One Teen Dead in Fatal Truck Crash 

Car accidents involving trucks and trailers are particularly dangerous. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 4,100 people were killed in large truck crashes last year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that there were more than 500,000 crashes nationwide involving large trucks, with approximately 107,000 resulting in injuries. Big trucks and trailers are much larger than standard passenger vehicles, averaging 20 to 30 times bigger, creating massive crashes when they impact other vehicles. The difference in the size of the vehicles can prevent truck drivers from seeing smaller cars while also resulting in more severe impact when crashes do occur. Most deaths in large truck crashes are from occupants of passenger vehicles. Of those killed in such accidents, roughly 82% are people in non-truck vehicles. 

Pennsylvania is no exception to the truck crash trend, with the most common causes of large truck accidents being fatigue, distraction, substance-impaired driving, speeding, and aggressive overtaking. In 2021, Pennsylvania saw a four-year high in truck crashes, with 7,244 heavy truck crashes occurring in the state. Those total crashes resulted in a five-year high in fatal heavy truck crashes, with 144. Something to note about Pennsylvania is that, unlike most states, Pennsylvania follows a “no-fault” car accident rule. That means that drivers must file claims with their own insurer and that policy is what covers medical and accident-related expenses. However, if the injuries that are suffered are serious enough, then a driver is permitted to file a third-party insurance claim or file a personal injury suit against the liable motorist. A recent news article discussed a fatal automobile accident involving a truck. 

According to the local news article, a crash occurred on one afternoon, when a dump truck crashed into a car near a gas station at Brunswick Pike (U.S. Route 1) and Franklin Corner Road in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The driver of the car was an 18-year-old woman from Lawrenceville, New Jersey. According to authorities, she died from her injuries. The driver of the dump truck was a 28-year-old man from Bordentown, New Jersey. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash. According to police investigators, it was determined that the driver of the car made an improper left turn into the path of the dump truck, which was crossing the intersection on a green light.

Do you need a Pennsylvania Injury Attorney? 

Those injured in truck accidents may struggle to recover from catastrophic injuries, worrying all the time about how they will support their families or rebuild their lives. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The costs of pursuing legal claims to recover what you deserve can quickly add up. It is vital to have an experienced team of Pennsylvania lawyers advocating for you. Talk to the legal team at MyPhillyLawyer today to learn more about your legal rights and options. Call us in Philadelphia at (215)-227-2727 or toll-free at (866) 352-4572 for a free no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys or visit us at myphillylawyer.com.