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Truck Accident Lawyers

Serving Pennsylvania & New Jersey

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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 were 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 vehicle accident attorney. They will answer questions and guide you through the legal process. We offer free consultations, and you can request one by phone or online. This appointment carries no obligations, hidden fees, or stress. Schedule a free initial consultation with a Spear Greenfield truck accident lawyer today!

    FREE CONSULTATION BY PHONE FREE CONSULTATION ONLINE
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    Investigating Your Legal Options After a Truck Accident

    When people involved in truck accidents want financial justice, they file a personal injury claim. The success of their case rests in proving negligence — that another party’s actions caused harm. Truck drivers are not always at fault since a mechanic or trucking company could have caused the accident.

    We prove negligence through documentation. This evidence includes things like medical records, pictures and video, witness statements, police reports, and more. The injured party gets compensation for damages when they prove their case successfully.

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

    Read on for some first steps in filing claims to learn more.

    Quick Jump to a section
    Causes of Truck Accidents
    Damages Available After A Truck Accident
    Determining Liability
    Why Truck Accidents Are Different
    Why Clients Choose Us
    Verdicts and Settlements
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    Causes of Truck Accidents

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

    • 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, exceeding speed limits, 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 trucking accidents devastating, but the legalities surrounding a truck crash are complicated, so an initial consultation with a truck accident lawyer would be prudent. Following any motor vehicle accident, remember to complete the post accident checklist, which can be critical to your injury claim. A link to that checklist is below.

    Post Accident Checklist

    Damages Available After a Truck Accident

    All types of large trucks can cause terrible wrecks, including semis, tractor trailers, 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 of a truck crash. 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 investigate your case and advise you on actions you can take. Our free first appointments carry no hidden fees, pressures, or obligations to proceed.

    See How Much Your Case Is Worth 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 truck crash 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. Accidents with semi-trucks may involve more than one other vehicle, especially if they occur on a highway.
    • Multiple States and Jurisdictions – Trucks often haul goods across states as they travel. 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 than the trucking company headquarters, accident claims may go to the federal level.
    • Federal Restrictions – The federal government oversees semi-trucks and the trucking industry via the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Subsequently, federal laws may govern accidents involving trucks, tractor-trailers, and semis. Since state law is usually already being considered in Pennsylvania truck accidents, collision cases get more complex.
    • Catastrophic Injuries – Most injuries resulting from truck, tractor-trailer, and semi-truck accidents are severe. Because injuries sustained may be catastrophic, victims often need ongoing medical treatment. This care adds to the financial burden of an injured victim and makes the pursuit of a truck accident case necessary in order to recover total 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 truck crash 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 Clients Choose Us

    With the many factors that influence truck accidents today, legal situations can get complex. Our combined experience of over 200 years is just one reason your neighbors trust Spear Greenfield as their truck crash lawyer of choice. More ways we stand out from other Philadelphia personal injury law firms include:

    • Our varied practice areas: The team at Spear Greenfield handles cases of all sizes across many categories, including slip and fall accidents, product liability claims, and workplace injuries.
    • Our commitment to our clients: Our attorneys put our clients at the center of everything we do. We genuinely care about them and won’t hesitate to fight tirelessly to protect their rights.
    • Our winning history: Spear Greenfield has a proven track record of substantial settlements. We’ve gotten more than $500 million in client awards to date.

    To learn more about how we earn our clients’ trust, click on the link below.

    Why Clients Choose Us

    Personal Injury Awards

    Some details of our recent client successes:

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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
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    Verdicts and Settlements

    Work With a Truck Accident Firm That Gets Results

    When you’ve experienced a collision that has caused severe injuries, you need skilled truck accident lawyers on your side. That’s what you get at Spear Greenfield — an experienced team ready to protect your rights. While your attorney is your primary point of contact, they have access to our entire staff’s knowledge and resources to build and present your case.

    Contact us to schedule your free consultation today. There’s no pressure or obligation, simply legal advice about your options. We guide you through the entire process and offer a no-fee guarantee, meaning we don’t get paid unless you do. Call a compassionate team member at 1-800-90-LEGAL or request your initial appointment online now.

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