Articles Posted in Truck Accidents

Drowsy driving is a significant concern throughout the United States, and the combination of sleepiness and negligence can have devastating consequences. Massachusetts drivers who operate a vehicle while drowsy risk their safety and that of others on the road. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving accounts for nearly 900 fatal crashes every year.

The effects of fatigued driving are similar to that of drunk driving. Studies indicate that those who are awake for 18 hours are similar to someone having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05%. Further, being awake for 24 hours is equal to a 0.10% BAC. Moreover, sleepiness increases the effects of even small amounts of alcohol. Sleepiness makes drivers less attentive, slows reaction times, and impacts a motorist’s ability to make sound decisions.

There are many warning signs of sleepy or impaired driving. These signs include frequent yawning, difficulty remembering directions, missing exits, drifting lanes, or driving over rumble strips. Although anyone can drive while tired, some individuals are more susceptible to drowsy driving. These people typically include long-haul truck drivers, shift workers, drivers with sleep disorders, and those who use medications that make them tired. These actions can cause a driver to become involved in a severe accident.

Massachusetts truck accidents often involve multi-layered interactions between drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, road conditions, and weather. Truck accidents are one of the most devastating types of accidents and can have life-long implications on all of the parties involved. This is especially true in instances where the events stem from a truck rollover. A rollover accident occurs when a truck’s wheels lose contact with the roadway, resulting in the truck ending up on its side or upside-down. Many of these accidents are preventable, and Massachusetts injury victims may seek compensation from the negligent truck driver or their employer.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are four leading causes of Massachusetts rollover accidents. First, a truck driver’s speed while negotiating a curve is one of the main reasons for these types of accidents. Trucks have a high center of gravity, and drivers must maintain a safe speed to avoid toppling. Drivers must consider the height of their vehicle and cargo load when operating their trucks. The failure to modify their speed in relation to changing road conditions can have disastrous consequences.

Second, making sudden steering changes can cause the truck to lose traction and rollover. Additionally, improperly loaded or insecure cargo can result in a rollover. Truck drivers and their companies must ensure that their vehicles are safely packed. When a load is unbalanced or improperly secured, the truck may suffer a change in the center of gravity, which can reduce stability and result in a rollover. Finally, driver error, including impairment, distraction, and fatigue, can all result in this type of accident.

Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles pose a serious danger to Massachusetts motorists. These trucks are large vehicles capable of causing enormous damage. Indeed, each year in Massachusetts, there are over 30 people killed in Massachusetts truck accidents on average. Of course, this does not include the thousands who are injured as a result of these accidents.

Notwithstanding the old adage “accidents happen,” the truth is that most accidents are preventable. Truck drivers have a legal duty to operate their rigs safely and responsibly, following all traffic signs and laws. When a truck driver engages in dangerous or negligent conduct, and someone is injured as a result, the injured person can pursue a Massachusetts personal injury claim against the truck driver. In some cases, it may also be possible to bring a claim against the truck driver’s employer, the owner of the truck, and potentially other parties who were legally responsible for the accident. Common causes of truck accidents include distracted driving, drunk driving, and drowsy driving.

Pursuing a truck accident claim is not always straightforward, even if the accident clearly seems to be the truck driver’s fault. Depending on the nature of the accident, the insurance company defending the truck driver may contest the trucker’s responsibility, or may question the amount of damages an accident victim sustained. In either case, an accident victim’s total compensation can drastically be reduced, or even eliminated. Those who have been injured in a Massachusetts truck accident should reach out to a dedicated personal injury attorney for immediate assistance, as these claims must generally be brought within three years from the date of the accident.

Semi-trucks are large vehicles, and operators face many difficulties when driving them, both on the highway and on smaller city streets. And while any traffic accident carries the potential to cause serious injury or death, generally, the injuries caused in a Massachusetts truck accident are often severe. Indeed, the fatality rate is highest among accidents involving large commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks and tractor-trailers.

Recovering after a Boston truck accident can be a lengthy process. Initially, accident victims have to overcome their physical injuries. This may include periods of hospitalization followed by physical therapy. Even then, many accident victims find that they suffer from lingering pain or other effects of the collision, including emotional or psychological stress associated with driving or riding in a car. Additionally, those involved in a serious truck accident will also miss work during their recovery. This makes dealing with the sizable medical bills even more difficult.

Under state law, truck accident victims can pursue a claim for compensation against any of the parties they believe to be at fault for their injuries by filing a Massachusetts personal injury case. In a personal injury case arising out of a truck accident, most often, the named defendants include the truck driver and that driver’s employer. However, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident, there may be additional parties that should be named.

Cement truck drivers require a certain level of skill and experience to operate their vehicles since the trucks can weigh up to 30,000 pounds and often carry an additional 30,0000 pounds of wet concrete. This weight, coupled with the size and speed at which these trucks move, can lead to devastating injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident. If you have been injured in a collision involving a cement truck, it is vital to consult a Massachusetts truck accident lawyer who can help. Our goal is to help you and your family obtain the maximum possible compensation in your case.

A head-on crash in Bedford killed an elderly grandfather earlier this month. The crash, involving a Honda CRV and a cement truck, took place around 1:30 in the afternoon. According to law enforcement, the driver of the SUV had been traveling southbound when he crossed over the double yellow line and crashed into the cement truck head on. After the accident, the cement truck ended up losing all hydraulic power, causing it to strike a utility pole, including a transformer. The truck driver declined medical treatment. The man’s 10 and 11-year-old grandsons were in the vehicle at the time of the wreck. The two boys are recovering at the hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries. Police say the boys survived the crash because they were wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

In a cement truck accident lawsuit, the plaintiff has the burden of establishing fault. This is typically done by showing that the truck driver’s negligence led to the accident and resulting harm. Negligence takes place when a driver fails to use reasonable care while driving, thereby causing an accident. Reasonable care refers to the level of care that a reasonably competent truck driver would have used under the same or similar circumstances. As such, the plaintiff will have to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that it’s more likely than not that the defendant failed to use reasonable care behind the wheel and this failure was a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

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Tractor-trailer accidents can lead to devastating injuries, but compensation may be available. If you have been hurt in a trucking accident, you need to speak to a Massachusetts truck collision lawyer who is familiar with state and federal laws that govern trucks and truck drivers. This is a complicated area of law and having an experienced legal advocate by your side can very much impact the outcome of your case.

A tragic crash killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire last month, making it one of the deadliest accidents in the state’s history. Many of the victims were veterans. The accident occurred when a 23-year-old truck driver from Springfield, Massachusetts crossed a double yellow line into the eastbound lane of the highway where it struck a group of 10 motorcyclists, members of the Massachusetts chapter of the JarHeads Motorcycle Club. Seven of the motorcyclists died, while the other three were rushed to the hospital. The truck driver was charged with seven counts of vehicular homicide.

Shockingly, it was revealed that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) should have terminated the truck driver’s commercial license a long time ago due to a series of serious traffic infractions, the latest of which involved a drunk driving arrest one month prior to the catastrophic accident. Upon further investigation, it turns out that RMV officials ignored tens of thousands of alerts that Massachusetts-licensed drivers had broken driving laws in other states. As a result, at least 540 drivers who should have had their Massachusetts licenses suspended were able to stay on the road.

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Delivery truck crashes can cause major destruction. Not only do these wrecks cause property damage but they can also lead to severe bodily injury, and even death. If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can assist you in figuring out your next steps. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates, P.C., our highly skilled Massachusetts truck accident attorneys understand the grief, anxiety and frustration that our clients experience after a truck accident, which is why we are committed to offering our sincere support and guidance every step of the way.

Last month, emergency responders spent hours cleaning up an accident scene after more than 1,000 packages fell onto Interstate 495. There were two separate accidents in the southbound lanes of the highway that night. One accident was between a tractor-trailer and a personal vehicle; the second accident involved two tractor-trailers. One of the trucks was a UPS truck that sustained severe damage to its trailer. In fact, the entire side of the box truck was torn off spilling in excess of 1,000 packages across the highway – many of which were crushed or smashed. Three individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The cause of the accident is still unknown and the collision is still under investigation.

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Sadly, truck accidents are far too common. The US Department of Transportation has found that about half a million trucking accidents take place on an annual basis throughout the country. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5.6 percent of all deadly accidents in Massachusetts involved large trucks. Truck accidents are almost always very serious. If you have been hurt in a truck accident, we urge you to seek the help of a seasoned Massachusetts truck accident attorney who is able to assist you with your claim. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates, P.C., we provide each and every client with skilled legal representation every step of the way.

Earlier this week, a tanker truck full of 12,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over and crashed with another vehicle early in the morning. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene and another man was injured but is currently in stable condition. Fuel spilled out on to the roadway and several hours later – the firefighters, police and highway workers were still laboring to the end the danger. Both sides of the highway were shut down as the fuel was cleaned up. Law enforcement commended the crews on the clean up effort and stated that it was lucky the spill did not become disastrous. The accident is still under investigation.

Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries

If you were hurt in a truck accident caused by a truck driver’s negligence in Massachusetts, you may be able to recover damages for your harm. ‘Damages’ is the legal term that denotes a sum of money awarded as compensation for a loss or injury. Some common examples of damages include, but are not limited to: medical expenses, retaliation expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical expenses, property damage, disability and more.

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When large commercial trucks roll over, they become a serious hazard to everyone else on the road. If you were hurt or your loved one was killed in a truck rollover accident, you may have the right to financial compensation for your injuries. The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein and Affiliates P.C. is a skilled Massachusetts truck accident law firm that is dedicated to helping truck accident victims and their families. Our team is here to provide you with the support you need, as well as relentless advocacy at every stage of the legal process.

Truck Rollover Accidents

A truck rollover accident is an accident in which the truck overturns onto its side or roof. Trucks are particularly prone to this kind of accident because they have such a high center of gravity. Rollover accidents can lead to devastating harm. While only 2.1 percent of crashes involve a rollover, rollover accidents accounted for nearly 35 percent of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data from the NHTSA also found that over half of all truck fatalities are due to rollover crashes. Truck rollover accidents can have a number of causes, including:

• Improperly loaded vehicles;
• Unsecured cargo and freight;
• Tired drivers;
• Unsafe lane changes;
• Excessive speeding;
• Insufficient truck maintenance.

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Given the sheer size and weight of trucks, accidents involving these vehicles can lead to catastrophic, even deadly, injuries. Unfortunately, blind spots are a leading factor in many truck accident cases. If you were injured in a truck blind spot accident, you need to reach out to a seasoned Massachusetts truck accident attorney as soon as possible. With over two decades of experience, Barry Feinstein & Affiliates, P.C. has been helping victims of big rig and semi-truck collisions recover the compensation they rightfully deserve.

Blind Spots Leading to Accidents

Every vehicle has blind spots that inhibit a driver’s ability to see certain areas around the vehicle. A blind spot refers to an area where the truck driver’s view is obstructed. In other words, a blind spot is the space around the truck that the driver cannot directly see through the rear view mirrors or the side mirrors. A truck’s blind spot can be so significant that it is often referred to as “No Man’s Land.” In fact, entire vehicles can hide in the blind spots of big trucks. When a truck driver cannot see other vehicles on the road, changing lanes can be extremely dangerous, and vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes can be struck, crushed or forced off the road.

Liability in Blind Spot Accidents

Truck drivers have a duty to drive safely, including checking all mirrors and all blind spots. If you believe that your wreck was caused by a truck driver’s failure to check his or her blind spot, you may be able to recover damages through a negligence claim. Negligence occurs when a truck driver fails to use the level of care and caution that a reasonably prudent truck driver would use under the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a truck driver caused an accident because he or she failed to check blind spots before changing lanes, that driver would likely be considered negligent and on the hook for any resulting damages.

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