Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyers
Large trucks, such as tractor-trailers or semis, are responsible for one out of every eight deaths in automobile collisions. When a truck driver or trucking company makes a mistake it usually has severe consequences. Frequently, it is the occupants in the car struck by the semi that are killed or crippled while the truck driver walks away unharmed. Due to the shear size and weight of large trucks, they pose great risk to other vehicles on the road. That is why there are federal and state regulations that are designed to help ensure safety. However, truck drivers and their companies continue to violate regulations and endanger lives.
It's important to have lawyer who specializes in truck accidents. There are different issues and considerations when investigating and pursing a truck accident claim. These considerations include:
- Obtaining and evaluating logbooks and global positioning (GPS) data.
- Analyzing the black box or engine control module to determine the driver's action immediately preceding the accident.
- Detailed site inspection, including measurements of skid marks, impact points and roadway dimensions (often an engineering expert or accident reconstruction expert is utilized).
- Pre-trip inspection reports and regulation compliance.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates that truck drivers may only drive for certain periods of time before going off duty. A driver who is feeling pressured by his or her trucking company to deliver their cargo on time may ignore these rules and keep driving, running the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, or drive too aggressively to meet a delivery time.
If you have been involved in an accident with a large truck or have lost a loved one in a collision with a semi, the truck accident specialist at Rosenbaum and Associates can help.
You can't rely on the police to do an accurate and thorough investigation. The authorities may miss critical evidence or fail to interview all the witnesses. Extensive investigation and resources are required to correctly evaluate a truck accident case. That is why you need an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer to handle your case. Often the services of an engineer or accident reconstruction expert are obtained to ensure the truck driver's account of the accident is consistent with the physical evidence and to ultimately determine the cause of an accident.
The truck driver's company policy may play an important roll in leading to an accident. Sometimes drivers are actually encouraged to falsify or otherwise disguise the fact that they have been driving for much longer than the laws allow. With almost eight million trucks on the road, it is difficult for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to ensure that every driver is operating within the established safety parameters.
Our knowledgeable team of truck accident lawyers will investigate the trucking company involved and see if they were adhering to the required standards of safety. There are numerous federal and state regulations that must be evaluated.
- 49 CFR 391: Qualifications of Drivers
Establishes minimum qualifications for drivers of commercial motor vehicles and the minimum duties of motor carriers with respect to the qualifications of their drivers.
- 49 CFR 392: Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Stipulates that to be involved in interstate travel, the truck driver, his company, and all others responsible for the management, maintenance, operation, or driving of commercial motor vehicles or the hiring, supervision, training, assigning, or dispatching of drivers must follow federal regulations.
- 49 CFR 393: Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation
Regulates parts and accessories for motor vehicles to ensure they are in accordance with the requirements and specifications. - 49 CFR 395: Hours of Service of Drivers
Governs the number of hours that a truck driver may drive or be in service during a given time period. - 49 CFR 396: Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance
Guidelines for commercial vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance as well as standards for reporting defects and other mechanical safety concerns.
At Rosenbaum and Associates our experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyers are committed to protecting your legal rights. There are many issues involved in making a claim, including knowledge of traffic and trucking laws, vehicle regulations, and liability issues. These issues must be handled with care and expertise. The team at Rosenbaum and Associates will work on your behalf in order to maximize the compensation due to you.
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