There are many different types of vehicles on the road. When any of their drivers act unsafely on the road, they can cause serious accidents. Trucks are the largest vehicle on the road, weighing more than 30 times as much as a normal passenger car. Because of their immense size, they are harder to navigate while on the road. This is why truck accidents are some of the most dangerous that can happen. If you were injured in a truck accident, an experienced attorney in Philadelphia can help your case.
Types of Accidents
There are different ways a truck accident can happen on the road. Every outcome can be different depending on the size of the vehicle it collided with in addition to how fast they were both going. These accidents can be the result of two trucks or even a truck and a passenger car. Some examples of truck accidents may include:
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
Causes of Accidents
Accidents can be a result of different circumstances. Sometimes, it may be due to poor road conditions. Other times, it can be a result of dangerous and negligent driving. There are many situations that can factor into truck accidents. Some may include.
- Safety regulations: If a truck driver changes lanes or passes other vehicles unsafely, they are violating the rules of the road. This may also be the case if a truck driver is following too closely behind other vehicles.
- Reckless driving: If a truck is being driven dangerously or too fast, it can be very hard to control and bring to a complete stop. In order to come to a complete stop, trucks need a length of about two football fields. If the driver is violating the rules of the road, it can be difficult to control the truck.
- Poor visibility: Because trucks are of immense size, they cannot see the entire road. They often have large blind spots that can trap another vehicle and cause an accident to happen.
- Drowsy driving: Truck drivers are limited by federal law to the number of hours they can drive per day. The law allows them to drive 11 hours within a 14-hour work day. This gives them a maximum of driving 70 hours a week. If they drive longer than this, they cause an accident due to drowsy driving.
- Mechanical problems: All vehicles can find themselves a victim of mechanical issues at times. Sometimes, trucks can experience tire blowouts, brake issues, breakdowns, and more than can contribute to causing an accident.
Negligence
When an injured party wants to hold another party responsible for their injuries, they must prove the truck driver was negligent. This requires them to satisfy the burden of proof through evidence that shows the accident happened as a result of neglect. Many trucks have a “black box” that holds a record of the speed of a truck before an accident. This can be used as evidence in personal injury case a case. After the accident, it is important to secure this information from the truck company or an insurance company before it can be deleted.
Contact our Firm
If you or a loved one has been in a personal injury accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to help you with your case. Contact Spear Greenfield to get the right attorney in your corner.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
