Willow Grove Truck Accident Lawyers

Whether you are driving along I-276 or up Easton Road, chances are you can’t go too far in Willow Grove without coming across a semi-truck. And while large trucks are a necessary part of the economy and help transport goods to businesses and homes, they also pose very serious dangers to motorists. 

Between Interstate 276, cutting through the town from east to west, and Easton Rd. and York Rd. going from north to south, Willow Grove has three heavily traveled roads within a very small area. So, for a small town, Willow Grove sees a lot of truck traffic. Not surprisingly, there are also a lot of Willow Grove truck accidents. 

Those injured in a truck accident may be entitled to monetary compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. At MyPhillyLawyer, our Willow Grove truck accident lawyers have decades of combined experience helping to connect injury victims with meaningful compensation for everything they’ve been through. Our firm has the knowledge, resources, and dedication required to take on the largest and most well-funded trucking companies and their insurers, meaning you can rest at ease knowing that your case is in good hands every step of the way. 

Common Causes of Montgomery County Truck Accidents

Recently, the number of truck accidents in Pennsylvania has increased significantly. For example, according to PennDOT, the number of truck-related fatalities increased from 136 in 2018 to 156 in 2021. That’s more than a 15 percent increase in just three years.

Located just a few miles from Philadelphia, Montgomery County is the third most populated county in Pennsylvania. As a result, Willow Grove and the surrounding areas experience a high volume of trucking traffic. In fact, in 2021, Montgomery County had the third-highest number of motor vehicle collisions. Many of these involved large trucks. 

Truck accidents can occur in a number of different ways. However, truck accidents don’t “just happen”; they are almost always the result of one or more drivers’ negligence. For example, some of the most common causes of Montgomery County truck accidents include the following.

Drowsy Driving Accidents

Truck drivers spend hours upon hours on the road. Under these circumstances, even the best drivers will occasionally get tired. Of course, most of us would pull off to the side of the road if we felt that we were too drowsy to drive. However, due to the fact that truckers are compensated on a per-mile basis and have strict quotas to meet, truck drivers are incentivized to stay on the road as long as possible to cover as much ground as they can. 

Under federal law, truckers must take breaks every few hours and in between longer trips. They are also required to note their driving times and rest times in a rest log. This ensures that truckers are following the law. However, truck drivers will sometimes falsify their rest logs to make it appear as though they were resting when they were, in fact, on the road. An experienced Willow Grove truck accident lawyer can help victims determine if drowsy driving may have contributed to an accident. 

Distracted Driving Accidents

Truck drivers are on the road for almost their whole day. And some truck drivers look for anything to take their minds off the monotony of driving. However, in doing so, truckers take their attention off the road—where it should be—putting everyone else on the road at risk. Some of the most common distractions for truck drivers include:

• Talking on the phone, 
• Texting, 
• Conversing with passengers, 
• Tinkering with the radio or GPS, 
• Scrolling social media, 
• Daydreaming, 
• Talking to other truckers on the CB radio, 
• Playing games on their phones, and
• Eating or drinking. 

If a truck driver takes their eyes off the road, even for a split second, it can end in disaster. Large trucks take much longer to stop due to their weight. For example, a truck traveling at 65 miles per hour will take about 300 feet to come to a complete stop, and if the truck is fully loaded, it can take up to 600 feet before a driver can stop the truck.

Impaired Driving Accidents

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of all fatal motor vehicle collisions, and truck accidents are no exception. While the legal blood alcohol limit for regular drivers is .08, the maximum allowable BAC for truckers is just .04, meaning they could maybe have one or two drinks before being under the influence. 

However, most truck accidents caused by impaired driving are actually the result of drugged driving. Truck drivers will often rely on over-the-counter, prescription, or even street drugs to keep themselves awake on long drives. While these substances can help keep a trucker alert for an hour or two, they also have a negative impact on their reaction time, decision-making, and their ability to perceive events going on around them. Additionally, once the effect of the drug wears off, they are often left feeling even more tired, which increases the chance of a drowsy driving accident. 

Injuries in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo and regularly travel at highway speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. Given their size, when these enormous vehicles are involved in an accident, it can cause tremendous damage to vehicles and, in turn, extremely serious injuries to vehicle occupants. Some of the most common types of truck accident injuries include:

• Broken bones, 
• Burn injuries, 
• Internal organ damage, 
• Traumatic brain injuries, 
• Spinal cord damage, and
• Amputations.  

Sadly, many accident victims end up paying the ultimate price for a truck driver’s negligence. Injured motorists, as well as surviving loved ones of those who died in a semi-truck accident, can pursue a claim for compensation against the truck driver who caused the accident. In some cases, the trucker’s employer may also be liable for a victim’s injuries. 

Willow Grove Truck Accident Lawsuits

Accident victims who were injured in a Willow Grove truck accident can file a personal injury claim against the truck driver to obtain compensation for their accident-related expenses. To successfully bring a lawsuit, you must prove each of the following elements:

1. The truck driver owed you a duty of care;
2. The truck driver violated the duty they owed to you;
3. The trucker’s breach of duty resulted in your injuries; and
4. You suffered legally recognizable damages. 

Typically, the first element doesn’t present much of a hurdle for accident victims because it’s commonly understood that all drivers owe a duty of care to other drivers, as well as passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. However, the remaining elements can present hurdles, especially when the truck driver’s insurance company gets involved. 

For example, insurance companies may try to shift blame onto an accident victim, allowing them to deny the victim’s claim. In this case, a Willow Grove truck accident lawyer can file a lawsuit in court to compel the company to fairly compensate the victim for their damages. 

Damages in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Truck accidents often cause victims to experience severe injuries. And, while there is no amount of money that can adequately compensate you for the true impact that the accident had on your life, damages obtained through a Willow Grove truck accident lawsuit can help accident victims and grieving families overcome the financial burdens that often follow in the wake of a serious accident. 

While the damages in a truck accident claim vary, they may include compensation amounts for the following:

• Medical bills, 
• Future medical expenses, 
• Lost wages, 
• Decrease in earning capacity, 
• Pain and suffering, 
• Decrease in quality of life, 
• Loss of familial relationships, and
• Scarring or other disfigurements.

An experienced Willow Grove truck accident attorney can help accident victims determine the full extent of their damages, which is crucial to a full and fair recovery. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Have You Been Injured in a Truck Accident?

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a collision with a semi-truck or another large commercial vehicle, the dedicated injury advocates at MyPhillyLawyer are here to help. With decades of experience aggressively representing accident victims in Willow Grove and throughout Montgomery County, we know what it takes to present a compelling claim for maximum recovery. Over the years, we’ve recovered more than $500 million on behalf of our clients and their families, and we look forward to seeing how we can help you in your pursuit of justice. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, reach out to our Willow Grove truck accident attorneys at 866-352-4572. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. Calling is free, and there is no obligation to move ahead with your case. However, if you decide to bring a case with MyPhillyLawyer, we will not bill you for our services unless we can recover compensation on your behalf.