The Penn Law Firm looks at every aspect of a trucking accident case in order to understand our clients and their story. We put all our expertise and resources into each case to get our client’s results they deserve. Here are 12 types of trucking accident claims that we’ve argued for our clients.
Semi-Truck Accidents
Accidents with 18-wheelers can be devastating. The damages and injuries sustained when in an accident with a truck of this size can be complicated. There are numerous factors to consider, including federal interstate trucking laws and other truck rules and regulations.
Commercial Trucking Accidents
If you are involved in a commercial trucking accident, the company could be held liable. The compensation from a commercial truck accident will likely be the responsibility of the company’s insurance policy.
Tractor Trailer Accidents
Tractor-trailer accidents may result in severe injuries or even death of another driver. Finding the root cause of the accident will be of utmost importance. Every tractor-trailer driver must pass tests and adhere to truck rules and regulations.
Fatigued Truck Driving Accidents
Under pressure to reach delivery deadlines, Truck drivers might be forced into driving long hours. However, Federal trucking regulations require that drivers not continue driving while fatigued. An experienced trucking accident law firm can obtain trucking logs and understand federal trucking regulations that keep everyone safe.
Speeding Truck Accidents
The stopping time for a semi-truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds is challenging. Speeding trucks take even longer to come to a full stop and add to damages if involved in an accident with another vehicle.
Under-Ride and Over-Ride Truck Accidents
An under-ride truck accident is when a passenger vehicle gets trapped under a large truck. Large semi-trucks or 18-wheelers have more significant blind spots than most passenger vehicles.
An over-ride truck accident occurs when a truck comes from behind and rides over the back of a passenger car or when a passenger car rides under the back or side of a large truck in a trucking accident.
These two types of truck accidents are very dangerous.
Intoxicated or Impaired Truck Driving Accidents
There are strict laws in place for driving a tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicle while intoxicated or impaired. These vehicles’ sheer size makes them dangerous, and an impaired truck driver can cause devastating accidents.
Negligent Maintenance Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks require routine maintenance, including checks of the braking equipment, tires, and steering components to ensure that particular truck’s safety on the road.
If commercial trucks do not adhere to routine maintenance and frequent inspections, devastating accidents can occur.
Improperly Loaded Truck Accidents
A truck carrying a large load is required to secure and evenly distribute cargo properly. Truck drivers are required to check their load before and during a trip. Rules for securing truck cargo are in place to limit the risk to drivers on the road from falling cargo and the truck driver’s safety.
Negligent Hiring of Truck Drivers
All commercial truck drivers must be competent and safe drivers. By law, trucking companies are required to verify these standards and require their drivers to adhere to truck driver standards and regulations.
A truck driver behind the wheel of a large truck must be certified and trained. If a driver is not up-to-date on their training or certifications, that driver and the company who hired them may be at fault.
Negligent Hiring of Incompetent Motor Carriers
Both shippers and transportation brokers are required by law to use reasonable care in hiring and selecting motor carriers to haul cargo, including verification of financial stability and insurance verification. They are responsible for every factor within the supply chain.
Vicarious Liability for Truck Accidents
A large trucking company may subcontract their shipping assignment to another company, whether they have the means or resources to ensure that the assignment they subbed out is completed safely.
Under some circumstances, the large company may be held “vicariously liable” for the driver’s acts they subbed the assignment to.
