Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyers
Tough advocacy for truck accident victims and families throughout Western PA
Pittsburgh truck drivers operating on Interstates 76, 80, 279, 376, and 579, and the many US and local routes that connect with Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, help the region thrive. Drivers operating semis, rigs, tractor-trailers, flatbeds, and other trucks bring consumer goods, inventory, and equipment to people and businesses. While many drivers use caution, some push the speed limits, carry more cargo than they should, and drive while distracted.
Truck drivers and trucking companies that cause harm to other people deserve to be held accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause. At Carmody and Ging, our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers understand the trucking industry. We understand the laws and industry standards that govern safe truck operation. Our lawyers are respected by our former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers for our impressive record of truck accident settlements and verdicts, including a $4.6 million settlement for a client. Call today to get started.
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What would you like to know?
- How dangerous is truck driving in Pittsburgh?
- What types of injuries do truck accident victims suffer?
- What kinds of Pittsburgh truck accidents do you handle?
- When are drivers responsible for truck accidents in Pittsburgh?
- Who is liable for my truck accident injuries?
- How much is my Pittsburgh truck accident claim worth?
- Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
How dangerous is truck driving in Pittsburgh?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that in 2019, there were more than 5,200 fatal collisions involving large trucks and buses, and 127,000 truck and bus accidents that caused injuries. The number of large truck accidents leading to injury or fatality increased that year by 6% and 2%, respectively.
Truck accidents are often more deadly than car accidents because trucks are wider, longer, taller, and heavier than most cars. When a car and a truck collide, the car takes the bulk of the force, often killing the occupants of the car or causing serious injuries to the occupants. A truck accident with a motorcycle, pedestrian, or bicycle rider is even more deadly or more catastrophic than a collision with a car.
What types of injuries do truck accident victims suffer?
Truck accidents can lead to life-altering injuries, and victims often require extensive medical care. This may include surgeries, weeks, months, or years of rehabilitation, and various types of physical or occupational therapies.
Our Pittsburgh lawyers represent truck accident victims with injuries like:
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
- Burn injuries that require medical care
- Broken bones including complex, compound, and multiple fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Vision or hearing loss
- Back, shoulder, and neck injuries
- Muscle, ligament, nerve, or tissue damage
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Any other type of injury
- Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
At Carmody and Ging, our seasoned personal injury lawyers work with your doctors and our network of doctors to show every way that your injuries are affecting you daily. If your loved one died because of a truck accident, we can help you with a wrongful death lawsuit.
What kinds of Pittsburgh truck accidents do you handle?
Some truck accidents are like car accidents: head-on crashes, broadsides, rear-end collisions, and single-vehicle accidents. Some Pittsburgh truck accidents are unique or more common to trucks. At Carmody and Ging, we represent victims of any type of collision, including:
- Jackknife accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Wide-turn accidents
- Blind-spot accidents
- Underride accidents
- Overpass accidents
- Accidents caused by cargo spills and shifting cargos
Many truck accidents involve multiple vehicles due to the length of the trucks and cargo spills. Cars often need to maneuver to avoid the truck or the spill. When they cannot, they can crash into the truck, other cars, or stationary objects.
When are drivers responsible for truck accidents in Pittsburgh?
A leading cause of truck accidents in Pittsburgh is driver negligence. At Carmody and Ging, our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers understand why truck accidents happen and what steps should have been taken to avoid the crash. Some of the many causes of truck accidents in Western Pennsylvania include acts of negligence such as:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving while tired, often in violation of the federal hours of service regulations
- Driving while distracted, such as texting while driving or looking at a GPS instead of listening to the GPS
- Speeding, tailgating, and other traffic violations
- Not understanding and responding carefully to blind spots
- Driving in lanes for passenger cars
- Not loading the cargo securely according to OSHA regulations or trucking industry standards
In some cases, it is not a specific act of negligence that leads to a truck accident, but a systemic failure on behalf of the trucking company. For example, the failure of the driver to have the proper credentials and experience, or for the trucking company to inspect or maintain its fleet, can also lead to a crash.
We work with investigators who examine the truck accident site and the vehicles involved. We regularly question everyone involved in the accident and review all relevant information such as electronic record logs.
Who is liable for my truck accident injuries?
Our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers fight to hold every accountable party liable for your injuries and losses. The defendants usually include one or more of the following:
- The driver of the truck
- The owner of the truck
- The company that hired the truck driver
- The company that requested the shipment
- The company that arranged the shipment
- The manufacturers of any defective truck part
- A liquor establishment that sold alcohol to a visibly intoxicated driver who later caused your accident
- Any Pennsylvania entities or agencies who had responsibility for the road where the accident happened
- Any other responsible defendants
We may even file a claim against the truck driver’s employer. When multiple vehicles are involved, additional drivers and companies may be named as defendants.
How much is my Pittsburgh truck accident claim worth?
Victims of Pittsburgh truck accidents may be able to claim compensation for:
- Their current and future medical bills. These bills include ER care, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitative care, assistive devices, and medications.
- Their current and future wage losses. Victims are entitled to compensation for their lost income and benefits for as long as they can’t work at the same level as they did before the accident.
- Property damage. For example, damage to a car or truck.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering. This includes the daily aches, pains, itches, loss of function, anxiety, and depression victims suffer – every day for the rest of their lives.
- Scarring and disfigurement. Victims who have burn injuries, lose a limb, or have other scars or disfigurement can demand compensation for their emotional trauma.
- Loss of consortium. This sum is generally paid to the spouse because the spouse cannot enjoy marital relations as she/he did before the injuries occurred.
In wrongful death claims, you may also be entitled to damages for funeral and burial costs.
To demand compensation, you must file your claim within two years of the accident. Since some shorter time limits may also apply. Please contact us as soon as possible after the accident happens to preserve your rights.
Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
Our office is located at 801 Vinial Street in Pittsburgh. We’re on the 3rd floor of the Deutschtown Center building. Our North Shore office is right across the street from Penn Brewery, and there’s plenty of parking onsite. At Carmody and Ging, we also meet clients through video chats. When necessary, we make arrangements to see your away from the office.
Our lawyers will explain your rights and guide your through each step of the claims process. We handle truck accident claims on a contingency fee basis.
Contact our experienced truck accident lawyers in Pittsburgh
At Carmody and Ging, we understand how the trucking industry works. We understand the ins and outs of filing claims in Pittsburgh because we were born here, we live here – and for a more than 30 years we have tried cases here. To assert your rights, call our experienced Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers at 412.281.2929 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Proudly serving the injured in Allegheny County.
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