Have you been injured in an accident with a semi? Hire an experienced Pennsylvania semi accident lawyer to fight for your rights!
Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles frequently cause severe damage and serious injuries when an accident occurs. If you’ve been injured, each experienced semi truck accident lawyer at Kitay Law Offices is on your side. We’ll take on the trucking companies and insurance providers to demand the justice and compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
Count on us as your trusted Pennsylvania truck accident law firm. We’ve served PA for over 25 years and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
Contact us to schedule your free, confidential, no-obligation case evaluation. Fill out our online form or call 888-KITAYLAW. We are The Law Firm With a Heart and are here for you 24/7.
KITAY LAW OFFICES
HAS BEEN FEATURED IN:
OVERVIEW
- Legal Representation for Your Semi Accident Injury Case
- Kitay Attorneys Fight for Your Justice & Compensation
- Steps We Take to Win Your Case
- Fatal Semi-Truck Accident Cases
- What Is a Semi Truck?
- State & Federal Truck Accident Laws
- How a Semi Truck Accident Is Different from Car Accidents
- Don’t Miss The Deadline to File Your Injury Claim
- Our Attorney Contingency Fees
- Other Commercial Vehicles We Handle
- What To Do After a Semi-Truck Accident
- Causes of Semi-Truck Crashes
- Our Locations: Contact Us
- FAQs about Semi Accident Injury Cases
- Schedule a Free Case Review
- Helpful Resources
RECENT SETTLEMENTS:
Legal Representation for Your Semi Truck Accident Injury Case in PA
Semi truck accidents are very different from other types of personal injury cases. Semi truck drivers and trucking companies must follow federal laws regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a part of the United States Department of Transportation.
Pennsylvania state laws also come into play in semi-truck accident cases and set high standards for safe driving and how commercial truck companies must secure and maintain their trucks.
Our team of semi truck accident attorneys in Pennsylvania represents clients who have been injured by negligent commercial trucking companies and semi-truck drivers. And we compassionately work side by side with families who have lost a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident.
We will stand up for you and will demand justice and fair compensation from the trucking companies and their insurers. You deserve to be made whole in the eyes of the law. Our job is to help make that happen for you.
Call us 24/7 at 888-KITAYLAW. Begin the conversation with our experienced Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers. Schedule your free consultation. It’s confidential, and there’s no obligation.
Our Semi Accident Lawyers in PA Fight for Your Justice & Compensation
Kitay Law Offices has an experienced and skilled team of licensed semi truck accident attorneys in Pennsylvania. We’ve been helping clients win cases for over 25 years, recovering millions of dollars for injured victims and loved ones. Justice and maximum compensation mean so much after a trucking accident occurs. We compassionately fight for every client we represent.
As your Pennsylvania semi accident lawyer, we’ll represent you and demand that those responsible for your injuries provide compensation for:
- Medical Expenses – hospitalizations, surgeries, therapies, and other medical bills
- Lost Wages – lost income due to your injuries can be recovered
- Lost Future Income – when injuries force you to choose a new career path
- Pain and Suffering – ongoing physical and mental anguish arising from your injuries
- Loss of Companionship – when someone you love has been killed or their quality of life has dramatically diminished due to a semi-truck accident
- Punitive Damages – when particularly outrageous conduct occurs and has caused harm in a semi-truck accident
Steps Our PA Semi Truck Accident Attorneys Take for Your Case
Semi truck accident claims are very complex since they may involve multiple commercial truck drivers, insurance companies, federal safety regulations, causes, and jurisdictions. Both state and federal laws must be accounted for. Further, the trucking company’s insurer is likely to fight tooth and nail. This is especially true because truck crashes often cause victims to suffer catastrophic injuries or result in wrongful death claims. Count on each skilled Pennsylvania semi accident lawyer at Kitay Law Offices to:
- Understand the insurance adjuster’s tricks
- Use a variety of experts to help support your case, which may include accident reconstruction
- Obtain statements from witnesses
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene
- Review camera footage
- Examine police reports and accident reports for accuracy
- Dig through medical records to show how your injuries are related to the crash
- Ensure that the parties preserve critical evidence
- Obtain alcohol and drug test results for any commercial truck drivers involved in the crash
- Extract data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM) or Event Data Recorder (the truck’s black box)
A compassionate and skilled semi truck accident attorney at Kitay Law Offices will effectively investigate your case. We’ll work to gather the evidence that will support your claim and help obtain the best result possible.
Fatal Semi-Truck Accident Cases
If a semi-truck accident has resulted in the death of your loved one, our hearts go out to you. In these circumstances, the estate can still pursue a claim. This is called a “Survival Action.” Family members are entitled to receive compensation if a semi-truck accident causes the death of a loved one. Known as a “Wrongful Death” claim, these are governed by special sections of Pennsylvania law.[1]
We are here to help throughout your complex semi-truck accident claim. Don’t go it alone. Call our team 24/7. We’ll answer your questions, file all necessary legal documents, speak with the insurance companies, and negotiate the very best semi-truck accident settlement possible.
GET LEGAL HELP: Contact a Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Attorney. Our compassionate team can help when you’ve lost a loved one.
What Is a Semi Truck?
A semi-truck, also called a semi, tractor-trailer, or big rig, is a combination of a tractor unit (the truck with an engine) and a trailer for hauling cargo. It’s commonly used for transporting goods over long distances and is distinguished by its detachable trailer and large capacity.
We Know State & Federal Semi Truck Accident Laws
In addition to following state and local rules of the road, semi trucks must follow comprehensive federal regulations and laws. Some of the most important FMCSA rules focus on:
- Hours of Driving – limiting the hours that truck drivers can work
- Record of Hours Driven – requiring drivers to record their hours each day
- Controlled Substance Testing – to help ensure that semi-truck drivers are sober on the roads
- Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance – requiring trucking companies to have a system in place that ensures their semi-trucks are always safe for operation
LEARN MORE: Pennsylvania Truck Accident Laws
An experienced semi truck wreck lawyer at Kitay Law Offices will inspect trucking records while fighting your case. We’ll work to identify instances of semi truck driver and trucking company negligence.
Contact us 24/7 to schedule a free consultation.
How a Semi Truck Accident Is Different from Car Accidents
Semi-truck accidents are very different from car accidents. Some unique aspects involved in many semi-truck accidents we handle include:
- Insurance companies often have large policies
- Heavier property damage due to the size and weight of a commercial truck
- Semi truck accident victims have a greater chance of death or serious injuries
- When severely injured, you are likely to incur larger medical bills
LEARN MORE: Car and Truck Accident Lawsuit Differences
The semi-truck driver and trucking company will have a lawyer representing their interests. Make sure you have a semi accident lawyer on your side who understands the unique differences between truck accidents and car accidents. There is no substitute for an experienced semi truck accident attorney.
Deadline to File a Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit in PA
For most semi truck and commercial truck accidents, you have two years to file a lawsuit and sue for your injuries in Pennsylvania. This is the official statute of limitations for semi truck accidents under Pennsylvania law.[2] If you do not file a lawsuit for your semi truck accident claim within that time, in many circumstances you will forfeit the opportunity to collect any compensation from those responsible for injuring you.
Don’t wait to have your case evaluated. Call Kitay Law Offices today for a free consultation at 888-KITAYLAW.
Attorney Fees: Our Semi Truck Accident Law Firm in PA Uses Contingency Fees
Each attorney or semi truck accident law firm in Pennsylvania may have its own way of earning a fee for their services. At Kitay Law Offices, our semi truck crash attorneys never charge you by the hour for your truck accident case. Instead, we work on contingency. That’s the popular “No Win, No Fee” model.
Simply put: we don’t earn a fee unless you receive an accident settlement or verdict in your favor. You can be certain that our experienced semi-truck accident injury lawyers will work hard to obtain the best possible result in your case.
Contact us for a free consultation today! You can reach us online or at 888-KITAYLAW.
Other Trucks and Commercial Vehicles We Handle in PA
From 18-wheelers to buses, delivery vans and everything in between, collisions involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles contribute to serious property damage, severe injuries, and tragic fatalities.
When semi-truck accident injuries occur in Pennsylvania, the type of vehicle matters, and along with insurance policies, these factors could impact the amount of compensation you may be eligible to recover in a PA semi truck accident lawsuit.
Below are the types of trucks and vehicles we commonly see involved in semi truck accident lawsuits.
- 18 Wheelers
- Buses
- Cargo Trucks
- Coal Trucks
- Concrete Trucks
- Construction Trucks
- Delivery Vans
- Fuel Trucks
- Garbage Trucks
- Logging Trucks
- Moving Vans
- Tanker Trucks
- Tow Trucks
- Tractor-trailers
LEARN MORE: Types of Truck Accident Vehicles
What To Do After a Semi Truck Accident in Pennsylvania
After a semi-truck accident, you may be severely injured, scared, and disoriented. Once you leave the scene of the truck accident and you obtain medical treatment, you’ll need to know what to do next. These steps can protect your rights and contribute to the success of your semi-truck injury case:
- Contact an experienced semi accident lawyer for legal representation
- Do not sign documents or speak publicly about your injuries until you get legal advice
- Document all injuries
- Track your expenses
- Follow your medical treatment plan
Taking the above steps can significantly help your semi-truck accident case and typically increases your ability to obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.
For immediate help, contact the experienced semi truck accident lawyers of Kitay Law Offices at 888-KITAYLAW or online for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Semi Truck Accidents
If you have been injured in a semi truck accident, you will need to know the cause. This is an important step in obtaining compensation for your injuries. Some of the most common contributors to semi-truck accidents include:
- Negligent Driving
- Poor Maintenance
- Improperly Loaded Cargo
- Inexperienced Drivers
- Overloaded Trucks
- Failure to Take Proper Rest Breaks
- Hiring Unqualified Truck Drivers
- Failure to Monitor Driving Hours
LEARN MORE: Common Causes of Semi Truck Accidents
Frequently Asked Questions About Semi Truck Injury Cases
Careful investigation is required to determine who may be held responsible for a commercial truck accident. Oftentimes, large commercial trucks carry loads across state lines and may come into contact with several different companies along the way. As a result, your semi accident lawyer will need to complete a thorough investigation into the facts of your case.
Generally, these are the people or companies that may be held responsible for a semi-truck accident:
- A negligent truck driver
- Trucking company
- Owner of the truck involved in the accident
- Company leasing the truck involved in the collision
- The company leasing the trailer involved in the crash
- Shipping company that failed to load or secure the load properly
- Manufacturer of poorly made trucks, trailers, or parts
In addition, other people or entities involved in your semi accident may be held responsible. Further, each of these people and entities is likely to have insurance companies available to pay for damages.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is the legal weight limit in the U.S. for vehicles traveling on highways. The truck’s tractor unit itself usually weighs between 10,000 and 25,000 pounds, while the trailer adds an additional 5,000 to 15,000 pounds empty.
The term “semi-truck” comes from the fact that the truck’s trailer has no front wheels and relies on the tractor unit to support its weight. The “semi” refers to the semi-trailer, which is only partially supported by its own wheels at the rear.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is the legal weight limit in the U.S. for vehicles traveling on highways. The truck’s tractor unit itself usually weighs between 10,000 and 25,000 pounds, while the trailer adds an additional 5,000 to 15,000 pounds empty.
The height of a standard semi-truck is typically around 13.5 feet to comply with federal regulations, though this can vary slightly depending on the specific truck and trailer design.
The length of a semi-truck trailer is usually 48 to 53 feet, with 53 feet being the most common size for long-haul transportation. However, specialty trailers, like flatbeds or tankers, may have different lengths depending on their use.
