Langhorne Pennsylvania 18-wheeler accident attorney

Langhorne Pennsylvania 18-wheeler accident attorney John M. Kenney is ready and waiting to consult with you to determine if you have a case and to estimate what you might expect in the way of compensation. Mr. Kenney has successfully settled or brought to court hundreds of cases involving automobiles and large 18-wheeler accidents.

Motor vehicle accidents involving an 18-wheeler happen frequently. Approximately 10% of all motor vehicle fatalities are a result of collisions involving 18-wheelers. 18-wheelers are also referred to as tractor trailers or “big rigs” and can weigh up to 80,000 lbs., 25 times as heavy as the average 3000 lb. automobile. It is no wonder that being involved with a fully-loaded 18-wheeler can produce very serious injuries and often death to the driver and occupants of the motor vehicles involved. Statistics show that in the event of a crash involving an 18-wheeler, around 75% of those injured are the drivers and passengers of the smaller motor vehicle. Usually, it’s the driver of the tractor trailer who was negligent and can be held responsible for the accident that injures or kills another driver and their passengers.

The most common reasons why the drivers of 18-wheelers are negligent and responsible for causing motor vehicle accidents are the lack of sleep, driving long hours to meet a deadline, and speeding.

The driver of an 18-wheeler is usually employed by an independent third-party company that leases its services to a much larger company. These independent companies run on thin profit margins and are under pressure to meet their client’s deadlines for deliveries. An independent trucking company might be tempted to cut corners and work very long hours to meet company-imposed deadlines. In doing so a driver could be induced to drive dangerously in excess of the speed limit or drive without the benefit of taking the time to rest. Either way, driver negligence causes injuries and deaths.

Our firm will acquire the driving records of the independent trucking company responsible for causing your injury or the death of a loved one. We will scrutinize them to determine if the driver took a safe and prudent number of rest breaks or if he negligently drove drowsy in order to beat his deadline.