Semi-Truck Accident Attorney in New Bedford
Protecting Injured Victims and Families

New Bedford is one of Massachusetts’ most vital commercial centers, with the Port of New Bedford serving as a major hub for fishing, seafood processing, and maritime commerce. This industrial activity generates constant freight traffic as semi-trucks transport goods through the city’s streets and highways. Major routes, including I-195, Route 18, and Route 140, carry heavy commercial vehicle traffic daily, while industrial zones near the waterfront see continuous truck activity serving warehouses, processing facilities, and port terminals.

The combination of large commercial trucks, busy commuter traffic, historic downtown streets, and waterfront areas creates dangerous conditions where serious accidents occur regularly. Semi-trucks confronted by New Bedford’s mix of modern highways and older, narrower roads face challenges that often result in devastating collisions.

When semi-truck accidents happen, victims and their families may be left with catastrophic injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertain futures. The legal process following these accidents involves complex federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance companies determined to minimize payouts. Experienced legal representation is essential in these situations for protecting your rights and securing fair compensation.

At Boston Injury Law Group, our attorneys specialize in semi-truck accident cases throughout southeastern Massachusetts. We understand the challenges these claims present and have the resources, knowledge, and determination to fight for the compensation New Bedford victims deserve.

Why Semi-Truck Accidents Are So Serious

The fundamental physics of semi-truck collisions explains why these accidents cause such devastating harm. Understanding these dangers helps victims recognize the serious nature of their cases.

Size and weight of semi-trucks compared to passenger vehicles

A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, approximately 20 times heavier than a typical passenger car, which weighs around 4,000 pounds. This massive weight disparity means that collisions generate enormous destructive force. When an 80,000-pound truck strikes a car, the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the impact energy, resulting in severe crushing damage and catastrophic injuries to occupants.

High potential for catastrophic injuries or fatalities

The force involved in semi-truck accidents frequently causes life-threatening and permanently disabling injuries. Victims suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, crushed limbs, internal organ damage, and multiple fractures at far higher rates than typical car accidents. Tragically, many semi-truck collisions prove fatal, leaving families to cope with unimaginable loss.

Multi-vehicle and highway pileups are common

New Bedford’s busy highways mean semi-truck accidents rarely involve just two vehicles. When trucks lose control jack-knife, or cannot stop in time on I-195 or Route 18, they often strike multiple cars, creating chain-reaction crashes with numerous victims. These complex accidents involve multiple insurance claims, dispute liability, and challenging legal questions about comparative fault.

Complexity of liability and evidence in trucking cases

Semi-truck accident cases differ fundamentally from typical car crashes. They involve federal safety regulations, electronic logging requirements, corporate defendants, commercial insurance policies worth millions of dollars, and technical evidence that requires expert analysis. Successfully dealing with these complexities demands attorneys with specialized experience in commercial vehicle litigation.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in New Bedford

Identifying what caused a semi-truck accident helps with establishing liability and building strong legal claims. Common causes in New Bedford include:

• Driver fatigue from long-haul routes along I-195 and Route 18 – Truck drivers traveling through New Bedford often log excessive hours on long-haul routes connecting New England to points south and west. Federal regulations limit driving time, but these rules aren’t always followed. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and may even fall asleep behind the wheel, creating deadly hazards on busy highways.

• Speeding and aggressive driving near industrial areas – Commercial pressures to meet delivery deadlines sometimes leads drivers to speed, tailgate, or change lanes aggressively. These dangerous behaviors prove especially hazardous near New Bedford’s industrial zones, where trucks drive through areas with mixed traffic, frequent stops, and limited visibility.

• Distracted driving, including cell phone use – Despite regulations prohibiting handheld device use, some drivers text, make calls, or use GPS while driving. Even brief moments of inattention can result in catastrophic accidents when operating vehicles of this size and weight.

• Poor truck maintenance or overloaded freight – Trucking companies that neglect brake maintenance, ignore worn tires, or fail to repair defective lights put everyone at risk. Similarly, overloaded trucks exceed safe weight limits, making them harder to control and dramatically increasing stopping distances. Companies that prioritize profits over safety bear responsibility when inadequate maintenance or overloading causes accidents.

• Weather-related hazards – New Bedford’s coastal location means frequent fog, rain, and winter weather that can create treacherous driving conditions. Bridges and overpasses ice over quickly, creating slippery surfaces where heavy trucks lose traction. Drivers who fail to adjust speed and following distance for weather conditions cause preventable accidents.

• Tight streets and sharp downturns near downtown and historic districts – New Bedford’s downtown area and historic districts feature narrow streets designed long before modern semi-trucks existed. Drivers attempting to navigate these confined spaces often misjudge turning radius, strike vehicles or pedestrians, or cause accidents when cutting corners too sharply.

Where Semi Truck Accidents Commonly Occur

Some locations throughout New Bedford and the surrounding areas see disproportionately high rates of semi-truck accidents.

I-195 corridor through New Bedford

This major east-west highway carries heavy commercial traffic and experiences frequent truck accidents, particularly during rush hours, in construction zones, and at interchange areas where vehicles merge and change lanes.

Route 18 and Route 140 junctions

The convergence of these routes creates traffic patterns where semi-trucks navigate exits, merge with other vehicles, and change lanes at highway speeds. These maneuvers often result in serious collisions.

Industrial areas near Acushnet Avenue and Coggeshall Street

Commercial zones serving New Bedford’s industries see constant truck traffic with deliveries, loading operations, and backing maneuvers. These areas experience accidents involving trucks entering or exiting facilities, backing up, or dealing with congested parking areas.

Near Port of New Bedford

The port generates significant truck traffic as vehicles transport seafood, maritime equipment, and commercial goods. Roads near port facilities see trucks making tight turns, backing up to loading docks, and driving in areas with limited visibility.

Downtown streets with mixed pedestrian and truck traffic

Downtown New Bedford combines narrow streets, parallel parking, pedestrian crossings, and truck deliveries, a dangerous mix that creates collision risks for vehicles, cyclists, and people on foot.

Types of Injuries in Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-truck accidents in New Bedford frequently cause severe, life-altering injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term care.

• TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) – Head trauma from truck collisions can cause concussions, skull fractures, brain bleeding, and permanent cognitive impairment. TBI victims may experience memory loss, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, and impaired motor function. Severe cases result in permanent disability requiring lifetime care.

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis – Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis below the injury site. Victims may lose the ability to walk, control bodily functions, or live independently. Spinal cord injuries require extensive rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, and ongoing medical care costing millions of dollars over a lifetime.

• Broken bones and crush injuries – The massive force of semi-truck impacts causes complex fractures, shattered bones, and crush injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Metal hardware implantation and lengthy rehabilitation, some fractures never heal properly, causing permanent pain and limited mobility.

• Burn injuries – Truck accidents involving fuel fires or chemical spills cause severe burns requiring skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and years of wound care. Burn victims often face permanent scarring, disfigurement, and psychological trauma alongside physical pain.

• Fatal injuries leading to wrongful death claims – Tragically, many semi-truck accidents are fatal. When negligence causes death, surviving spouses, children, and dependents may pursue wrongful death claims to recover compensation for lost financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and their own emotional suffering.

Steps to Take After a Semi Truck Accident in New Bedford

The actions you take immediately following a semi-truck accident can significantly impact both your health and your ability to recover fair compensation.

• Call 911 and request New Bedford Police and EMS – Always contact emergency services immediately, even if injuries initially seem minor. An official police report documents the accident and creates evidence for your case, emergency medical personnel can identify injuries that might not be immediately apparent.

• Seek medical care immediately – Get a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible. Some serious injuries like internal bleeding, brain trauma, and spinal damage don’t always show immediate symptoms. Prompt medical treatment protects your health and creates medical records linking your injuries to the accident.

• Document the accident – If you’re physically able and it’s safe to do so, photograph all vehicles showing damage from multiple angles. Capture road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks, cargo, and any visible mechanical problems with the truck. Get the truck driver’s name, license number, employer information, insurance details, and the DOT number displayed on the truck. Write down the trucking company name shown on the vehicle. Collect contact information from witnesses who saw what happened.

• Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies – Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly, sometimes within hours of the accident. They may seem friendly and helpful, but their goal is protecting their company’s financial interests. Politely decline to give recorded statements or discuss accident details. Instead, direct them to contact your attorney.

• Contact an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer promptly – Time is of the essence in truck accident cases. Evidence can disappear, trucking companies begin building their defense immediately, and crucial electronic data may be destroyed or overwritten. Contacting an attorney quickly ensures that evidence is preserved and your rights are protected from the start.

Why Semi-Truck Accident Cases Require Specialized Attorneys

Semi-truck accident litigation differs from typical car accident cases, requiring specialized legal knowledge and resources.

FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations)

Commercial trucks should all comply with extensive Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations governing hours-of-service limits, driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance requirements, cargo securement standards, and drug and alcohol testing. Violations of these regulations establish negligence, but only attorneys experienced in trucking law can identify them and use them to prove liability.

Access to truck driver logs, GPS, and black box data

Modern semi-trucks contain electronic logging devices and event data recorders that capture vital information about vehicle speed, braking, engine performance, and driver behavior before accidents. This data can prove driver fatigue, speeding, or other negligence, but it must be secured quickly through proper legal procedures before trucking companies destroy or overwrite it.

Multiple parties may be liable

Semi-truck accidents often involve complex liability questions. The driver may have been negligent through fatigue, distraction, or reckless driving. The trucking company might bear responsibility for inadequate training, unrealistic delivery schedules, or failure to enforce safety rules. Maintenance contractors could be liable for failing to repair known mechanical problems. Vehicle or parts manufacturers may be at fault if defective components contributed to the crash. Identifying all liable parties is essential for maximizing available compensation.

Insurance companies aggressively defend these claims

Commercial trucking policies involve millions of dollars in coverage. Insurance companies hire teams of experienced defense lawyers and investigators immediately after accidents to minimize their liability. Without equally skilled representation, victims face overwhelming disadvantages when trying to recover fair compensation.

How Our New Bedford Semi Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

Boston Injury Law Group provides comprehensive legal support tailored to the challenges of semi-truck accident cases.

• Full accident investigation with reconstruction specialists ­­– We work with expert accident reconstructionists who use physical evidence, electronic data, witness statements, and scientific analysis to determine precisely what happened and who bears responsibility. These experts can recreate the accident sequence and identify the factors that caused the collision.

• Preserve critical digital and mechanical evidence ­­– Our legal team acts immediately to preserve evidence before it disappears. We send preservation letters to trucking companies requiring them to maintain driver logs, maintenance records, inspection reports, GOS data, and black box information. We obtain this evidence through proper legal channels and have experts analyze it to build your case.

• Work with medical, financial, and vocational experts ­­– We consult with medical specialists who document the full extent of your injuries and project future treatment needs. Economic experts calculate lifetime medical costs and lost earning capacity. Vocational specialists assess how disabilities affect your ability to work. These expert opinions strengthen your claim and ensure full compensation for all damages.

• Negotiate aggressively for settlements and prepare for trial if necessary ­­– We negotiate firmly with insurance companies and trucking companies, presenting compelling evidence of liability and damages. Our attorneys won’t accept inadequate settlement offers that fail to cover your long-term needs. If negotiations don’t produce fair results, we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial and present your case before a jury.

• Focus on maximum compensation for long-term care and lost income ­­– We don’t settle for amounts covering only immediate expenses. Our comprehensive damage calculations include future medical care, assistive devices, reduced earning capacity, and lifetime economic impacts.

Damages You May Be Entitled To

Victims of semi-truck accidents in New Bedford may recover substantial compensation for various losses.

Medical bills and ongoing treatment

All expenses for emergency treatment, ambulance transport, hospitalization, surgeries, diagnostic tests, prescription medications, medical equipment, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, and future medical care anticipated over your lifetime.

Low wages and reduced earning potential

Compensation for all income lost during your recovery period. If injuries prevent you from returning to your job or working at full capacity, you can also recover compensation for reduced future earning potential over your remaining working years.

Pain and suffering

Non-economic damages compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the overall impact injuries have on your quality of life and relationships.

Property damage

Recovery for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and compensation for any other personal property damaged in the accident.

Disability and long-term care

If injuries result in permanent disabilities, you can recover compensation for assistive devices like wheelchairs or prosthetics, home modifications to accommodate disabilities, ongoing care needs, and the lifetime costs of living with permanent impairments.

Wrongful death benefits for families

When semi-truck accidents prove fatal, surviving spouses, children, and dependents may recover compensation for lost financial support their loved one would have provided, loss of companionship and guidance, funeral and burial expenses, and their own pain and suffering from the loss.

Why Choose Boston Injury Law Group for Semi Truck Accidents in New Bedford

Our firm brings distinct advantages to semi-truck accident representation in New Bedford and throughout southeastern Massachusetts:

• Experience handling commercial vehicle and semi-truck cases – Our attorneys have successfully represented numerous truck accident victims, securing substantial compensation for clients who suffered catastrophic injuries. We understand the unique legal, technical, and procedural aspects of commercial vehicle litigation.

• Local knowledge of New Bedford roads, courts, and trucking routes – We’re familiar with the specific traffic patterns, road conditions, and trucking routes that contribute to New Bedford accidents. Our understanding of local court procedures, judges, and juries strengthens our advocacy.

• Client-focused and compassionate representation – We treat every client as an individual with unique circumstances and needs. You’ll receive personalized attention, regular case updates, prompt responses to questions, and compassionate support throughout what we know is an incredibly difficult time.

• No fee unless compensation is recovered– We handle semi-truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. This structure makes experienced legal representation accessible when you need it most, regardless of your current financial situation.

Protect Your Rights After a New Bedford Semi Truck Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident in New Bedford or the surrounding areas, don’t face this challenge alone. The days and weeks following a serious trucking accident are critical: evidence disappears, witnesses become harder to locate, and trucking companies work immediately with their legal teams to minimize liability.

You need experienced advocates who understand commercial trucking accidents and how to build winning cases against powerful corporations and their insurance companies. You deserve compensation that fully addresses your injuries, covers your long-term needs, and provides financial security for your future.

Contact Boston Injury Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation. Let our experienced semi-truck accident attorneys review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. We’ll fight to protect your rights, your future, and your financial security while you focus on healing and recovery. Your path to justice begins with a single phone call, so reach out now to get the help you deserve.