The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported an average of 11 truck accidents every day in 2014. The number of truck crashes has surged since 2009, resulting in an average of 4,000 deaths per year, and more than 100,000 injuries per year.
Recently, a Walmart truck crashed into the limousine of Saturday Night Live Comedian, Tracy Morgan, on the New Jersey Turnpike. The accident resulted in the death of a limousine passenger, James McNair, and serious injuries to Tracy Morgan. Mr. Morgan suffered a broken leg, broken femur, broken nose, and broken ribs as a result of the collision.
Motor Vehicle Collisions and Pennsylvania Law
Truck owners and operators must meet minimum safety standards to ensure their own safety, and that of other drivers on the roadway. Federal rules tell us what those standards are. It is up to everyone involved in the trucking business to follow these rules. If there is an accident, finding out who did not follow these rules, and therefore caused the accident, may require an examination of all the individuals, and companies, involved in the truck’s operation.
Recovering for Injuries and Damages – Third Party Liability Claims
The list of potential, “at-fault parties” may include: the truck driver, the driver’s employer, the truck owner, the company who leased the truck, the company whose goods are being delivered in the truck, and the truck’s mechanic. An early and very thorough investigation necessarily entails review of the police investigation report, witness interviews, and a mechanic’s inspection. The details of the accident will be a critical component in determining liability.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, numerous factors contribute to large truck crashes. Problems include, but are not limited to:
- Driver Fatigue;
- Vehicle Maintenance and Inspections (brakes, tires, and steering components);
- Driver Working Environment (wages, work schedule, company structure); and
- Truck Driver Training and Experience.
If you, or a loved one, were injured in a trucking accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to handle the difficult times ahead. At a time when injured victims, and their families, are dealing with the emotional and financial aftermath of a truck crash, the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are busy investigating, and trying to limit their exposure and liability. An attorney can deal with the insurance companies so that you can concentrate on your recovery.
We are experts in truck accident liability and the laws that involve trucking and motor vehicles involving the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Contact the Philadelphia law firm of McLaughlin & Lauricella. Consultations are free, private, and come with no obligations. Slade McLaughlin and Paul Lauricella and the lawyers of the firm are experienced trial lawyers who can tell you what to expect, and help guide you through the tough times ahead.
