Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Allentown include driver fatigue, driver distraction, improper cargo loading, and defective equipment. When one of these issues causes a crash, other people on the road may suffer serious injuries.
If you suffered injuries in a collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer, a knowledgeable truck accident attorney could thoroughly investigate the cause, gather sufficient evidence that may help establish liability, and pursue compensation on your behalf. Acting quickly may also help preserve important records, such as electronic logging device data, before the system overwrites them or someone deletes them after a crash.
Fatigue frequently contributes to accidents in Allentown because it can make a commercial truck driver less alert and slower to react. Federal hours-of-service rules under 49 Code of Federal Regulations § 395 limit how long a driver can operate before taking mandatory rest. Property-carrying drivers may not drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty or continue driving beyond a 14-hour on-duty window. Additionally, the rules state that passenger-carrying drivers may not drive more than 11 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty or continue driving beyond a 14-hour on-duty window.
Trucking companies may pressure their drivers to meet tight delivery schedules, leading them to exceed these limits. Electronic logging devices record driving and rest data directly from the vehicle’s engine, and our attorneys could request and review those records for possible violations. If a driver or company exceeded federal hours-of-service limits, that violation could support a negligence per se argument and strengthen your injury claim.
Driver behavior may contribute to a crash, but commercial truck collisions in Allentown often involve multiple parties. Common contributing factors include:
Under 49 C.F.R. § 393.100, federal cargo securement rules require carriers to contain or immobilize loads to prevent dangerous shifting. Cargo securement violations, brake failures, or tire failures tied to poor maintenance could support a claim against the trucking company as well as the driver.
Liability in a tractor-trailer collision does not always rest solely with the truck driver. Trucking companies frequently share the blame because they have independent legal duties, and if they breach those duties, they may be directly responsible for the harm their vehicles cause in an Allentown crash. These duties include properly vetting drivers before hiring them, ensuring regular vehicle inspections and maintenance, and enforcing compliance with federal safety standards.
Our attorneys have substantial experience identifying all potentially responsible parties, including:
We could build an ironclad claim that accounts for every source of liability. Pursuing all available defendants may be essential to recovering the proper compensation for serious injuries.
Understanding the common causes of truck accidents in Allentown could help you make sense of what specifically led to your crash. If a negligent driver or company caused the serious collision, you may have the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, physical therapy, lost income, and the lasting effects of a serious injury.
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, call Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. today. Our team could review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation available to you.
