Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Boston, MA? We have recovered millions for truck accident victims and can help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries.
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain when you call our Boston personal injury law firm. We will review your case at no cost to you. If we represent you in your claim, you will owe nothing unless we recover money for you.
Contact an experienced and knowledgeable Boston truck accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP to discuss your legal rights at (774)-341-5778. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages.
How Our Boston Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Trucking accidents are often catastrophic, causing serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, or even death. This is one of the reasons why on January 2, 2023, former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker enacted Massachusetts House Bill 5103, aiming to reduce traffic fatalities and increase motorists’ safety while on the road.
This law, which applies to all motor vehicles in the state, obviously including trucks. It introduces a requirement for drivers to maintain a minimum distance of four feet when overtaking any “vulnerable road user.” In other words, drivers are permitted to use part or all of an adjacent lane, including crossing the center line if needed, in order to achieve four-foot clearance. This should be done while adhering to the speed limit.
In addition, some Massachusetts residents have even advocated that the state should ban commercial trucks from local streets except for pickup and delivery. However, such measures have yet to be taken into account.
Some Massachusetts residents have even advocated that Massachusetts should ban commercial trucks from local streets except for pickup and delivery.
Having an experienced personal injury lawyer anytime you are injured in an accident involving a large truck is critical.
Whenever an accident occurs, Sweeney Merrigan Law LLP, will:
- Scrutinize all state and federal regulations that affect the trucking operation, the vehicle, and the driver
- Review the truck driver’s logbook, drug testing results, and relevant medical records (example, sleep medications)
- Submit a Freedom of Information Act request to review the entire safety history of the trucking company.
- Establish compliance with regulations and permits. Massachusetts statutes regulate weight limits for large trucks and have specific requirements for permissible gross loading, axle spacing, vehicle widths, and number of tires for vehicles with three, four, and five or more axles. If trucks exceed certain legal size and weight restrictions, a Commercial Truck Permit may be required.
- Fight to negotiate a favorable settlement for you or have our accomplished trial attorneys argue passionately on your behalf in front of a Boston jury.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, our Boston truck accident attorneys work with some of the best trucking industry and trucking regulation consultants in the country to establish negligence, liability, and damages.
You can benefit from having our accomplished and respected team in your corner. Contact our law offices in Suffolk County, MA to get started now.
What is My Boston Truck Accident Case Worth?
Commercial vehicle operators, such as trucking companies, are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations which require them to have higher insurance limits, which means that more money is available for insurance claims.
However, increased insurance available also means increased efforts by trucking companies and their legal counsel to defend insurance claims.
The major transportation logistics companies like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, Swift, Old Dominion Freight, and J.B. Hunt all claim that safety is a top priority.
This is, in part, because they know that accidents can cost millions. They also have systems in place to shield their liability and get you to accept as little as possible for your injuries.
In your free consultation, a Boston truck accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP will review your case, and give you an experienced-based opinion of how much your claim may be worth.
What Kind Of Damages Are Available To Boston Truck Accident Victims?
Depending on what caused the accident, truck drivers and various other parties may be responsible. You may be entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages for your Boston truck accident claim.
- Economic damages include everything to which an economic value can be assigned and established in objective terms, such as your medical care costs, lost earnings, and vehicle repairs or replacement costs.
- Non-economic damages include money for consequences of an accident that are subjective and personal – like physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of love, care, and companionship.
Having a Boston truck accident lawyer who understands the unique dynamics of trucking accident litigation can ensure all rights are protected, and no potential compensation is overlooked.
Once you hire our Boston, MA truck accident attorneys, they can handle all communications with an insurance company on your behalf. This allows you to focus on your healing and recovery while your lawyer advocates for your rights.
Compensation for Boston Truck Accident Injuries
Because of the size of large trucks, accidents involving them may be fatal. People who do survive may be left with serious or permanent injuries. Some of the injuries we see from Boston semi-truck accidents include:
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- Blunt force injuries
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- Head injuries (including concussions and skull fractures)
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- Bone fracture injuries
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- Soft tissue injuries (including whiplash)
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- Lacerations / Abrasions
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- Contusions / Bruises
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- Amputation/disfigurement injuries.
Although no amount of money can undo the pain of a catastrophic injury, or bring back a loved one who’s life was tragically cut short, the money you recover in a personal injury or wrongful death claim is critical for your future.
A Boston personal injury attorney who specializes in truck accidents can help you maximize the compensation you are entitled to and ensure you do not make any mistakes in your claim. Before you accept an insurance company offer for a Massachusetts truck accident claim, talk to a Boston truck crash lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law LLP.
Can I Recover Compensation If I am Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in Massachusetts?
It is still possible to recover compensation if you are injured in a Boston truck accident and you are partially at fault. That’s because Massachusetts has modified comparative fault rules with a 51% bar to recovery.
In very simple terms, it means that you can recover compensation for your injuries if you share some or even half of the blame for an accident. You just can’t share most of the blame.
Once your liability equals or exceeds 51%, you will be prohibited from securing damages from other parties.
It is also possible that your Boston truck accident lawyer can defend you against attempts to blame you for your injuries. If necessary, an independent investigation can be arranged to determine the cause of an accident.
When you report an accident to an insurance company, you may be asked to provide a recorded statement to verify information or speed up the claims process. If you are unsure or inaccurate about details, this could be later used against you.
Providing a recorded statement is not required and people are well-advised to speak with a lawyer before providing any written or recorded statement.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Massachusetts?
Negligence is the basis of most personal injury or wrongful death claims.
In Massachusetts, negligence consists of four elements:
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- Duty: The legal duty to use reasonable care.
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- Breach: Deviating from the duty to use reasonable care (can be act or omission).
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- Causation: The act of negligence must cause damages. The plaintiff will have the burden of proving the link between the act of negligence and damages.
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- Damages: Damages include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In some truck accident cases, negligence is obvious. For example, distracted driving, a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel or is obviously intoxicated. In many situations, negligence is less obvious, which can lead to disputes and claim denials.
It is also possible that someone could be partly at fault for a commercial truck accident or car accident.
For example, if a pedestrian ignores a “Do Not Walk” sign, they may contribute to a pedestrian accident.
A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Boston, MA at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP can help you establish negligence, and defend against claims to blame you for contributing to your own injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Massachusetts?
For most Boston truck accidents, as well as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, you have 3 years from the date of the accident to file a claim for damages.
This law can be found in Title 5, Ch. 260, Secs. 2A. Once the deadline passes, any truck accident lawsuit filed will likely be dismissed.
Individuals involved in Boston truck accidents are well-advised to contact a Boston truck accident lawyer promptly after an accident. Your lawsuit may not be filed immediately, as time may be needed to observe how injuries heal, and what medical care will be needed going forward.
Contacting a lawyer right away can ensure evidence is preserved. Trucking companies may have a damaged semi-truck towed hundreds of miles away within hours of an accident, to be quickly repaired or destroyed.
Once you have an attorney, they can issue a spoliation letter to ensure evidence is not destroyed and can be independently inspected. If a spoliation letter has been issued and evidence is destroyed, a lawyer may have the authority to impose sanctions.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Boston?
In Massachusetts in 2021, there were 586 total vehicles involved in fatal crashes. Of these 586 vehicles, 5.1%, or 30 vehicles, were large trucks. This accounted for 0.5% of fatal crashes involving large trucks in the country.
Boston is a congested area with many narrow, winding streets (many of which are one-way).
Trucks are encouraged to use specific posted truck routes, which include:
- Main Street
- Galileo Galilei Way
- Binney Street
- First Street
- Land Boulevard
- JFK Street between Harvard Square and North Harvard Street in Brighton
- Broadway east of Galileo Galilei Way
- Vassar Street north of Rt. 2A (Mass. Ave.)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities among occupants of large trucks saw a significant increase of 8.5% in 2022, underscoring the heightened risks associated with large truck accidents.
In 2022, there was a concerning 2.0% increase in overall fatalities from traffic crashes involving large trucks, as reported by the NHTSA, highlighting the growing need for specialized legal representation in such truck accident cases.
Contact our Boston Truck Accident Lawyers For a Free Case Evaluation
If you suffered injuries in a collision with a large truck, or if someone you loved died in an accident involving a truck, contact the truck accident attorneys at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP. We will review your potential case, answer your questions, and explain your options to pursue compensation against the trucking company and any other liable parties.
You only have a limited period of time to pursue your truck accident claim, so do not delay in reaching out. Schedule your free case evaluation with our Boston personal injury law firm.
