Many sizes and types of vehicles share the roadways in Pennsylvania. Authorities do their best to regulate and enforce traffic laws to ensure safety for all people on the roads no matter type of vehicle is involved. Due to the danger larger trucks can impose on smaller vehicles, semi-truck drivers must adhere to additional regulations. Truck accidents can cause severe damage to property, people and other vehicles.
Recently, a truck driver’s apparent negligence resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man. According to police reports, the victim was outside of his parked truck standing by the driver’s side door when the collision occurred. The other older man allegedly crossed out of his lane, crashing into the side of the victim’s truck. The impact threw the younger driver to the side of the road, and he died from his injuries.
Drivers are required to stop and alert authorities after an accident, but police say the trucker drove away from the scene of the accident. He was later found and arrested at a truck stop. He has been charged with multiple criminal charges, including careless and reckless driving.
Anytime a person is injured or killed as a result of a negligent truck driver, a claim for monetary damages may be filed in a Pennsylvania civil court. The family of the younger man will be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court against the driver and likely the trucker’s employer. If the driver’s negligence is formally established and found to have caused or contributed to the crash, financial relief similar to awards made in other serious truck accidents may be ordered.
Source: pennlive.com, “Truck driver charged in fellow trucker’s death in hit-and-run crash on I-81“, Matt Miller, Jan. 13, 2017
