Truck Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia
Any type of vehicle crash can cause extensive damage and injuries. Commercial truck accidents, however, can leave the victims with life-threatening, long-term, or even fatal injuries. If you cannot return to work, the expenses can begin piling up, leaving you with no way to pay your bills or obtain the medical treatment you need.
Philadelphia is the site of many semi-truck injury accidents, due to the high-traffic nature of our city. If you suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of a commercial truck driver or operator, you deserve compensation for your damages.
Unfortunately, the process of preparing and submitting a claim is complex and fraught with legal pitfalls. You need a personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia to help you navigate this daunting process. At Cordisco & Saile LLC, we work to protect your legal rights, help you get medical treatment, and obtain the compensation you deserve.
We can help you recover after a truck accident. Contact us today at 215-642-2335 to get started.
Who Was at Fault in My Commercial Truck Accident?
Commercial trucks transport consumer goods across the country every day, mostly without incident. When these large, unwieldy vehicles do crash, however, they can cause devastation for other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
If a crash results from the negligence of a driver, trucking company, owner, or operator—or some combination of these—the responsible party or parties must take accountability for the damages they cause. In addition to the duty of care that truck drivers owe to the public, trucking companies and operators must maintain the vehicles, load trailers appropriately, and follow applicable laws and federal regulations.
Determining fault and proving liability for a truck accident requires an understanding of this complex industry—as well as the laws and regulations that govern it. We can help you navigate this legal minefield. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the accident to determine who was responsible before we document and submit your claim for compensation.
Throughout the process, we will keep you informed of our progress on your case as we fight to get you the financial settlement you deserve for your injuries. This allows you to focus on the important task of healing, recovering, and getting your life back on track.
How Much Is My Claim Worth?
The ultimate value of your claim will depend on the circumstances of your accident and the nature of your injuries. We will put together the documentation necessary to support your request for a fair settlement.
We will begin by adding up your medical bills and care costs to date, as well as your lost wages from the date of the crash onward. Using information and testimony from doctors and medical experts, we will also project your future costs for treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, and any other medical needs you will have.
Next, we will project your future lost wages along with any loss of earning potential. If you experienced any long-term or permanent injuries or disability, we will assign a value for your loss. You will also likely be eligible for damages for pain and suffering and your loss of life’s enjoyment.
The final value of your claim will depend on the losses you suffered because of the crash. If you became paralyzed, lost a digit or limb, or sustained permanent damage to an organ, for example, your claim will have a significantly higher value.
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Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
The insurance companies have one objective: to pay you as little as possible for your claim. You could attempt to take on the insurance company alone. However, they will likely either deny your claim outright or send a team of high-powered lawyers to intimidate you.
A common tactic the insurance companies use is to offer you a quick settlement for a tiny fraction of your claim’s true value. They may also try to obtain a statement from you that they can later use against you, or even trick you into signing away your rights to compensation.
When you have one of our attorneys representing you, the insurance company and lawyers will realize that you are serious about pursuing the compensation you deserve.
We understand how this process works and know how to protect your rights. We also know how to build a convincing claim using evidence like witness statements, accident scene photos, safety records, vehicle maintenance and inspection data, and medical and safety expert testimony. We may even call on accident scene reconstruction experts to help demonstrate fault and liability.
Even more importantly, our attorneys take a personal interest in your case. We will not stop until we establish the liability of the at-fault party and hold them responsible for the damages they caused. We will do everything we can to get the results you need to recover from your truck crash.
How Will a Lawyer Establish Liability?
We will begin by gathering all available evidence and analyzing it to identify the cause of the accident and who had fault. In truck accidents where the driver was at fault, these are some of the most common causes:
- Fatigued driving;
- Driving while distracted;
- Driving while impaired;
- Aggressive or reckless driving;
- Speeding;
- Ignoring roadway signage; and
- Disobeying traffic laws.
In accidents where the trucking company, owner, or equipment manufacturer had fault, these are some of the most common causes:
- Violation of safety regulations;
- Lack of driver qualifications;
- Improper driver training;
- Improper vehicle service or maintenance;
- An improperly loaded trailer; and
- Mechanical defects and failures.
Once we identify who had fault and why, we will prove the four legal elements of negligence.
Duty of Care
Commercial truck drivers, trucking firms and operators must exercise a duty of care to the public. They must obey traffic laws, limit their driving hours in accordance with laws and regulations, and never drive while impaired or distracted. Commercial trucking companies also have a duty to properly service, maintain, and inspect the vehicles for safety, while following all industry regulations.
Breach of Duty
When semi-truck drivers fail to operate the vehicle safely, they violate their duty of care. When the trucking company disregards maintenance requirements, fails to provide driver training, or improperly loads a trailer, that company also has breached their duty of care.
Causation
If a breach of duty ultimately leads to an accident in which someone dies or sustains injuries, that party is liable for the accident and resulting damages.
Actual Damages
The final step is to prove actual damages. We will provide documentation in the form of medical bills, wage statements, and expert testimony to show how much your truck crash has cost you.
Armed with this evidence, we can enter into negotiations with the insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to negotiate a reasonable settlement, we can file a personal injury lawsuit and prove your case in court.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia Today.
If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries in a truck accident in Philadelphia, the knowledgeable attorneys of Cordisco & Saile LLC will protect your legal rights and fight diligently on your behalf.
We would like to offer you a complimentary consultation, so we can answer your questions and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 215-642-2335 to learn more.
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The nationally recognized and award winning team of attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC have been fighting for residents of Pennsylvania & New Jersey for 30 years.
