Commercial Truck Accidents on PA Highways: Legal Challenges and Compensation

It can be difficult to obtain compensation after any vehicular accident and there can be several hurdles that a claimant can face. Although, when it comes to obtaining compensation after a truck accident, there are often many more legal challenges for victims.

Truck accident injury claims are complicated, and because of this, if you were injured in a truck accident, it can be helpful to have an attorney on your side who understands the complexities of truck accident injury claims. In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia truck accident injury attorneys at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP know the intricacies that are involved with truck accident injury claims and how to thoroughly investigate these incidents to help victims get the full amount of compensation they are owed from all liable parties.

Obtaining Compensation After a Truck Accident 

There are several reasons why commercial truck accident injury claims can be so difficult to navigate for victims. Here are some of the legal challenges to securing full and fair compensation. 

Liability

In a commercial truck accident, more than one party could be liable for paying for the damages that victims suffered. The reason this is so is that many parties ensure that a truck is operational and can travel throughout the country transporting cargo. There is the trucking company, the truck driver, and potentially the company that loads the cargo into the truck’s trailer. If any one of these parties or even some of them are negligent in executing their role, and a truck accident happens, then one or more than one party may be responsible for paying victims for the losses they suffered after an accident. For example, let’s look at a situation where all parties are liable. In this scenario, perhaps a truck driver was speeding, and the driver was hired by a trucking company that did not do an adequate background check on the driver to make sure they were trained and capable of safely operating a truck. At the same time, the cargo was improperly loaded, making the truck unsteady. If all of these things are true and the truck collides with another vehicle, then the individuals in that vehicle who are harmed may be able to hold the truck driver, the trucking company, and the cargo company responsible for their compensation.

Severity of Injuries

Since commercial trucks are so large and heavy, when an accident happens with a smaller passenger vehicle, parties in the passenger vehicle will often sustain serious and catastrophic injuries. As a result, to cover extensive and costly damages, a truck accident injury claim will demand a significant amount of compensation. Insurance companies will fight harder to avoid having to pay large settlements.

Federal Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the commercial trucking industry. Investigating a truck accident injury claim to identify instances where FMCSA guidelines were violated is key in the truck accident injury claims process.

Speak with an Attorney at Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP

To have assistance filing a truck accident injury claim in Pennsylvania, you may call Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP at (215) 731-9900 to schedule a free consultation.