A collision involving a truck and a car earlier this month sent a 19-year-old man to the hospital. The incident occurred on Route 322 near State College. Perhaps not surprisingly, the injured man, who was from Pittsburgh, was in the car, not truck.

While very little is known about the crash at this point, including who is to blame, it is known that the two vehicles collided head-on shortly after midnight. As a result of the truck crash both the car and the truck were badly damaged.

The trucking industry is highly regulated by the federal government. Accordingly, the incident will be highly scrutinized. An investigation into the matter will likely determine whether the truck driver or others at the trucking company are to blame for the incident.

There are many ways in which a truck driver could be at fault for a crash. Things that are looked for include whether the driver has logged too many hours and not enough sleep, whether the truck was travelling at too high of a speed and whether he or she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.

Trucking companies may also be liable for damages incurred in an accident. If the truck is improperly loaded for instance, it is possible that the truck could rollover or in the alternative, items could fall off. Crashes may also ensue if the truck is not properly maintained.

If any of these or other factors are uncovered, a lawsuit against the truck driver or trucking company may be appropriate.

Source: Centre Daily Times, "Crash closes 322, sends Pittsburgh man to hospital," Feb. 1, 2013