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Boston Truck Accident Lawyers
Massachusetts Truck Accident Attorneys
Truck companies have a lot at stake since injuries resulting from tractor trailer accidents or other commercial trucking accidents can turn out to be very serious. The companies are likely to immediately summon an experienced team of investigators to the scene of the accident since the accident could cost them millions of dollars. The team of investigators is supposed to secure the accident’s scene, to gather evidence in support of the truck company, to mitigate evidence that may inculpate the company and to try to attain the victim(s)’ or witness(es)’ statements.
In light of this, it is imperative that individuals involved in Truck Accidents to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible so that they can investigate the scene of the accident from your point of view and with your best interest in mind. An attorney will quickly collect evidence before it becomes compromised or destroyed, and will investigate the circumstanced in order to identify any instances of truck driver negligence, truck company negligence and other instances of negligence including:
- Driver fatigue
- Equipment failure (as a result of a defective part)
- Negligent maintenance
- Overloaded or improperly loaded truck
- Driver inattention
- Speeding (due to demanding delivery schedules)
- Non-compliance with federal regulations
- Habitual negligent hiring practices
Car drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are at a disadvantage when they are involved in motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks. Large trucks can weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 pounds. A collision with a big rig truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, semi-truck, garbage truck, delivery truck or any other large, commercial vehicle can often lead to catastrophic personal injuries.
Many trucking companies will send a representative to the accident scene immediately to try minimizing liability and get the injured party to prematurely agree to a settlement or sign away their rights to file a truck accident lawsuit. It is important that you contact our Boston truck crash law firm before you speak with a truck company representative.
Greater Boston Truck Accident Lawyers at the Law Firm of Altman & Altman, LLP
Our Massachusetts Truck Accident Lawyers have over 50 years experience fighting for the rights of Massachusetts truck accident victims and their families to receive personal injury or wrongful death recovery from trucking companies and their insurance companies. Altman & Altman has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients injured in the Greater Boston Area and throughout Massachusetts.
At the MA Law Firm of Altman & Altman, LLP, our attorneys understand the difficulties faced by victims of truck accidents and their families. Our attorneys will stand by your side and will fully explain your legal rights during every stage of the process. We are well-versed in the law as it pertains to truck accidents, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state regulations that govern trucking companies, and we know how to prove truck driver negligence through a Truck Accident Lawsuit in MA. We know how to examine the truck driver’s log and other necessary records to determine whether a trucker had been driving longer than the legally allowed number of hours when your injury accident occurred or if the truck did not undergo a required maintenance check or repairs.
We will work with truck accident experts that can examine the truck to determine whether the accident happened because an engine malfunctioned or the truck lacked the proper blind spot mirrors or was overloaded with too much cargo. We will interview the truck driver and all witnesses to determine if the truck driver was speeding, tired, distracted, tailgating, driving aggressively, talking on a cell phone, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Through their legal knowledge, experience and resources, our attorneys will explore every legal avenue available in your case in order to maximize your financial relief. If the truck driver, the truck company, its insurance company, or any other liable parties are unwilling to negotiate a fair and full settlement for your injuries and losses, the Truck Accident Attorneys at Altman & Altman will not hesitate to file a Massachusetts truck accident lawsuit and fight for your financial recovery in court.
Truck accident injuries and 18 wheeler accidents can cause catastrophic injuries or, in the most unfortunate instances, death. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, broken bones, and massive internal injuries will likely require expensive surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and ongoing rehabilitation to maximize any chance of recovery. You will very likely lose wages because you will have to take time off from work to heal, and your motor vehicle will likely have suffered extensive property damage in the crash.
A senior firm partner at Altman & Altman LLP will personally oversee every aspect of your case. If the truck company and its insurance company are unwilling to negotiate a suitable settlement, we will file a Massachusetts truck accident lawsuit and fight for your recovery in court.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Truck Accident in Massachusetts, please Contact the Greater Boston Law Firm of Altman & Altman LLP by phone at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll free) or Contact Us Online to schedule a Free Initial Consultation with one of our MA Truck Accident Lawyers. With offices conveniently located in Cambridge and Boston, our lawyers have the ability to speak with clients face-to-face about their legal matters. We are available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week – including nights and weekends.
The Greater Boston Law Firm of Altman & Altman, LLP represents clients who have been injured in Truck Accidents on a Contingency Fee Basis – We Charge No Fee Unless You Recover.
Truck Accident FAQs
What do I do After a Truck Accident?
Answer: If you have been injured in a car accident, the first thing you should do is immediately seek medical attention and call the police to report the accident. If possible, get the truck driver’s license, insurance information, and license plate, make and model of their truck. Make sure to take photographs of the accident scene, including your vehicle, and collect any eye witness contact information. Finally, consider contacting an attorney to help you navigate the details of your accident and case.
How do I Know if the Settlement the Insurance Company Offered is Enough?
Answer: The best way to determine if the settlement amount is enough is by having an experienced attorney evaluate your case. You may have a case for pain and suffering damages, for example, which are harder to quantify outright and may not be factored into your settlement from your insurance company.
What are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Answer: Truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Some common causes include speeding, drunk or drugged driving, fatigued driving, distracted driving, truck maintenance and repair issues, weather conditions, and defective truck parts.
What Damages can I Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?
Answer: If you are injured in a truck accident you may be entitled to: medical expenses, lost wages, reduced or lost earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
Can I Sue the Shipping Company Involved in the Truck Accident?
Answer: If you’ve been involved in a truck accident with a delivery company, the delivery truck company, truck driver, and company that loaded the deliveries could be found liable for the accident. If your accident involved a US Postal Service truck, then the process is a bit different. Because the federal government operates the Postal Service, you would have to file a claim through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). These federal government cases can be incredibly complex. If a USPS delivery truck has injured you, contact an attorney to help you navigate the complexities of these cases before you pursue litigation.
How do You Determine Fault in a Truck Accident?
Answer: Massachusetts law recognizes that multiple people could be at-fault for an accident. Those at fault could include the truck driver, the truck driver’s employer for hiring an inexperienced or negligent driver, the truck owner if there were mechanical issues that contributed to the crash, government agencies respond bile for signage and road conditions, among others. The court will carefully review all of the information related to the accident to determine who is at-fault as well as the percentage of fault for each individual involved in the accident. If an individual is found to be more than 50% at fault, than that individual is not entitled to collect any damages.
What are The Most Common Truck Accident Causes?
Answer: Some of the common causes of trucking accidents include driver fatigue, distracted driving, operating a truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol, improper or insufficient training, mechanical issues, speeding, and improperly secured loads.
Is The Driver or the Trucking Company Responsible in a Truck Accident?
Answer: In Massachusetts, trucking companies can be held responsible for the negligence of their employees. This means that the trucking company, the truck driver, and potentially other groups could be found to be responsible for the accident. An attorney can help you understand your options for your case to help increase the likelihood that you will recover the full amount of damages that you might be entitled to receive.
How Much is my Truck Accident Case Worth?
Answer: The value of your truck accident case depends on a few different factors, including your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident. An experienced attorney can assist in providing a more thorough estimate of your damages after reviewing all of these factors.
Can I Prove That The Truck Driver was not Properly Trained?
Answer: There are several pieces of information that can be used to determine whether a driver has been trained. Trucking companies are responsible for hiring properly trained drivers who also have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate trucks. In addition, these companies must also maintain records and log books for their drivers. As part of your case, your attorney may request the information above as well as more details about the driver’s experience to help determine whether lack of training may have contributed to your accident.
How Do I Prove That The Truck Driver was Fatigued?
Answer: One way to prove that a truck driver was fatigued is to provide proof that the driver violated federal Hours of Service rules through entries in their logbook. These rules are in place specifically to limit the amount of time that a truck driver can operate a vehicle. At most, a truck driver can operate their vehicle for no more than 11 hours straight after taking 10 hours off in total. The logbook entry can help provide information that could support a claim that the driver was fatigued and that contributed to the accident.
What are The Most Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents?
Answer: Common truck accident injuries include but are not limited to: lacerations, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, neck, head and back injuries.
Should I Just Accept a Settlement From The Insurance Company?
If I am partly responsible in a truck accident, do I still have a cause to sue?
Answer: Yes. In truck related accidents, oftentimes multiple drivers or groups may be partially at fault. In Massachusetts the concept “modified comparative fault” applies to truck accidents. Under this, you can recover damages from your claim if you were 50% or less at fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, then you would not be entitled to damages.
How Long Does A Truck Accident Lawsuit Take?
Answer: The length of time to settle a lawsuit will vary. After all medical treatment related to your accident has finished, then your attorney would next work with you to gather all of the documentation needed to submit to the trucking company’s insurance company for your case. Typically, these types of cases settle within a few months of filing.
Should I Give The Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster a Statement?
Answer: You are not required to give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster and should not do so without speaking to your attorney. The insurance adjuster for the trucking company may use your statement to try to prove that you were at fault at some capacity. It’s important to consult your attorney prior to making any statements to the insurance adjuster.
What Truck Driver Actions can be Considered Negligent?
Answer: Several different actions can be considered negligent including driving in excess of the number of hours legally allowed, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and lack of training to understand the current rules and regulations.