Commercial Truck Crash and Debris – Who Pays For Damages?

Everyone has specific thoughts when they are driving around large commercial trucks on the roadway: “Is this truck safe to drive behind?” or “What if that truck changes lanes while I’m passing it?”

It is natural to be wary when driving around large commercial trucks. Though the vast majority of semis and tractor-trailers are perfectly safe, there are times when crashes do occur. Sometimes, as we will discuss in a moment, truck crashes can lead to debris becoming scattered on the roadway and creating hazards for other drivers.

Who is responsible for covering compensation if somebody is injured or sustains property damage in a debris accident caused by a tractor-trailer? It may very well be possible to hold the truck driver and trucking company responsible for these incidents.

Debris caused by a crash

Recently, a truck collided with a barrier on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks County. Though this is a little bit out of our coverage area, we want to discuss this incident because what happened here can happen anywhere across the Commonwealth. When the truck collided with the barrier, the incident caused debris to fly into the westbound lanes, where drivers ended up colliding with concrete pieces. The incident led to many flat tires and disabled vehicles and resulted in a major backup on the westbound side of the highway. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but this incident could have been much worse.

Debris caused by a tractor-trailer crash is likely to be larger and scattered across a wider area than debris created in a crash involving only passenger vehicles. Commercial trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, which gives you an idea about how an impact can be detrimental.

Debris flying off of a truck

In addition to debris on the roadway after a tractor-trailer collision, there are also times when debris flies off of the truck itself. This can happen in a few ways. First, it is not uncommon to see shredded truck tires along the sides of the highway. The tires on commercial trucks are very heavy, and if they sustain a blowout, they can fly off of the truck and into unsuspecting drivers. Crashes involving tractor-trailer tires are not uncommon, and they are more likely to happen if a truck driver and trucking company fail to properly maintain the vehicle.

Additionally, if a truck driver or trucking company fails to properly secure their load on the back of the truck, debris could come flying off of the trailer and into oncoming traffic.

Call our Philadelphia truck accident lawyers today

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company, contact the Dan Doyle Law Group today. Our experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyers are ready to get to work investigating the incident. We know that debris on the roadway caused by large truck incidents can cause damage and injuries, and we will work to hold the appropriate party responsible. Let us help you secure full compensation for your losses. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 215-987-3730.