Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania is an industrial city on the shore of Lake Erie, directly between Cleveland (Ohio), Buffalo (New York), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). Erie is the commonwealth's fourth largest city after Philadelphia Pittsburgh, and Allentown, with an estimated 2008 population of 99,965, (U.S. Census).

Erie County was founded on March 12, 1800, and named for Lake Erie, which had been named for the Indian tribe of the same name. Erie, the county seat, was so named because it was Pennsylvania's port on Lake Erie. As the county seat, Erie houses the Erie County Courthouse where civil and family court cases are heard.

Downtown Erie boasts many new developments, the most prominent being a new bicentennial observation tower affording great views of Presque Isle Bay and Erie. In Uptown Erie, many new stores, superstores, outlets, restaurants and hotels, along with the giant 200-store Millcreek Mall, have combined to make Erie, PA a shopping mecca for the region.

Erie is served by the Erie Intentional Airport. Erie is well connected to the Interstate Highway System. Six exits connect Erie, PA residents to Interstate 90, a major east-west artery. I-90 merges into the Bayfront Parkway in downtown Erie. Interstate 79 and Interstate 80 also serve the city. Erie is a major distribution point, with more than 100 million people in 20 major metropolitan areas in the US and Canada within a 600 mile radius.

Erie’s economic development efforts concentrate on commercial and industrial development. Generally, industrial development means increased freight traffic with accompanying roadway congestion, including: safety concerns; increased noise; and truck drivers inadvertently driving on local roadways. Increased truck and automobile traffic and congestion create the potential for more crashes, conflicts, and safety concerns among Erie drivers. Driver error, vehicle size and stopping distances are among the many factors which contribute to the increased severity of accidents between large trucks and passenger cars or light trucks.

In 2008, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 31 fatal motor vehicle crashes on Erie County's roadways. Large trucks were responsible for 195 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania during 2008, or 9.6% of all fatal accidents within the state. Over 80% of these fatal tractor trailer accidents involved collisions with another motor vehicle, and over 50% were front end collisions. The vast majority of heavy truck crashes involving vehicle failures as primary contributing factors in the crash were related to brakes, tires, wheels, and unsecured or overloaded trailers.

Port Erie provides industrial, commercial and recreational opportunities on Presque Isle Bay and adjacent waters. Companies such as Carmeuse Lime & Stone find the port location, only 1.5 miles from I-79 and approximately 6 miles from I-90 via I-79, convenient for the distribution of goods via large tractor trailer trucks. As Pennsylvania’s only Great Lake city, Erie provides unique recreational opportunities in winter, spring, summer or fall.

Presque Isle State Park, known locally as "The Peninsula," is one of Erie's most popular attractions. The 3,200-acre sandy peninsula, which juts into Lake Erie, has 7 miles of public beaches, wetlands and fishing sites. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's southern coast.

Erie, Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers

Erie, Pennsylvania is the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania and is located in Erie County. Erie County had 39 people die in fatal traffic accidents in 2008, including seven deaths in crashes involving large trucks such as 18 wheelers, semi-trailers, tractor trailers and single unit trucks. Erie County also had more than 1,500 crashes causing injuries in 2008.

If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a large truck accident in Erie, you need a Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer with a proven record of standing up to trucking companies and protecting the rights of truck accident victims. The truck injury lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., focus on commercial truck accident cases and are experienced at analyzing and negotiating complex truck wreck cases on behalf of our clients.

Contact an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney at Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., for a free consultation by completing our online accident evaluation form or calling toll free at 877-421-9175.

Evaluation of Your Truck Accident Claim

Receive a FREE Truck Accident Evaluation with an Experienced Attorney! We handle claims in Erie and across Pennysylvania!

Online accident evaluation form

Call toll-free at 877-421-9175