Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer | We Come to You

A crash with a tractor-trailer is nothing like an ordinary car accident. The truck can weigh 20 times more than your car, the injuries are usually serious, and the trucking company and its insurer start building their defense right away. A Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer can step in early, protect the evidence and deal with the insurance companies while you focus on getting better.

At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we have represented people hurt in truck crashes across western Pennsylvania. In one Allegheny County case, we recovered $10 million for a driver who was struck by a truck after running out of gas on I-79. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

We Come to You Anywhere in the Pittsburgh Area

You do not need to travel to meet with us. Our lawyers will come to you at home, at work or in the hospital anywhere in Allegheny County and the surrounding area, including Washington, Westmoreland, Butler and Beaver counties. We can also talk by phone or video. Your first case review is free, and there is no attorney fee and no case costs unless we recover money for you. If we don’t win, we cover the costs we advanced.

Truck Crashes on Pittsburgh’s Highways

Pittsburgh sits where several major freight routes meet. Tractor-trailers move through the region every day on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76), I-79, I-70, the Parkway East and West (I-376), the Parkway North (I-279), Route 28 and Route 22. Steep grades, sharp curves, bridges and tunnels make these roads harder for big rigs than flat interstate driving. Common causes of truck crashes here include:

Brakes that overheat or fail on long downhill grades
Drivers who are tired from too many hours behind the wheel
Speeding or following too closely in heavy traffic and work zones
Wide turns and blind spots in tight city streets and on ramps
Cargo that is overloaded or not tied down properly
Poor maintenance of tires, lights and brakes
Winter ice and snow on hills and bridges

Who Can Be Responsible for a Truck Accident?

In a car crash, the claim is usually against one driver. In a truck crash, more than one company may share responsibility, and each may have its own insurance. Depending on the facts, that can include:

The truck driver
The trucking company or motor carrier
The company that owns or leased the truck or trailer
The shipper or company that loaded the cargo
A repair or maintenance shop
The maker of a defective truck part

Commercial trucks must follow federal safety rules, including limits on how many hours a driver can work, required rest breaks, drug and alcohol testing, and regular inspections. Evidence that these rules were broken can be important to your claim.

Protecting the Evidence Early

Much of the evidence in a truck case is in the trucking company’s hands, including the truck’s electronic logging device, the “black box” data, driver logs, dispatch records, maintenance files and the driver’s training and drug test records. Some of this can be lost or overwritten if no one asks for it to be saved. One of the first things we do is send a letter demanding that the trucking company preserve it.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries show up later.
Call 911 so police make a report. On the highways, that is often the Pennsylvania State Police.
If you can, take photos of the vehicles, the scene, the truck’s company name and DOT number.
Get names and contact information for witnesses.
Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster before you talk with a lawyer.

Deadlines for Filing a Truck Accident Claim

In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government vehicle was involved, such as a city truck or a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus, you generally must give written notice of your claim within six months. A Pittsburgh truck accident case is usually filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Waiting can make it harder to get the evidence you need, so it is best to get advice early.

Pittsburgh Truck Accident FAQs

How much is a truck accident case worth?

Every case is different. The value depends on your injuries, your medical bills, the income you lost, how the injuries affect your daily life, and the insurance coverage available. Trucking companies usually carry much higher insurance limits than individual drivers.

Does limited tort affect a truck accident claim?

If you chose limited tort on your own car insurance, it can limit your right to recover pain and suffering in some cases. There are exceptions, including serious injuries and crashes where the at-fault vehicle was registered in another state, which is common with tractor-trailers. A lawyer can review your policy and the facts of your crash.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?

It is best to speak with a lawyer first. The adjuster works for the trucking company, and what you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Do you have an office in Pittsburgh?

We come to you. Our lawyers meet clients at home, at work or in the hospital anywhere in the Pittsburgh area, and we can also meet by phone or video.

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. There is no attorney fee and no case costs unless we recover money for you. If we don’t win, we cover the costs we advanced.

Results in Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania

Examples of results our firm has obtained for injured people in and around Allegheny, Butler, Beaver and Washington counties:

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different. See more case results.

Talk to a Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash with a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck in the Pittsburgh area, call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers for a free case review. You can also read about our work on Pittsburgh car accident cases and truck accidents across Pennsylvania.

Learn more about our Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers and the other injury cases we handle across Allegheny County.