Pennsylvania Tractor Trailer Accident Attorneys

Tractor trailers can be found on the roads all over Pennsylvania. Whether you’re driving around Philadelphia or you’re all the way up in Scranton, these large vehicles are constantly traveling through. While you may be plenty use to sharing the highway with them, that doesn’t mean tractor trailers are any less dangerous.

The Dangers of Tractor Trailers

One out of every eight accidents resulting in a fatality involves a tractor trailer or some other type of large truck. They also cause 4% of all injuries sustained because of vehicle crashes. Unfortunately for those of us in smaller vehicles, we take the brunt of the accident, even when it’s not our fault.

86% of fatalities involved in large truck accidents happen to the driver or passengers in the other car. The same can be said for 77% of injuries too. With accidents up 10% since 1992, sufficed to say, you need to be careful when you find yourself near them on the highway.

Reacting to a Tractor Trailer Accident

Obviously, after an accident with a tractor trailer in Pennsylvania, you need to see to your own safety and that of your passengers first. Next, check on the driver of the tractor trailer and call 911.

Then you absolutely must call an attorney with experience in this field as soon as you can. This is why having the number for one handy can make a huge difference. Keep it in your phone, just to be safe.

The Importance of Hiring an Attorney Right Away

If you’re familiar with the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania, you may be confused as to why it’s so important you contact a lawyer ASAP. You have plenty of time to file a suit, after all.

However, time is not on your side in the wake of such an accident. You need to give your attorney as much time as possible so they can properly collect evidence. Much of it will be cleaned up immediately by road crews. It’s a good idea to take a picture of the scene if you’re able to, so long as it doesn’t jeopardize your safety.

On top of that, lawyers need to speak to witnesses. The sooner they can, the better, because witnesses that forget what exactly occurred are of no help. Without witnesses, it might come down to your story against the driver’s.

Why You Can’t Go at It Alone

Sometimes, you can end up in a personal injury situation where an attorney isn’t necessary in order to seek damages. Maybe the fault so obviously rests with the opposing party that it simply isn’t worth it.

This will never be the case with Pennsylvania tractor trailer accidents. Unless you were hit by a private driver, who owns their truck and can’t afford an attorney, you need legal representation.

For one thing, the driver will definitely have one. Their company most likely has a legal firm on retainer. If the driver is in a union, they’ll probably put up a lawyer too. Should it come to light that the truck’s manufacturer was involved, there’s another firm you can expect to hear from.

It’s very unlikely you’ll stand much of a chance against this type of legal army. A lot of people who try going at it by themselves end up accepting settlements that are far below what they would have otherwise received. They come away thinking they must’ve won, when in reality, they were taken for a ride.

Don’t let this kind of thing happen to you, especially after you’ve already been through so much. Instead, hire an attorney who has experience with these types of accidents. You can bet opposing council will take you far more seriously when they see you have qualified legal representation.

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