Commercial trucks are often called as heavy transport vehicles, tractors trailers, big rigs, and 18-wheelers. These heavy-duty vehicles on the road play a major role in the economy of the United States, particularly in transporting goods all over the national highway system. These trucks also share the roads of Pennsylvania with other smaller transports like cars where accidents can occur anytime.
The mandated legal weight limit for commercial type vehicles like trucks is approximately 80,000 pounds which are 16 times heavier than an average size transport vehicle. The trucks’ length does vary with the average length of over 70 feet.
When these heavy transport vehicles become involved in road accidents, the aftermath could be horrifying and at times leading to loss of lives or serious physical injuries according to a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia.
Truck Crash Statistics at Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ranked sixth based on the state population with over 12,742,866 from the 2011 U.S. census report. Pennsylvania is also 6th in ranking when it comes to traffic-related deaths according to the 2010 survey. In fact, the truck accidents totaled to 5,846 in the state of Pennsylvania in 2010, with 145 fatal. In 2011, 6,346 truck accidents were reported in this state with 145 deaths. This is indeed a 7.9% increase in truck crashes in the state which is alarming. Based on the gathered data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most of the fatalities involved trucks with 97%.
Truck Safety in Pennsylvania
According to the Pennsylvania Truck Association, the trucking industry here is the fourth largest employer with an estimated 418,260 employees. The trucks transport in and out of the state an average of 1.2 million tons of freight per business daily operation. Based on the Highway Report card surveys, the roads of Pennsylvania are among those with worst roads in America, plus the fact that this state has the two dangerous intersections; the Red-Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and the Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Pennsylvania
Among the reported common causes that led to trucks to serious accidents while on the road are:
- Fatigue due to long hours of driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving (tailgating)
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Use of mobile phones while driving
- Not checking the roadworthiness of the truck like malfunction brakes or worn-out tires
What to do if you have become a victim of a truck accident that led to your serious injury or loss of a loved one?
If you are a victim of a truck accident in Pennsylvania and would like to know if you are entitled to a compensation claim or can file a lawsuit, the immediate action you can do for now is contacting any of the members of the top-performing Philadelphia truck accident attorneys and book a private consultation. Remember, you don’t have to fight alone, get the help of a truck accident lawyer in Philadelphia. Learn more about the validity of your case and how you can recover from your sufferings and losses.
