GET THE JUSTICE YOU DESERVE:
GET THE JUSTICE YOU DESERVE:
Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie
TALK TO ALVIN TODAY FOR FREE
(215) 696-3900
Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie
TALK TO ALVIN TODAY FOR FREE
(215) 696-3900

Blog Post

LAW BLOG

An Auto Accident Attorney Can Help If You’ve Been Injured by a Truck

  • By Al de Levie
  • 27 Dec, 2017

An Auto accident attorney can help you file a claim if you’ve suffered an injury from a tractor-trailer incident. After you make sure you are safe, contact one immediately.

An Auto Accident Attorney Can Help If You’ve Been Injured by a Truck


According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of motor vehicle accidents involving tractor trailers and other large trucks increased by 62% since 2009. In 2015 alone, there were over 87,000 injury cases caused by a trucking accident.


At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, we have decades of experience handling claims against truck drivers and trucking companies throughout the Commonwealth whose negligence has caused our clients to suffer death or needless pain and suffering. Cases involving tractor-trailer accident are often much more complicated than your average motor vehicle accident.

It is important to take the proper steps soon after you’re involved in a tractor-trailer accident to make it easier to hold the right people accountable for your injuries.


1. Check that Everyone is Safe and Assess Your Injuries


As with any accident, you should first be concerned with the health and safety of yourself and those around you. If you are able, assess your injuries and those of anyone else involved in the accident.


You may also need to get your vehicle safely off the road. Tractor-trailer accidents often occur on busy highways where there is a high risk that other drivers may be distracted and fail to notice your vehicle, leading to secondary accidents.  


If your vehicle is disabled and cannot be moved from the scene, the next best thing is to remove yourself as far from the threat of oncoming traffic as possible. If you are unable to remove yourself or you cannot exit your vehicle safely, then remain in your vehicle with your flashers on and your seatbelt fastened until help arrives.


2. Call 911


In addition to getting medical assistance, it is important that the police arrive to investigate the accident and create a police report. The police report will often contain valuable information that will help your attorney investigate your case and identify any responsible parties, such as:


-The name and contact information of the truck driver;

-The name and contact information of the owner of the truck (this is especially important, as it is not always easy to tell whether a truck driver is an independent contractor who owns his own truck or whether he is an employee using a company truck);

-The name of the insurance company;

-The names of any witnesses interviewed by police and their contact information;

-A drawing or diagram of the accident scene;

-Weather and road conditions; and

-A recording of any citations or tickets the truck driver may have received.


Make sure to get the incident or control number from the police before they leave the scene. This will make it easier for your attorney to obtain the police report later.


3. Collect Evidence


If you are physically able, the best time to gather evidence is immediately after the accident has occurred. You can start by taking pictures of the accident scene.


You should include pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident, focusing on the points of impact. You should also take pictures of any markings on the truck like logos, slogans and other signs that will help your attorney determine who the driver was working for at the time of the accident, as this kind of information will often not be recorded by the police. Additionally, you should take photographs of skid marks, debris, damaged signs or guardrails and other evidence of a collision.



It is also important to gather information about the truck driver and the truck he was driving. In addition to getting the driver’s name and insurance information, you should also take down any federal and state Department of Transportation numbers. These should be located on the side of the tractor-trailer.  


Lastly, get contact information for any witnesses, including names, phone numbers and home addresses. It is not uncommon for a witness to leave the accident scene once he or she is sure everyone is ok.


The police may not arrive in time to be able to identify or speak with these witnesses. Gathering this information gives your attorney an opportunity to reach out to any potential witnesses to take statements.

 


4. Do Not Speak to the Trucking Company or Their Insurance Company


You may be contacted shortly after the accident by the trucking company or their insurance company. No matter how friendly these representatives seem, they are not your friend and they are not looking out for your interests.

Their job is to collect information that can be used to weaken your claim and limit the amount of damages the trucking company or their insurance company has to pay in the end. Do not give them any information about how the accident occurred, what kind of injuries you sustained or what kind of treatment you receive after the accident.

 


5. Immediately Contact an Experienced Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney



Tractor-trailer accidents are often much more complicated than your average motor vehicle accident. The truck driver and the trucking company responsible for the accident is often from out another state, or even another country. There may also be several individuals and entities who may be responsible for the accident, including the driver, the owner of the truck, the driver’s employer and the company whose freight was being hauled by the tractor trailer.


Additionally, truck drivers are governed by special federal and state laws and regulations which do not apply to other drivers. You need an attorney who has the experience and resources to fully investigate the accident and identify all those who are responsible.  


These cases can also pose complicated jurisdictional challenges, making it hard to bring your lawsuit in your home state. For example, in one of our recent tractor-trailer cases, our client, a Clearfield County resident, was involved in a tractor trailer accident in Virginia. The trucking company and the driver were both from out of state.


By filing a Freedom of Information Act Request and obtaining information that showed the company operated more often in Pennsylvania than almost any other state in the country. We were also able to obtain information on the large amount of taxes and registration fees paid to Pennsylvania by the trucking company. This information was critical to keep the case in the Federal Court in Pennsylvania, saving our client from having to file his suit in Virginia or another inconvenient state.  



Contact Us Today


At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, Esq., we have years of experience handling cases for those who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of tractor trailer accidents throughout the Commonwealth. We have handled cases from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties to Allegheny County, including Blair County, Centre County, Lycoming County, Montour County, Mifflin County, Cambria County, Cumberland County and Dauphin County.


If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, please call our firm – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 844-777-2529 (Toll-Free) for a consultation. One of our team members will be in immediate contact with you. We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, State College, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.

Alvin F. de Levie is a 1973, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a 1976 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is an expert in Pennsylvania Law revolving around medical malpractice and personal injury. 


Mr. de Levie has consistently been voted by his peers to receive Martindale-Hubbell's "AV Preeminent" 5.0 out of 5.0 rating. An AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. 


Share by: