Johnstown
Truck Accident Lawyer

On This Page

1. Our Johnstown Lawyer Can Help With Your Truck Accident Case
2. Damages You Could Recover for a Johnstown Truck Accident
3. How a Truck Accident Lawyer in Johnstown, PA, Can Help Your Claim
4. How Pennsylvania's Statute of Limitations Affects Your Case
5. What Causes Truck Accidents in Johnstown, PA?
6. Common Truck Accident Injuries

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

December 12, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Our Johnstown Lawyer Can Help With Your Truck Accident Case

The United States Census noted that 3.5 million Americans work as truck drivers who operate large tractor-trailers or delivery trucks. Many of those drivers are overworked and in need of rest. With so many truck drivers on the roads daily, it only takes one overworked driver to change your life instantly.

If you have suffered injury, are in pain, or have lost someone you love because of a truck accident, know that you are not alone. Berger and Green has over 40 years of experience. We have handled numerous personal injury cases and are proud of our results. Contact our Johnstown personal injury lawyer to get started on your case immediately or take advantage of our free, no-obligation consultation.

Damages You Could Recover for a Johnstown Truck Accident

If you have been in a truck accident, the injuries you sustained can be devastating. If the accident was the result of someone else’s negligence–whether it is the driver, trucking company, or maintenance company–you have the right to hold them responsible.

Damages you may be entitled to include: 

• Medical costs (e.g., ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgeries, doctors’ examinations, medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation)
• Lost income
• Future income if you cannot return to work
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Damages

If your family member did not survive because of the severity of his or her injuries, you may be entitled to specific wrongful death damages or survival action damages. They include: 

• Medical costs
• Funeral expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of the deceased’s benefits and income
• Loss of support and protection
• Loss of companionship

How a Truck Accident Lawyer in Johnstown, PA, Can Help Your Claim

A truck accident lawyer in Johnstown, PA, at Berger and Green can take the burden off you, pursuing damages for your injuries and handling the entire legal process while you focus on healing. Some ways we can help your case include: 

• Gathering records for your claim, such as medical records, medical bills, and insurance policy information
• Investigating your claim in detail to ensure we have all the necessary evidence to establish negligence and liability
• Negotiating compensation with the defense outside of the courtroom for your injuries
• Going to trial to present your case if we cannot settle your case

We Will Identify All Liable Parties in the Trucking Accident

One reason trucking accidents are complex is they can involve multiple liable parties. While it may be apparent that the truck driver is responsible for the accident, other parties may share responsibility for it. Upon investigating your case, you might be able to hold any of the following responsible for the accident:

• The truck driver’s employer
• The owner of the truck
• Manufacturer of the truck or its parts
• The crew responsible for loading the truck’s cargo
• The truck’s maintenance or service repair team
• The municipality responsible for the upkeep of the accident site
• Another negligent driver or road user

After we determine who played a role in your accident and what their percentage of fault is, we will request that they cover the losses they are responsible for.

We Will Also Seek to Preserve Key Evidence in Your Commercial Truck Accident Case

Commercial truck accidents also differ from other accidents because the evidence that could help injured victims’ cases against a trucking company often lies in the trucking company’s possession. If this is your situation, our Johnstown truck accident attorneys can take steps to preserve the evidence that could boost your case, including sending the company a spoliation letter that demands it preserves the evidence until we can access it.

A spoliation letter can cover various kinds of evidence that is time sensitive, such as:

• Dashcam video footage from the truck
• Data from the truck’s black box
• The truck driver’s logbook
• The truck driver’s employment history, driving record, licensing/training
• Alcohol and drug test results (if the driver was driving while under the influence)
• The truck’s service repair and maintenance records

We will use all evidence available to build your compensation case.

How Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations Affects Your Case

According to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, you have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit pursuing damages related to your truck accident. If your family member did not survive the accident or passed away later because of their injuries, you have two years from their death date to file a wrongful death lawsuit and two years from the date of the accident to file a survival claim.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Johnstown, PA?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), over 100,000 people are injured in accidents involving trucks each year. The most common causes are:

Fatigue

Most truck drivers operate for long distances forgoing rest to deliver their goods quickly. They are under pressure from tight deadlines and simply do not get enough sleep. This fatigue results in lost concentration, loss of coordination, and occasionally, falling asleep behind the wheel.

Poor Training or Truck Maintenance

Though truck drivers must put in a certain number of hours for their commercial driver’s license (CDL), it is not uncommon for them to be on the road with insufficient training. It is also not uncommon for companies or drivers to fail to maintain their trucks properly.

Alcohol and Drug Use

Many drivers have been found guilty of using non-medicinal drugs and alcohol while on the job. Even prescription drugs can impair coordination and judgment, leading to accidents.

Speeding

To reach destinations as quickly as possible and make tight deadlines, truck drivers sometimes push beyond safe speeds. Because high speeds reduce the time to react if traffic suddenly slows or stops–especially in poor weather conditions–these trucks are more likely to get into accidents.

Distracted Drivers

With many hours behind the wheel, drivers sometimes look for ways to occupy their time. Just like the drivers in cars, truck drivers are often guilty of looking at their phones and responding to text messages while behind the wheel.

If you or a member of your family has been hurt because of the negligence of a truck driver, you may be entitled to damages. Contact Berger and Green for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Trucking accidents can cause various severe or even life-threatening injuries. Some of the more common truck accident injuries are:

• Broken bones: Because of the immense force applied during a truck accident, bones are more likely to be broken than in accidents involving just cars.
• Back and neck injuries: These injuries could include minor neck pain or serious injuries such as herniated discs in the spine. These injuries commonly prevent the victims from returning to work right away, causing them to miss out on wages and possibly opportunities for advancement.
• Head injuries: Head injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as defined by the Mayo Clinic , carry with them various symptoms, from confusion and nausea to vision problems. These injuries can result in a loss of cognitive or motor functions.
• Internal bleeding: Powerful trauma from truck accidents can result in potentially life-threatening internal bleeding of major organs.
• Spinal cord injuries or paralysis: Damage to the spinal cord during a trucking accident can be devastating and cause the victim to suffer paralysis.
• Lacerations: Cuts and lacerations can be extremely painful, require time to heal, and can leave victims with lifelong scarring.
• Rib injuries: Because of the sudden powerful impact in a truck accident, damage to the rib cage and torso can often be severe.

Call Berger and Green Today for Help After a Johnstown, PA, Truck Accident

Healing from injuries suffered in an 18-wheeler truck accident takes a lot of time, and the physical and emotional damage from a collision lasts long after an accident is over. Injured truck accident victims have a long road ahead of them, which is why we help them seek the financial compensation they deserve.

We understand they need their time to recover from an accident, so our personal injury attorneys take up their cases against negligent commercial trucking companies. If you are ready for us to get to work or if you would like a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Johnstown, PA, to evaluate your case, contact Berger and Green today.