Being involved in a truck accident in Allentown can be overwhelming and frightening. Over 150 commercial vehicle accidents occur yearly on major highways throughout the Lehigh Valley, including busy corridors like Interstate 78 and Route 22. Unlike typical car accidents, truck crashes involve significantly more complex legal and insurance issues due to federal trucking regulations, commercial insurance policies, and the potential for catastrophic injuries.
Understanding what steps to take immediately after a truck accident in Allentown can protect your health, preserve crucial evidence, and safeguard your legal rights. Your actions in the first hours and days following your accident will significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
The experienced truck accident lawyers at Munley Law have been helping Allentown truck accident victims navigate these challenging situations for over 65 years. We understand the unique aspects of truck accident cases in Pennsylvania. Contact our board-certified truck accident attorneys today.
Critical First Steps at the Truck Accident Scene in Allentown
The moments immediately following a truck accident are crucial for your safety and your future claim. Your priority should always be ensuring everyone’s safety and getting proper medical assistance. If you can move safely, get yourself and your passengers away from traffic and to a secure location. Turn on your hazard lights immediately and call 911, even if the accident seems minor.
Location matters significantly when dealing with truck accidents on Allentown’s major roadways. Accidents on Interstate 78 require different safety considerations than those occurring on city streets like Hamilton Street. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Allentown emergency services are familiar with these high-traffic areas, but response times can vary depending on traffic conditions and weather.
While waiting for emergency responders, begin documenting the accident scene if you can do so safely. Take photographs of all vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and weather conditions. Pay special attention to any construction zones, road defects, or unusual traffic patterns that may have contributed to the accident. For truck accidents, photograph the commercial vehicle’s DOT numbers, company logos, and any trailer information visible on the vehicle.
Gathering information from all parties involved is essential, but truck accidents require additional documentation beyond what you’d collect in a typical car accident. Exchange insurance information with the truck driver and obtain their commercial driver’s license information and details about their employer. Trucking companies often have different insurance companies than the drivers themselves, creating multiple potential sources of compensation.
If there are witnesses to your truck accident, collect their contact information and ask for brief statements about what they observed. Witness testimony can be particularly valuable in truck accident cases where visibility issues, blind spots, or complex traffic situations may have contributed to the crash.
When Allentown Police Department officers arrive at the scene, provide accurate information about what happened but avoid speculating about fault or making statements that could be interpreted as admissions of responsibility. Pennsylvania law requires police reports for accidents involving commercial vehicles, and obtaining the report number will be important for your insurance claims and any potential legal action.
Medical Care After Your Truck Accident in Allentown
Immediately seeking medical attention after a truck accident should be a top priority, even if you don’t initially feel seriously injured. The massive size and weight difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles means that even seemingly minor truck accidents can cause significant injuries that may not be immediately apparent.
Allentown residents have access to excellent medical facilities, including Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street, which have emergency departments equipped to handle serious trauma cases. For less severe injuries, urgent care centers throughout the area can provide prompt treatment and proper documentation of your condition.
Adrenaline and shock often mask the symptoms of truck accident injuries in the immediate aftermath of a crash. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and spinal injuries may not present symptoms for hours or even days after the accident. This delayed onset of symptoms is why medical professionals strongly recommend seeking evaluation even when you feel fine initially.
Proper medical documentation serves multiple purposes beyond ensuring your health and recovery. Your medical records will become crucial evidence in any insurance claim or legal action related to your truck accident. Insurance companies and defense attorneys often argue that delayed medical treatment indicates injuries weren’t caused by the accident, making immediate medical attention essential for protecting your claim.
Following your initial treatment, maintaining consistent medical care, and following all treatment recommendations from your healthcare providers are essential. The Allentown area offers access to orthopedics, neurology, and physical therapy specialists who understand the types of injuries commonly associated with truck accidents. Pennsylvania’s Personal Injury Protection coverage and medical payment coverage can help with initial medical expenses, but understanding the limits and requirements of these benefits is essential for managing your treatment costs.
Understanding Pennsylvania Truck Accident Law and Your Rights
Pennsylvania’s legal framework for truck accidents involves federal and state regulations that can significantly impact your case. The state follows a comparative negligence system, meaning that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you may still recover compensation reduced by your percentage of responsibility. However, you cannot recover compensation under Pennsylvania law if you’re found to be more than 50% at fault.
The statute of limitations for truck accident lawsuits in Pennsylvania is two years from the date of the accident. This may seem like plenty of time, but truck accident cases require extensive investigation and evidence gathering that should begin immediately. Federal trucking regulations require trucking companies to maintain detailed records of driver logs, vehicle maintenance, and safety inspections, but these records must only be kept for limited periods.
Commercial trucking operations are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations that don’t apply to regular passenger vehicles. Hours of service rules limit how long truck drivers can operate their vehicles without rest periods, while weight restrictions and maintenance requirements are strictly regulated. Violations of these federal regulations can prove negligence in your truck accident case.
Truck accident cases often involve multiple potentially liable parties beyond the truck driver. Trucking companies can be held responsible for negligent hiring practices, inadequate training, or pressure on drivers to violate safety regulations. Vehicle manufacturers may be liable if defective parts contributed to the accident, while loading companies or maintenance contractors could share responsibility if their negligence played a role in the crash.
The complexity of determining liability and navigating multiple insurance policies makes truck accident cases significantly more challenging than typical car accident claims. Commercial trucking insurance policies are much larger than standard auto insurance, often involving millions of dollars in coverage, but accessing this compensation requires understanding complex commercial insurance practices and regulations.
Working with an Experienced Allentown Truck Accident Attorney
The complexity of truck accident cases makes experienced legal representation essential for protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation. Trucking companies and their insurance companies employ teams of lawyers and investigators who begin working immediately to minimize their liability, making it crucial to have knowledgeable legal counsel advocating for your interests.
Munley Law’s Allentown office on Hamilton Street provides convenient access to experienced truck accident attorneys who understand the unique challenges of these cases. Our familiarity with local courts, judges, and opposing counsel throughout the Lehigh Valley provides valuable advantages in negotiating settlements and, when necessary, trying cases before Pennsylvania juries.
Immediate investigation is crucial in truck accident cases because evidence can be lost or destroyed quickly. Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain certain records, but these requirements have time limits. Electronic data from the truck’s engine control module, driver logs, and maintenance records must be preserved through legal action before trucking companies routinely dispose of them.
Our thorough investigation process includes working with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economic specialists to build the strongest possible case for our clients. We handle all communications with insurance companies, protecting you from tactics designed to minimize your claim or obtain statements that could be used against you later.
Taking Action After Your Allentown Truck Accident
Taking prompt action to protect your rights is essential if you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Allentown. While focusing on your medical recovery should be your primary concern, understanding your case’s legal process and insurance issues can help ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
The experienced truck accident attorneys at Munley Law offer free consultations to evaluate your case and explain your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case, allowing you to access experienced legal representation without upfront costs.
Don’t let the complexity of truck accident law prevent you from pursuing the compensation you deserve. Contact Munley Law today for your free consultation, or visit our convenient Allentown office to discuss your truck accident case with experienced Allentown truck accident attorneys who have been fighting for injured victims throughout the Lehigh Valley for over 65 years.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
609 Hamilton St.
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 857-7424
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