Causes of Truck Accidents In Pittsburgh, PA

When a large, heavy semi, tractor-trailer, or another type of large commercial truck is barreling down the highway, any number of factors can go wrong to cause a devastating accident.  Identifying which factor or combination of factors was the cause of the truck accident is particularly important to identifying the responsible party and holding that person or organization financially responsible for the accident and any resulting injuries. Unlike an ordinary car accident where one or more drivers and their car insurance companies will bear ultimate financial responsibility for the accident, the causes of truck accidents and their subsequent lawsuits tend to involve multiple parties, including large trucking companies with the resources necessary to vigorously challenge their liability by questioning the cause of the accident.

At Matzus Law, LLC, our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer Jason Matzus doesn’t back down when faced with the deep pockets of the trucking company’s defense lawyers and insurance companies. Instead, we put all of our substantial resources to work gathering all the available evidence and working with the foremost experts in the field to establish the cause of your truck accident.

When you choose the skilled truck accident lawyer, Jason Matzus, at Matzus Law, LLC to determine the cause of your truck accident, you can rest assured that we have the thorough understanding of the law that is necessary to succeed in recovering the maximum compensation possible in your case.  We represent truck accident victims all across Western Pennsylvania, so if you have sustained injuries in a truck accident, call us today for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in PA

Large trucks are everywhere on the roads today, as they have become a key element in ensuring that goods are transported to their destinations throughout Western Pennsylvania and across the entire country. Unfortunately, the prevalence of large trucks on the roads combined with the pressure trucking companies place on their drivers to deliver their cargo as quickly as possible have created circumstances that are ripe for causing truck accidents on our roads.  Some common causes of truck accidents in Pittsburgh include:

• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers are often on the road for long stretches of time, and driver fatigue frequently plays a role in causing truck accidents. When a driver has had insufficient rest time, the driver’s reflexes, judgment, and even vision are impacted, making it more difficult to react to prevent an accident.
• Distracted driving: Long stretches of time spent behind the wheel often mean that truck drivers are checking their phones, responding to texts, and even watching videos while driving, which means distracted driving often contributes to the cause of truck accidents.
• Aggressive driving: Truck drivers face enormous pressure to deliver their cargo as quickly as possible, meaning that many of these drivers are motivated to exceed the speed limits and otherwise drive aggressively to save time in reaching their destination.  As is the case with any other vehicle accident, truck accidents often occur as a result.

• Vehicle malfunction: In some cases, a component within the truck may have been defective from the beginning—either through its design or the way it was manufactured.  In these “defective products” type cases where the cause of the truck accident is a defect in a truck component, we can hold the manufacturer or designer of the defective part liable.
• Improper maintenance: Because trucks spend so much time on the roads, state and federal regulations specify inspection and maintenance requirements.  In many cases, however, the trucking company will skirt these regulations to save time and money, so that the cause of the truck accident may be bald tires, faulty brakes or any number of faults with the truck that could have been corrected through regular maintenance.
• Improper training: Anyone who has ever seen a large semi-truck might think that these trucks would be difficult to maneuver—which is why truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver’s license.  Truck accidents are often caused when a truck driver is inadequately trained in operating such a large and unwieldy vehicle.

Identifying the Cause of an Accident is Key to Holding Negligent Parties Accountable for Their Actions

Identifying the cause of a truck accident is key to ensuring that the negligent party is located and held financially accountable for all damage and injuries caused by the accident.  These cases are complicated because, in many cases, it will not be the truck driver’s insurance company that bears financial responsibility—instead, that party is only identified by determining the cause of the accident itself.  At Matzus Law, LLC, our experienced Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to determine the cause so that we can fight for maximum compensation for your injuries.

Contact Matzus Law Today

Often, determining the cause of truck accidents requires an in-depth investigation into the accident to gather the evidence necessary to establish your claim. Jason Matzus is here to identify and evaluate every piece of evidence in your case so that you can get the compensation necessary to protect your financial security. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer, call or contact us online today.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Causes of Truck Accidents in Pennsylvania

Why do truck accidents happen?

Who is responsible in a truck accident?

Who can be held responsible for my truck accident once the cause of the truck accident is determined?

Potentially responsible parties may include the trucking company that owned the vehicle, the company that loaded the cargo, a company that leased the truck, a company that hired and trained the driver, the truck driver, a manufacturer of a truck component or a company charged with inspecting and maintaining the truck. In cases where multiple factors combined to cause the truck accident, we will work to hold all negligent parties accountable.

What types of evidence can be useful in establishing the cause of my truck accident?

The relevant evidence will depend upon the circumstances. In some cases, eyewitness testimony, the general state of the accident scene and the police report may be sufficient. Other cases, however, require a more detailed investigation. The vehicle’s black box recording device can provide us with information about the truck’s speed and function at the time of the accident. Maintenance and inspection logs, the log of the driver’s hours on the road and even the truck driver’s cell phone records can all be useful.