Truck accidents are among the most devastating types of accidents that can occur on roads across America. While truck crashes don’t occur quite as frequently as car accidents in the state of Pennsylvania, they can be considerably more dangerous.
Out of a reported 110,382 crashes throughout the state in 2023, according to the Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics report from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 6,685 of those accidents involved heavy trucks. However, 138 of the reported 1,209 accident-related fatalities were caused by truck crashes — this means that truck accidents made up just 6% of the total Pennsylvania crashes in 2023 but 12% of the total fatalities.
Trucks Are Highly Regulated for Your Protection
These massive vehicles, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, can cause devastating injuries and long-lasting damage to other people. Compare that to an average passenger car, which typically weighs around 3,000 pounds for sedans and rarely more than 6,000 pounds for even the largest SUVs.
This massive weight discrepancy between heavy trucks and the cars they share the road with is one of the many reasons why the industry is so heavily regulated. Everything from how cargo is loaded to how many hours a driver can operate a vehicle in a week to modified top speed limits on highways and interstates and more are put in place to protect every party involved.
Even with all of these regulations and restrictions in place, trucks are still involved in more than 125 accidents per week on average. If you or a loved one were the victim of a truck accident, it’s important to know your rights so you can secure the compensation you deserve. Read on to better understand how long you have to file an accident claim in the state of Pennsylvania.
How Soon Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Once that two-year window is up, the victim could lose all rights to pursue legal compensation for their accident.
However, there are some exceptions that can add extra steps or increase the timing of this restriction:
- Accidents Involving Minors: If the victim is under the age of 18, the two-year window does not start to close until their 18th birthday. This means that if they were involved in a truck accident at the age of 14, they have until their 20th birthday to file a claim. However, this exception does not apply if the minor was killed in the accident.
- Missing Defendants: If the defendant leaves Pennsylvania for at least four months (either for valid reasons or to hide from the case), that time does not count toward the statute of limitations.
- Incapacitation: Incapacitated truck accident victims have two dates after the date of incapacitation to file a suit.
- Wrongful Death: If a person dies from injuries due to an accident, the two-year window starts from the date of the death.
There are a number of steps to take following a truck accident, and one of the most important is to find a law firm that can reliably represent you and help you file a claim to secure the compensation you deserve. If you were injured or if your vehicle was damaged in any way, it’s highly likely that you have the basis to file a claim.
Work With a Reputable Law Firm
If you were the victim of a truck accident, hiring legal representation you can trust is one of the most important steps you can take. At Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo (https://www.cohenfeeley.com), our experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorneys have spent decades working with victims and their loved ones to ensure that they have the legal backing they deserve in their time of need. Our Pennsylvania truck accident attorneys can help you understand your legal protections and help you fight in court and at the negotiation table.
Through our efforts, we have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Reach out to us to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with a member of our firm today.
