Tractor Trailer Accidents

Northeastern, Central Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains region have a reputation for terrific cities and small towns, beautiful farmland and seemingly endless streams, lakes and ponds that make this a wonderful area to live or visit.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania, particularly our region, is also known for the extensive network of intersecting highways and very heavily traveled back roads.

There are more than 120,000 miles of roads and highways in the state and that makes us a hotbed for devastating accidents involving large and often dangerous tractor-trailers.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in 2022, the latest year for available statistics, the number of fatal crashes involving big trucks were at their highest level in over five years.

Our Accident Lawyers We Can Help

At Lenahan & Dempsey we have recovered Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions for our injured clients. We have handled often highly complicated tractor-trailer accidents involving devastating injuries and even deaths.

Call us 24/7 with any questions and for a free, no-obligation case evaluation at 1.888.536.2426. There are no fees until you get the money you deserve.

Why Call Lenahan & Dempsey after a Tractor-Trailer Crash?

We will carefully listen to your needs and work aggressively to help you.

Our firm President, John R. Lenahan, Jr., is nationally known for his work in handling truck and tractor-trailer crashes.

Lenahan & Dempsey lawyers have access to a national team of experts to help win the money you deserve – from physicians to accident reconstructionists and more.

Our success in winning Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions for our clients has led to Judges and our peers voting us for inclusion in The Best Law Firms in America, and we are listed as a Tier 1 law firm (the highest rating). Eight of our lawyers are listed in Best Lawyers in America and eight are listed as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. Three, including Firm President John Lenahan, Jr., Managing Partner Timothy Lenahan and Attorney Matthew Dempsey are listed in The Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania (out of over 48,000 Pennsylvania lawyers).

Timothy Lenahan is also Best Lawyers in America’s Top Insurance Lawyer for his representation of the injured fighting against large insurers for the region of Northeastern/Central Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. He has previously been named Best Lawyers Top Personal Injury Lawyer for that region for his work fighting for the rights of injured people.

Causes of Tractor-Trailer Accidents in Northeastern/Central PA and The Pocono Mountains

There is no single cause for the high number of tractor-trailer accidents, but the common causes are:

Geographical Features: especially high elevation roadways. Our terrain is noteworthy for winding roads, steep inclines, and unpredictable weather conditions.

Heavy Traffic Volumes: I-81, I-80, I-84 and I-380 as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike

carry enormous volumes of traffic in our region, and there are numerous busy back roadways. We are a major transportation hub as evidenced by the number of trucking firms located nearby.

Driving Too Fast for Conditions:

Often, tractor-trailer drivers will drive over the speed limit, or too fast for weather or road conditions, leading to devastating consequences. Tractor-trailer drivers have specific rules they must follow for safe operation of a tractor-trailer in different types of weather. When they don’t follow these rules, they must be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause.

Truck Driver Fatigue and Distraction:

One of the leading causes of tractor-trailer accidents is driver fatigue. Drivers spend long hours on the road and often neglect their mandated rest periods. They are also distracted by their phones, GPS systems, communicating with their main offices and more. Drivers are often pressed to deliver more loads in shorter and shorter periods of time – and this can have devastating outcomes.

Maintenance Issues: Not all trucking companies or independent driver/owners are equal in the way they maintain their tractor-trailers. Maintenance can be expensive – tires and braking systems on these trucks can cost thousands of dollars to replace and some cut corners to save money. This makes some tractor-trailers unsafe.

Overloaded Tractor-trailers: Some tractor-trailers are overloaded or the cargo is not loaded properly, which affects the ability to safety stop the tractor trailer, resulting in a crash.

Injuries in Tractor-Trailer Crashes

According to PennDOT, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Something that heavy speeding down our roads can easily crush a 2,000-pound car carrying a family. These crashes can cause death or severe injuries such as:

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

2. Spinal cord injuries, including full or partial paralysis.

3. Broken bones and fractures requiring multiple surgeries and prolonged recovery periods.

4. Herniated cervical, thoracic or lumbar discs

5. Internal injuries

And many other life-altering injuries for injured people and their families.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents Are Among The Most Complex Cases

Accidents involving big trucks and tractor-trailers are often highly complex. For example, we often find multiple parties that may have liability and different insurance policies. For example, the driver may be covered by one insurance company, the trailer may be covered by another and those who performed the inspections or repairs may have still another – and all may come from different areas of the country.
Commercial truck drivers must abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations, which aim to ensure that commercial truck drivers operate their trucks safely. At Lenahan & Dempsey, we are intimately familiar with these regulations and the obligations of the drivers and trucking companies. This knowledge helps in every step of your case.

Call Us Immediately

Among the first calls a tractor-trailer driver makes is to their trucking company and insurance company. These companies will immediately assign their lawyers to protect them against you and your family. They will gather technology in the truck that can provide details on how fast the truck was going; records on the maintenance of the truck; records on how many hours the driver has been working; and more.

You need Lenahan & Dempsey on your side gathering information to protect you. We know the complicated laws that govern tractor-trailer crashes. We have recovered millions for our clients and their families who have been injured or lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer crash.

We are available 24/7 at 1.888.536.2426. Call us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Statute of Limitations

In Pennsylvania, as a general rule, a lawsuit for a personal injury case as a result of a motor vehicle crash must be filed within two years from the date the crash.
If you have been involved in a tractor trailer accident, it is important to contact our office immediately so that we can conduct a timely investigation into the facts and circumstances of your case, including interviewing witnesses and making sure critical evidence is preserved, and so that you do not lose your right to sue based upon time limits.

What Can You Expect When Working With Lenahan & Dempsey

We have recovered Hundreds and Hundreds of Millions for our clients across almost all fields of Personal Injury, Insurance Bad Faith and Workers’ Compensation law.

We fully understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a case can take on victims and their families. Our highly dedicated team of lawyers and paralegals can point to a history of success supporting our clients and winning the money they need to rebuild their lives.