Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer in Pennsylvania

After a truck crash, it’s important to preserve the truck’s data before the trucking company puts the vehicle back on the road. Marzzacco Injury Law sends a demand to preserve that evidence within days of your first call. The driver, trucking company, trailer owner, and freight broker may each have their own insurance and their own reasons to act quickly. That’s why our tractor-trailer accident lawyers in Pennsylvania start every case by protecting the evidence.

Which Pennsylvania Highways See the Most Truck Crashes?

Commercial trucks travel several major highways across Pennsylvania. Truck traffic is heaviest where distribution centers connect to interstate highways:

• Interstate 81 from Franklin County to Scranton: Trucks from nearby warehouses join long-haul traffic, so cars share the road with tractor-trailers at nearly every interchange.
• The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Carlisle and Valley Forge: Long routes and tight delivery schedules increase the risk of driver fatigue.
• Interstate 78 through Lehigh and Berks counties: Nearby distribution centers send a steady stream of trucks onto steep highway hills.
• Interstate 80 across north-central Pennsylvania: Bad weather, poor lighting, and late-night fatigue create dangerous conditions for truck drivers.

Because trucks are so much heavier than cars, the people in the smaller vehicle usually suffer the worst injuries. Underride crashes, jackknifes, and rollovers often cause serious injuries that take months to treat.

How Does Pennsylvania Insurance Work After a Truck Crash?

Your own auto insurance provides first-party medical benefits no matter who caused the crash. Fault determines who pays for your other losses. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can’t recover if you’re more than 50% responsible.

If you chose limited tort coverage, your ability to recover for pain and suffering may be restricted. However, exceptions apply if:

• You suffered a serious injury
• The at-fault driver is convicted of driving under the influence (DUI)
• The at-fault vehicle is registered outside Pennsylvania

Federal law, 49 C.F.R. § 387.9, requires interstate trucking companies hauling general freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance. That amount rises to $5,000,000 for many hazardous loads. With that much at stake, trucking companies often send investigators to the scene within hours.

What Evidence Matters Most in a Tractor-Trailer Case?

Much of the evidence in a truck crash case is kept by the trucking company. You usually need a written request to get it. Important evidence includes:

• Electronic logging device records
• Engine control module and telematics data
• Dash camera and forward-facing camera video
• Bills of lading and weight tickets
• Maintenance and brake inspection records
• Driver qualification and testing records

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules set how long trucking companies must keep each type of record, and some records can be discarded within months. Our lawyers send a written demand to preserve this evidence before the truck goes back into service.

Our Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyers Are Available 24/7

Trucking companies have investigators ready to respond, and so do we. Marzzacco Injury Law has recovered millions of dollars for injured Pennsylvanians. That includes $1,000,000 for a tractor-trailer driver who was seriously injured in York when a wheel came off another truck and struck his cab.

Every case depends on its own facts, and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. The sooner you contact our attorneys, the more likely it is that important trucking records can be saved.

Call (717) 231-1640 or contact us online to schedule a free case review, whether or not you decide to hire us. We’re available 24/7, including the night of the crash.