According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s most recent statistics, nearly 125,000 traffic accidents occurred in 2013. 1 out of every 45 people was involved in a car accident. In the same year, 228 people were injured and 3 people were killed per day. Allegheny County in Pennsylvania is home to Pittsburgh one of the three largest cities in the state. However, this is not the only place where accidents happen in Allegheny County. You may be driving through Bethel Park or on your way to Baldwin when suddenly your life can be changed by a truck accident.
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Allegheny County
Car accidents in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County can change the course of your life in an instant. Whether you are driving down Forbes Avenue or driving through Monroeville, you never know when you are going to be involved in an accident. There are many reasons why there might be an accident caused by a truck driver from texting while driving, to being distracted by other drivers, and even the truck driver lacking the experience necessary to navigate the hills and side streets of Pittsburgh. However, in our experience, some of the most common types of accidents that are seen on Allegheny County roadways include:
Rear-end Accidents
These types of accidents are very common in the crowded and congested streets of the cities, however, these accidents also happen on the highway.
Intersection Collisions
Whether it was a truck running a red light or making an improper turn, often these accidents tend to be severe because of the speed and changing directions of the vehicles that are involved.
High-speed Accidents
Due to the high rate of spend and impact of these types of accidents, they typically result in catastrophic injuries, and unfortunately often result in death.
Head-on Collisions
Head-on collision accidents are usually caused by the driver not paying attention and drifting into the oncoming lane of traffic. Head-on collisions usually cause particular types of injuries for victims after a motor vehicle accident.
Hit-and-run Accidents
While it may seem impractical for a large commercial vehicle to be able to get away after hitting a person or a car, however, hit and run accidents are a noted source of accidents in Allegheny County and elsewhere.
Whatever the type of accident, and no matter where the accident occurred, if the accident involves a truck and another vehicle, there will likely be injuries and substantial damages.
Common Types of Injuries from Car Accidents in Allegheny County
If you have been in an accident of any sort with a tractor-trailer or another type of commercial vehicle there is an increased likelihood that there will be injuries. Our truck accident lawyers can assist you with any of the following injuries:
Brain Injury
Brain injuries and traumatic brain injuries are often severe injuries that require months and even years for a person to fully recover from. These injuries are caused by the delicate brain matter hitting the inside of the skull, which can result in internal bleeding, swelling, and even death.
Catastrophic and Serious Injury
When there is a vehicle that weighs on average ten to fifteen times more than your vehicle then there is the potential that any accident will be severe. However, when you take into account that many accidents happen at high rates of speeds then there is a much higher likelihood that there are going to be catastrophic or even severe injuries.
Broken Bones
Anytime the human frame sustains an impact there is the chance that any of the bones in the body will break. This is particularly true when there is as much force as there is involved in a truck accident.
Lacerations
Broken glass, shattered mirrors, jagged pieces of metal. All of these are present in a truck accident and can result in severe injuries, which may require prompt and immediate medical attention.
Bruising
Most people think of a bruise as an inconvenience that will resolve itself in a few days. Other bruise injuries can last weeks, months, or even years depending on the severity of the impact.
Knee Injuries
In many car accidents, a person will sustain a tremendous amount of force to their knees depending on the size of their car, where they are sitting, and if their knees hit any part of their car during impact. Knee injuries can impair your ability to walk to and work and in some cases may require surgery and extensive physical therapy to fix.
Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are common when there is an impact between a car and a truck. Often a person’s shoulders are injured by the impact of their airbag at the time of impact.
Wrongful Death
In the event that the accident is so severe that a person does not survive their injuries, the decedent’s parents, siblings, spouse, or children may be able to file what is known as a wrongful death action.
There are countless injuries that can result from a car or truck accident. However, because of the size and impact that a tractor-trailer has on a person, there is a much higher potential that there are going to be severe and life-long injuries. In addition to these injuries mentioned above, burns, back injuries, paralysis, and amputations are all common injuries that our attorneys have seen in truck accident cases.
Causes of Truck Accidents on Interstate 376 in Allegheny County
Nearly 90 percent of commercial truck accidents are caused or worsened by some sort of human error—either on behalf of a truck driver, other drivers, other vehicle passengers, cyclists or pedestrians. Other leading causes of truck accidents on Pennsylvania roads include:
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a growing problem in the trucking industry partially because of the advancement and prevalence of smartphones. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration distracted driving was found in a meager eight percent of all truck accident cases, however, the FMSCA is concerned that this number will continue to grow as drivers begin to have access to more technology.
Blind areas
All cars on the road have spots where it can be difficult or impossible for the driver to see other motorists on the road. These areas are known as blind spots. However, while blind spots in a car may be minimal, blind spots in a truck can be extremely large and may completely obstruct a car or multiple vehicles from the driver’s view. Blind spots on a truck can be found on the left and right side of the vehicle as well as directly behind the tractor. Drivers who are driving alongside a truck should be aware of these blind spots and should attempt to avoid driving in these regions for an extended amount of time.
Difficult maneuvers
Driving a truck takes a considerable amount of skill, training, and attention. Trucks are less nimble than other passenger vehicles. That being said if a truck driver is required to make a sudden adjustment they can easily lose control of their vehicle. However, accidents can also occur when a driver is trying to back their vehicle into a delivery site or even when they are making a turn.
Money and Compensation for a Truck Accident in Allegheny County
Every year an estimated 5,000 people lose their lives in accidents involving large trucks weight at least 10,000 pounds. While it is easy to think that these serious accidents will only happen when you are near the city, consider that the United States Department of Transportation found that nearly 68 percent of all fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas.
Compensation that is available to those injured in a truck accident can either be economic or non-economic damages:
Economic Damages
The simplest definition of what constitutes economic damage is something that you can put an exact price on. Economic damages are sometimes referred to as actual damages and generally consist of the following:
- Costs of replacing property such as a damaged car
- Medical bills, such as medical care, procedures, and medical devices
- Lost wages and earnings
- Funeral costs
Non-Economic Damages
In addition to these economic damages, you may also be entitled to compensation for non-economic expenses. These damages are not as easy to put a dollar amount, however, they are meant to compensate for such things as:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case you may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are a damage type that is awarded to punish the defendant for engaging in malicious or outrageous conduct.
Contact Our Allegheny County Pennsylvania Truck Accident Attorneys
To schedule a private, no-cost evaluation, call the law offices of Reiff Law Firm Trucking at (215) 709-6940 or contact us using our online form. If the statute of limitations expires, your window of legal opportunity will close and you won’t be able to pursue a claim.
