Anyone who has driven on the Pennsylvania Turnpike knows that the roads are old and poorly maintained in some places. These are not good conditions for a road often cluttered with many different types of vehicles, including large trucks.
Driving around trucks makes even the most experienced drivers nervous. Most areas of the Pennsylvania Turnpike only have two lanes, which makes it difficult to avoid trucks if two of them are driving in the same lane.
Additionally, the narrow roads, tunnels through mountains and many twists and turns make for a risky situation even if driving conditions are otherwise good. Factors such as poor weather or road construction can make driving around trucks on the turnpike downright dangerous.
Common causes of truck accidents on the turnpike
All drivers have a legal duty to drive safely and follow the traffic laws. Truck drivers spend most of their day driving which can make them more susceptible to distracted driving, drowsy driving or speeding to make their deadlines.
These are all examples of negligent driving. When a truck driver’s negligent driving causes an accident, they could be held responsible for damages.
Damages can include compensation for the cost of treating any injuries, time missed from work due to the accident and mental and emotional suffering.
What to do after a truck accident on the turnpike
You should not pull off the road or get out of your vehicle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, even if you are involved in a truck accident. The turnpike has service plazas and emergency pull offs every few miles. For safety, pull over to one of those if possible.
In addition to calling the police, you can call *11 to alert the Pennsylvania Turnpike Operations Center about what happened and provide them with your location. The turnpike has mile markers every quarter mile to make it easy to communicate your location.
Obtain the trucker’s information and wait for help to arrive. Do not move anyone who is injured. Do not apologize to anyone or take responsibility for the accident. Following these steps can increase your chance of successfully proving negligence in a personal injury claim.