Langhorne Wrongful Death Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers
Compassionate counsel for grieving families after fatal crashes
The sudden loss of a loved one in a truck accident is a devastating experience for any family. In addition to emotional grief, surviving family members often face financial hardship and personal losses. At the Law Offices of Paul R. Weber in Langhorne, our wrongful death attorneys work aggressively to hold negligent parties fully accountable to surviving family members.
How fatal truck accidents can occur
Fatal trucking accidents often result from the extreme size and weight of commercial vehicles. Common causes include:
- Driver fatigue
- Aggressive driving and speeding
- Distracted or impaired driving
- Improper lane changes
- Mechanical failures
- Overloaded or unsecured cargo
- Violations of federal trucking regulations
High-speed highway crashes, underride collisions, jackknifes, rollovers and multi-vehicle pileups frequently lead to fatal outcomes when passenger vehicles are involved.
How wrongful death claims differ from personal injury cases
A wrongful death action seeks recovery for losses suffered by surviving family members of a person killed in a crash or who dies afterward as a result of related injuries or complications. These cases involve different legal standards and categories of damages. Because the stakes are high and liability is often heavily contested, wrongful death trucking cases require a thorough and strategic legal approach.
Who may bring a wrongful death action?
Under Pennsylvania law, only the personal representative of the decedent’s estate can bring a wrongful death action. However, if the personal representative fails to file an action within six months of the decedent’s death, a beneficiary of the estate may bring the action. Regardless of who starts the case, only the decedent’s surviving spouse, children or parents can receive shares of the damages recovered.
Damages recoverable in a Pennsylvania wrongful death claim
Wrongful death damages are intended to compensate certain surviving family members for their economic and non-economic losses. Recoverable damages include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of household services
- Medical expenses related to the fatal injury
- Loss of companionship, comfort, guidance and consortium
In some cases, the personal representative can file a separate survival action to recover damages that the decedent could have claimed if he or she had lived. For example, the decedent might have experienced pain and suffering between the time of the accident and the time of death.
Parties who might be held liable for wrongful death in a truck accident
Liability in fatal truck accident cases can extend beyond the truck driver. Other potentially responsible parties are the trucking company, vehicle owner, freight loader, maintenance contractor or manufacturer of defective truck components. Employers of drivers can be held liable for negligent hiring, training or supervision. Identifying all liable parties is essential to maximizing recovery of damages.
Experienced legal counsel for wrongful death truck accidents
Wrongful death trucking cases are often heavily contested. Trucking companies’ insurers often conduct aggressive investigations immediately after a fatal crash to protect their interests. An experienced attorney can preserve critical evidence, work with accident reconstruction experts, analyze regulatory violations and manage communication with insurers and defense counsel. Our lawyers handle these cases with diligence and determination so that grieving families can focus on emotional healing.
Contact our PA truck accident lawyers for a free wrongful death consultation
In cases of fatal truck accidents, the Law Offices of Paul R. Weber in Langhorne seeks compensation for the families of victims in Bucks County and throughout Pennsylvania. To schedule a free consultation, please call 215-752-7676 or contact us online.
