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Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers

Out of the thousands of people injured and killed every year because of truck crashes, about 75 percent are occupants of vehicles other than the large truck. This is not to say that occupants of large trucks are not injured and killed in collisions, but they are provided with more protection from the impact of the accident than those traveling in smaller vehicles or pedestrians.

The experienced and highly qualified Pennsylvania trucking crash attorneys at Reiff and Bily will help determine the type of trucking accident you have been involved in based on the details of the accident and a thorough examination of the evidence. Our experts will go back through all the details of the crash and identify not only the type of accident, but uncover any violations and all areas of negligence on the part of the truck driver and trucking company.

Due to a wide range of unexpected circumstances on the road, there are many different kinds of trucking accidents:

• Air Brake Malfunction - This happens when a driver applies too much pressure to the brakes when driving downhill.
• Truck Rollover - A driver loses control of the truck and it slides sideways. Something, such as a curb, guardrail, or object on the road, then causes the truck to tip over. The statistics of fatalities caused by truck rollovers are very high because of a truck’s massive weight and the accidents caused by such an impact on the highway are severe.
• Overloaded Trucks - If a truck is overloaded with cargo or debris, this can cause a danger for other vehicles on the road as the items could fall off the truck.
• Inadequate Reflective Tape - Many truck accidents occur at night as a result of inadequate or insufficient reflective tape, which does not allow the truck to be easily seen by other vehicles.
• Brake Failure/Malfunction - This is rare, as trucks have two separate braking systems, but it does occasionally occur because of improper maintenance, installation, or overuse of the brakes. In addition, if the truck is not properly loaded, additional pressure is put on the braking system.
• Tire Problems - Defective (bumps, bulges, cuts, and unrepaired leaks), regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires are all unsafe on trucks.
• Dangerous Road Conditions - Truck accidents can also be caused by a variety of dangerous road conditions including defective roadways and highways, potholes, insufficient lighting, road construction, lack of a shoulder or median, bad weather, guardrails, and other road design defects.
• Truck Driver Error - Improper or dangerous operation of the big rig caused by fatigue, use of drugs or alcohol, sudden illness, or injury.
• Under-Ride - This is the most devastating type of truck accident and the cause of the most fatalities. This happens when a passenger vehicle crashes into a truck and, due to the extreme difference in height, goes under the truck. The top of the car is sheared off and sometimes passengers can suffer decapitation or extreme head trauma.

Never negotiate with a trucking company or truck owner before speaking to one of our experienced Philadelphia traffic accident attorneys. A truck accident attorney at Reiff and Bily will begin preserving evidence and investigating your case immediately to determine if the driver or trucking company are in compliance with all federal and state regulations. We will then determine, based on every circumstance, which parties are responsible and they will be held accountable for all of your losses. Call Reiff and Bily today for a free consultation at (800) 421-9595.

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