Bethlehem Truck Accident Lawyer

A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when one slams into your vehicle on Route 22 or I-78, the damage can change your life in a single moment.

If you or someone you love has been hit by a commercial truck, a Bethlehem truck accident lawyer at Leeson & Leeson can stand between you and the trucking companies, insurance adjusters, and corporate lawyers already working to limit your recovery.

We bring more than 50 years of combined experience, a record that includes a $1.85 million wrongful death verdict, and a tireless approach that has helped more than 1,000 clients move forward after serious harm.

You are not alone in this, and you do not have to face a powerful trucking corporation by yourself. We answer the phone 24/7, we take cases on a contingency fee basis, and we charge no legal fees unless we win.

Call (610) 691-3320 today for a free consultation with an attorney who knows how to fight for maximum results.

How Can a Bethlehem Truck Accident Lawyer Help You?

Our team at Leeson & Leeson investigates the crash, preserves time-sensitive evidence, identifies every liable party, and pursues the full compensation you may be entitled to under Pennsylvania law.

Commercial truck cases are far more complex than typical car wrecks, and they demand a legal team that understands federal regulations, corporate defense tactics, and the true value of a serious injury claim.

From the moment we take your case, we begin gathering evidence that often disappears within days, including electronic logging device data, driver hours-of-service records, maintenance histories, and dashcam footage. We send legal preservation letters to the trucking company so this evidence cannot quietly vanish.

While you focus on healing, we work with accident reconstruction professionals, medical providers, and economic analysts to document the full scope of your harm. If the trucking company refuses to make a fair offer, our trial lawyers are ready to take your case to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas and present it to a jury.

Why Choose Leeson & Leeson for Your Truck Accident Case

Leeson & Leeson is a Bethlehem law firm with deep roots in the Lehigh Valley and a reputation built on results. Our team has spent decades fighting for injured people across Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, and the surrounding communities, and we approach every truck accident case with the strength, focus, and care our clients deserve.

When you hire us, you get:

• More than 50 years of combined personal injury experience and a record that includes a $1.85 million wrongful death verdict
• Recognition as Top 10 Lawyers of 2025 and members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• A contingency fee structure with no up front costs and no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you
• 24/7 availability so you can reach our team whenever you need us, even nights and weekends
• Personalized attention from real attorneys who know your name and your case, not a call center

You will not be passed off to a paralegal or left wondering where your file stands. We believe aggressive advocacy and compassionate service belong together, and we deliver both. Call (610) 691-3320 for your free consultation today.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in the Lehigh Valley

Commercial truck crashes along Route 22, I-78, and Route 33 often share the same underlying causes, and identifying that cause is central to building a strong claim. Most serious truck wrecks in the Bethlehem area come down to driver error, company negligence, or equipment failure, and sometimes all three combined.

Driver fatigue is a leading factor. Federal hours-of-service rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limit how long a driver can be behind the wheel, yet pressure to meet delivery deadlines pushes some drivers and carriers to break those rules anyway.

Distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving also play a role, especially on busy stretches near the Lehigh Valley International Airport and the I-78 interchange. In other cases, the cause is mechanical, such as worn brakes, bald tires, faulty trailer connections, or improperly secured cargo that shifts at highway speed.

Our attorneys also see cases tied to inadequate driver training, negligent hiring, and cell phone use behind the wheel. In our work across the Lehigh Valley, we have learned that the surface story rarely tells the whole truth, so we dig until we find what actually went wrong and who should answer for it.

What Types of Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Crash?

After a commercial truck crash in Pennsylvania, you may recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses tied directly to the wreck.

Truck cases often involve catastrophic injuries, so the value of these claims tends to be higher than a typical car accident, and the trucking company's insurer will fight hard to keep payments low.

Medical damages cover past and future treatment, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, and assistive devices. If your injuries require long-term care or in-home support, those costs can be part of your claim as well.

Lost income covers the wages you missed while healing. If you cannot return to the same line of work, you may also recover for diminished earning capacity going forward.

Non-economic damages cover the human side of the harm, including pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In a wrongful death case, surviving family members may recover for funeral expenses, loss of support, and loss of companionship under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8301.

Our truck accident lawyer in Bethlehem will work to document every category of loss so nothing is left on the table.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Pennsylvania Truck Accident?

More than one party is often responsible for a commercial truck crash, and that single fact can be the difference between a modest settlement and a full recovery. A seasoned attorney looks past the driver to find every person and company whose choices contributed to the wreck.

Potentially liable parties in a Pennsylvania truck accident case may include:

• The truck driver, for negligent driving, fatigue, or substance use
• The trucking company, for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or pressure to break safety rules
• The owner of the trailer or cargo, for improper loading or securement
• A third-party maintenance contractor, for poor or skipped repair work
• A parts manufacturer, if a defective component caused or worsened the crash
• A government entity, if a road defect or signage issue contributed to the wreck

Naming the right defendants matters because each party usually carries its own insurance policy, and commercial trucking policies are often layered. By identifying every responsible party, we expand the pool of available coverage and give you a stronger chance at full and fair compensation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania law generally gives you two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. Miss this deadline, and you typically lose your right to seek compensation in court, no matter how strong your case might otherwise have been.

There are limited exceptions, such as cases involving minors or claims against government entities, where different rules and shorter notice periods may apply. Because these exceptions are narrow, the safest course is to speak with a Bethlehem truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after a crash.

Acting early helps in other ways, too. Witnesses move, memories fade, and trucking companies are only required to keep certain records for short periods of time.

Quick action by your legal team can lock down the evidence that wins cases, including data from the truck's onboard systems and surveillance footage from nearby businesses along Broad Street, Hamilton Street, and other Lehigh Valley corridors.

Federal Trucking Regulations and Your Case

The trucking industry is governed by a layered set of state and federal rules, and those rules can become powerful tools in your case. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations cover everything from how long a driver can be on duty to how often trucks must be inspected, and a violation can serve as strong proof of negligence.

Commercial drivers must follow strict licensing requirements, maintain detailed electronic logbooks, and submit to regular drug and alcohol testing. Trucks must be inspected before each trip, and carriers must keep maintenance records that show whether known problems were addressed.

When we can show that the driver or the company broke a federal safety rule, the case for accountability becomes much stronger. We use these regulations as a roadmap, comparing what should have happened with what actually did on the day of your crash.

Trucking companies often start working on their defense within hours of a serious wreck. To level the playing field, our team moves fast to secure electronic logging device data, engine control module downloads, driver qualification files, training records, disciplinary history, maintenance and inspection logs, dashcam footage, and dispatch communications.

Once this evidence is gone, it is gone for good, which is why time is one of the most important factors in any truck accident case.

Comparative Negligence and Your Right to Recover

Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation after a truck crash even if you share some of the blame, as long as your share of fault is less than 51%. Your recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you, so a jury that finds you 20% at fault on a $500,000 verdict would award you $400,000.

Trucking companies and their insurers know this rule well, and they often try to shift blame onto injured drivers to cut their own exposure. They may claim you were speeding, distracted, or following too closely, even when the trucker was clearly the cause of the crash.

A seasoned trial attorney pushes back against these tactics with hard evidence and clear storytelling. We use crash reconstruction, witness statements, traffic data from sources like the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and electronic data from the truck itself to show what really happened on the road.

FAQs about Bethlehem Truck Accident Claims

You probably still have questions after a serious truck crash in the Lehigh Valley, and that is completely understandable. Here are answers to some of the questions our clients ask most often when they first call our Broad Street office.

Talk With Our Trusted Bethlehem Truck Accident Lawyers Today

When you have been hit by a commercial truck, the road ahead can feel uncertain, but you do not have to walk it alone.

Leeson & Leeson stands with injured people across Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, and the entire Lehigh Valley, and we bring more than 50 years of combined experience, Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership, Top 10 Lawyers recognition, and a $1.85 million wrongful death verdict to every fight.

We answer 24/7, the consultation is free, and you pay nothing in legal fees unless we win your case. When winning is the only option, call Leeson & Leeson at (610) 691-3320 today and put a Bethlehem truck accident lawyer who fights for real results on your side.