Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

The Catastrophic Nature of Tractor-Trailer Accidents

A loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds, approximately 30 times the weight of an average passenger car. At highway speeds, the physics of a crash between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle are catastrophic for the smaller vehicle’s occupants. The injuries sustained in serious tractor-trailer accidents, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, multiple organ injury, severe orthopedic injuries, and death, are among the most devastating seen in any area of personal injury law. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey has represented tractor-trailer accident victims throughout Massachusetts for over 37 years.

Why the First 48 Hours Matter

The trucking company’s legal team and insurance adjusters begin building their defense from the moment the crash is reported. They have the access, the legal authority, and the professional interest to collect and preserve evidence that helps their case, and to allow evidence that hurts their case to be overwritten or lost on its normal cycle. Attorney Lavey counters this by issuing legal preservation demands to the trucking company, the driver, and third-party data holders the day he is retained, covering black box data, ELD records, GPS tracking, dashcam footage, and maintenance logs.

The Multiple Defendants in Tractor-Trailer Cases

Tractor-trailer accident liability frequently extends beyond the driver. The carrier that employed or contracted with the driver bears vicarious liability and may bear direct negligence for maintenance failures, dispatch practices that incentivized hours-of-service violations, or inadequate driver screening. The shipper or freight broker that arranged the load may bear liability for cargo that was improperly described or that required more careful handling than the carrier was prepared to provide. The cargo loader may be responsible if improper load securement caused a shift that destabilized the vehicle. The trailer owner, if different from the carrier, may also be liable. Attorney Lavey investigates every link in the chain.

FMCSA Compliance Violations as Negligence Evidence

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations establish detailed requirements for commercial trucking operations, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, driver qualification, cargo securement, and more. When a carrier or driver violates these regulations and a crash results, those violations are not merely technical infractions, they are evidence that the driver or company failed to meet a federal safety standard designed specifically to prevent crashes. Attorney Lavey reviews all FMCSA compliance records in every tractor-trailer case.

What Compensation Is Available After a Tractor-Trailer Crash

Because tractor-trailer accidents cause the most severe injuries, the compensation available is correspondingly substantial. Commercial carriers are required to carry insurance with higher minimum limits than personal auto policies, and many large carriers carry significantly higher coverage than the minimum. A successful claim can recover all past and future medical expenses, lost wages and permanent loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and in catastrophic cases, the full lifetime cost of care for those who can no longer live independently.

Frequently Asked Questions