Bobtail Truck Accidents in Erie | Bobtail Truck Injury Lawyer

A bobtail truck is a truck without a trailer connected. Bobtail trucks are frequently used for the transport of liquid propane gas (LPG) and other types of liquid fuel. Driving a truck bobtail is different from pulling a trailer and it will make a difference in the handling. Driving a bobtail truck can be more challenging at times due to a lot of weight distribution in a relatively short wheelbase. A professional truck driver must learn how to operate a bobtail truck safely without a trailer.

When You Need to Hire an Erie Bobtail Truck Accident Lawyer

In many cases, Erie 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways an Erie bobtail truck accident injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious bobtail truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need an Erie truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Erie truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Erie tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.

Hazardous Road Conditions for Bobtail Trucks in Erie

A trucker driving a bobtail truck must be extra cautious when driving in hazardous road conditions in Erie such as the US-290, SH-19, I-79 and I-90. The trucker already has to be skilled just to handle a bobtail truck because he or she has to deal with a heavy load without a trailer. The danger already exists for making a sudden stop and losing control. Add hazardous road conditions on top of that and you have a recipe for disaster. A bobtail truck driver must be acutely aware of passenger cars darting in front of the truck. It may come down to a terrible choice of either rear-ending the car or spinning out by hitting the brakes too hard.

Bobtail Truck Accidents Caused by Hazardous Road Conditions in Erie

According to the 2009 U.S. Census, Erie has a population of 103,817 people in a 28.0 square mile area. Erie also is the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania. A lot of roadwork is necessary to maintain Erie’s sprawling road and highway infrastructure, but these important repairs don’t always happen in time to prevent a roadway accident. Sometimes the situation is made even more dangerous due to severe weather conditions. Hazardous road conditions cause more fatalities than speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol and are one of the biggest reasons for Erie truck accidents.

Local community health centers that will provide medical care to those with low incomes and/or no health insurance:

Community Health Services INC
747 Terrace Street, Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 373-3374

Community Health Net
1202 State Street, Erie, PA 16501
(814) 455-7222

Erie Motels are a Refuge When Road Conditions are Bad

Unsafe truck drivers make for unsafe roads. When driving conditions become too dangerous, truckers have a duty to pull over so that they don’t injure their fellow motorists. When road conditions are bad on Erie highways and it is unsafe for the trucker to drive, the semi truck driver should pull off the road at a truck stop or sit it out at a motel such as the ones listed below until it is safe to drive.

Erie Highway Management

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PennDOT supports over 40,500 miles of state roads and highways, about 25,000 bridges, as well as new roadway construction, the exception being the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, although they currently follow PennDOT policies and procedures. In addition, other modes of transportation are supervised or supported by PennDOT. These include aviation, rail traffic, mass transit, intrastate highway shipping traffic, motor vehicle safety & licensing, and driver licensing. PennDOT also supports the Ports of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie.

Some of the causes of Erie truck accidents due to hazardous road conditions may include:

• Potholes and poorly maintained roads
• Dangerous roads:
  • Poorly designed roads
  • Steep pavement drops
  • Narrow lanes
  • Sharp curves
• Bad weather (heavy rain, ice, snow and fog)
• Inadequate warning signs about road conditions
• Poorly marked construction zones
• Defective signals and signs
• Poor visibility of traffic signs
• Inadequate highway lighting

Bobtail Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Erie and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania, including Ashtabula, Bracton, Buffalo, Cleveland, Conneaut, Corry, Cranberry, Dunkirk, Edinboro, Erie, Evans Center, General Electric, Greenville, Grove City, Harborcreek, Hermitage, Jamestown, Jefferson, Oil City, Salamanca, Sheffield, Sugarcreek, Titusville, Warren, West Vernon, Westfield, areas in the vicinity of Erie International Airport, and other communities in Erie County.

Erie bobtail truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an Erie bobtail truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.