Trucking Accident Lawyers

Serving Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey

Sharing the road with large vehicles can be frightening for even the most experienced drivers. Sadly, numerous trucking accidents result in thousands of wrongful deaths and serious personal injuries each year. At Shaffer & Gaier, our personal injury law firm serves Philadelphia and South Jersey with knowledgeable truck and tractor trailer accident attorneys. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck accident, our legal team can help relieve some of the financial burden you may currently be suffering. Though no amount of money can make up for lost time, severe injury, or the death of a loved one, an experienced attorney can make the recovery process more comfortable.

Types of Trucking Accidents – Who Is Responsible?

Truck drivers are required to go through intensive training and education before they take to the roads, but the number of truck and tractor trailer accidents continues to rise. In the event of a truck accident, if a truck driver does not have adequate experience and training, the other parties involved can seek damages from the trucking company. Other types of trucking accidents include:

• Jackknifing – The risk for jackknifing increases when the vehicle’s front brakes are removed or impaired. The person responsible for disabling the front brakes can be held responsible for the truck or tractor trailer accident.
• Fuel Fires – Often caused when the engine’s fuel meets with the battery spark, fuel fires can be prevented if the battery is protected from being destroyed in an accident. If the battery is placed in an exposed location, the party responsible for placing the battery there can be held liable for damages caused by an explosion.
• Rollovers – Among the leading causes for fatalities in trucking accidents, rollovers can be caused by a driver’s mistake, a vehicle malfunction, or poor roadway conditions.
• Brake Malfunctions – The complex air brakes on a truck must be properly installed and maintained in order to prevent accidents. In truck / tractor trailer accidents when brake failure is to blame, the company that manufactures or maintains the brakes may be at fault, the driver may be to blame, or the person who loaded the truck may be responsible for a critical load misdistribution.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

With headquarters for more than 170 truck carriers and high-traffic roadways, Philadelphia and South Jersey have numerous truck and tractor trailer collisions. The accident attorneys at Shaffer & Gaier can help those who have been injured collect damages in the aftermath of a trucking accident. As with motorcycle and automobile accidents, there are many possible causes for collisions, but oftentimes accidents involving trucks or tractor trailers are more destructive due to the size of the vehicles and the cargo they carry. Truck and tractor trailer accidents can be caused by:

• Driver negligence
• Reckless driving – rushing to meet a delivery deadline
• Mechanical failure / weight overload
• Aggressive drivers on the roadways
• Failure to install mirrors to reduce blind spots and improve visibility
• Driver fatigue – working long hours without rest
• Speeding

Pursuing a settlement following a serious accident may seem daunting, but the knowledgeable legal team at Shaffer & Gaier can help ease the stress and financial strain that many individuals and families experience in such a tragedy. With offices in Philadelphia and South Jersey, our truck and tractor trailer accident attorneys can help you pursue compensation for damages. Contact us online or call us today in PA at 215-751-0100, or in NJ at 856-429-0970 to schedule a consultation.