Pottsville, Pennsylvania, truck operators are held to a higher standard while driving on the roadways. This is evident because those who drive trucks have to have a special license in order to do so. Those behind the while of an 18-wheeler or any other type of truck are required to possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in order to operate the vehicle. There are also specific federal trucking regulations that apply to truckers and their responsibilities, while they are on the road. When a there is a crash involving a truck, the police investigation has to take into account these regulations and utilize them accordingly.
In Union City, Pennsylvania, there was a fatal truck accident that resulted in one death. The investigation by the authorities revealed that a car was traveling on the roadway when it crossed into the other lane and collided with a tanker truck. The car somehow went underneath the truck, and hit the back wheels of the tanker, literally, ripping the car in half. The driver of the car died in the accident. The truck driver was not injured, even after the truck ended up on its side after the accident.
Investigating a truck accident is handled a little differently than car accidents. Because of the federal regulations with respect to trucks on the roads, investigating a truck accident has to take into account the trucking log, whether or not there were defective auto parts on the truck and if negligence truck maintenance could have played a role in the accident. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident and what the investigation reveals, the abovementioned factors may play a role in determining liability.
Being in a truck accident is a scary thing. Knowing one’s rights when involved in this type of an accident is imperative.
Source: WSEE 12, “Update: Fatal Accident Claims Young Life,” Emily Welsh, Oct. 24, 2013