Just before Christmas a 12-year-old girl was killed when the car she was riding in was rear-ended by a box truck in Port Richmond. The force of the crash ejected the girl from the car and she died instantly. The other occupants of the car, the girls' parents and 4-year-old brother, were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. The truck driver was not injuried.
So often, that's the tragic result when a small car and heavy-duty truck collide in Philadelphia. Passenger cars designed to crumple to protect their occupants are no match for the force, weight and stronger construction of larger trucks. Unfortunately, designs that are efficient for hauling cargo can create dangerous conditions when inattention, weather issues, unpredictable drivers or unexpected circumstances pit trucks against cars. Truck designs may obscure the Philadelphia truck driver's visibility. Greater weight, higher center of gravity, taller bumpers and a host of other factors can affect not only the truck's stability and maneuverability, but the driver's ability to control the vehicle in an accident situation.
In a Philadelphia truck accident last January, a tractor-trailer with faulty brakes rear-ended a car on the Schuylkill Expressway killing the car's driver and seriously injuring a passenger. Just recently resolved in court, the Philadelphia truck owner in that case pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, admitting gross negligence in placing a faulty vehicle on the road. Expert investigation led authorities to also charge both the truck driver and truck mechanic for their parts in failing to properly inspect and report maintainance problems with the vehicle. All three Philadelphia men now await sentencing that can include up to 7 years in jail and serious fines.
Expert investigation, knowledge of the trucking industry and legal tenacity are often required to discover the truth in personal injury cases involving Philadelphia truck accidents.
