Boston’s highways and streets see constant commercial truck traffic. From I-93 and the Mass Pike to local delivery routes through narrow neighborhoods, these massive vehicles share the road with passenger cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. When accidents occur, the results can be devastating. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks often result in catastrophic injuries, extensive property damage, and life-changing consequences.
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, you face mounting medical bills, lost income, and physical pain while dealing with aggressive insurance companies. Strong legal representation can help you secure fair compensation and protect your rights.
Understanding Trucking Accident Claims
Trucking accident claims differ considerably from typical car accident cases, stemming from multiple factors, including federal regulations, commercial insurance policies, and the involvement of parties beyond the driver.
How trucking accidents differ from regular car accidents
Commercial trucks must comply with FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) regulations governing driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. These rules create additional avenues for proving negligence. Trucking companies carry much higher insurance coverage than individual drivers, often in the millions of dollars. This means that insurance companies fight harder to deny or minimize claims.
Multiple parties can share responsibility for negligent driving, fatigue, or distraction. The trucking company can be held responsible for inadequate training, unrealistic schedules, or failure to maintain vehicles. Cargo-loading companies may be liable for improperly secured or overloaded freight. Vehicle manufacturers could be at fault if defective parts contributed to the accident. Maintenance contractors might share responsibility for failing to repair known problems.
Identifying all liable parties helps determine the total compensation available and ensures that you recover from all responsible sources.
Common types of injuries and damages involved
Trucking accidents frequently cause severe, life-altering injuries. TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) can result in permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes. Spinal cord injuries may lead to partial or complete paralysis. Broken bones, internal organ damage, severe burns, and crush injuries require extensive medical treatment and lengthy recovery periods. Some victims face permanent disabilities that prevent them from returning to work or enjoying activities they once loved.
The financial impact goes beyond immediate medical bills, though. Victims often need ongoing rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, and long-term care. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity can devastate families financially.
Steps to Take After a Boston Trucking Accident
The actions you take immediately after a trucking accident can impact your ability to recover compensation. Follow these steps:
- Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention – Your health and safety come first. Call emergency services, even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Adrenaline can mask pain and symptoms of internal injuries. A medical evaluation creates documentation linking your injuries to the accident, which becomes evidence later.
- Gather evidence – If you’re physically able, document the accident scene thoroughly. Take photos of all vehicles involved, showing damage from multiple angles. Capture road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks, and any visible cargo or mechanical problems with the truck. Get the truck driver’s name, license number, employer, and company name displayed on the vehicle. Collect contact information from witnesses who saw the accident occur.
- Avoid speaking with insurance companies directly – Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly, often within hours of the accident. They may seem friendly and helpful, but their goal is to protect their company’s bottom line. Anything you say may be used to minimize or deny your claim. Refuse to give recorded statements or discuss the accident details. Instead, direct them to contact your attorney.
- Contact a Boston trucking accident lawyer early – Time matters in trucking accident cases. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories can fade, and trucking companies can immediately deploy teams to limit their liability. An experienced attorney can preserve evidence such as driver’s logs, maintenance records, and black box data before it’s lost or destroyed.
How Compensation Is Calculated
Trucking accident victims may be entitled to several types of compensation, depending on their injuries and circumstances.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. Medical bills include emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescription medications, medical equipment, and future care needs. Lost wages compensate for the income you couldn’t earn while recovering. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job, you can recover compensation for reduced earning capacity. Vehicle repair or replacement costs are also included.
Non-economic damages address intangible losses that don’t have specific dollar amounts. Pain and suffering compensation recognizes the physical limitations and discomfort caused by your injuries. Damages for emotional distress account for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and psychological trauma resulting from your accident. Loss of enjoyment of life compensates you when injuries prevent you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed. In cases involving permanent disabilities or disfigurement, additional compensation addresses the lasting impact on your quality of life.
Punitive damages may apply in severe negligence cases. Massachusetts law allows punitive damages in rare cases involving particularly reckless or intentional misconduct. If a trucking company knowingly violated safety regulations, pressured drivers to falsify logs, or deliberately ignored serious mechanical problems, the court may award punitive damages to punish this behavior and deter similar conduct.
How a Boston Injury Lawyer Can Help
Trucking accident cases often require specialized knowledge and resources that general practice attorneys usually lack. Here’s how experienced trucking accident lawyers make a difference:
- Investigating the cause and identifying liable parties – Attorneys conduct thorough investigations using experts in accident reconstruction, trucking regulations, and mechanical engineering. They obtain and analyze driver logs, electronic logging device data, maintenance records, employment files, and company policies. This investigation reveals the full scope of negligence and identifies every party that contributed to your injuries.
- Handling insurance companies and settlement negotiations – Your attorney deals with insurance adjusters, so you don’t have to. They know the tactics insurers use to minimize payouts and how to counter them effectively. Lawyers present evidence that demonstrates the full extent of your damages and negotiate aggressively for fair settlements. They won’t let insurance companies pressure you into accepting inadequate offers.
- Representing you in court if necessary – While many trucking accident cases settle before trial, some require litigation. If insurance companies refuse reasonable settlements, your attorney will file a lawsuit and take your case to court. They prepare compelling arguments, present evidence effectively, question witnesses, and advocate vigorously before judges and juries.
Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Claim
Specific actions can seriously damage your ability to recover fair compensation. Avoid these mistakes:
- Delaying medical treatment or legal help – Waiting to see a doctor creates doubt about the severity of your injuries and whether the accident caused them. Insurance companies argue that delayed treatment means injuries aren’t serious or resulted from something else. Similarly, waiting too long to contact an attorney may result in the loss of vital evidence. Witness memories fade, accident scenes change, and companies destroy records after specific periods.
- Accepting an early lowball settlement – Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers before victims understand the full extent of their injuries and damages. These early offers rarely cover long-term medical needs, future lost wages, or ongoing pain and suffering. If you accept a settlement and sign a release, this prevents you from seeking further compensation later, even if your injuries worsen or new complications develop.
- Posting about the accident on social media – Insurance companies monitor social media accounts looking for information to use against claimants. A photo showing you smiling at a family gathering might be misrepresented as proof you’re not really injured. Comments about the accident can be taken out of context to suggest you share fault. The safest approach is to avoid posting anything about your accident, injuries, or lawsuit until your case is completely resolved.
Why Choose Boston Injury Law Group
When selecting an attorney to handle your trucking accident case, experience and local knowledge matter tremendously.
- Local experience with Massachusetts trucking laws – Our attorneys understand how Massachusetts comparative negligence rules affect trucking cases. We know the state’s non-fault insurance system, and when you can step outside it to file claims against trucking companies. Our familiarity with local courts, judges, and procedures gives our clients distinct advantages.
- Proven track record of winning trucking accident cases – Boston Injury Law Group has successfully represented many trucking accident victims, securing substantial compensation for their injuries. Our results demonstrate our ability to take on large trucking companies and their powerful insurance carriers.
- Free consultations and contingency-based representation – We offer free initial consultations to evaluate your case without any financial obligation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. This structure makes experienced legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation and shows our confidence in achieving positive results.
Take Action Today
If you or a loved one was hurt in a trucking accident, don’t face the legal process alone. Trucking companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize their liability from the moment an accident occurs. You need equally strong representation protecting your interests.
Boston Injury Law Group is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Our experienced attorneys will thoroughly investigate your accident, handle all communications with insurance companies, and pursue every available dollar of compensation. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you’re facing, and we’re committed to helping you rebuild your life.
Time is of the essence in trucking accident cases. Evidence deteriorates, witnesses become harder to locate, and legal deadlines approach. The sooner you contact us, the stronger we can make your case.
Contact Boston Injury Law Group today for a free consultation. Let us review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing and moving forward with your life.
