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Truck Accident

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    Post Accident Checklist
    Post Accident Checklist
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    Auto Attorney Involvement
    Auto Attorney Involvement
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    Pennsylvania & New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys

    Trucks weigh more than 30 times as much as a normal passenger car, so because of their increased size, these vehicles are more difficult to navigate and control on the road. These factors make truck accidents so devastating. Unfortunately there are many cases where truck accidents are avoidable, because the incident occurred due to negligence.

    If you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to explore your legal options by speaking with an experienced attorney. They will answer questions and guide you through the legal process. At Spear Greenfield, we offer a free consultation either by phone or online submission. This appointment carries no obligations, hidden fees, or stress. Schedule a free initial consultation with a Spear Greenfield truck accident attorney today!

    FREE CONSULTATION BY PHONE FREE CONSULTATION ONLINE
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    Considering the Legal Options Following a Truck Accident

    When a person is involved in a truck accident and wants to recover compensation, they can do so by filing a Pennsylvania or New Jersey personal injury claim. This action involves proving the other party was negligent, thus causing the accident and their injuries. The negligent party is not necessarily always the truck driver. It may also be a third-party, such as a mechanic or a trucking company. Negligence can be proven with evidence such as medical records, a police report from the accident, pictures or video of the accident, any witness testimonies, and more. If the injured party is successful, they may be able to recover compensation as coverage for any damages that stem from the incident.

    With the various legal complexities to explore in a truck accident, having experienced legal guidance is important. At Spear Greenfield, our attorneys have a combined 200 years of experience representing injured parties in complex truck accident cases.

    Below are some of the initial steps in the legal process that link to additional information to help initiate your legal explorations.

    Quick Jump to a section
    Causes of Truck Accidents
    Available Damages After A Truck Accident
    Determining Liability
    Why Truck Accidents Are Different
    Why Choose Spear Greenfield
    Verdicts and Settlements
    Get Started

    Causes of Truck Accidents

    A truck accident can occur multiple ways. Depending on the size of the vehicle and the speed prior to the collision, the outcome varies. Various factors contribute to truck accidents. The most common causes of Pennsylvania and New Jersey truck accidents include the following:

    • Safety regulations: By not following the basic rules of the road, a truck driver is operating their vehicle dangerously. This noncompliance with safety regulations can include improper lane changes, passing other vehicles unsafely, following too closely behind vehicles, and more.
    • Reckless driving: Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and need the length of about two football fields to come to a complete stop. If a truck driver is careless or speeding, it will be difficult to control or stop the vehicle on time.
    • Poor visibility: Due to their size, truck drivers have limited visibility, including large blind spots that can cause an accident. Truck drivers need to pay attention and take proper precautions to not run cars off the road.
    • Mechanical issues: Like all other vehicles, trucks can experience mechanical issues if they do not receive regular maintenance. However, some issues are simply unavoidable.
    • The nature of the job: Truck drivers are limited by federal law to drive 11 hours with a 14-hour workday. This limitation allows them a maximum of 70 hours of driving a week to protect truck drivers and others from dangerous drowsy driving. Unfortunately, this law is not always enough to prevent an accident.

    Not only are truck accidents devastating, but the legalities surrounding a truck accident are complicated, so an initial consultation with a truck accident lawyer would be prudent. Following an accident, remember to complete the post accident checklist if possible, which can be critical to your accident claim. A link to that checklist is below.

    Post Accident Checklist

    Available Damages After A Truck Accident

    All types of large trucks can cause terrible wrecks, including semis, big rigs, bread trucks, and 18-wheelers. These accidents leave families with major financial and medical concerns. Many Pennsylvania and New Jersey truck accident victims sustain shoulder and knee injuries that prevent them from working or brain and spinal cord injuries that change their lives forever. You may be entitled to significant compensation for the economic and non-economic burdens that you faced as a result from a truck accident. Some compensation you may receive is listed below:

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    Medical expenses

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    Lost wages

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    Emotional distress

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    Loss of quality of life

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    Property damage

    However truck accidents occur, they more often than not leave a victim with life-changing injuries. Our team at Spear Greenfield has seen numerous clients that have been devastated by a truck accident. We have passionately represented their best interests, and our passion would extend to you! One of our truck accident attorneys at Spear Greenfield can evaluate your case and educate you on your legal actions. Rest assured this free consultation has no obligation, hidden fees, or pressure.

    Free Consultation

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    The Process of Determining Liability in a PA or NJ Truck Accident

    As mentioned above, truck accidents can involve several different defendants. In addition to the truck driver, the trucking company may be responsible for an accident if Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations were not enforced. It is also possible for the injury victim to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the truck if an investigation reveals that some defect in the truck caused the accident.

    No matter how a truck accident occurs, these accidents are typically more complicated than standard car accidents. Truck accidents often involve multiple parties, and FMCSA may also investigate the truck accident. When federal and state authorities become involved, a case can quickly become even more complicated as it is spread over several jurisdictions. Since truck accident cases are quite complicated, it’s important for injury victims to work with an experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey truck accident lawyer. Click on the link below for more information on whether attorney involvement is recommended for you.

    More Information on Attorney Involvement

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    Why Truck Accidents Are Different

    Consider the basic fact of a truck’s weight versus the weight of a car. Big rigs weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is 76,000 pounds more than the average passenger car. That type of sheer weight easily explains how a truck can cause major damage to a car and its occupants. Several reasons other than size account for why truck accidents need a different legal approach than car accidents, which are listed below.

    • Multiple Defendants – In a typical car accident, there are usually just two vehicles involved. However, semi-truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles — especially in crashes that happen on a highway.
    • Multiple States and Jurisdictions – Many truck drivers cross state lines in their travels. Since trucks drive throughout the country, a trucking company can commonly be located in a separate state from the accident. If the accident occurred in one state, while the truck driver involved in a crash lives in a different state, which is also a different state then the trucking company headquarters, the accident case may be filed in federal court.
    • Federal Laws and Regulations -The federal government oversees semi-trucks and the trucking industry via the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which means that federal law may apply in truck, tractor-trailer, and semi-truck accidents. Since state law is usually already being considered in Pennsylvania truck accidents, this adds another layer of complexity to a semi-truck collision case.
    • Catastrophic Injuries – The majority of truck, tractor-trailer, and semi-truck accidents result in serious injuries. Because injuries sustained may be catastrophic injuries, they often require years if not a lifetime of medical care. This care adds a burden of medical bills to the injured victim and makes the pursuit of a truck accident case necessary in order to recover full and fair compensation for damages.

    With the legal process for truck accidents being so complex and the stakes being so high, involving a truck accident lawyer is critical. An experienced attorney will help guide you through the legal process. To learn more about the basics of personal injury cases, including a simplified blueprint of the legal process, click on the link below.

    Case Basics

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    Why Choose Spear Greenfield?

    Truck accident lawsuits are complicated, and in our 30 years of business, we have helped numerous clients, who have suffered injuries from truck accidents. Our firm understands the seriousness of a truck accident and will investigate to determine the liable party, whether it be the truck driver or the manufacturer of the truck itself. We also specialize in evidence collection, which is critical in determining liability.

    The primary reason to select Spear Greenfield as your legal partners is because we care about our clients. We will not hesitate to dedicate resources to fight for your justice and compensation! As a law firm that employs numerous trial lawyers, we will go the distance for you. If you will earn the most compensation via a trial, the Spear Greenfield team is ready to go to court for you! Below are additional reasons why to consider Spear Greenfield.

    • We are successful at earning our clients substantial compensation. As you will see in our verdicts and settlements, Spear Greenfield has earned some clients extremely lucrative results.
    • Our law firm has assembled a team of attorneys who are comfortable enough to guide clients through the personal injury case process but meticulous enough to attend to all the necessary details of that process.
    • Spear Greenfield handles the majority of personal injury case categories, including automobile accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, workers’ compensation, and social security disability.

    Please click below to learn more about Spear Greenfield and the aspects that separate us from other Philadelphia law firms.

    Why Choose Spear Greenfield

    Personal Injury Verdicts

    The following summary of recent auto accident verdicts and settlements demonstrates our proven track record.

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    $2,700,000
    Inter-Sectional Accident
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    $975,000
    Negligent Truck Accident
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    $950,000
    Car Rear-Ended by Tractor-Trailer
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    $300,000
    Car Rear-Ended
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    $450,000
    Hit and run by uninsured vehicle
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    $300,000
    Intersectional motor vehicle accident
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    $80,464
    Intersectional accident

    Verdicts and Settlements

    Getting Started

    If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, it is important that you take your legal options into consideration. At Spear Greenfield, our truck accident lawyers have over 200 years of combined experience representing accident victims when they need us most. We are proud to fight for the compensation you deserve. Get the right lawyer, the right advice, right now!

    Click below to schedule a free consultation with the Spear Greenfield legal team. This appointment carries no obligation or pressure, just information. If you partner with our law firm, we will provide you a no fee guarantee, meaning we won’t collect payment unless you win! You have nothing to lose by reaching out to Spear Greenfield.

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