Coatesville, PA Truck Accident Lawyers

With its mix of metropolitan and rural areas, Pennsylvania is a state that relies heavily on the trucking industry. Tractor-trailers supply both the densely populated urban areas that require a constant stream of goods and remote communities that would otherwise go without. Although trucking is a critical part of the state’s economy, it also has its risks. Tractor-trailers cause extraordinary amounts of damage in collisions, often resulting in shut-down roads and totaled vehicles.

If you’re hurt in a Coatesville truck accident, we’re here to help. The personal injury team at Kingbird Legal is ready to advocate for you—just call us at 484-289-4880 to set up a consultation with our team.

Truck Accident Trends in Pennsylvania

Looking at truck accident statistics in Pennsylvania can help us get a better understanding of why, how, and where these collisions happen. This information can help victims get a better overview of what went wrong in their crash and help other drivers stay safe. In 2022, tractor-trailers were involved in 7,522 collisions—just over 6% of all crashes in Pennsylvania. However, they accounted for over 12% of all fatalities. While they are underrepresented in total collisions, they cause far more than their share of traffic deaths.

Unfortunately, these numbers will likely continue to rise. Crashes and deaths were high in 2018 and 2019, and hit a low in 2020—there were just over 6,300 crashes and 110 deaths. However, that trend quickly reversed, with numbers jumping significantly in both 2021 and 2022.

Vehicle defects were an issue in some collisions. Common issues included tire and wheel concerns, brake defects, an overloaded trailer, and power train failure. However, these collisions only accounted for about 300 of all collisions, indicating that human error is still the primary cause of collisions.

Factors Contributing to Truck Collisions

There are many factors that contribute to accidents throughout Pennsylvania. To start, tractor-trailers are dozens of times heavier than passenger vehicles. Any other vehicle involved in a crash is going to bear the brunt of the damage. In addition to its sheer size, a tractor-trailer has a shape that predisposes it to certain accidents. There are massive blind spots on all four sides, putting any vehicles in that zone at risk of being hit. When you combine that with the fact that many drivers do not stay out of those blind zones, accidents are inevitable.

Another important factor is a truck’s cargo. In a best-case scenario, a truck that crashes will have well-secured cargo that isn’t chemically unstable. But if a load is unbalanced or poorly secured, there’s a good chance it will become undone and contribute to the collision. If the truck is carrying hazardous materials, explosions, burns, and poisoned groundwater are all potential outcomes.

Finally, the stress that truck drivers face is an unavoidable part of truck accidents. Companies put significant pressure on truck drivers to drive longer, drive faster, and meet impossible deadlines. In this position, drivers may feel encouraged to violate FMCSA regulations and meet their employer’s requirements by any means necessary.

Who is Liable for Truck Accidents?

There are numerous parties that may be liable for truck collisions. They include:

• The truck driver: In many cases, the truck driver is to blame for the accident. If they fail to take reasonable steps to protect others from harm, they may take unnecessary risks and cause collisions. Drivers who are fatigued, impaired, distracted, or simply inexperienced may cause preventable crashes.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies can be liable for accidents in multiple ways. To start, they are generally accountable for actions taken by their employees. Even if a truck driver is at fault for an accident, the company is ultimately liable. Companies are also often liable due to their own errors in the hiring process, failure to uphold FMCSA regulations, and efforts to make drivers work in unsafe conditions.
• Truck manufacturer: As noted earlier, some accidents are the result of unsafe trucks and truck components. In these situations, the truck manufacturer may be liable.
• Cargo loading company: Properly loaded and secured cargo is key to truck safety. If cargo loaders fail to follow loading standards, they may be held accountable for collisions caused by shifting or slipping cargo.

How Kingbird Legal Can Help You Fight for Compensation

When you choose Kingbird Legal for your Coatesville truck accident claim, you can rest easy knowing that our team will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. We understand the complexities of truck collisions and we have seen firsthand how hard insurance companies work to avoid paying fair compensation. Trucking companies and their insurance providers will go to great lengths to avoid being held liable for a collision—but we know what it takes to overcome that.

Our work begins with a thorough investigation of your crash and subsequent injuries. By gathering and analyzing evidence, we can determine exactly what happened and whose error led to the crash. In addition to the other types of evidence used in car accident claims, we’ll look into the trucking logs, the electronic logging device data, the company’s hiring practices, and the truck operator’s driving history. Whether the fault lies with the company, the truck driver, or a third party, our goal is to hold them accountable.

You may have sustained serious injuries and financial losses in your truck accident. Our team works tirelessly to evaluate your claim, determine how much it is worth, and fight for what you are owed. In most cases, these claims are settled during negotiations. If the at-fault party will not offer a fair settlement, we will take your case to court and advocate for you there.

Contact Us Now to Explore Your Options

Don’t let a truck accident derail your future plans. Hold the negligent party accountable with the team at Kingbird Legal. Set up your free consultation now by giving us a call at 484-289-4880 or reaching out to us online. Our team is ready to step in and help you through this challenging time.