Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer

A tractor-trailer at highway speed carries enough force to destroy a passenger vehicle and everyone inside it. In large-truck crashes, 70% of the people killed are occupants of passenger vehicles. When an 80,000-pound rig collides with a car on I-95, I-76, or Roosevelt Boulevard, the force is catastrophic. While you focus on medical recovery, trucking companies immediately deploy defense teams to pull electronic logs and “black box” data.

Pennsylvania law provides a two-year window to file, but critical evidence is often lost within the first 48 hours. As a premier Philadelphia personal injury lawyer, Greg Prosmushkin provides the aggressive intervention needed to freeze evidence before it disappears. Our Philadelphia truck accident lawyer has secured $1.3 million in tractor-trailer settlements and $1.25 million for victims of catastrophic commercial crashes.

At the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, we know how these cases are built and proven, backed by a decades-long record of high-stakes results:

$100+ million recovered for injured clients across documented cases
30+ years fighting for accident victims in Philadelphia and surrounding counties
$1.3 million in a single tractor-trailer settlement
4.5 star rating from 348+ verified Google reviews
Fluent in English, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, and Italian
Super Lawyers 2021-2026 (six consecutive years)
Avvo Superb Rating 9.7/10

Call 215-799-9990, request a free case review online, or visit our Philadelphia office at 9637 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19115 to start your recovery today.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Philadelphia

Because trucking companies immediately deploy post-accident protocols to minimize their liability, the actions you take in the hours following a crash will determine the strength of your legal claim and protect your future. Our commercial vehicle accident checklist for Philadelphia shows you exactly what to do next.

Secure the Police Report: Call 911 immediately. The crash report is the foundational evidence we use to establish fault.
Seek Immediate Medical Evaluation: High-force commercial crashes often cause internal injuries that don’t show symptoms for days. Visit a Philadelphia Level 1 trauma center (Temple University Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, or Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital) the same day.
Document Everything at the Scene: Photograph the truck’s license plate, the carrier’s name on the door, and the USDOT number. This information is vital for identifying all liable parties beyond just the driver.
Keep Every Medical Record and Receipt: Bills, prescriptions, physical therapy invoices, and transportation costs all become part of your documented damages.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement: You are not legally required to provide a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer. Before you speak with them, know what to do if the adjuster calls to avoid saying something that could devalue your claim.
Retain Counsel So We Can Send a Litigation Hold Letter Immediately: A “litigation hold” letter prevents the carrier from purging data. In many cases, missing or tampered ELD records can actually help win your case by proving the company failed to preserve evidence.

The sooner our attorneys are involved, the more evidence we can protect. Contact a Philadelphia truck accident attorney without delay.

Why Hire a Philadelphia Truck Accident Attorney?

Commercial trucking insurers manage claims for a living. Their goal is to resolve yours for the smallest possible number before you understand what it is worth. An experienced Philadelphia truck accident attorney changes that dynamic.

We stop insurer contact immediately. From the moment you retain us, all communication from the trucking company and its insurer goes through our office. You focus on healing.
We secure black box and ELD data before it is gone. Commercial trucks record speed, braking, throttle position, and hours of operation. This data can be overwritten. We send preservation letters and, when necessary, seek emergency court orders.
We identify every liable party. The driver is rarely the only defendant. We investigate the trucking company, the maintenance facility, and the cargo loaders to establish vicarious liability in your commercial auto case.
We know FMCSA regulations. We hold carriers accountable for hours-of-service violations, failed drug tests, and improper cargo securement.
We use dashcam and GPS evidence. Our team knows how to leverage technology to prove fault. We analyze commercial vehicle dashcam footage and use GPS data to strengthen your accident claim to provide undeniable visual evidence of the moments leading up to the crash.
We take cases to trial. Greg Prosmushkin is licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and eight federal district courts. Our reputation for litigation helps our clients decide whether to settle or go to trial based on what is best for their recovery, not what is easiest for the insurer.

Our Verified Case Results

$1.3M	Tractor-Trailer Accident	Worker pushed from trailer by contractors; failure to train and follow safety protocols.
$1.25M	Truck Accident	Driver pushed out of trailer; both legs shattered.
$1M	Motorcycle vs. Tractor-Trailer (Wrongful Death)	Truck driver ran stop sign; motorcyclist killed; video evidence discovered.
$3.3M	Wrongful Death (related: commercial vehicle)	Motorcyclist killed in collision with a bus; Top 10 PA Wrongful Death Settlement 2020

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its specific facts and circumstances.

Don’t face a national trucking corporation alone. Call 215-799-9990 for a free consultation.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Philadelphia Trucking Accident?

Pennsylvania law permits you to pursue every party whose negligence contributed to the crash. In commercial truck cases, that list frequently extends well beyond the driver.

The Truck Driver: We hold truck operators accountable for negligence, including speeding, distracted driving, impairment, fatigue, and hours-of-service violations.
The Trucking Company: Carriers are often liable for negligent hiring or failing to enforce FMCSA safety protocols.
The Cargo Loading Company: Improperly secured loads cause catastrophic jackknife and rollover accidents.
Vehicle & Parts Manufacturers: If defective brakes or tire blowouts caused the crash, we pivot to a product liability claim against the manufacturer to recover damages for mechanical failure.
Government Entities: If dangerous road design or missing guardrails contributed to the crash, we can file a claim against the City of Philadelphia or PennDOT. Note that these cases require a Notice of Intent within six months under the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.
Delivery Corporations: Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, companies are liable for the actions of their drivers. We have extensive experience handling claims against major carriers, including Amazon delivery accidents and FedEx truck accidents in Philadelphia.
Multiple Parties in Chain Reactions: In complex scenarios involving several vehicles, we investigate who is liable in a Philadelphia commercial vehicle multi-car pileup to ensure every insurance policy is triggered.

Injuries We Handle in Philadelphia Truck Accident Cases

An 80,000-pound tractor-trailer generates kinetic energy rarely seen in standard car crashes, often resulting in catastrophic injuries and life-altering trauma. Many injuries do not present fully until hours or days after the collision. Seek care the same day, regardless of how you feel.

Our firm provides legal representation for the following catastrophic injuries:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): High-impact collisions often result in lasting cognitive impairment or memory loss. As these typically qualify as “serious injuries”, our Philadelphia brain injury lawyers work with neurologists to prove the long-term impact on your quality of life.
Spinal Cord & Nerve Damage: Whether you are suffering from paralysis or nerve compression from a herniated disc, our spinal cord injury lawyer utilizes life-care planners to document the lifetime costs of complex neck and back injuries.
Crush Injuries & Amputations: Heavy truck accidents often lead to limb loss or severe crushing of the extremities. Our amputation accident lawyers pursue maximum compensation for the prosthetic and rehabilitative needs associated with these life-altering events.
Severe Burns: Fires involving diesel fuel or hazardous chemical cargo can result in permanent scarring. Our burn injury attorneys hold carriers accountable for the failure to secure dangerous materials.
Internal Trauma & Fractures: High-force impact can lead to organ hemorrhaging or fractures of the pelvis and femur. We ensure these injuries are documented to meet Pennsylvania’s serious injury threshold for full tort recovery.
Wrongful Death: Our firm has a proven history of securing justice for grieving families, including a $3.3 million recovery and a $1 million settlement in fatal commercial crashes. Our Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers handle the legal burden so you can focus on your family.
Psychological Trauma: PTSD and severe emotional distress are recoverable damages under Pennsylvania law. We fight to ensure your mental recovery is funded as robustly as your physical one.

Dealing with a life-altering injury? Find out if your injury qualifies for compensation. Start your free insurance review today.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle in Philadelphia

Commercial truck accidents are not a single event; they are a category of collisions, each driven by different physics, federal regulations, and liability theories. Understanding which type of crash occurred often determines who is legally responsible and how much insurance coverage is available to you.

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife happens when a tractor-trailer’s cab and trailer fold toward each other at the pivot point, typically because the trailer’s brakes lock before the cab’s. The result is a sweeping arc of steel across multiple lanes. These crashes are governed in part by FMCSA brake performance standards. We examine brake maintenance logs, driver inspection reports, and black box data to determine whether the failure was mechanical, driver error, or both.

Underride Accidents

Underride crashes occur when a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a large truck during a rear or side collision. Federal law requires rear underride guards, but side underride guards remain largely unregulated, which is where carriers fight hardest to avoid liability. These crashes cause catastrophic head and roof injuries. We retain accident reconstruction experts and inspect the guard’s condition, mounting hardware, and compliance history.

Rollover Accidents

Tanker trucks and flatbeds are especially prone to rollovers when cargo shifts, a turn is taken too fast, or the load is improperly secured. We investigate these cases under the specific federal regulations governing cargo securement and hazmat transport. A rollover involving liquid cargo or hazardous materials adds a second layer of liability: the carrier, the shipper, and the loader may all share responsibility.

Rear-End Truck Collisions

A loaded 18-wheeler traveling at highway speed needs nearly 500 feet to stop, nearly twice the distance of a passenger car. When a truck driver follows too closely, is distracted, or fails to recognize slowing traffic in time, the rear-end collision that follows is rarely minor. We examine hours-of-service logs, forward-facing dash cam footage, and telematics data to establish whether fatigue, distraction, or deliberate speeding contributed to the crash.

Tire Blowout Accidents

A commercial truck tire failure at highway speed can scatter debris across an entire roadway, cause the driver to lose control, or result in a sudden lane change that forces other vehicles off the road. Liability often extends beyond the driver: a carrier that ignores tire inspection requirements or a manufacturer whose tire fails prematurely may bear significant responsibility. We investigate maintenance records and, where warranted, pursue product liability claims against tire manufacturers.

Tractor-Trailers and 18-Wheelers

The sheer mass and stopping distance of a fully loaded rig make tractor-trailer collisions among the most destructive on any road. We investigate driver qualification files, hours-of-service logs, trucking company negligent hiring records, and the carrier’s safety history with the FMCSA, building the full picture of liability before a carrier’s legal team has a chance to shape the narrative.

Amazon, FedEx, and UPS Delivery Trucks

Delivery drivers operating under aggressive, high-pressure schedules represent a growing category of commercial vehicle crashes in Philadelphia. We navigate the complex corporate liability structures inherent in Amazon delivery accidents, FedEx crashes, and UPS truck accidents. We also identify when rideshare or food delivery drivers qualify as commercial vehicles, a classification that can significantly expand available insurance coverage.

Flatbeds and Oversized Loads

Improperly secured cargo becomes deadly roadway debris at highway speed. We hold carriers accountable when loads exceed legal weight limits, when required escort vehicles are skipped, or when tie-down equipment fails to meet federal cargo securement standards. These cases often involve multiple responsible parties: the carrier, the loading company, and the freight broker.

Dump Trucks and Construction Vehicles

With 320 work-zone crashes hitting the Philadelphia area in 2024, construction-zone truck accidents require an attorney who understands both traffic law and worksite safety regulations. Our construction accident team handles claims involving heavy machinery, highway work-site negligence, and cases where both the driver and the construction company share fault.

Hit-and-Run Truck Accidents

When a commercial driver flees the scene, you are not without options. Our hit-and-run accident lawyers work to identify the truck through surveillance footage, FMCSA carrier databases, and weigh station records, while simultaneously securing compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage so your claim is not held hostage to the investigation.

Pennsylvania Truck Accident Laws You Need to Know in 2026

Commercial truck accident cases in Philadelphia are governed by both Pennsylvania state law and federal FMCSA regulations. Understanding which rules apply, and when, determines what evidence we pursue, which parties we name, and how much compensation you can recover.

Statute of Limitations: You generally have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing the Pennsylvania 2-year commercial auto deadline is fatal to your case. If your crash involved a SEPTA, city, or PennDOT vehicle, a Notice of Intent must be filed within six months under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.
FMCSA Hours-of-Service Rules: Under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, property-carrying truck drivers are capped at 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. When these rules are ignored, missing hours-of-service records can become among the strongest evidence of carrier negligence, because a court may draw an adverse inference from improperly purged ELD data.
Federal 80,000-Pound Weight Limit: Commercial vehicles on interstate highways are capped at 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight under 23 U.S.C. § 127. Pennsylvania enforces weight limits on state roads as well. Read our blog on what happens when commercial drivers exceed pennsylvania 80000-pound limits.
CDL Requirement: Any vehicle with a GCWR over 26,001 pounds requires a Class A CDL under 49 C.F.R. § 383. Operating a commercial vehicle without a valid CDL is negligence per se. Understand when trucks need Class A CDL requirements.
Limited Tort vs. Full Tort: Your right to recover pain and suffering depends on your tort election. We establish that truck accident injuries meet the serious injury threshold, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fractures, so that limited tort does not reduce your recovery.
Modified Comparative Negligence: Pennsylvania’s 51% rule allows recovery if you were 50% or less at fault. Recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Do not accept any fault determination from a defense adjuster without attorney review.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: If the at-fault carrier lacks adequate insurance, your own UM/UIM policy becomes a recovery source. Our uninsured motorist claims lawyer handles these adversarial claims.
35-Day Commercial Insurance Notice: Under federal FMCSA rules and the terms of commercial trucking insurance policies, carriers and their insurers must receive notice within strict timeframes following a crash. Missing this 35-Day insurance notice window can affect coverage availability. Immediate legal review is necessary to ensure these deadlines are met.
Paul Miller’s Law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3316.1, fully enforced as of June 5, 2026): Pennsylvania’s hands-free driving law bans all handheld mobile device use while operating a vehicle, including while stopped at red lights or in traffic. As of June 5, 2026, violations are now a summary offense carrying a $50 fine plus court costs. The 12-month warning period has ended. For commercial truck drivers, a citation also triggers FMCSA enforcement exposure. A Paul Miller’s Law violation is evidence of negligence per se in civil litigation.

The law is detailed. The deadlines are unforgiving. Call 215-799-9990 or schedule your free case review before any of them pass.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Philadelphia Truck Accident?

Pennsylvania law allows victims to pursue three distinct categories of damages. Because trucking companies carry high-limit commercial policies, we focus on identifying the maximum compensation available for your specific commercial truck accident.

Economic Damages: Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and future treatment costs. Lost wages and diminished earning capacity. Property damage and replacement transportation. Home modifications for permanent disability. Out-of-pocket costs such as prescriptions and medical equipment.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement. Pennsylvania places no statutory cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Your tort election determines eligibility.
Punitive Damages: Available where the trucking company’s conduct was reckless or intentional, such as knowingly falsifying logs, deliberately operating an unsafe vehicle, or hours-of-service violations severe enough to demonstrate conscious disregard for public safety.
Medical Liens: Healthcare providers may assert liens against your settlement. We negotiate those liens down to increase what you take home.

Is your current attorney undervaluing your case? We frequently accept case transfers where prior counsel failed to recognize the full value of a commercial claim.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Philadelphia

These are the causes we investigate most frequently across Philadelphia, I-95, I-76, and the surrounding freight corridor:

Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations: Federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations exist because exhausted drivers are as dangerous as impaired ones. When a carrier pressures drivers to exceed log limits or falsify ELD records, the company shares liability.
Distracted Driving: Pennsylvania’s Paul Miller’s Law bans handheld device use while driving, including for commercial operators.
Improper Cargo Loading: Overloaded or poorly secured cargo shifts during transit and causes rollovers and jackknifes. Cargo loading teams carry independent liability when their errors contribute to a crash.
Inadequate Truck Maintenance: According to the 2024 International Roadcheck data, 23% of commercial vehicles inspected had out-of-service violations serious enough to remove them from the road, with brake systems and tire defects among the leading causes.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Large commercial vehicles require significantly longer stopping distances than passenger cars.
Drug and Alcohol Impairment: FMCSA mandates pre-employment, post-accident, random, and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing for CDL holders. A BAC of 0.04% triggers a per se DUI violation for commercial operators.
Negligent Hiring and Inadequate Training: Carriers who hire drivers with disqualifying records or fail to verify CDL credentials are independently liable.

Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

Commercial trucks are overrepresented in fatal crashes relative to their presence on the road:

Pennsylvania recorded 1,047 total traffic fatalities in 2025, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1928, with 109,515 total reportable crashes (PennDOT 2025 Traffic Fatality Report, May 2026).
Heavy trucks are involved in approximately 7,000 crashes annually in Pennsylvania, accounting for roughly 5.6% of all crashes while representing more than 12% of all traffic fatalities, a disproportionate share driven by vehicle size and weight (PennDOT Crash Facts and Statistics).
Philadelphia’s High Injury Network, representing 12% of city streets, accounts for 80% of severe injuries and traffic deaths, with I-95, I-76, and Roosevelt Boulevard generating a disproportionate share of heavy-vehicle incidents.
More than 23% of commercial trucks inspected in FMCSA roadside checks had serious safety violations, including brake failures and tire defects (FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts).
Fatalities involving aggressive driving in Pennsylvania rose 31% between 2020 and 2025, reflecting a continued risk on freight corridors where commercial vehicles operate alongside passenger cars (PennDOT 2025 Traffic Fatality Report).

Philadelphia’s Most Dangerous Roads for Truck Accidents

The High Injury Network accounts for 80% of severe injuries and traffic deaths in Philadelphia (Vision Zero Action Plan 2030). Commercial vehicles concentrate on these corridors:

I-95 (Delaware Expressway). Philadelphia’s primary freight artery. High-speed merge conflicts, port access traffic, and active construction zones generate consistent commercial vehicle incidents. Read our blog on compensation you can claim after a multi-vehicle crash on I-95.
Roosevelt Boulevard (US-1). Deadliest road in Pennsylvania, with more than 90,000 vehicles daily and 13% of Philadelphia’s traffic fatalities (Philadelphia Vision Zero Action Plan 2030). Our Bensalem Truck Accident Attorney handles cases in the adjacent Bucks County corridor.
I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway). Narrow lanes and high speeds create dangerous conditions for wide-load commercial vehicles.
I-676 (Vine Street Expressway). A major downtown connector for commercial deliveries navigating the center city.
US-13 (Bristol Pike) and Street Road. Consistent commercial vehicle crash cases handled by our Bristol truck accident attorney and Bucks County team.
Broad Street (PA-611) and Frankford Avenue. High-pedestrian corridors with commercial vehicle traffic generate pedestrian accident claims.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer?

It costs nothing up front to hire a truck accident lawyer in Philadelphia, PA. Representation at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin is entirely contingency-based. We advance all investigation and litigation costs. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe nothing.

$0 upfront costs. We advance all litigation and expert expenses.
No fee unless we win. Our payment comes from your recovery only.
Free case review. Get an honest assessment of your situation with no obligation.
24/7 availability. You can reach someone on our team any time.

Speak With a Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer Today

The trucking company’s team begins documenting the case the moment the crash is reported. Every hour without legal representation is an hour the other side uses to build its defense. Since 1995, the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin has leveled the playing field against billion-dollar carriers.

Don’t let a billion-dollar insurance carrier dictate your future. Schedule a free consultation to speak with an attorney about your path to recovery today.

We Serve Clients Throughout the Philadelphia Region

Philadelphia Neighborhoods: Center City, University City, North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Germantown, Manayunk, Roxborough, Chestnut Hill, Fishtown, Kensington, Port Richmond, Frankford, Olney, Logan, Nicetown, Brewerytown, Fairmount, Spring Garden

Surrounding Counties: Bucks County | Montgomery County | Delaware County

Frequently Asked Questions About Philadelphia Truck Accidents

Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Truck Accident Case Is Pending?

Under Pennsylvania’s no-fault rules, your own auto insurance PIP coverage pays first, regardless of who caused the crash. Once your PIP is exhausted, your private health insurance becomes the primary payer. It is important to know that the trucking company’s insurer will not pay your medical bills as they arrive; they only pay a lump sum at the end of a successful claim. If you are feeling stuck with mounting medical bills after a commercial vehicle accident, our team can help coordinate with your providers.

The Trucking Company’s Insurer Contacted Me the Same Day. Should I Talk to Them?

No. You should decline to provide any recorded statement or sign any medical authorizations until you have spoken with an attorney. Adjusters often call within hours of a crash to catch victims before they understand the full extent of their injuries. From the moment you retain us, we intercept all adjuster contact to ensure you do not inadvertently devalue your claim.

How Long Does a Philadelphia Truck Accident Case Take to Resolve?

While most cases resolve within 12 to 24 months, the timeline usually depends on the number of defendants and the depth of the FMCSA investigation. Cases involving government vehicles (like SEPTA) or multiple liable parties may take longer due to specialized notice requirements and litigation procedures. Read: How Long to Resolve Commercial Auto Accident Cases in Philadelphia.

Can I Still Recover Pain and Suffering With Limited Tort?

Most likely, yes. While limited tort generally restricts your right to sue for non-economic damages, Pennsylvania’s “serious injury” threshold (75 Pa.C.S. § 1702) provides an exception for death, permanent disfigurement, or serious impairment of a body function. Because the force involved in truck crashes is so high, injuries like TBIs, spinal damage, and fractures routinely qualify. Read: Does Limited Tort Hurt Your Philadelphia Commercial Auto Claim?

What If I Was Partially at Fault for the Truck Accident?

You can still recover compensation as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule, your final recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 20% at fault, you would receive $80,000. Never accept an adjuster’s determination of fault without a professional accident reconstruction.