In a busy city like Pittsburgh that has countless vehicles traveling on the highways every day, truck wrecks happen more often than you might think. Due to their large size and heavy load capacity, tractor-trailers can inflict significant harm on smaller vehicles when they collide. This often results in devastating personal injuries for the occupants of those vehicles.
If you recently suffered harm in a truck crash, you may be feeling overwhelmed. A skilled Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer could meet with you to advise you on your legal options.
The law firm of Bordas & Bordas has a long history of representing truck accident victims in Pittsburgh. The firm has obtained significant settlements, including Smith v. Royal Flush, Inc. et al., and Doe v. Trucking. Our hard-working attorneys have a track record of obtaining justice where it counts: in the courtroom. We have obtained numerous multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients. Improve your chances of obtaining compensation by working with a skilled legal professional from our firm.
Common Injuries Following an 18-Wheeler Collision
When a big rig hits a small passenger vehicle, the force of the impact can cause significant damages. The smaller car could even spin out and hit another vehicle, causing a multi-car pileup. Some of the common injuries our lawyers have seen following a semi-truck accident include:
After an accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Our team of skilled attorneys could work diligently on your case as you recover. In the unfortunate event of a fatality, we could help you and your family pursue a wrongful death case.
Typical Causes of Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Pittsburgh
Most truck accidents in Pittsburgh occur due to an error or act of negligence by the driver or company. State and federal guidelines govern the operation and maintenance of 18-wheelers and other large trucks. When tractor-trailer drivers and the companies that employ them fail to follow these laws, the lives of innocent motorists, passengers, and pedestrians are at risk.
For example, the law dictates how many hours a trucker can drive in a day or week. If commercial drivers feel pressure from their employers to meet tight deadlines and unreasonable shipping targets, they take unreasonable risks and drive longer than the maximum allotted time.
Driving for excessive hours can result in driver fatigue, which can lead to dangerous and deadly accidents. Other accidents occur when the trucking or loading company fails to balance or secure the cargo, resulting in the truck becoming unbalanced or the cargo spilling from the vehicle. Other common causes of 18-wheeler accidents include:
After a truck wreck, it is imperative that you speak with a Pittsburgh attorney as soon as possible to pinpoint the cause of the crash. A lawyer from Bordas & Bordas could examine the evidence and help you pursue damages against all responsible parties.
Holding Trucking Companies and Their Employers Accountable
Bordas & Bordas is experienced in investigating when drivers and trucking companies disregard state and federal safety guidelines and engage in practices such as staying on the road when the driver is supposed to be resting and even taking drugs to stay awake. Settlements and verdicts in cases like the $6 million result in Evans v. Allied Waste and the verdict in Toohey v. Schneider National Trucking, among many others, are illustrative of Bordas & Bordas’ track record of results in this area of law.
Our firm has also recovered significant verdicts against truck drivers in states bordering Pennsylvania:
- The Lori Poludniak case resulted in a verdict of $650,000 in the early 1980s. This was the first case in the northern panhandle in which a Bordas & Bordas client suffered from fibromyalgia as a result of a traumatic injury.
- The Roger Parker case in 1982 returned one of the first significant soft tissue verdicts in the northern panhandle when Mr. Parker was awarded $665,000.
- The Ron Connor case returned a verdict of $600,000.
Our lawyers have also represented clients in numerous fatal accident cases involving trucking companies. Our wins include a wrongful death case that resulted in a verdict of approximately $4 million in 1993. The Strope v. Honda case not only involved an automobile-truck collision but also was a product liability case, returning a verdict approximately of $4 million. Our qualified attorneys could help you recover the maximum amount of damages in your truck wreck claim.
Reach Out to a Pittsburgh Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you suffered severe injuries in an 18-wheeler wreck, you might face a challenging physical and emotional recovery. A Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer could help you get the financial compensation you need to get your life back on track. Reach out to our office today to schedule a free consultation and start the process of filing a lawsuit.