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Any type of auto accident has the potential to result in serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, especially if it happens on one of the several interstate highways in and around the City of Brotherly Love. Even by those standards, though, crashes involving tractor-trailers are uniquely dangerous for everyone involved—and because of that, they can also be uniquely difficult to file a civil suit over.
The first step to getting a favorable outcome from a lawsuit over a truck wreck is understanding what kinds of situations can justify such a lawsuit in the first place. With that in mind, here are some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Philadelphia which an experienced truck injury lawyer can help you build a legal case around.
Impairment Behind the Wheel
Even though commercial trucks are much harder than passenger cars to operate safely, even with extensive training and hands-on experience, many truckers still choose to get behind the wheel while not in full control of their faculties. Drunk driving is a textbook example of negligence that could justify a civil lawsuit if it leads to a collision, but fatigued driving and distracted driving are also common causes of truck crashes in Philadelphia which can serve as strong causes of action for litigation.
Traffic Offenses
Similarly to drunk driving, violating any of Pennsylvania’s traffic laws is a de facto breach of the duty of care all truck drivers have to act carefully and lawfully behind the wheel at all times. Speeding is involved in a significant number of truck accidents in this area, but so are less obvious traffic offenses like:
- Failing to yield the right-of-way properly
- Not using turn signals while merging or changing lanes
- Running stop signs and stop lights while off major highways
Lack of Maintenance
One of the more subtle but still common causes of Philadelphia trucking collisions is a failure by various people to ensure that a commercial truck is roadworthy every time it goes out on a route. From individual mechanics not identifying and replacing worn-down parts to truck manufacturers making fundamentally defective components, mechanical problems can and do cause plenty of serious injuries on the Commonwealth’s roads every year.
Improper Cargo Loading
Finally, it is worth mentioning that many 18-wheeler accidents stem partially or even primarily from an imbalanced load in the truck’s trailer. Cargo shifting during transit can dramatically affect a truck’s momentum and cause even an experienced driver to lose control of their vehicle. Overloading a tractor-trailer above its mechanical or legal weight limit is exponentially dangerous.
A Philadelphia Attorney Can Help Sue Over Common Causes of Truck Accidents
The key trait that all these common causes of truck accidents in Philadelphia share is that they all qualify as legally actionable negligence. Proving someone else was negligent is essential to obtaining a good outcome from virtually any personal injury claim. However, knowing that someone else was responsible for injuring you is one thing, and proving them at fault to the satisfaction of a civil court or insurance company can be another.
Assistance from knowledgeable legal counsel can make a significant difference in how efficiently you can establish grounds to sue over a truck crash and how effectively you can recover for your crash-related losses. Call today to discuss your options.
