Erie Truck Accident Lawyer

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Truck Accident Attorneys in Erie, PA

Due to the average size and weight of commercial trucks—often many, many times larger than other vehicles—something like a semi-truck accident can cause unimaginable damage. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a trucking accident, don't hesitate to seek legal representation from an Erie truck accident lawyer at Munley Law. Working with our legal team is your best path forward as you seek justice and fair compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can protect your interests.

What Does an Erie Truck Accident Lawyer Do?

If you have sustained serious injuries in a truck accident, your head might be swimming with questions: how will I pay for my medical bills? Where does the insurance company come in? And do I need a lawyer?

When you hire an Erie truck accident attorney, you can rest assured that all your questions will be answered. Working with a truck accident attorney means that you have someone on your side who knows the legal process inside and out, can guide you through every step, and advocates for you at every turn. When you work with an experienced accident lawyer, you focus on your recovery while they handle the legal heavy lifting.

But what exactly does an Erie truck accident lawyer do? Some of how your lawyer can assist you include:

Investigation

Your truck accident lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation into all the elements of your truck accident case. They will gather evidence such as police reports, photographs of the scene, and more. They will interview witnesses. All of this helps to prove negligence and establish the at-fault party, whether the truck driver, another driver, or perhaps even more than one party.

Evaluation of Damages

When you file a personal injury claim, you're seeking damages for all the losses you've endured due to the accident—in this case, a truck accident. These losses include lost wages, medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Your accident lawyers will assess your case in great detail to ensure that as you seek a settlement, you are being properly compensated for every last loss this accident has caused you.

Navigating Insurance Claims

Almost all car accidents involve an insurance company, but it's a different story when working with a large trucking company. Trucking companies generally have extensive insurance coverage, and their insurance adjustors may contact victims to attempt to get them to agree to an unfairly low settlement. Your attorney will stand up to the truck companies and their insurance providers, guide you through the insurance claim process, and ensure you never accept an inadequate settlement.

Settlement Negotiation

Typically, the defendant will present you and your legal team with a settlement offer, which you can accept or counter. If you counter, the defendant can agree or counter again with another offer. This process continues until both sides can agree to a settlement. Your truck accident lawyer will lead this process, ensuring your case is valued appropriately and you receive a fair settlement.

Litigation

The vast majority of truck accident cases are settled. However, in rare cases, the two sides cannot agree to a settlement, and it may become necessary to go to court. If this is the case, your truck accident lawyers can continue to advocate for you and fight hard for you throughout the trial.

What Causes Truck Accidents to Occur in Erie?

Large truck crashes can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, the truck driver makes a mistake. Sometimes, a vehicle fails. And sometimes, various factors come together and create a perfect storm.

When passenger vehicles and large trucks collide, the passenger vehicle occupants are far more likely to experience serious injuries or even lose their lives. You can imagine that when a 30,000-pound semi truck collides with a passenger vehicle,

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver error: Sometimes, human error is to blame for large truck accidents. Driver error can mean many things, including distracted driving, unsafe lane changing, speeding, and more, all of which can lead to a truck accident.
• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often drive for incredibly long periods on their own, and while there are service regulations that require drivers to get a certain amount of rest, driver fatigue is still an issue. When a driver of any kind is tired, their reaction time is slowed, and their decision-making is impeded, which can increase the likelihood of an accident.
• Improperly loaded cargo: Many large trucks contain cargo, and an accident can occur if that cargo is not loaded correctly. Improperly loaded cargo can shift within the truck, leading to a weight imbalance that can cause the truck to fall on its side. Unsecured cargo can also come loose and land on the road, leading to an accident.
• Mechanical failure: Sometimes, even if a driver is doing everything right, mechanical failure can cause a truck accident. This may happen because the truck did not receive necessary maintenance or because of a manufacturing error with some truck components.

Proper precautions and following all regulations can help reduce crashes and keep drivers safe. Whether you're driving a semi-truck or a passenger vehicle, remember to avoid distracted driving and never get behind the wheel if you're fatigued or otherwise impaired. These basic safety measures can save lives and ensure that nobody else loses a family member or loved one to a large truck accident.

What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accident Cases in Erie, PA?

Just as there are many causes of large truck accidents, there are also many different ways the accident can occur. Some of the most common types of truck accidents include:

• Rollover Accidents: Rollover accidents occur when a truck loses its balance and rolls over onto its side or even further onto its roof. This can happen for many reasons, including sudden braking, shifting cargo, or distracted driving.
• Jackknife Accidents: Jackknife accidents occur when the truck's cab and trailer swing towards each other, similar to a folding pocket knife. This tends to happen when a truck takes a curve too quickly.
• Rear-end Collisions: As the name implies, rear-end collisions occur between two cars or vehicles when a truck hits the rear of the car in front of it.
• Tire Blowouts: If a truck tire blows out, the driver will likely lose control of the vehicle, which may spin into oncoming traffic or another traffic lane.

What Compensation is Available Following an Erie Truck Accident?

Estimating a particular truck accident case's worth is impossible because it depends greatly on the case details. However, the general rule of thumb is that the more severe the accident, the greater the compensation.

In a case like a semi-truck accident, the victim is essentially seeking compensation for the specific losses they've endured because of the crash. Therefore, the greater those losses, the greater the compensation the victim is owed.

Compensation in a truck accident and all personal injury cases is generally divided into economic and noneconomic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are those that have a specific monetary value. After a semi-truck accident, a victim may be met with a pile of medical expenses as they treat their injuries. They may have to take time off work to recover. Their vehicle may have been damaged. These things—medical bills, lost wages, property damage—have a specific and calculable dollar value and, therefore, fall into the category of economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, on the other hand, represent the losses that do not necessarily correlate with a dollar value. After a truck accident, a victim may be facing immense emotional distress. They may have anxiety, depression, PTSD. They may be enduring intense pain and suffering as they recover. While more abstract than medical bills, these losses deserve as much consideration and compensation and fall into non-economic damages.

Other Damages

There is also a third category of damages that is in play only in selective cases. These are known as punitive damages. While economic and non-economic damages are intended purely to compensate the victim for their losses, punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party and dissuade them (and others) from engaging in whatever reckless or negligent behavior caused the accident. These damages are only mandated in more extreme cases.

Who Can Be Held At Fault for a Truck Crash in Erie, PA?

As with any car accident case, multiple parties may be at fault in a trucking accident. Some of the parties who could be at fault include:

• The truck driver: Of course, one of the potentially liable parties in a truck accident is the truck driver. Truck drivers may be at fault if they exhibit negligence, such as speeding, driving under the influence, or otherwise breaking traffic laws.
• The trucking company: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that their drivers are adequately trained, that their trucks have received necessary maintenance, and that they are fit to be on the road. If they fail to do so, the company could be held liable if an accident occurs.
• Truck manufacturer: Sometimes, truck accidents happen because there's an issue with the physical truck, which may be the fault of the truck manufacturer. The truck manufacturer could be responsible if an accident happens because of vehicle failure.
• Cargo loaders: Trucking companies usually use cargo loading companies responsible for safely loading and securing whatever cargo the truck carries. If they do so improperly, the cargo can shift or come loose and cause an accident.

Why Choose an Erie Truck Accident Lawyer at Munley Law?

We know that when it comes to choosing truck accident lawyers, you have plenty of options. But Munley Law stands alone in securing astounding settlements for our clients and treating each case with the care, compassion, and dedication it deserves.

At Munley, we are not just a law firm. We are a family business; when you work with us, you become a part of that family. You'll be included in every decision-making step, and our experienced attorneys will always be available to answer any of your questions. We have the skills, resources, and experience necessary to win on your behalf. Our Clients Victories page speaks for itself.

Living through a truck accident is a traumatizing experience for any victim, particularly if you have sustained a serious injury. At Munley, it's our mission to be your advocate and to secure the justice and the compensation you so richly deserve. You don't have to go through this alone.

Don't wait any longer. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with an Erie truck accident attorney and learn more about how we can protect your interests. We are ready and waiting to take your call.