Pennsylvania Rear-End Truck Accident Attorneys
Rear-end truck accidents are among the most common and most devastating types of commercial vehicle crashes. When an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer strikes the back of a passenger vehicle — or when a car is pushed into the rear of a stopped truck — the occupants of the smaller vehicle face catastrophic, often fatal injuries. The sheer mass differential means that even a low-speed rear-end collision with a commercial truck generates enormous destructive force.
At Siddons Law Firm in Media, PA, we represent rear-end truck accident victims across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York. Attorney Michael Siddons understands the federal regulations, investigation techniques, and legal strategies needed to hold trucking companies accountable for these preventable crashes.
Common Causes of Rear-End Truck Accidents
Truck Strikes Passenger Vehicle from Behind
The most dangerous scenario occurs when a commercial truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle. Common causes include:
- Driver fatigue: Drowsy truck drivers have delayed reaction times and may fail to notice slowing or stopped traffic until it is too late. FMCSA hours-of-service violations are a leading contributing factor.
- Distracted driving: Using dispatch devices, cell phones, GPS systems, or eating while driving diverts attention from the road. At 65 mph, a truck travels 100 feet in one second of inattention.
- Following too closely (tailgating): Fully loaded trucks require approximately 525 feet to stop from highway speed — nearly two football fields. Drivers who follow too closely cannot stop in time when traffic slows.
- Brake failure: Commercial air brake systems require rigorous maintenance. Worn brake components, air leaks, and overheated brakes from mountain descents can cause partial or complete brake failure.
- Adverse weather: Rain, snow, ice, and fog reduce visibility and traction, dramatically increasing stopping distances. Truck drivers who fail to reduce speed in adverse conditions act negligently.
Passenger Vehicle Strikes Rear of Truck
The opposite scenario — a car hitting the back of a truck — can be equally devastating due to the risk of underride, where the car slides beneath the trailer. Common causes include:
- Inadequate reflective markings: Trucks parked on shoulders or moving slowly without proper reflective tape or lights
- Missing or defective rear underride guards: Federal law requires rear guards, but many are insufficiently strong or poorly maintained
- Trucks stopped in travel lanes: Disabled trucks blocking lanes without adequate warning triangles or flares
Injuries in Rear-End Truck Accidents
The force generated in a rear-end truck collision causes severe injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Violent whiplash motion can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, causing concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries: Compression and hyperextension of the spine can damage the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis
- Whiplash and cervical injuries: Severe neck injuries that can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and nerve damage
- Chest and internal injuries: Seatbelt and steering wheel impact can cause broken ribs, collapsed lungs, cardiac contusions, and internal organ damage
- Limb fractures and crush injuries: The rear of the vehicle may be crushed inward, trapping and injuring occupants
- Burns and lacerations: Fuel fires and shattered glass cause secondary injuries
Liability in Rear-End Truck Accidents
While the rear driver is often presumed to be at fault in rear-end collisions, truck accident cases require deeper investigation. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver — for following too closely, distracted driving, fatigued driving, or failure to maintain control
- The trucking company — for pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic schedules, failing to maintain brakes, or negligent hiring and supervision
- The brake manufacturer or maintenance provider — for defective brake components or negligent servicing
- The cargo shipper — if an overloaded truck contributed to extended stopping distances
- Government entities — if road design, construction zones, or missing signage contributed to the accident
Evidence We Gather in Rear-End Truck Accident Cases
Our investigation focuses on proving exactly why the truck driver failed to stop in time:
- ELD data showing the driver’s hours of service and whether fatigue was a factor
- Event data recorder (EDR) information showing speed, braking force, and timing before impact
- The truck’s brake inspection and maintenance records
- Cell phone records to determine if the driver was distracted
- Dash cam and traffic camera footage
- The driver’s qualification file including training, CDL history, and prior violations
- Dispatch records showing schedule pressure from the carrier
Compensation Available
Rear-end truck accident victims may recover compensation for:
- All medical expenses including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and future treatment
- Lost wages during recovery and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Vehicle replacement and property damage
- Punitive damages when the driver or company acted with reckless disregard for safety
Free Consultation — Call Today
If you were injured in a rear-end truck accident in Pennsylvania or the Tri-State area, contact Siddons Law Firm at 610-255-7500 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis and serve clients throughout PA, NJ, MD, and NY.