cargo can fall onto the roadway and create hazards on their own.

How to Avoid a Truck Accident Collision?

The most sure-fire way to avoid a truck accident if you are a driver of a passenger vehicle, motorcyclist, or bicyclist, is to stay away from trucks at all times. On a more realistic side, follow these safety tips to avoid a potentially catastrophic collision with a large truck:

  • Never treat trucks the same way as other vehicles;
  • Keep a safe distance from the truck;
  • Change lanes carefully, especially when around trucks;
  • Avoid lingering in the truck’s blind spots to remain visible;
  • Pay attention to the truck’s turn signals;
  • Use extra caution when passing a truck; and
  • Exercise additional caution at night and in adverse weather conditions.

Do You Need a Bensalem Truck Accident Attorney?

Although Pennsylvania’s legal system has the mechanism in place to help truck accident victims seek compensation for their injuries and losses, the process can be complicated.

A truck accident attorney can help you take all necessary steps to collect evidence, get the expert opinion of medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts, and build compelling arguments proving the other party’s fault.

Getting compensated for your truck accident injury is not just about filing a personal injury claim. The process of recovering damages also involves investigating who had the primary control of the truck at the time of the collision, whether the truck driver had past criminal convictions, whether the trucking company complied with all federal trucking regulations, whether the truck was properly maintained, and other potential violations of the laws regulating the trucking industry.

Get a free evaluation of your case to find out what steps to take to pursue maximum compensation for your injury. Contact Dan Doyle Law Group to discuss the issue of liability in your truck accident case.

Call at 215-987-3730 or complete our contact form.

Get Legal Advice Today