Coatesville Truck Accident Attorney

A crash with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, changes everything in an instant. You’re juggling treatment plans, time off work, and bills you didn’t plan for—while pain and uncertainty make even small decisions feel heavy. Meanwhile, the carrier’s insurer calls early, looking for statements that can be used against you.

Our experienced Coatesville truck accident lawyers know these roads and the playbook used by transportation companies and their legal teams. We handle the insurer, subpoenas, expert work, and negotiations so you can focus on recovery. Your consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee—you owe nothing unless we win compensation for you.

Injured in an accident involving a semi-truck in Coatesville, Pennsylvania? Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers has over 10 years experience handling claims against large trucking companies. Call (866) 968-5545 to speak with our award-winning legal team.

Why Choose Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Coatesville, Pennsylvania?

Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers focuses exclusively on personal injury cases, and we specialize in commercial‐vehicle claims. Attorney Tyler Wilk holds carriers to the rules that govern them and pursues full value for clients hurt by negligent trucking operations.

Local knowledge matters. We handle cases arising from Route 30’s steady freight traffic and the tighter curves along Route 82, and we know how those corridors shape speed, visibility, stopping distance, and crash dynamics. That context helps us identify who’s responsible—and where the proof will come from.

What sets us apart

• Immediate action. We start evidence preservation and investigation within hours, not days.
• Proven results. Substantial outcomes against major carriers and their insurers.
• Direct access. You work with attorneys—not shuffled to a call center or case manager.
• No upfront costs. Contingency fee representation: no fee unless we recover for you.

If you were injured in a truck crash in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, we’re ready to move quickly, protect the record, and build the case the right way.

How Our Award-Winning Legal Team Builds Your Case

From day one, our experienced Coatesville truck accident lawyers take the load off you and get to work on the record. Within hours we send hold letters to the carrier, its insurer, and any third parties so the ECM/EDR download, ELD logs, dashcam clips, 911 audio, and shop records don’t disappear.

We scan the area for nearby cameras (gas stations, warehouses, storefronts), pull the police crash report, and document the scene—gouge marks, debris field, sightlines, and signal timing. If the rig is available, we inspect brakes, tires, lights, and cargo securement.

Next, we build the case with specialists who simplify the matter.

• An accident reconstructionist ties together speed, braking, and impact angles;
• your treating physicians explain diagnosis, limitations, and prognosis;
• when appropriate, a vocational expert and life-care planner map out return-to-work and future medical needs;
• and an economist totals wage loss and long-term costs.

Insurers know we prepare as if a jury will see everything. That changes the negotiation. We use sworn statements, authenticated data, and a focused settlement brief (sometimes with day-in-the-life visuals) to press for full value.

If the offer doesn’t reflect the evidence, we push back and go to court if necessary.

What Makes Semi-Truck Claims Different From Car Accidents

Because truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries the stakes are extremely high.

Severe Injuries and Serious Property Damage

Most interstate carriers must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and many buy layered limits that reach $1–$5 million+. With more money on the line, insurers defend harder—and the casework has to be sharper—because the upside (and downside) is bigger than in a typical car crash.

Potentially Multiple Liable Parties

A single wreck can involve the driver, the motor carrier, a broker or shipper/cargo loader, a maintenance shop, or even a parts manufacturer. Each may have separate insurance and a different defense theory.

That can expand the recovery path, but it also means careful strategy to connect responsibilities without letting defendants point fingers at each other and you.

Federal and Local Trucking Regulations

Layered over all of this is a different rulebook. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) govern hours of service, pre-trip inspections, driver qualification files, drug/alcohol testing, and equipment standards.

When those rules are broken, the violations can prove negligence or tip close questions on fault—even when eyewitness accounts are thin.

Determining Liability in Truck Accident Claims

Liability in a truck crash rarely rests on one person. At the driver level, speeding, distraction, and fatigue often show up in phone records, EDR data, and hours-of-service logs.

Those same records can point upstream to the motor carrier—unsafe dispatch pressures, poor hiring or training, or supervision that tolerates rule violations—all of which place the company on the hook with its own insurance.

Responsibility can also sit off the roadway. On the loading side, overweight or poorly secured freight can shift and pull a rig out of line; bills of lading, scale tickets, and securement records trace that fault to a shipper or cargo loader.

In maintenance, service shops share exposure when brakes, tires, lighting, or steering aren’t kept to spec—work orders and inspection logs tell the story.

Some crashes trace to equipment itself. A defective brake component, coupling, or tire can bring a manufacturer (and sometimes a distributor) into the case under product-liability law.

By following the evidence through each link—driver, carrier, loader, maintenance, and parts—our experienced Coatesville personal injury attorneys identify every responsible party and every policy that can fund a full recovery.

Evidence We Preserve Immediately After a Truck Accident

ECM/EDR (“black box”) data – We send immediate litigation-hold letters and coordinate a forensic download before the truck is repaired or put back into service. This data shows speed, throttle, braking, and steering in the seconds before the crash—objective proof of what happened.

ELD hours-of-service logs – We issue preservation notice to the carrier and ELD vendor; request raw logs and backups; subpoena if necessary. These logs confirms fatigue and hours-of-service violations, revealing whether the driver missed required rest breaks.

Dashcam video (cab/trailer) – We demand original files with metadata from the fleet or vendor; stop auto-delete cycles. This footage provides visual proof of the driver’s behavior, lane position, and the crash itself.

Third-party video (traffic/store/Ring) – Contact nearby businesses or homeowners quickly; request originals, not screen recordings. Video evidence offers independent confirmation of the events and helps resolve disputes over fault.

Driver Qualification File (DQF) – Our attorneys request records under federal rules; preserve hiring, training, and safety history. This file can reveal negligent hiring practices or prior violations that show risk was ignored.

Maintenance & inspection records – We send preservation notices to the carrier and shops; secure work orders, DVIRs, and inspection logs. These records prove whether brakes, tires, and other systems were properly serviced.

Dispatch, GPS/telematics, and phone logs – We subpoena dispatch messages, GPS pings, and phone records; preserve server data. These logs tie driver communications and truck movement to the exact timeline of the crash.

How Truck Accidents Happen

• Even with the 11-hour cap, pressure to keep driving leads to slower reactions and bad calls—dangerous in a vehicle that can weigh 80,000 pounds.
• Speed and stopping distance. Speeding is a force multiplier. A loaded tractor-trailer needs far more road to stop than a car—even on dry pavement with good brakes. Add traffic or a sudden lane change and the margin disappears.
• Distraction on busy corridors. On Route 30 and other Chester County arteries, glance-away moments matter. Reaching for a GPS, eating on the move, or taking a call shifts attention from brake lights ahead. At truck scale, those seconds are costly.
• Maintenance shortcuts. Brakes, tires, lights, and steering components take a beating. When carriers skimp on inspections or delay repairs, the result is predictable: brake fade, blowouts, and equipment failures that turn manageable situations into collisions.
• Bad loading and overweight trailers. Cargo that’s too heavy—or poorly secured—changes how a rig handles. Shifting loads raise rollover risk and make jackknifes more likely, especially during hard braking or evasive maneuvers.

Injuries That Truck Accidents Commonly Cause

The scale of a truck crash means the injuries are rarely minor. An 80,000-pound tractor-trailer delivers forces the human body simply cannot absorb, which is why these cases so often involve catastrophic harm.

• Brain injuries are common when the head strikes a surface inside the car or when the brain shifts violently within the skull. The consequences can last a lifetime—memory loss, personality changes, or permanent cognitive impairment.
• Spinal cord damage is another life-altering result. Fractured or dislocated vertebrae can damage nerve tissue, leading to partial loss of movement and sensation—or complete paralysis below the injury site.
• Fractures happen frequently because of the sheer impact. Multiple broken bones may require surgery, long recoveries, and extended time away from work or family responsibilities.
• Internal injuries aren’t always obvious at the scene. Organ injuries and internal bleeding can turn life-threatening without fast emergency care.
• Burn injuries may follow when a truck’s fuel tank ruptures. These burns are excruciating, often require extensive treatment, and can leave permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Each of these injuries demands serious medical attention—and they’re why truck cases involve higher damages than typical car crashes.

Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Wreck

In Pennsylvania, you can recover economic losses—the dollars you can count—and non-economic losses—the human impact that isn’t captured by receipts. The aim is to make you financially whole and to recognize what the crash took from your day-to-day life.

• Medical care (past and future). This includes the ambulance and ER, hospital stays, surgeries, rehab, prescriptions, medical devices, and the treatment your doctors say you’ll need going forward.
• Lost wages and earning capacity. We account for the pay you’ve already missed and any long-term hit to your income if you can’t return to the same job or hours.
• Pain, suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures. Physical pain, sleep or mood changes, activity limits, scarring, and the ways your routine has narrowed.
• Property damage. Repair or replacement of your vehicle and any personal items damaged in the crash.
• Wrongful death/Survival claims. For families: funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship and guidance—along with the estate’s claims for final medical bills and suffering.

Every case is different. We document each category with records, credible witnesses, and expert support so the full value of your losses is on the table.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Coatesville?

Call 911 and Get Medical Care

Even if you feel okay, call 911. Adrenaline can hide serious injuries—internal bleeding or a concussion may not show symptoms right away. Let paramedics check you out, and if they recommend the hospital, go. Early treatment protects your health and creates a clear medical record tied to the crash.

Document Everything at the Scene

Use your phone like a scanner. Take wide shots first, then close-ups. Capture every vehicle from multiple angles, the truck’s DOT/US DOT and company name on the cab, trailer ID, license plates, and any hazmat placards. Photograph skid marks, debris, fluid stains, damage patterns, traffic signals/signs, and the road surface (wet, gravel, potholes). Don’t forget your visible injuries.

Swap information without debating fault. Get the driver’s name, CDL number, employer, and insurance, plus the trucking company’s legal name and policy details. Note the time, exact location, weather, and where each vehicle came to rest.

Collect Witness Information

Neutral voices can make or break a truck case. If it’s safe, ask bystanders for their contact information and note where they were when they saw the crash (e.g., “west sidewalk, 30–40 ft away”).

Get a brief description in their own words of what they noticed—speed, signal color, lane changes, horn/braking, or phone use. If someone has photos, video, or dashcam, ask to save a copy or confirm how to obtain it later. These details often undercut a trucking company’s spin and keep the facts straight.

Avoid Talking to Insurance Companies

The trucking company’s insurance adjuster will contact you quickly, often within hours of the accident. Don’t give any recorded statements or sign documents without consulting an attorney first. These companies use your words against you to deny or reduce your claim.

Contact Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Immediately

Contact us as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence and protecting your rights. We’re available 24/7 and can start working on your case immediately, even if you’re still in the hospital.

How Long Do You Have to File in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. It’s a hard deadline—miss it and you may loose your right to make a claim.

There are a few exceptions. If a government entity (like PennDOT) is involved, you must serve a written notice within six months or risk losing the claim. And for minors, the clock typically doesn’t start until the child turns 18.

What If You Are Partly at Fault Under Pennsylvania’s 51% Rule?

Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence rule: you can recover money as long as you’re 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share of blame; at 51% or more, you’re barred from recovery.

Quick example: if a jury values the case at $100,000 and you’re found 25% at fault, you collect $75,000 (the full amount minus 25%). If you’re 51%, you collect $0.

Carriers know this and push blame hard—speeding, following too closely, distraction. We counter with objective proof: EDR/ELD data, video, scene measurements, and credible witnesses to show the truck driver’s negligence was the primary cause and to drive your fault share down.

How Do Our Contingency Fees Work?

We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront payments, no hourly bills, and no retainer. We advance the costs it takes to move your case forward—expert witnesses, court filings, accident reconstruction, medical records, and investigation expenses.

You only pay us a legal fee if we recover compensation for you, whether by settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. The fee comes as a percentage of the recovery, not out of your pocket. This structure levels the field: you get full legal firepower without worrying about how to afford it.

Contact Our Coatesville Truck Accident Law Firm Today

A tractor-trailer isn’t a “bigger car.” At up to 80,000 pounds, it delivers forces that crumple smaller vehicles and leave lasting injuries. The medical piece is only part of it—time off work, specialist care, and long rehab can strain any family.

Speed matters. Within hours, motor carriers deploy investigators while key proof starts to slip: event-data recorder (black-box) files, electronic logging (ELD) records, dashcam or store video, and scene markings. If those aren’t preserved, the story of what happened gets harder to tell—and easier to dispute.

These cases also run on rules most drivers never see. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations govern hours-of-service, maintenance, inspections, and cargo securement. Knowing where violations hide—in logs, repair histories, or hiring/training files—often decides liability and value.

Our award-winning attorneys have helped semi-truck accident victims in cities include Philadelphia, Reading, West Chester, Pottstown, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Frazer, Exton, Valley Forge, and more.