If you were injured in a collision with a commercial vehicle, the recovery can be overwhelming. However, you don’t have to face this difficult period alone. An experienced truck accident lawyer in Peabody will fight to recover all your losses.
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has been serving injured victims since 2004. Over the years, we have recovered more than $225 million for clients. Our Peabody personal injury lawyers provide compassionate legal guidance throughout the legal process. Our team puts you first. We are available to handle your legal needs 24/7.
Work With Experienced Peabody Truck Accident Attorneys
As a local law firm, we respond quickly to our clients’ needs. We handle your case problems so you can get back to living your life like you did five minutes before your accident. We have a reputation for successfully resolving personal injury claims. With decades of legal experience as a personal injury law firm, our lawyers know how to build a winning claim.
You can rely on us to represent your best interests as part of our Stone Cold Guarantee®. We have the knowledge, resources, and experience to recover your losses fully. We want you to regain the peace of mind you had before your injury.
The Cost of Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer
Our team will handle your case on a contingency pricing basis, so you never need to reach into your pocket to pay us. Instead, we only take payment for legal fees after we bring you fair compensation through a settlement or lawsuit. After we resolve your claim, we’ll receive a percentage of your final compensation as payment for our services.
Compensation You Can Get After a Truck Crash
Our legal team can help you secure fair compensation after an accident with a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or other large commercial vehicle. Whether you were in a collision on I-95, Route 114, or any other street in Peabody, we can investigate the accident scene.
Medical Expenses
When a truck crashes into a car or another vehicle, the impact can be much stronger than in regular car accidents. This can lead to serious injuries such as concussions, spinal cord injuries (SCIs), broken bones, back injuries, and injuries to internal organs.
As a truck accident victim, you could get compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment and transport to a hospital
- Medical tests and necessary treatments
- Medications and physical therapy
- Future medical expenses
We can also help you get the medical treatment you need after a crash and handle insurance company logistics on your behalf. We take charge when you sustain life–changing injuries.
Lost Wages
You may need time off work after a truck accident due to the severity of your injuries. Recovery can take weeks, months, or even longer, leaving you unable to return to your job during that period.
In some cases, the injuries may even limit your ability to perform your previous duties, reducing your long-term earning potential. A Peabody truck accident attorney can help you secure compensation for your immediate lost wages and diminished future earnings.
Non-Economic Losses
A car crash can cause more than just physical injuries; it can also lead to serious mental and emotional pain. We want to understand the mental struggles you faced, like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that may have come from the accident.
We will gather evidence and documentation to support your claims of emotional suffering. This can include medical records, psychological evaluations, and personal testimonies that illustrate how the accident has affected your daily life.
Punitive Damages
In Massachusetts, punitive damages punish the defendant for especially harmful or reckless behavior and deter others from engaging in similar activities. However, they are not common and are only allowed in certain types of cases where the defendant acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Are Truck Drivers Liable for Accidents?
Trucking companies directly employ most truck drivers. Companies often hold legal and financial liability for collisions. However, there are certain situations where the truck driver may face liability for a truck accident.
A truck driver may be liable for damages when:
- The truck driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol: It is illegal in most states for commercial truck drivers to get behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol level (BAC) of .04 or higher.
- The truck driver was distracted: Distracted driving can include texting, eating, using a GPS, or even talking on the phone. When a truck driver is distracted, they may not react in time to avoid a crash, which can cause serious damage due to the truck’s size and weight.
- The truck driver failed to follow trucking regulations: Regulations include things like limits on driving hours, proper vehicle maintenance, and safe loading of cargo. If a truck driver ignores these rules, it increases the risk of accidents.
- The truck driver is an independent contractor: If they cause an accident because of reckless driving, poor truck maintenance, or not following the law, they can be held personally responsible for the damages. Independent contractors must have their own truck insurance.
- The truck driver failed to comply with traffic laws: This could include speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, failing to stop for signals, or engaging in any other reckless driving behavior.
Our team believes that trucking companies, drivers, and manufacturing companies should be held responsible for your pain and suffering. If they have been negligent, they must pay.
Identifying the Liable Party in a Truck Crash Case
Identifying the responsible party after a truck accident determines who should pay for your losses. If you or someone you love sustained injuries in a truck accident in Massachusetts, numerous parties could be liable for your losses. While truck drivers may often be at fault, other parties may also be responsible for what happened.
Any of the following parties could be liable in a truck accident claim:
- Trucking company: The company may be liable if it fails to perform a full background check before hiring, offer adequate training, or provide proper supervision.
- Truck manufacturer: If the crash was caused by a defect or malfunction in the truck, the manufacturing company may be liable. This can include faulty parts, such as brakes, tires, or steering mechanisms, or even a failure in the truck’s safety systems.
- Loading company: If the cargo is too heavy, not secured correctly, or improperly distributed, it can cause the truck to tip over or become difficult to control.
- Truck maintenance company: If they skip important inspections, ignore repairs, or use faulty parts, the truck can malfunction while on the road. For example, if the brakes fail due to poor maintenance and cause a collision, the maintenance company may be held responsible.
Since many parties can be involved in a collision, it can be difficult to correctly identify who to sue in a truck accident case. That is why you should work with a truck attorney in Peabody. We will identify the negligent party by investigating the details of the accident.
Compassionate Legal Support After a Fatal Truck Accident
If your loved one has passed away in a truck accident, we offer our heartfelt condolences. As experienced wrongful death lawyers in Peabody, we recognize the deep sorrow that comes with the unexpected loss of a family member.
When someone else’s negligence or wrongful act results in a death, the surviving family members can seek compensation through a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys will help you navigate this challenging process.
Massachusetts Has a Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits
The statute of limitations determines the amount of time you have to file a claim against the defendant. In Massachusetts, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years. However, the exact deadline depends on the unique details of your case.
If you don’t meet the deadline, you may lose your chance to recover all your losses. After reviewing your case, our truck accident lawyers in Peabody will tell you exactly how much time you have to take legal action.
How Can a Peabody Truck Accident Lawyer Help You?
An attorney can assist with all your legal needs after a collision. We level the playing field and help our clients rebuild their lives. With our support, you can move forward with confidence, knowing you have a strong advocate by your side.
Answer All Legal Questions
If you or someone you love sustained injuries in a truck accident, you may be unsure of what to do next. You’ve suffered a traumatic experience. After all, commercial trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than a standard passenger vehicle.
You want to recover and get answers to your questions. Our team is available day and night to guide you through the legal process. We will provide you with answers about your next steps.
Handle the Insurance Company
After a truck accident, you have enough to worry about without the stress and frustration of dealing with the insurance company. How you communicate with them can significantly affect the payout of your claim. To protect the value of your claim, work with an attorney. Your truck accident lawyer will handle the insurance company.
Our team knows the many tactics insurance companies use to reduce a victim’s compensation. Insurance adjusters may deny valid claims or pressure you into accepting a fast and low settlement offer. We won’t let that happen.
How We Investigate Truck Crashes
Immediately after your accident, the trucking and insurance companies will launch a thorough investigation. You need someone on your side who will do the same. For every case, we dispatch a team to examine the scene and help us determine the cause of the accident using a wide range of investigative techniques.
Get a Copy of the Police Report
The police report provides essential information such as who was involved in the trucking accident, where the incident occurred, and whether any driver acted negligently.
This information can help establish who was at fault and clarify the circumstances surrounding the accident. Insurance companies and legal representatives often rely on the police report to assess claims and determine liability.
Access the Trucker’s Driving Record
Trucking companies should always check an applicant’s driving history before hiring that person. If the driver has a history of reckless driving behavior, drunk driving charges, or other traffic violations, this could prove the company’s negligence.
Look for Photos and Videos
Pictures of the accident scene, property damage, weather conditions, and skid marks can help determine how the accident occurred. Dashcam or surveillance footage provides invaluable evidence about how the accident occurred.
Get Blackbox Data
Most commercial trucks have a data recorder, or “black box,” that stores data that can help determine the cause of the crash. It can provide GPS coordinates, the driver’s speed, when the driver braked, and other information.
Collaborate With Experts
We also have access to a team of trucking industry experts who will help us review different aspects of your case. Together, we will formulate a winning strategy tailored to your specific situation.
We may work with:
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Engineers
- Medical professionals
- Safety experts
- Trucking school instructors
- Toxicology experts
- Caregivers or life-care planners
Perform Other Investigations
After an accident, trucking companies may try to destroy evidence that shows they were at fault. This could include things like maintenance records, driver logs, or video footage from the truck. However, our Peabody truck accident attorneys know these tactics and will protect your rights.
We will gather and preserve important evidence before it can be lost or destroyed. With our help, you can build a strong case to prove negligence and seek compensation.
Depending on the facts surrounding your claim, we may also:
- Check out the accident scene for debris
- Measure skid marks at the scene
- Review company logbooks
- Investigate the trucking company’s history of violating rules
- Interview witnesses
We will send a notice to the company and other parties involved in your case, legally requiring them to preserve driver’s logs, black box data, and other evidence essential to your case.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents are far too common and can happen in several different circumstances. Depending on the circumstances of each crash, the following could be contributing factors.
Common causes of truck accidents in Peabody include:
- Fatigued driving: Federal regulations limit the hours a truck driver can log consecutively. However, drivers often ignore these rules. Truck drivers typically work long shifts, sometimes driving through the night to reach their destinations. Driving drowsy means delayed reaction times, blurry vision, and even falling asleep at the wheel.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Anyone who loads a cargo truck must follow specific rules. When loaded improperly, cargo can fall onto the roadway and result in devastating crashes.
- Tire blowouts: Truck tire blowouts occur when a tire suddenly deflates or comes apart. When a blowout occurs, the semi-truck may swerve into the other lane, drive into oncoming traffic, or roll over. The tire or debris left behind can cause devastating accidents, leaving victims with catastrophic injuries.
Speak to a Truck Accident Attorney in Peabody Today
A trucking accident can be devastating. You deserve a stable future. A Peabody truck accident lawyer at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers can help provide that for you. We have represented many victims like you; if you or a loved one was in a truck accident, call us or complete our online contact form today to schedule a free case evaluation. Let us help you.
Please choose any method for your appointment with a truck accident attorney: Skype, Facetime, in-person, or whatever is most convenient and comfortable for you.
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