Gary Donis 
Summertime is quickly approaching, which means so are summer time family vacations. Many people will soon get their RV’s and campers ready for traveling across the country to enjoy the warmer weather and the beautiful outdoors. Whether your planning staycations here in the state of Pennsylvania, camping trips or traveling to nearby states, being safe on the road should be your number one priority.
Larger vehicles on the road, such as campers and RVs, pose a bigger accident risk to other drivers. Not only that, but the heavier loads also mean more damage caused when accidents do occur which can exceed normal insurance policies. If you’ve been involved in an accident with an RV or camper, you may need an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer to get you the compensation you need to cover extensive damages and medical bills.
RVs Are More Dangerous on The Road
Every year, there are approximately 75,000 hospitalizations due to RV accidents. Besides their size and heavy load, RVs are dangerous on the road for several reasons. First, in most states besides Pennsylvania, no special licensing or testing is required to operate them.
A lot can go wrong with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel of an RV or camper.
RVs are more prone to certain accidents involving:
- Rollovers
- Blind spots
- Driver fatigue
- Stopping distance
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
Also, due to the type of features and luxuries inside RVs and campers, they can be potential fire hazards. Refrigerators, propane tanks, electrical systems and fuel systems are the main causes of RV and camper fires and explosions.
Pennsylvania Laws Regarding RVs And Campers
In the state of Pennsylvania, depending on your RV or camper trailer, you may need a special license and/or vehicle inspection before you can set out on the road. For example, motorhomes with a GVWR at 26,001 pounds or more that are not towing a vehicle or are towing a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less, require a Class B driver’s license. Getting licensed requires an application, skills test, and vision test.
Furthermore, Pennsylvania has laws regarding height and width of your RV or camper trailer and in some cases, road restrictions.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Learn More
The state of Pennsylvania has several laws that regulate large vehicles such as motorhomes and campers. If you’ve been involved in an accident with either one, chances are you aren’t at fault. Due to the size and weight of these kinds of vehicles, you likely suffered more extensive damages than a typical car accident and require more compensation than what standard insurance policies will pay out. You’ll need an experienced and aggressive car accident lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve.
