Although same laws of negligence apply, there are special Vehicle Code sections that apply only to commercial truck drivers and trucking companies. Truck drivers also have special licensing and training requirements which generally make truck accidents harder to defend but easier for plaintiffs to win.

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How do I deal with trucking companies or their insurance carriers after a truck accident?

The first thing you should do is consult with an expert truck accident attorney. The last thing you want to do is your own negotiation with a trucking company about your trucking accident. Most trucking companies are highly skilled at truck accident investigation and claims. Anything you say or sign may be held against you further down road. For a NO-OBLIGATION, free consultation with an expert truck accident lawyer attorney, click here.

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Who can sue in a truck accident injury or death case?

Anyone who is injured or has had a loved one killed in a truck accident can sue as long as some other person or entity is at fault for accident. This includes adults and children (who can sue through guardians or parents); and even truck drivers if another person or entity was at fault for accident.

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Who can be sued in a truck accident case?

Any person or entity who was at fault for causing truck accident can be sued including truck driver and trucking company, owner of trailer, shipper, as well as any other driver, person or entity who contributed to accident, such as manufacturer of one of vehicles involved in accident, manufacturer of a tire that contributed to accident or owner of any public or private property whose negligence contributed to accident.

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My accident occurred in New Jersey but I live in Pennsylvania. Should I hire a Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer or a New Jersey truck accident lawyer?

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Truck Brakes Malfunction

Heavy trucks use air brakes exclusively: Most are drum-like units. Air enters chamber when brakes are applied, push rod moves out turning slack adjuster which rotates S-cam and forces shoes into drum.

Brakes are a heat engine, they convert kinetic energy or motion into thermal energy or heat. Suppose a 400-horsepower engine grosses out at 80,000 pounds. The engine can probably get up to 40 mph in 1/4 mile or 1,320 feet. The brakes should be able to stop in about 133 feet with this speed and weight.

A full stop from 60 mph might raise drum temperatures to 600 degrees F. This is about limit for safe operation. If brakes aren't right or load is not distributed properly, then some drums might go up to 800-1,000 degrees F. The drum will increase in diameter as temperature rises. This is definitely dangerous for truck driver and passenger vehicles around truck. Downhill Break Failure

Some truck drivers don't understand severe demands put on brakes by long downhill runs. Brakes had better be right used with correct braking technique for optimum safety to bottom. In recent years there had been erroneous information about how to brake on long down hills. It was wrongly suggested that a continuous application of brakes was preferred method. However, that is incorrect. Intermittent application or what trucking industry refers to as snubbing is preferred method.

The key is not speed drop; this will depend on weight, grade, and other factors. The key is air pressure -- application pressure should be high enough to get all truck brakes working. In practice, unless brakes are in good condition, tractor-trailer balance is right, and load is ideally located; continuous application of brakes is likely to result in uneven drum and lining temperatures and problems before you get to bottom of hill.