A driver had to remain in his tractor trailer after it brought down power lines near Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania – June 7, 2021

A tractor-trailer crash closed down part of Interstate 70 Thursday morning in New Stanton after it brought down power lines. The crash occurred in the early morning hours at mile marker 56 and the driver was unable to get out of his truck until emergency crews were able to safely navigate the downed power lines. Luckily, the driver was not hurt in the accident. Pennsylvania is among the five states that have the highest number of truck accidents in the United States. Commercial truck company drivers are involved in accidents for a multitude of reasons including time spent on roadways, tight delivery schedules, cargo load mishaps, and driver fatigue to name a few. A skilled personal injury attorney can help sort out any claim for damages arising out of commercial truck accident, whether it was a direct result of an impact crash or other roadway danger.

Damage recovery.

Elements that will increase the likelihood of damage recovery involve a commercial driver’s compliance with state and federal laws and specific trucking restrictions, determination of fault, and the extent of losses through personal injury and property damage. Contact legal counsel to assist with loss determination and legal action when necessary.

Commercial trucking laws.

Pennsylvania commercial trucking laws are in place to protect drivers and mandate specific safety requirements for commercial drivers, in the hopes of reducing accidents. Size is a factor in the extensive damages caused due to a tractor-trailer being approximately 65 feet in length and weighing up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, causing any type of crash between it and another moving vehicle, stationary object, or person to be more catastrophic and/or fatal in terms of injuries.

Business of trucking may fuel violations.

Commercial trucking companies are deadline-imposed businesses and sometimes accidents occur due to a driver’s violation of safety laws, such as allowing tired drivers to continue to drive past their hourly restrictions, or because of the weight of overloaded cargo. There are state and federal regulations that require tractor-trailer trucks to be inspected and maintained on a regular basis. Drivers of trucks have imposed hourly restrictions, and size and weight limits based upon cargo are logged and weighed on highways. Truck accident attorneys may use the logs as evidence of negligence in some cases.

Common violations of Pennsylvania trucking rules include:

Improper Maintenance
Driver Fatigue
Distracted Drivers
Commercial Company Negligence
Unsecured Loads
Driving in Extreme Weather

Insurance.

Federal regulations require tractor-trailer trucks to carry various levels of insurance coverage, based on the transported cargo. The state of Pennsylvania requires a tractor trailer truck to carry a much higher minimum liability insurance policy than a typical automobile. The coverage amount needed depends on what freight is being hauled and where it is going. If drivers never cross state lines, they must get a PA PUC # and have a minimum amount of insurance including general freight at $750,000, oil transport at $1,000,000, Hazmat at $5,000.000, Liability at $300,000 and Cargo Insurance at $5,000 per vehicle. Pennsylvania utilizes the 51% rule, and accident parties can be 50% responsible for an accident and still collect damages in a personal injury claim.

Hire a lawyer.

Injuries stemming from truck accidents may include wrongful death claims, brain and spine injuries and amputations that cause expensive long term medical costs and therapies. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer to fight for your rights. The laws and regulations related to the trucking industry can be difficult to understand, but the experienced legal professionals of Scanlon & Wojton Attorneys at Law can assist you with any potential claim for damages resulting from a truck accident.

Scanlon & Wojton, Attorneys at Law

Phone: (412) 918-1241

Fax: (412) 235-7275

The Mitchell Building
304 Ross Street, Suite 510
Pittsburgh, Pa 15219

Sources:

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.071.002.000..HTM

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts

https://www.nhtsa.gov/