Semi/Truck Accident Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I handle trucking companies after a truck accident?

A: You should immediately call an experienced truck accident lawyers. Semi truck companies have their own lawyers working for them. You should avoid starting a dialog directly with the company or the insurance lawyers. Anything you say or sign may be held against you further down the road.

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Q: Who can be sued in an accident involving commercial trucks?

A: The person and/or company responsible for causing the accident can be sued. This includes the semi truck driver and trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the shipper, as well as any other driver, person or entity who in anyway contributed to the accident, such as the manufacturer of one of the vehicles involved in the accident, the manufacturer of a tire that contributed to the accident or the owner of any public or private property whose negligence contributed to the accident.

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Q: Are there any state or federal regulations governing semi - truck drivers?

A: There are many regulations, both state and federal, that trucking companies are required to follow. Mainly:

1. Trucking companies are required to follow the FMCSA regulations concerning equipment and hours of service.
2. Commercial driver’s license standards are federal regulations in place to reduce or prevent truck accidents and resulting injuries and/or deaths by requiring drivers of certain vehicles to obtain a single commercial motor vehicle driver's license.
3. The Commercial Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program requires that individual States, and other political jurisdictions unify to develop and implement programs that will ultimately improve motor carrier, CMV, and driver safety and establish a safer and more efficient transportation system.
4. Semi drivers are required to maintain a truck driver’s log.
5. Regulations require commercial trucks to carry certain levels of insurance coverage, depending on the nature of the materials hauled. These regulations protect victims of large truck crashes from truck owners who may not have the financial resources to pay damages out-of-pocket.
6. Both Pennsylvania State and/or federal law, depending on whether the truck was involved in intrastate or interstate transport may govern truck accidents.

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Q: What is a "commercial vehicle"?

A: A commercial vehicle is one that is used in the course of business and/or for the transport of commercial goods. Examples are eighteen-wheeler tractor trailers, tanker trucks, delivery vehicles, and other large freight trucks.

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Q: Why is a traffic accident involving a commercial truck more likely to cause injury than one involving passenger cars?

A: A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries.

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Q: What are the most common factors in collisions between commercial trucks and automobiles?

A: Generally speaking, these accidents are caused by a combination of a truck's characteristics and performance capabilities (including limits associated with acceleration, braking, and visibility) and car drivers' inexperience as to those characteristics.

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Q: Why do I need an auto accident attorney after I’ve been involved in a commercial vehicle accident?

A: If you’ve been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, you need an auto accident attorney to:

1. To protect your rights
2. To make sure you get the medical treatment you may need even if you cannot pay for it up-front
3. To help you file the related property damage claim
4. To negotiate with insurance carriers to make sure you get the amount of compensation that you will need to pick up the pieces and get your life back on track as quickly as possible