Commercial motor vehicles are more prevalent than most people realize. These vehicles play a part in keeping our economy moving, but they can cause serious injuries in an accident. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a commercial vehicle operator, SMT Legal is here to help. Our knowledgeable and experienced commercial vehicle accident attorneys are going to investigate your case and work to secure the compensation you deserve.
What is considered a “commercial” vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is one that transported goods or passengers for profit. We can also term these “company” or “business” vehicles. The following list of commonly Washington County commercial vehicles will give you an idea of how many of these vehicles are on our roadways:
- Tractor-trailers
- Cargo vehicles
- Passenger buses
- Construction vehicles
- Delivery trucks
- Delivery vans
- Taxi cabs
- Pickup trucks
- Rideshare vehicles
- And more
While it is sometimes obvious which vehicles are participating in commercial activity, that is not always the case. When you are involved in a crash, it is important to determine whether the other vehicle is a commercial vehicle or a privately owned vehicle. Most commercial vehicles will have additional insurance that is available to cover crash damages.
Commercial trucks can cause devastating injuries
While any accident can cause a serious injury, large commercial trucks are dangerous when operated negligently. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. The FMCSA states that these trucks caused nearly 150,000 injuries and almost 5,000 fatalities during the latest reporting year in the US.
During that same year in Pennsylvania, there were approximately 7,000 heavy truck crashes that caused thousands of injuries and 145 fatalities.
Commercial vehicle drivers are often required to follow more strict requirements on the roadway. They should never operate their vehicles while impaired or distracted. Large truck drivers face limits on how many hours they can operate each day and week.
Commercial truck companies should regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles in order to prevent vehicle failure of any kind. Large trucks need more maintenance than regular passenger vehicles, and companies could be held liable for damages resulting from these incidents.
It is time to get your case moving forward
If you or someone you care about has been injured due to the negligent actions of a commercial vehicle driver or company, please seek legal assistance today. At SMT Legal, we specialize in these cases and will get to work investigating immediately. Our goal is to secure compensation for all of your crash-related expenses, including:
- Coverage of medical bills
- Recovery of lost wages if you cannot work
- Coverage of physical therapy
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against the bus driver or company
