Philadelphia Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Getting involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle is going to present challenges that most people are not familiar with. Unlike accidents involving only traditional passenger vehicles, crashes involving commercial vehicles may end up having multiple parties that could be held liable. This could make securing compensation extraordinarily complex for an injury victim. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our dedicated and experienced team is standing by to help when you need a Philadelphia commercial vehicle accident lawyer. We pledge to use our resources to conduct a complete investigation into your case so we can obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

Why Choose Our Philadelphia Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorneys?

After sustaining an injury caused by the actions of a commercial vehicle driver or company, you can count on Ciccarelli Law Offices to stand by your side.

• We have extensive experience providing aggressive commercial vehicle accident representation to clients throughout the Philadelphia area.
• We ensure that every client receives personalized attention for their case from our qualified attorneys.
• Our team has extensive resources that we can bring to bear against aggressive insurance carriers or negligent parties in your case.

Types of Commercial Truck and Business Vehicle Accidents

The term “commercial vehicle” is used to describe various types of non-personal use vehicles on the roadways. A commercial vehicle can be any type of vehicle used to conduct business or government-related activities. Some of the most common commercial vehicles in and around the Philadelphia area include the following:

• Tractor-trailers
• Delivery trucks (FedEx, UPS, USPS)
• Cargo vans
• Passenger buses
• Garbage trucks
• Food and beverage trucks

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 7,631 heavy truck crashes and 494 commercial bus crashes during the latest reporting year across the Commonwealth. However, commercial vehicles can also be traditional sedans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. In the aftermath of a crash involving a commercial vehicle, it is crucial to contact an attorney who understands the specific classifications and laws surrounding commercial vehicles in Pennsylvania.

Specifically, an attorney will understand that there may be multiple liable parties in a commercial vehicle crash case. This includes not only the commercial vehicle driver, but could also include their employer through the theory of vicarious liability.

Philadelphia Commercial Vehicle Laws

In general, a commercial vehicle crash is going to be handled much like any other traditional traffic crash on Philadelphia roadways. This includes investigating whether there was any violation of traffic laws that caused the accident and holding drivers accountable through criminal or traffic citations.

However, for some commercial vehicles, it is crucial to understand that there may be other federal or state regulations in place that drivers and companies must follow. Specifically, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for ensuring that commercial truck and bus drivers operate safely. This includes ensuring that:

• Drivers only operate during the hours of service allowed under law
• Drivers and companies do not overload the vehicle
• Companies ensure that their trucks and buses are regularly inspected and maintained

What to Do After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Philadelphia

Any person who gets into an accident with a commercial vehicle should take steps immediately following the crash and in the days and weeks after the incident to ensure the integrity of their claim. This includes:

• Seeking medical care. The first step after any commercial vehicle accident is to seek medical care immediately. An injury victim needs to seek care even if they think their injuries are relatively minor. Not only does this ensure the victim’s well being, but it also establishes a link between the commercial vehicle crash and the injuries.
• Calling the police. The police need to be called to the scene of any commercial vehicle accident. Law enforcement personnel will conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident and may be able to assign a fault for the crash. The police officer will be responsible for filling out the accident report that insurance carriers are going to need.
• Obtaining evidence. If it is safe to do so at the scene of crash, there may be opportunities to obtain evidence before it is cleaned up. Using a smartphone or another camera, those involved can take photographs of vehicle damage, injuries, causes of the crash, traffic and weather conditions, skid marks, and more. Additionally, any crash victim should obtain the names and contact information of eyewitnesses to the incident. Finally, make sure to get the name, driver’s license number, insurance information, and employer of the commercial vehicle driver involved.
• Reporting the incident to an insurer. It will be necessary for a crash victim to report the incident to their insurance carrier as soon as possible. However, an initial report does not have to go into much detail. All the insurer needs to know at this point is that the crash occurred, the names of those involved, and which commercial company was involved.
• Continuing medical care. All commercial vehicle accident victims must continue receiving medical care until the doctor says they have reached maximum medical improvement. Any discontinuation of care before that point will be taken as a sign by insurance carriers or at-fault parties that the injuries are not severe.

Finally, it is crucial that you secure a skilled commercial vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into the crash, obtain the evidence necessary to prove liability, and secure the compensation you are entitled to. Many commercial truck vehicle accident victims are hesitant to seek assistance from the attorney because they are afraid they will not be able to afford the expense. However, our Philadelphia commercial vehicle accident attorneys take these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will pay no upfront or out-of-pocket costs for their case. We only collect legal fees after we obtain the compensation our clients are entitled to. When you need a Philadelphia commercial vehicle accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here to calling 215-228-0100.