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Free ConsultationBeing involved in a traffic accident with a commercial tractor-trailer is a very different experience from a wreck with another passenger car. In addition to being substantially longer and taller than other vehicles on the road, semi-trucks can also outweigh commuter cars by tens of thousands of pounds—a mass that is almost guaranteed to cause catastrophic damage to anything it collides with.
Knowing how Philadelphia truck accidents differ from car accidents in a legal sense can be crucial for getting the best possible result from a civil claim related to truck crash injuries. Here are some of the important distinctions that you should be aware of prior to starting the legal process, all of which a truck accident lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams, PC, can help you navigate.
Vicarious Liability for Employers
In standard auto accidents, the only person who can be held financially accountable is the individually negligent driver who caused the crash, or occasionally another party whose misconduct directly contributed to causing the crash. Unlike car crashes, for truck accidents in Philadelphia, it is often possible to hold trucking companies vicariously liable if the truck driver who caused the accident was an employee of that company and was on the job when they acted irresponsibly.
More Ways To Be Negligent Behind the Wheel
While all drivers on public roads are subject to the same traffic regulations, requiring them to obey speed limits and traffic signals, truck drivers have additional restrictions that can serve as grounds for truck accident claims if violated. For example, a Philadelphia truck driver or trucking company operating an illegally overweight truck may be liable for a crash with a car caused by the excess weight, even if the truck’s driver did not violate any local traffic laws prior to the crash.
No Limited Tort Restrictions
One very important way in which truck crashes in Philadelphia differ from car crashes has to do with the Commonwealth’s limited tort restrictions. Auto accident victims with limited tort auto insurance may have limited options when filing a lawsuit against a negligent person for causing them harm in a traffic crash. However, crashes involving commercial vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, are a specific exception to the limited tort rules, so it is usually possible to sue a negligent truck driver for a wreck.
Longer-Lasting Injuries and Losses
Another difference between Philadelphia truck and car wrecks is that truck accidents tend to cause substantially worse injuries than standard car accidents that occur under roughly equivalent conditions. This means that truck accident lawsuits often seek higher claims for increased losses, which makes them more difficult to pursue.
Speak to a Philadelphia Lawyer About the Differences Between Truck Accidents and Car Accidents
Personal injury law applies equally whether you are involved in a car or truck accident, but there are many unique aspects of truck crash litigation that can make it extremely difficult to pursue a claim on your own.
Fortunately, you will not be alone if you seek help from the knowledgeable truck accident attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams, PC. Call today to learn more about how Philadelphia truck accidents differ from car accidents in legal terms.
