Siblings suffer fatal injury in a multi-vehicle crash with a tractor trailer in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania – May 23, 2021

Two young siblings suffered fatal injury when their pickup truck collided with a tractor trailer in Lancaster County.  First responders found the driver and passenger of the pickup truck deceased in their vehicle upon arrival to the scene.  Both vehicles caught fire shortly after first responders arrived at the scene.  Emergency medical personnel evaluated the driver of the tractor-trailer and he was released from medical care.  The crash continues to be under investigation. When fatal injury and property damage occur after a tractor trailer crash, a Pittsburgh truck accident attorney may be instrumental in damage compensation through insurance settlements, or wrongful death legal action when necessary.

Truck size.

A tractor-trailer is approximately 65 feet in length and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, causing any type of crash between it and another moving vehicle, stationary object, or person to suffer catastrophic injury, or death. Commercial trucking companies are deadline-imposed businesses, and occasionally driver errors caused by fatigue, safety violations, or overloaded cargo may increase the chance of a truck accident. A skilled personal injury attorney will build a case utilizing information on driver actions directly before the crash as one component that may have resulted in the harms.  

Loss determination.

Truck accident attorneys can help individuals sort out insurance claims resultant from driver error.  Factors that will increase the likelihood of damage recovery involve a truck driver’s compliance with state and federal laws and specific trucking restrictions, and the formal determination of driver fault.  Accident victims should contact legal counsel to assist with loss determinations.  Pennsylvania utilizes the 51% rule, and accident victims can be up to 50% responsible for an accident and still collect damages.  Personal injury legal action needs to be initiated within the two year statute of limitations.

Commercial trucking laws.

Pennsylvania commercial trucking laws are in place to protect drivers and mandate specific safety requirements for commercial trucks in the hopes of reducing accidents.  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.  

Hire a lawyer.

Laws and regulations related to the trucking industry can be difficult to understand and the experienced legal professionals of Scanlon & Wojton Attorneys at Law can assist surviving family members after fatal injury by initiating a wrongful death legal action, and accessing insurance funds to pay for immediate expenses related to burial and funeral arrangements.  

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.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/crash-pickup-truck-tractor-trailer-two-dead-east-petersburg/521-6167555e-1676-46ea-9ed7-07207bd3fe96

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/