Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle in Western Pennsylvania, it is important to secure legal representation as soon as possible. Among Pittsburgh car accidents, those involving large trucks are the most complex and difficult to sort out. It’s important to due your research when looking for a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer. Even when the cause of an accident seems black and white, multiple factors both on the scene and potentially thousands of miles away will come into play. Add that to Pennsylvania trucking laws and federal regulations and your chances of seeing quick and complete compensation can seem almost impossible. The best way to speed the process and ensure fair compensation is by contacting an experienced Pittsburgh truck accident attorney. To schedule your cost and obligation-free consultation with one of our truck accident lawyers, please contact Hal Waldman & Associates today.

Who is Responsible in a Truck Accident?

Parties that may be held liable in a truck accident include:

The driver of the truck
The company the driver is employed by
The company the driver was delivering to
Mechanics and safety inspectors
Parts manufacturers
Government entities

Each of these parties will have lawyers and insurance adjustors working around the clock to minimize their liability and reduce your compensation. The only way to make sure you are not taken advantage of is by having a legal team on your side that is dedicated to securing the total compensation you are entitled to.

Common Causes of Pittsburgh Truck Accidents

An accident involving a commercial vehicle can be devastating. The sheer size of a commercial truck often leads to debilitating and even permanently disabling injury. These serious injuries may cause a lifetime of discomfort. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of being involved in one of these accidents by knowing their most common causes. The following are the most frequent reasons for trucking accidents:

Driver Error

The vast majority of commercial vehicle accidents arise as a result of driver error, either by the trucker or the operator of the passenger vehicle. Some of the most common occurrences are drivers who overestimate a commercial vehicle’s handling capabilities. Some dangerous acts leading to crashes include:

Changing lanes in front of a truck with no warning (cutting a truck off)
Driving in a trucks blind spot. A good rule of thumb is, if you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, they can’t see you.
Passing a truck on the right
Driver Fatigue
Merging improperly into traffic, which causes a truck to swerve
Driving while distracted, which includes cell phone use, texting, eating, drinking, or fiddling with a car’s controls
Tire blowout accidents
Failing to take adequate breaks on long trips (driver fatigue)
Log book violations (for commercial truck drivers)

For the most part, truck drivers are skilled, competent, and patient drivers. On the other hand, they might be stressed by an unrealistic timetable or simply want to get home to their families. As a result, they may drive for longer periods that violate safety protocols, and take substances to combat fatigue. This is a deadly combination that can lead to horrifying consequences. Our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers can help.

Factors Unrelated to Human Error

While driver error is a common reason for trucking accidents, there are others that can lead to devastating wrecks. These include:

A company that fails to adequately train or background check its commercial drivers
Improper loading. Trucks must have an equal weight distribution to ensure proper handling. When a loader fails to distribute the weight evenly, it can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Lack of maintenance. Semis are particularly prone to tire blowout because of the sheer amount of time they spend on the road. Owner/operators of commercial vehicles must keep to a strict maintenance schedule to keep both their drivers and others safe.
Faulty or flawed trucks. Finally, some trucks may be inherently faulty or have a malfunction that leads to injury. In this case, it’s often the manufacturer of the truck who shoulders the blame. A poorly designed tire, for example, might be more prone to flats or blowouts.

Trucking accidents occur in virtually limitless forms, but some are more common than others. Many trucking accidents arise from human error, either by the trucker or the driver of a passenger car. Others occur from improper loading or even a lack of maintenance. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of being in an accident by driving where truckers can see you and driving defensively at all times. Be aware of your surroundings and know the common causes of truck accidents. is essential to maximizing your safety.

Truck Accident Settlements

The truck accident attorneys at Hal Waldman & Associates have over 50 years of experience helping victims of these accidents. We are here to take your case as far as needed to see you get every penny you are due. For a free consultation with one of our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers, please contact us online or by phone.