Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers

Pennsylvania Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

The Pennsylvania Department of Safety publishes accident stats on truck, car and motor vehicle accidents annually and we’ve provided some highlights of this information here. PennDOT.Gov reports that in 2017 “heavy trucks” were involved in 7,367 accidents, 27 of which were fatal incidents. commercial and school buses were involved in 861 accidents resulting in only 1 fatality. Accidents caused by drunk drivers of these vehicles was extremely low at less than 1% of all accidents. Semi trucks, commercial buses and school buses accounted for just under 15% of all fatal accidents in Pennsylvania in 2017.

Accidents involving tractor trailers, commercial buses and school buses are unfortunately a permanent part of life because it’s still the primary way that people, goods, products and food makes it’s way from point A to point B. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that Pennsylvania is currently one of the top 10 states in the US that represented over 50% of fatal crashes involving a large truck or bus in a report published in November of 2017. The same report indicated that speed was a factor in 17% of fatal truck accidents and that 6% of fatal accidents were attributed to driver distraction (16% of those involved distraction caused by a mobile device).

While heavy trucks have generally gotten safer over time, there will always be dangers when a massive truck is driving side by side with other cars, passenger trucks and motorcycles. Due to the size & weight differences of a semi truck versus a passenger vehicle, injuries resulting are often serious or fatal. If you or a family member was seriously injured in a trucking collision, you need to talk to a truck accident lawyer in Pennsylvania with the experience and reputation to secure the compensation your family needs to move forward.

Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Injury Claims in Pennsylvania

The statute of limitations for truck accident lawsuits in Pennsylvania is 2 years, this is inclusive of nearly all personal injury claims involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc. Source: 42 Pa. Con. Stat. Ann. section 5524(2)(3). A “statute of limitation” is loosely defined as the reasonable length of time that a plaintiff has to bring an action against a defendant. This varies based on state, and the type of incident: civil or criminal. The civil statute of limitations in Pennsylvania can be shorter (6 months) if the incident & resulting claim involves a government agency. In some cases, you may not even know all of the parties in a truck accident lawsuit if it involves a government entity because the claim might involve defective road design, a government vehicle, or a city that fails to replace road safety signs. For this reason and many others you should seek the advice of a qualified truck accident lawyer in Pennsylvania.

§ 5524.  Two year limitation.

The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years:

(1)  An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution or malicious abuse of process.
(2)  An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.
(3)  An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for specific recovery thereof.

 

Pursuing a Truck Accident Injury or Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Pennsylvania

If you or a family member was seriously injured, or if a family member was killed in a truck accident you should seek the advice and representation of a skilled and experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney. TruckAccidentAttorneyNetwork.org has organized a database of law firms who focus their practice on Motor Vehicle Vehicle collisions, with significant experience litigating trucking accidents.