When you are heading down the roadways and end up next to a large moving or cargo truck, you probably steer clear. Unfortunately, there are times when a truck driver or the truck itself causes a serious crash. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we are ready to help if you or a loved one have been injured and need a Pittsburgh cargo truck attorney. Our network of investigators will piece together what happened so we can secure the compensation you need right now.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CARGO TRUCKS?
When you think of large trucks, you probably think of commercial vehicles that are driven by professional drivers for companies hailing goods. In many cases, this is correct. However, there are many cargo trucks on the road driven by people just like us, those who do not have their commercial driver’s licenses.
How is this possible?
Have you ever driven a U-Haul or other moving truck? Did you need a special license?
The term “cargo truck” covers a large range of vehicles around us on the roadway. Regardless of who is driving a cargo truck, a crash can cause major injuries.
HEAVY TRUCK CRASHES IN PENNSYLVANIA
When we turn to the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), we see that large trucks caused nearly 150,000 injuries and killed 4,761 people during the latest reporting year.
Here in Pennsylvania, the Department of Transportation says that there were 6,807 heavy truck crashes during the latest reporting year. Out of those, there were 145 fatalities and thousands of injuries.
HOW DO THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN?
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation attributes many of these heavy truck crashes to vehicle failure, particularly the failure of the tires/wheels, brakes, powertrain, and steering. Truck owners must regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles.
Unfortunately, many of these crashes are caused by inexperienced drivers. In Pennsylvania, a driver does not need a commercial driver’s license unless the vehicle’s weight exceeds 26,001 pounds. Many of these cargo trucks do not reach those weights. However, we want you to consider that the average passenger vehicle only weights 4,000 and is no match to a fully loaded cargo truck.
- Injuries from cargo truck crashes are often severe and lead to major expenses for victims and their families.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SECURE COMPENSATION FOR THIS ACCIDENT?
Cargo trucks are all over the roadways and often drivers by inexperienced operators. If you or someone you love has been injured in a cargo truck crash, Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman are ready to step in on your behalf. Let our dedicated and experienced team get to work on securing the compensation you need today. This can include:
- Coverage of medical expenses
- Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
- Coverage of physical therapy
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against the truck driver or truck company
When you need a truck accident lawyer in Pittsburgh PA, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling (412) 391-7610.
