Skip to main content

Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Lawyer – Serving Clients in Tewksbury, Andover, Woburn, Lowell, Middlesex County

As a truck accident lawyer, I offer individualized attention to clients in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, and have recovered substantial compensation for personal injury and wrongful death clients and their families in all three states. If you or a family member has been in truck crash (or sustained injury in another incident cause by someone else), I’ll explain your options for seeking a full recovery from all those responsible.

Truck-Related Crashes and Results

Trucks, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles transport goods and services within and among states. They play a vital role in the local economy and interstate commerce. But truck size can make them more dangerous than cars. Truck accidents often involve:

  • Rollovers
  • Jackknifes
  • Cargo spills
  • Fires or fluid leaks
  • Falling off road
  • Spreading debris
  • Runaway trailers
  • Release of toxins
  • Bodily injury or death

Truck-related crashes are seldom “contained” in one lane; they commonly result in chain reaction collisions causing multiple injuries and fatalities. Affected vehicles can be tossed over medians and spun in different directions, forcing other drivers to swerve around them.

Truck Accident Cause and Effect

Truck accidents are usually caused by negligence. The careless conduct of commercial drivers breaches a heightened duty of care owed to other motorists, resulting in liability for harm. Truck accidents caused by negligence may involve:

  • Speeding
  • Blind spots
  • Intoxication
  • Overtime limit
  • Talking or texting on a cell phone
  • Delayed braking
  • Sleeping at wheel
  • Improper loading
  • Imbalanced weight
  • Unsafe lane change

Truck operation requires constant focus and attention to the road. A moment of distraction can result in serious accidents and even death. Failure to adapt driving to road hazards and traffic conditions can likewise endanger others and place lives at risk.

Federal and State Truck Driving Requirements

Truckers are required to maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for vehicle operation. Unlike regular drivers, CDL holders are held to a higher standard that requires:

  • More training
  • Recorded hours
  • Extensive exams
  • Safety inspection
  • Driving, rest times
  • Drug, alcohol tests
  • Lower limit for DUI

There are stringent federal regulations to which commercial truck drivers and companies must comply, including those governing driving intervals and mandatory rest, requirements to keep detailed driving logs, load inspection requirements, and prohibitions against drinking or consuming pep pills for a certain number of hours before driving.

Truck Accident Liability

Federal and state laws make commercial carriers liable for truck driver negligence. This means that the company, partnership, or entity using the truck is financially responsible for accidents caused by the driver, even if they are not directly at fault.

Corporate operators must be insured against liability for bodily injury or wrongful death in case of a crash. This prevents commercial carriers from denying fault and placing the blame on “independent” drivers. Instead, injured parties and surviving families can recover compensation from all liable parties, including the negligent driver, any employers, and other entities responsible for operation.

Commercial truck companies and operators must carry significantly higher insurance than regular drivers.  As a result, when commercial truck accidents occur involving big rigs and trailers, there usually is a much greater avenue to compensation compared to non-commercial drivers that usually have much lower policy limits.

Truck Accident Damages

Truck accidents often involve multiple parties who jointly share liability. These parties and their respective insurers must provide compensation for various losses, including:

  • Property loss
  • Medical costs
  • Missed income
  • Future earnings
  • Funeral expense
  • Lost relationship
  • Pain and suffering

Handling multiple parties and insurers who all deny liability requires an experienced attorney. Seek legal counsel to represent your interests and fight for relief.

Contact Me Today

If you were injured in a truck accident, contact me for a free consultation and case evaluation, and to learn about your options for recovery.  There is no fee for my  services unless you receive compensation.

As with all crashes caused by others, it’s important to retain experienced legal representation as soon as possible, both to protect the rights of those hurt or damaged, and to ensure that the accident scene and vehicles are preserved to the extent possible.


More Information About My Injury & Accident Practice

FAQs


What Our Clients Are Saying About Paul King

“Attorney King has represented me twice in two very different matters and each time he worked with me he was understanding, consistent and essentially successful on my behalf. He was never in a rush and took the time to hear all of the details of each of my cases, while remaining compassionate and kind throughout the entire stressful process. Attorney King is empathetic as well as he is professional and detailed. He was quick to highlight the most important facts of any situation and, he did not fold under significant pressure. Attorney King fought on my behalf and with my best interests in mind at all times at a reasonable and fair cost; I could not give him more praise and have recommended him several times to my own close family and friends.”

Google 5 Star Review – M.H.