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Truck Accidents

90 Years of Fighting for Maximum Compensation in Pennsylvania

New Castle Truck Accident Lawyer for Pennsylvania Victims

Understanding Large Truck Accidents in Pennsylvania

When semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles collide with a car, the result is usually devastating. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in this kind of crash, you already know how quickly everything can change. The people in the smaller vehicles often face the worst injuries, traumatic brain damage, spinal injuries, and sometimes worse. Many truck drivers might walk away, but it’s your life, family, and future on the line.

You might be angry, scared, or simply unsure what to do next. That’s normal. You probably have a lot of common questions about truck accidents. Who is responsible after a crash? Can you get help with your medical bills? What happens if the trucking company calls? These questions matter, and you deserve honest, clear answers.

That’s where Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. can step in. You don’t have to handle this situation alone. Our team of Western Pennsylvania truck accident lawyers can fight to get you the support and compensation you need to start putting your life back together. We have stood by many families, and we care about every client who turns to us for help.

Trucking companies and their insurers know that we are serious about helping our clients fight for what they need. Our team has a proven history of getting real results, so you can focus on recovering, not stressing over paperwork and phone calls.

If you’ve been in a truck accident recently or need guidance on what to do next, reach out today. We are here to listen, answer your questions, and work with you every step of the way. Your recovery is our priority, and we’re ready to help you move forward.

Contact us today at (724) 658-8535 to learn how we can help you with your truck accident claim. Based in New Castle, we serve clients throughout Western Pennsylvania.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Pennsylvania Truck Accident Claims

Moments after a truck accident, call 911, get medical help, and wait for police. Pennsylvania law requires crashes involving injuries to be investigated by police, who complete an AA-500 crash report. This report, forwarded to PennDOT within 15 days, forms the foundation of your claim. If police don’t investigate, you must submit a written report to PennDOT within five days.

While you focus on treatment, a Western Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer can notify insurers, photograph the crash scene, and send a preservation letter before electronic logging devices or surveillance footage are overwritten. Acting early protects the evidence you will need later.

Truck accident claims rely on evidence unique to commercial vehicles: the tractor’s black box (Event Data Recorder), driver logbooks, cell-phone records, maintenance files, dash-cam video, and advanced telematics. These records can reveal driver fatigue, hours-of-service violations, or neglected maintenance, which are less common in typical car crashes.

Next comes the insurance phase. Federal rules mandate most interstate haulers to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, with higher limits (e.g., $1 million or $5 million) for vehicles carrying hazardous materials. The driver, carrier, broker, loader, and even a parts manufacturer may share liability, allowing claims against multiple policies. Your lawyer can counter low-ball offers from adjusters and address Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, which may reduce recovery if you’re found partially at fault.

Once you finish acute medical care, your attorney can prepare a demand package and open settlement talks. If offers come up short, a lawsuit is filed within Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations. Discovery pries loose additional records, followed by mediation. Most cases settle, but thorough trial preparation ensures pressure on the defense for a fair settlement or verdict.

Western Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers

Lawrence M. Kelly

Lawrence M. Kelly

Larry Kelly has built a distinguished legal career representing the people of Western Pennsylvania with a blend of legal skill and heartfelt advocacy. His deep ties to the New Castle area and decades of courtroom experience make him a trusted ally for truck accident victims seeking justice.

  • Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy
  • Practicing since 1983 with extensive trial experience
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers honoree for 18 consecutive years
  • Top 1% by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (2024)
  • Former member, Disciplinary Board of the PA Supreme Court (2013–2018)
Joseph A. George

Joseph A. George, Partner

An unwavering dedication to preparation defines Joe George’s approach to truck accident litigation. With dual bar admissions and a track record of successful outcomes, Joe is a go-to attorney for injury claims in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

  • Admitted in both PA and OH
  • AV Preeminent rating for legal ability and ethics
  • Focuses on personal injury, truck accidents, and medical malpractice
  • Super Lawyers selection (2018–2024)
  • J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law

Identifying the Causes of Truck Accidents

If you get hurt in a truck accident in Western Pennsylvania, it’s important to know how your car insurance works. Pennsylvania runs on a “choice no-fault” system. This means you have to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which pays your medical bills up to a limit no matter who caused the accident. When you buy your insurance, you’ll pick between two options: limited tort and full tort.

With limited tort, you can only get back medical bills and other economic losses from the driver who caused the accident. But you usually can’t sue them for pain and suffering unless your injury meets the state’s definition of a “serious injury.” On the other hand, if you choose full tort, you keep the right to sue for pain and suffering without jumping through extra hoops.

Truck accidents often cause serious injuries, so many folks find their PIP coverage just doesn’t cover everything. If that happens, you might want to file a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver, the trucking company, or any other responsible party. Figuring out who is liable usually means proving how the accident happened.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Truck driver error or negligence
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Hours-of-service violations
  • Overloaded trucks
  • Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
  • Failure to conduct routine truck maintenance
  • Defective trucks or truck parts
  • Dangerous roadway construction or design
  • Improper truck repairs
  • Trucking company negligence
  • Unrealistic deadlines and quotas for truck drivers
  • Negligent hiring, training, or supervising
  • Pressure by trucking companies to violate state or federal law

At Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C., we can work with a team of highly skilled accident reconstructionists, as well as other professionals, to investigate these claims and determine how the accident occurred. Our New Castle truck accident lawyers use all available evidence to develop innovative legal strategies and build powerful cases on behalf of our clients.

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Having represented over 10,000 clients, we’ve brought more cases to trial than many attorneys in Western PA

What Are the Common Injuries Suffered in a Truck Accident in Pennsylvania?

Truck accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, varying in severity from minor to life-threatening. These accidents involve large and heavy vehicles, which can lead to more devastating consequences compared to regular car collisions.

Here is a list of injuries truck crash victims often sustain:

  • Brain Injuries: Truck accident victims may suffer a range of traumatic brain injuries, from mild concussions to severe permanent disabilities.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: These types of injuries can cause partial or full paralysis and require long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
  • Internal Bleeding/Organ Damage: Truck accidents frequently result in significant internal hemorrhaging, which is often life-threatening if not treated quickly enough.
  • Broken Bones: The forceful impact of trucking crashes can easily break bones around the body, including arms, legs, hips, ribs, skull, and more.
  • Soft Tissue Injury (Whiplash): Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal range of motion due to an impact with a large truck or other commercial vehicle; this type of injury can lead to chronic pain over time if left untreated.
  • Burn Injuries: Chemical spills resulting from truck accidents can cause serious burn injuries that require specialized treatment for recovery and scarring prevention measures, such as skin grafts or laser treatments, are sometimes necessary in lieu of traditional surgeries like skin flaps or excisional surgery.
  • Emotional Trauma: Victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression due to the sudden physical and emotional trauma of a truck accident.

Unfortunately, these victims are not always able to recover fully from their physical trauma due to the catastrophic nature of truck accidents. That’s why it is important for those who have been injured in a truck accident to seek legal guidance from experienced trucking accident attorneys near them. The New Castle truck accident attorneys at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. understand how best to secure compensation for their clients’ losses. We can help you pursue compensation for all of your losses related to your trucking accident.

Injury Type Description Possible Consequences
Brain Injuries From mild concussions to severe traumatic brain damage Permanent disability, cognitive impairment, long-term care needs
Spinal Cord Injuries Damage leading to partial or complete paralysis Loss of mobility, ongoing rehabilitation
Internal Bleeding / Organ Damage Internal hemorrhaging caused by impact Life-threatening if untreated, requires emergency surgery
Broken Bones Fractures in arms, legs, ribs, skull, etc. Long healing times, potential surgeries and physical therapy
Soft Tissue Injuries (Whiplash) Neck strain from rapid head movement Chronic pain, reduced range of motion
Burn Injuries Caused by chemical spills or fires in a crash Scarring, skin grafts, or other specialized treatments
Emotional Trauma PTSD, anxiety, and depression after an accident Long-term psychological treatment and therapy

Contact New Castle Truck Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation

Our Family is Here to Help Yours

We invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys today. With several offices located throughout Western Pennsylvania, we serve clients in New Castle, Beaver Falls, Butler, Ellwood City, Cranberry Township, and all of the surrounding areas. Our firm offers personal injury legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any attorney fees or litigation-related costs unless we recover a settlement or verdict on your behalf.

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Determining who is liable for a truck accident is a complicated task. Often, there are multiple parties involved, including the truck driver, his or her employer, and various entities responsible for truck maintenance and repairs, cargo loading and securing, and tractor/trailer leasing. The truck driver may be an independent contractor; the tractor and trailer may be separately owned; the road on which the accident occurred may contain a defect that contributed to the accident.

It is important that you work with a skilled and experienced truck accident attorney, like ours at LGKG, when it comes to identifying the liable party. In some cases, you may have a claim against the trucking company or its insurance provider. In other instances, you could be entitled to compensation from a manufacturer, third-party motorist, or even the truck driver. Our team knows how to thoroughly investigate these claims and pursue all possible avenues of compensation on your behalf.

Victims of semi-truck and other large truck accidents are often left with debilitating injuries. Treating these injuries may require hospitalization, multiple surgeries, ongoing pain management, and other critical medical care. When these injuries result in lasting disabilities or impairments, victims may never be able to return to their once-normal lives.

At LGKG, we seek maximum compensation on behalf of truck accident victims, including but not limited to the following damages:

  • Past, current, and future medical expenses
  • Past, current, and future lost income and wages
  • Loss of employment benefits
  • Costs associated with home modifications
  • Past, current, and future pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Loss of earning capacity due to disability or impairment
  • In-home assistance and care costs

In some cases, victims may even be entitled to punitive damages. In contrast to the compensatory damages listed above, punitive damages do not compensate accident victims for specific economic and non-economic losses. Instead, they punish defendants for acts of outrageous conduct, such as gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct showing a reckless indifference to the rights of others.

Our truck accident attorneys in New Castle are prepared to seek all possible forms of compensation on your behalf. We understand just how devastating truck accidents are, both for victims and their families, and we work tirelessly to help you recover every penny you are owed.