When a 3,000 pound passenger car collides with an 80,000 pound, 18-wheeler truck, tragedy often occurs. People in cars can be killed in truck accidents, while the truck driver may suffer only minor injuries. Over 4,000 people lose their lives in truck accidents every year in the United States. An additional 130,000 are injured. Wrongful death is defined as death due to another’s negligence, recklessness or intentional actions. Trucking accidents are very different from car accidents; the damage is generally much more significant and the chances of fatality are unfortunately high.
No amount of compensation will ever replace a loved one. However, if a death resulting from a truck accident in Pennsylvania is found to have been caused by negligence, the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation.
Losses incurred by a wrongful death may include:
- Medical and funeral expenses
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Grief and sorrow
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
Trucking companies carry large insurance policies and their adjusters are trained to minimize the settlements paid to the victims of trucking accidents. The trucking company has a vested interest in denying claims or settling for as little as possible. With the help of a Pennsylvania big rig accident lawyer who has experience with insurance issues and wrongful death litigation, families of the victim can find comfort in knowing they are being fairly represented in a court of law.
Continue to browse PA Law Blogs for more information on semi truck accidents and wrongful death cases in Pennsylvania. PaLawBlogs.com is a very useful legal resource run and managed by reputable Philadelphia wrongful death and truck accident attorneys.
