Truck & Tractor Trailer Accidents

Helping Truck Accident Victims Get the Justice They Deserve

Any motor vehicle accident can result in serious personal injury or death, but when a large commercial truck is involved the risk of serious personal injury or death is even greater. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, when you match that up against the average weight of a car at 4,000 pounds – a collision between the two can be catastrophic.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, reach out to Massachusetts truck accident lawyer Rick Madore. He will guide you through the recovery process and ease your emotional and financial burdens by relentlessly fighting for your rights.

Common Causes of Massachusetts Truck Accidents

Whether you're a driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian, truck drivers have a duty to look out for you. Unfortunately, they don't always do this, leading to catastrophic accidents and injuries. Besides carelessness, truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Fatigue: Truck drivers are often pressured to work long hours. As such, many truckers don't get enough sleep, making them more likely to fall asleep or lose concentration while driving.
  • Reckless driving: This includes various types of careless behaviors, such as ignoring traffic signals, speeding, road rage, tailgating, and making sharp turns at high speeds.
  • Distracted driving: Like everyone else, truck drivers can succumb to the temptations of texting and talking while driving.
  • Driving under the influence: Drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs are significantly more likely to cause a motor vehicle accident.
  • Poor vehicle maintenance: Driver negligence isn't the only reason truck accidents happen. Accidents also happen when trucks are poorly maintained. For instance, worn tires can cause blowouts, leading to fatal collisions. Trucking companies are usually responsible for maintaining trucks and can be held liable.
  • Defective parts: Some accidents are the result of defective truck parts, such as broken side view mirrors, malfunctioning back-up alarms, and faulty brakes.

Aggressive Advocacy to Secure the Compensation You Deserve

Truck injuries may be mild or severe depending on the force of impact, vehicles involved, and the location of the accident.

Common truck accident injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Head trauma
  • Organ damage
  • Hip and rib fractures
  • Brain injuries
  • Paralysis and nerve damage
  • Disfigurement
  • Amputations
  • Internal bleeding
  • Deaths

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to seek medical assistance. Seeking medical assistance is critical in truck accident cases to properly document your personal injuries. Medical records can document any symptoms you may have and the impact an accident has had on your life including your activities of daily living.

Reliable Representation for Holding Negligent Parties Responsible

Many truck crashes require a detailed investigation to determine who caused the accident. Depending on the facts of your case, one or more of the following could be held responsible:

  1. Truck Drivers: Many truck drivers work extended shifts. Because they're so exhausted, they're more prone to negligent or reckless behavior, such as drowsy driving, merging too quickly, and driving aggressively. Truck drivers may also cause accidents by:
    • Driving after taking sleeping aids
    • Carrying improperly secured loads
    • Driving while texting
  2. Trucking Companies: Trucking companies, also known as carriers, can also be responsible for a truck accident in addition to other entities and/or individuals. Even if a truck driver is found responsible for an accident, the carrier that hired the driver may also be held responsible for a truck driver’s negligence. Trucking companies have many duties, including:
    • Hiring qualified drivers: Carriers should only hire drivers with proper training. If they hire drivers with driving infractions and/or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) infractions, they can be held responsible for the drivers negligent actions.
    • Conducting regular medical and drug tests: Massachusetts drivers must complete a medical test with an authorized doctor every year. These exams, also known as Department of Transportation (DOT) exams, check blood pressure, coordination, vision, and reflexes to spot conditions that could impair a driver's ability to drive safely. Trucking companies also should conduct random drug tests on drivers throughout the year.
    • Maintaining proper registration: As of September 2018, all commercial trucks in Massachusetts must acquire and permanently display an official U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. Trucks that haul cargo or transport passengers for interstate commerce should also be registered with the FMCSA.
  3. Truck Manufacturers: Sometimes, truck accidents are caused by a defect in a truck or one of its parts. For example, a truck could crash into multiple cars due to a brake or tire failure. If a manufacturer was responsible for creating a defective part and the part contributed to an accident, victims can file a claim against the truck part manufacturer. If the truck was defective itself, i.e. negligent gas tank design or placement etc., victims can sue a truck manufacturer.

Mechanics & Third Party Truck Maintenance Companies

Mechanics and third party truck maintenance companies can also be held liable for injuries caused by a truck accident. However, certain requirements must be met:

  1. The mechanic had a duty of care: The mechanic was responsible for fixing and maintaining the truck while it was under their care. Victims can prove this through receipts, contracts, and other documented transactions.
  2. The mechanic neglected their duty: There needs to be evidence that the mechanic neglected their duty to properly inspect, repair, and maintain a truck that was involved in an accident.
  3. The mechanic's negligence caused the accident: Victims don't have a viable case unless they can show that the mechanic's negligence caused the accident.
  4. The victim suffered a loss due to the accident: This includes property damage, lost earning capacity, lost wages, medical expenses, personal injuries, pain and suffering.

Contact a Massachusetts Truck Accident Lawyer

To ensure your get the compensation you deserve, contact Attorney Rick Madore today. He will carefully investigate your case to determine liability and relentlessly fight for your rights. We offer straightforward counsel and aggressive representation to truck accident victims throughout the Greater Boston, Central Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts areas.