The driver of an SUV was seriously injured when it collided with a utility truck around 4:15 on Monday, March 4, 2019. According to officials at the scene, the box utility truck crossed the centerline of Tacony Street and struck the SUV head on.
The driver of the box truck was treated at the scene, but the driver of the SUV sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital via ambulance. Police say that neither alcohol or distracted driving were suspected at this time, but the accident is still under investigation.
Commercial Truck Crashes
Delivery trucks, utility trucks, tanker trucks, construction trucks and other commercial trucks make up around 15 percent of all traffic in Philadelphia and other major cities around the country. Most of these trucks outweigh the typical passenger vehicle by at least 5 times and up to 10 times depending on the load and type of truck.
Add that to the fact that they make up a significant portion of a city’s traffic, and it’s obvious that motorists are at risk of getting into a wreck with one. A study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, shows that the number of small to medium sized delivery truck usage is on the increase across the U.S. which puts more of these on the road among other drivers.
The Problem with Commercial Trucks
Box delivery trucks and small to medium commercial truck pose a unique risk to motorists and others on the streets. First, many are darting in and out of traffic, stopping to park and deliver and then get out into traffic again. This pattern of driving increases the risk of collisions with passenger vehicles.
Second, most of these trucks have larger blind spots than do the typical passenger cars and trucks. This creates problems for drivers of both types of vehicles. With blind spots, many times the accident happens with no warning for either driver as the truck will turn or change lanes without seeing the other vehicle, and the driver of the other vehicle has no time to act defensively.
Finally, the weight of these delivery trucks puts the typical passenger vehicles at a disadvantage, and a collision with one of these heavier trucks can cause more damage and injury than a passenger vehicle.
Common Types of Crashes With Commercial Trucks
- Sideswipe: Many times a delivery or box truck will change lanes and not see a vehicle in its blind spot.
- T-Bone: These happen when a vehicle runs a stop sign running into the path of another vehicle creating a side-impact. A disproportionate amount of these are with delivery trucks, and when this happens, the mass and weight of the delivery truck can cause significant damage and injuries.
- Rollover: When a lighter vehicle collides with a heavier vehicle, the chance of a rollover increases, and these can be deadly. Rollovers are the second highest producers of fatalities especially if an ejection occurs.
- Head-On: A head-on collision produces the highest risk of a fatality, and when a box truck is involved, those risks to the other cars’ occupants—especially the driver—go up.
Do I Need an Attorney?
If you’ve been injured by a box delivery or other commercial truck, you need to talk to an attorney who can give you good advice and has experience in truck accident cases. The insurance company will say anything to make the accident look like your fault. Don’t just take the word of the insurance company regarding how much you are entitled to, but talk to a Philadelphia Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer today. Call the Pearce Law Firm, P.C. at (215) 557-8686 or text at (215) 880 6164. You can also send them a message online by clicking here.