Pietragallo’s Transportation Law practice provides its clients with the skills of highly-trained and experienced attorneys. We recognize that, while there are general issues that affect companies on an industry scale, each client requires individual attention and services. Therefore, we are able to offer clients our cost-conscious general industry services, as well as qualified analytical approaches to complex issues tailored to individual clients and their needs.

Our practice is unique in several regards. First, our client base spans industry participants such as trucking companies, owner-operators, brokers, shippers, as well as insurers and captive insurance companies providing coverage to transportation companies. Admittedly, there are firms that market themselves as targeted niche-market firms, limited to one industry. While this may be beneficial to a certain type of client, our clients are benefited by our ability to analyze their issues from multiple angles. Additionally, because Pietragallo is a full-service firm, our clients benefit by our personalized group approach to analyze problems from multiple facets of the law.

Our attorneys are recognized nationally for their litigation experience. Moreover, we understand that the transportation and shipping business is inherently an interstate and worldwide business. That’s why our attorneys are licensed in several states and have appeared nationally in cases on a pro-hac basis. Additionally, we maintain active offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

We also recognize that the industry never sleeps. That’s why our attorneys are available on a 24-hour basis to respond on location when our clients need us. As those in the industry know, vital evidence is lost exponentially after an accident. To remedy such situations we work with our clients in devising and implementing first response plans that include driver education and assistance.

Our attorneys are intimately involved in many nationally recognized groups as well as important local organizations. These organizations include:

Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
Defense Research Institute (DRI)
Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)

Moreover, we recognize that in order to protect our clients’ interests they often need more than just legal support. Our clients require the assistance of engineers, investigators and industry experts. We maintain a call list of proven national experts to assist our clients in their times of need.

Finally, our clients are benefited by our attorneys’ involvement in the insurance industry. Pietragallo maintains an active Insurance Industry practice as well as a growing Risk Management practice. Through these practices, our attorneys are involved in litigation oversight in many workers’ compensation and general liability programs. Moreover, our attorneys sit on the board of directors for transportation captive insurance companies. We understand that insurance coverage is a very important concern for the transportation industry. Our attorneys are available to meet and discuss alternative risk transfer mechanisms, such as captive insurance companies, and risk retention groups, as well as becoming a self-insured entity.

The summaries represent a various sampling of how Pietragallo attorneys offer value added service to our transportation clients. Below we list the services we offer to transportation clients:

Accident Investigation

• Initial scene response
• Representation of drivers regarding law enforcement investigations
• Post-Accident Procedure and Protocols
• Develop and review “accident kits” and corporate policies

Litigation

• Litigate all roadway accidents
• Litigate UM/UIM cases brought by drivers under company policies
• Environmental matters and hazardous materials
• Workers’ compensation defense

Our Clients are Represented in Various Forums

• Federal and State Court Practice
• Federal, State, and Private Arbitration and Mediation Procedures
• Provide oversight of trials nationally
• Appellate Practice
• Regulatory Enforcement Proceedings initiated by the FMCSA

Various Types of Litigation

• Cargo loss
• Property and casualty loss
• Personal injury
• Catastrophic accidents
• Carmack amendment issues
• Trucker fraud
• Prosecution and defense of Declaratory Judgment Actions

Value-Added Services

• Drafting contracts between shippers, brokers, carriers and owner-operators
• Litigating contract disputes
• Drafting targeted contracts for sensitive cargo loss
• Drafting Indemnity Agreements
• Working with self-insured entities
• Working with entities that maintain large self-insured retentions
• Working with Third-Party Administrators and In-House Claims Departments
• Policy interpretation
• Analysis of coverage from competing policies
• Interpretation of Truckmen’s Endorsement and MCS-90 Endorsement
• Interpretation of pollution exclusions
• Trucking Classification Description Endorsements
• Assist in obtaining visas, work permits and other immigration benefits
• Alternative Risk Transfer (captives, etc.)