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Truck accidents are often more complex than standard motor vehicle collisions because multiple parties may be legally responsible. Unlike a typical car crash involving two drivers, truck accident cases frequently involve commercial trucking companies, contractors, maintenance providers, and other corporate entities.
In Massachusetts, potentially liable parties in a truck accident include the truck driver, the trucking company, third-party maintenance contractors, cargo loading companies, and vehicle or parts manufacturers. Liability depends on the specific circumstances of the crash and which parties acted negligently or violated federal safety regulations. Identifying every responsible party is critical for pursuing full compensation after a serious truck accident.
Commercial trucking is a heavily regulated industry governed by both Massachusetts state law and federal safety regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Truck drivers operating on highways like I-90, I-93, and I-95 through Massachusetts must comply with strict rules regarding hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo loading, and driver qualifications.
When a crash occurs, investigators must determine whether those rules were violated and whether negligence by any party contributed to the accident. Because commercial trucks are operated for business purposes, liability often extends well beyond the driver alone.
Truck accidents on Massachusetts roadways frequently involve multiple liable parties, larger insurance policies, and more aggressive defense strategies than standard car accident claims. Understanding the full scope of potential liability is essential to building a strong case.
A truck driver may be personally liable if they acted negligently by:
Driver negligence is typically the starting point in any truck accident liability investigation. However, the driver is rarely the only party at fault.
In many cases, the trucking company that employs or contracts with the driver is legally responsible under the doctrine of vicarious liability. This legal principle holds employers accountable for the actions of employees performed within the scope of their employment.
A trucking company may also be directly liable if it:
Trucking companies typically carry substantial commercial insurance policies, often $1 million or more, which is why these claims are aggressively defended by experienced insurance defense teams.
Commercial trucks require regular inspection and maintenance to remain safe for highway operation. If brake failure, tire blowouts, or steering system defects contributed to the crash, the third-party maintenance company responsible for servicing the vehicle may share liability.
Maintenance records are critical evidence in these cases. FMCSA regulations require trucking companies to maintain detailed inspection and repair logs under 49 CFR Part 396, and gaps or falsifications in those records can be strong indicators of negligence.
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause jackknife accidents, rollovers, and shifting-weight collisions. If a separate cargo company was responsible for loading the truck, that entity may be partially liable for the accident.
FMCSA cargo securement rules (49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I) establish specific requirements for how different types of freight must be loaded and secured. Violations of these standards can serve as direct evidence of negligence.
If a mechanical defect contributed to the accident, such as defective brakes, steering components, tires, or coupling devices, a product liability claim may arise against the vehicle manufacturer or parts supplier. These claims are separate from negligence claims and may be pursued under strict liability principles.
Truck drivers and trucking companies operating in Massachusetts are subject to FMCSA regulations that establish baseline safety standards for the industry. Key regulatory areas include:
Violations of these federal safety regulations can serve as powerful evidence of negligence in a Massachusetts truck accident case. An experienced attorney will know how to obtain and analyze these records to identify regulatory violations that contributed to the crash.
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 231, § 85. Under this statute, an injured person may recover damages as long as their own negligence does not exceed 50 percent of the total fault. If the injured party is found to be 51 percent or more at fault, they are barred from recovering any compensation.
Any damages awarded are reduced in proportion to the injured person's share of fault. For example, if an injured truck accident victim is found to be 20 percent at fault and their total damages are $500,000, the recovery would be reduced by 20 percent to $400,000.
Truck accident cases often involve aggressive attempts by insurance companies to shift blame to the injured driver. Insurers may argue that the victim was speeding, failed to maintain a safe following distance, or was otherwise negligent. A thorough investigation is critical to preventing unfair fault allocation and protecting the injured party's right to full compensation.
Truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and significant financial support. Understanding why truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries is an important context when evaluating the full scope of a liability claim.
Identifying every liable party ensures:
Failing to name all responsible parties can significantly limit the compensation available to a seriously injured victim.
Proving liability in a truck accident typically requires a more extensive investigation than a standard car crash. Critical steps include:
Because trucking companies and their insurers move quickly to protect their interests after a serious accident, early legal intervention is critical to preserving evidence before it is altered, destroyed, or lost.
If you have been involved in a truck accident on Massachusetts roadways, taking the right steps early can help protect your ability to pursue full compensation:
It is also important to understand that Massachusetts has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A. This means you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your ability to seek compensation.
Yes. Truck accident cases frequently involve multiple liable parties. The truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loading companies, and vehicle manufacturers may all share responsibility depending on the circumstances of the crash. Each party may carry separate insurance coverage, which can increase the total compensation available to the injured victim.
In many cases, yes. Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, employers are generally responsible for the negligent actions of their employees when those actions occur within the scope of employment. However, the specific facts of each case matter. If a driver was engaged in personal activity at the time of the crash, the analysis may differ.
Trucking companies sometimes attempt to avoid liability by classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Massachusetts courts examine the actual level of control the company exercised over the driver, including factors like scheduling, route assignments, equipment ownership, and compliance requirements. Courts often look beyond the contractual label to determine the true nature of the working relationship.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, acting quickly is important because critical evidence, including electronic logging data, maintenance records, and black box information, can be lost or overwritten if not promptly preserved.
Truck accident victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses (current and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other long-term damages. In cases involving catastrophic injuries, lifetime medical care costs and loss of quality of life may also be recoverable.
Truck accident claims involve complex liability questions, federal regulatory analysis, and corporate defense strategies that go far beyond a typical car accident case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, it is important to act quickly to preserve evidence and identify all responsible parties.
Kiley Law Group has more than 50 years of experience representing victims of serious truck accidents and has recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients, including a $3.5 million recovery for a tractor-trailer accident victim. Our attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts, review federal regulatory records, and conduct thorough investigations to ensure all liable entities are held accountable.
Contact Kiley Law Group today for a free consultation to discuss your truck accident case and learn about your legal options.
