Contact a truck accident attorney at our offices in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and Milford for a case review.






Wilkes-Barre
15 South Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
TEL: 570.826.5600
FAX: 570.826.5640
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Scranton
120 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
TEL: 570.341.5600
FAX: 570.347.9883
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Hazleton
120 East Broad Street
West Hazleton, PA 18202
TEL: 570.455.7112
FAX: 570.455.8304
[ Maps/Directions ]
Milford
221 Broad Street
Milford, PA 18337
TEL: 570.296.6423
FAX: 570.296.8311
[ Maps/Directions ]

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Truck Accident Attorney in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton – Frequently Asked Questions

Those who become involved in a truck accident are often left asking many questions and may have a difficult time finding accurate and satisfying answers. A truck accident attorney based at our Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, or Milford offices will gladly take the time to sit down with you and answer any questions you may have.

How often does a truck accident occur?

Unfortunately, traffic accidents involving tractor trailers occur much more frequently than many people may believe. Because the majority (68 percent) of tractor trailer accidents occurs in rural areas, many drivers are not exposed to the sheer frequency of truck accidents.

On average, approximately 500,000 tractor trailers, or semi-trucks, are involved in traffic collisions in the United States each year. Out of the half-million traffic accidents involving tractor trailers, nearly 5,000 of them result in fatalities, serving as the contributing factor to one out of every eight traffic deaths. Across the country, a driver or passenger is killed or injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer every 16 minutes. In 2003, there were 2,233 fatal traffic accidents in Pennsylvania, 343 of which involved tractor trailers.

If you have been injured or have had a loved one killed in a truck accident, an attorney from one of our offices in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, or Milford will be able to help you hold the responsible party accountable for the damages you have and will continue to experience. We believe that you deserve to be fully compensated for your hardships, and we will work diligently to uphold your rights. Contact any of our offices today to get connected with one of our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys.

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Why are tractor trailers so dangerous on the road?

Tractor trailers can be particularly damaging and dangerous because of their size and weight relative to the passenger cars that share the road with them. The weight of tractor trailers can reach up to 30 times that of normal passenger cars, which places the occupants of passenger cars at high risk of severe injuries like spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, and even death. Their weight also affects the truck’s ability to both brake and accelerate; unlike passenger cars that can, for the most part, brake and accelerate at relatively quick rates, trucks take much longer to come to a stop and accelerate to a higher speed. This, combined with the fact that trucks are not as maneuverable as passenger cars makes tractor trailers dangerous vehicles. Furthermore, tractor trailer drivers are often unable to see certain areas next to and behind their vehicle because of substantial blind spots.

The height and weight of the truck, in conjunction with the weight of the cargo, make tractor trailers especially vulnerable to tipping over. The cargo trailer can also get separated from the truck, causing objects to spill onto the road and creating a hazardous driving environment for passenger vehicles in the immediate vicinity.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, the winter climate often results in hazardous road conditions on the numerous highways surrounding Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton and the Pocono area. These conditions add to the already existing dangers of tractor trailers on the road.

When a truck becomes involved in an accident with a passenger car, 98 percent of fatalities occur to the occupants of the passenger vehicle. The weight, momentum, and size of tractor trailers place passenger motorists at a great safety disadvantage that often ends with tragic results.

A truck accident attorney from our Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area personal injury law firm will be able to help you obtain compensation to cope with the financial, emotional, and physical damages incurred after a tractor trailer accident. Contact Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, L.L.P. today to become connected with an aggressive, knowledgeable lawyer.

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What will a Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, L.L.P. truck accident attorney do to help me?

After an initial consultation with a truck accident attorney at our firm, our experienced team will begin to perform a thorough investigation of the accident. Our thorough investigations usually involve an on-location examination of the truck accident scene as well as an examination of the vehicles that were involved in the collision. Our legal staff will also work to gather witness statements from as many people as possible in order to validate and strengthen your account.

A critical mistake that many people involved in an accident make is moving their vehicle before the police arrive on the scene of the accident. Our attorneys stress that it is imperative that you do not move your car after the accident as its point of rest can aid in further substantiating your account of the events that transpired.

It is crucial that you contact a truck accident attorney from our Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area practice as soon as you can because trucking companies will have their own attorneys and insurance companies perform their investigation immediately following the crash. The sooner our lawyers can arrive at the scene of the accident, the more reliable and accurate our assessment can be.

Oftentimes, our attorneys will retain an expert witness who has extensive knowledge of various issues dealing with the truck accident, such as the manufacturing quality, operation, design, and vulnerabilities of trucks.

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Should I deal directly with the trucking company and their insurers?

One of the most crucial mistakes victims of tractor trailer accidents commit is attempting to reach a settlement quickly and directly with the trucking company, their insurance carrier, and the company’s hired lawyers. The main goal of the trucking company is to have any and all claims of liability against them dismissed to free themselves of having to pay any sort of compensation. Their attorneys may be able to find ways to have all forms of liability against the trucking company dismissed through a variety of ways when dealing with a victim. The insurance company will hire investigators who will seek to obtain a recorded or signed statement. Our attorneys strongly suggest that you not agree to give any such statement as they can be used against you in unintended ways at a later date.

By working with a truck accident attorney from the personal injury law firm of Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, L.L.P., residents of Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, and Milford can be assured that they will not be taken advantage of. The extensive experience and success our attorneys have gained in dealing with trucking companies and their insurance carriers serve to ensure your peace of mind. We will work tirelessly to bring those responsible for the hardships you’ve endured as a result of a truck accident to justice and to obtain full and fair compensation for your damages. Contact any of our northeastern Pennsylvania offices today to schedule a consultation.

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Is there a statute of limitation in Pennsylvania to filing a personal injury claim following a truck accident?

In Pennsylvania, a statute of limitation for filing a personal injury claim following a truck accident does exist. According to Pennsylvania law, a personal injury claim must be filed within two years of the date the accident occurred. If a personal injury claim is not filed within two years, the victim(s) lose their right to obtain monetary compensation for their injuries, subsequent expenses, and any other damages.

Though the statute of limitation affords the victim up to two years to file suit after a tractor trailer accident, it is always a wise choice to obtain a truck accident attorney. Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area residents will have a much better chance of obtaining compensation if our lawyers are contacted immediately following the accident so that they can begin to gather evidence in a much easier and accurate process. In addition, trucking companies are only required to hold onto truckers’ logs – often used as key pieces of evidence in truck accident claims – for six months, making your case more difficult to substantiate after that period.

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Are regulations in place to control the number of hours a truck driver can drive in relation to the hours of sleep they get?

One of the most dangerous aspects of sharing the road with tractor trailer trucks is the condition of the truck driver. As much of trucking is an industry of efficiency and deadlines, many truck drivers are hard-pressed to make it to their destinations on time, frequently driving for extremely long stretches of time without rest. Driver fatigue can lead to drowsiness and instances of falling asleep behind the wheel. In fact, a recent survey showed that 20 percent of long-haul truck drivers admitted to having fallen asleep in the month prior to the survey. This dangerous behavior can cause trucks to drift in and out of lanes, collide with other cars, and overturn.

Due to the prevalence of driver fatigue and drowsiness as the major contributing factor in truck accidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established new regulations to limit the number of hours truck drivers are allowed to drive and reduce driver fatigue. For long-haul drivers, the new regulations allow for 11 hours of driving only after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Additionally, truck drivers are not allowed to drive any more than 14 hours after starting a shift. An exception is made for short-haul drivers, who are allowed to drive for a period of 16 hours once during any string of seven consecutive days; this exception is only made in light of legitimate business needs and can only be made when safety is not compromised.

The FMCSA has approximated that these new regulations help to reduce driver fatigue, will spare up to 75 percent of the previous fatality rate and will reduce the number of truck accidents by approximately 1,300.

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What sorts of rules and regulations have been established to protect passenger car drivers and passengers from being injured by tractor trailer drivers?

There are two general types of regulations that have been established to protect innocent drivers and passengers who share the road with tractor trailers: regulations that trucking companies must follow and regulations that individual drivers must adhere to.

Trucking Companies:

Individual Drivers:

Victims of tractor trailer accidents often have many questions and often find it difficult to find accurate answers, if any at all. Each truck accident attorney at our firm serving Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and surrounding communities like Hazleton and Milford, is dedicated to achieving justice for victims. Contact our personal injury law firm today to get connected with one our experienced and aggressive lawyers who will vigilantly pursue your claim and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

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