Trucking Accidents

SMB’s experienced team of trucking accident lawyers has successfully handled many cases involving the large trucks known as semis, tractor-trailers, big rigs and 18-wheelers.

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Accidents involving trucks are a major public safety issue on America’s roads. Federal government and insurance industry statistics estimate that each year large trucks cause:

  • 350,000 accidents resulting in property damage;
  • 90,000 accidents resulting in 140,000 injuries; and
  • 4,000 accidents resulting in over 5,000 fatalities.

When large trucks collide with passenger cars, the car occupants suffer the vast majority of the injuries and fatalities. The reasons are obvious—tractor-trailers weigh 20-30 times more than cars and their height and ground clearance makes them even more dangerous.

Truck drivers themselves can also be injured in accidents for reasons unrelated to their conduct.

SMB has litigated truck cases involving all of the common causes of these accidents, including:

  • Driver error, substance abuse, fatigue, and distraction
  • Truck design defects and malfunctions of major components such as brakes and tires
  • Carrier violations of industry regulations, including overloading trucks, breaching hourly limits on driver work, and failing to properly maintain vehicles
  • Poorly designed, constructed, and maintained roads

Unmatched Results

SMB’s truck accident lawyers have secured numerous multimillion verdicts and settlements for clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including:

Unmatched Knowledge

SMB’s skilled lawyers understand the complex mechanical and physical factors that contribute to truck accidents. Their thorough investigations include:

  • Comprehensive depositions of all drivers, carrier personnel, passengers, and witnesses;
  • In-depth analyses to determine the relative roles played by driver error, carrier practices, and defective vehicles; and
  • Biomechanics review: what happened to an injured driver or passenger during the crash sequence, and what does that say about how the accident happened?

SMB also uses independent accident reconstruction experts to recreate how an accident occurred through the use of advanced three-dimensional animations and graphics—a powerful trial tool.

SMB pursues all potential defendants that may be liable in truck accident cases: truck drivers, carriers, vehicle part manufacturers, establishments that sell liquor, and state and local governments that design and maintain roads.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed as a result of a truck accident, SMB is committed to obtaining all of the compensation you need and deserve.

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