Massachusetts Truck Accident Lawyer
Crashes involving tractor-trailers, box trucks, dump trucks, and delivery vans often cause catastrophic injuries because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved. Truck cases are also more complex than ordinary car accidents: there are usually multiple companies, larger insurance policies, and federal safety rules that can prove what went wrong. Muggeo & Associates represents people injured in truck crashes on Route 128, I-95, Route 1, I-93, and roads throughout Massachusetts.
Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different
- Federal safety rules. Interstate commercial carriers must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules on driver hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and cargo securement. Violations can be strong evidence of negligence.
- Multiple responsible parties. The driver, the trucking company, the owner of the truck or trailer, the shipper or loader, a maintenance company, and parts manufacturers may all share responsibility.
- Larger insurance coverage. Commercial carriers are generally required to carry far more liability insurance than private drivers, which can matter in cases with serious injuries.
- Critical electronic evidence. Electronic logging devices, engine control module data, GPS, dash cameras, and dispatch records can show speed, braking, and hours driven, but this evidence may be overwritten if not preserved quickly.
Common Causes of Truck Crashes
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
- Speeding or following too closely for the truck’s stopping distance
- Distracted driving, including phone and dispatch device use
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
- Brake, tire, and maintenance failures
- Wide turns and blind-spot lane changes
- Inadequate driver training or hiring
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Get medical care, document the scene, and collect the truck’s company name, DOT number, and plate. Trucking companies and their insurers often send investigators to the scene within hours. Contact a lawyer promptly so we can send a preservation letter demanding that the company keep its logs, data, and inspection records.
Massachusetts Rules Still Apply
Massachusetts no-fault (PIP) benefits, the threshold for pain and suffering claims, comparative negligence, and the general three-year filing deadline apply to most truck crash cases in Massachusetts, just as they do in car accident cases. Claims against government-owned trucks have additional notice requirements.
Damages in Truck Accident Cases
Serious truck crash injuries often involve long-term medical care, lost earning capacity, and permanent limitations. Compensation may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in fatal crashes, wrongful death damages.
Learn more about our personal injury practice.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
Call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or send us a message. Our office is at 133 Washington Street in downtown Salem.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines change and depend on the facts of each case. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.