Can I Sue a Truck Driver for Causing an Accident in Massachusetts?

Truck accidents can be incredibly damaging to victims, causing life-altering injuries that require compensation. Because of that, Massachusetts victims need to know if they can sue a truck driver for causing an accident and how to do so successfully.

Generally, Massachusetts truck accident victims are entitled to file a lawsuit against a negligent truck driver. To do so successfully, victims should call the police and speak to eyewitnesses at the scene. Victims should then hire an experienced lawyer to help them get the compensatory damages they deserve. In some cases, victims can also sue a parent trucking company if its negligence contributed to the accident. It’s important to act quickly when suing a truck driver after an accident, as the statute of limitations in Massachusetts is just three years.

If a negligent truck driver in Massachusetts caused you injury, our lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve. For a free case evaluation with the Boston truck accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.

How to Succeed in an Accident Lawsuit Against a Truck Driver in Massachusetts

Truck drivers are responsible for transporting vital goods all across the country. Unfortunately, these large motor vehicles are often the cause of damaging collisions in Massachusetts. If a negligent truck driver caused an accident that injured you, you could file a lawsuit for compensatory damages. That being said, it’s important to be able to prove a truck driver’s negligence. Because of that, victims should take certain steps after being injured in an accident caused by a Massachusetts truck driver.

Call the Police

One of the most helpful things in any car accident lawsuit is having access to a police report. While a police report isn’t considered evidence, your Cambridge truck accident lawyer can use it to point to a driver’s negligence. Massachusetts law enforcement officials will note vital details, like the accident’s likely cause and victims’ injuries. If a truck driver violated one of Massachusetts’ traffic laws, causing a collision, police officers will record such on an accident report.

Speak to Eyewitnesses

Trucks transporting goods can often be found on major highways. These long stretches of highways are the site of most trucking accidents in Massachusetts. If your accident occurred on a major highway, there were likely eyewitnesses. However, few people may stop to provide help after a trucking accident on a major highway. That being said, such devastating accidents can cause traffic on highways to stop completely. If any fellow Massachusetts residents stop to offer a helping hand, get their contact information. If they witnessed the collision, they could help attest to a truck driver’s negligent actions.

Hire an Attorney

If a negligent truck driver in Massachusetts injured you, it’s important to hire a lawyer right away. Our Massachusetts truck accident attorneys can launch an investigation into a truck driver’s history of negligence. For example, our lawyers can uncover the length of time a driver was on the road. If a truck driver was working long hours, without sleep, for extra income, drowsy driving might have caused the accident. Or, perhaps the driver has a history of causing accidents in Massachusetts. Our attorneys can uncover helpful information to support your claim against a negligent truck driver in Massachusetts.

Suing a Trucking Company and Driver for Causing an Accident in Massachusetts

Individual drivers are not always the only parties responsible for your accident in Massachusetts. Sometimes, the parent trucking company can be held liable for a victim’s injuries. To prove a trucking company’s negligence, victims should hire a Massachusetts truck accident attorney.

If a parent trucking company overworked its employee or improperly trained them, it could be held accountable in a Massachusetts lawsuit. Proving a trucking company’s negligence can be difficult. However, our attorneys will attempt to do so by investigating things like the company’s hiring and training processes.

Suppose a truck was in poor condition and a trucking company did not apply the proper repairs. Or, say that the truck’s cargo was over the maximum weight limit. In each case, an accident victim could sue the parent company. Trucking companies must adhere to strict federal guidelines regarding safety. If a company breaches those guidelines, causing you injury, our Malden truck accident lawyers could help you sue for compensatory damages.

In some cases, both an individual truck driver and a trucking company could be held liable in a civil lawsuit. If you’re unsure who to sue for damages, our lawyers can help you decide. After all, each truck accident case is different, and multiple parties’ negligence can contribute to a collision.

How Long Do You Have to Sue a Trucker After a Massachusetts Truck Accident?

Although Massachusetts victims are well within their rights to sue a negligent truck driver or parent company after an accident, they only have a certain amount of time to do so. The statute of limitation for these lawsuits is generally short, so it’s important for victims to file quickly.

Generally, truck accident victims in Massachusetts only have three years to hold the negligent parties responsible. While three years may seem like a long time at first, it’s not. As soon as hospital bills and lost wages start to pile up, victims will need to act fast to get the compensatory damages they deserve.

That’s why it’s important to hire an attorney immediately after sustaining injuries in a truck accident in Massachusetts. Our lawyers can start building a case to help you recover the economic and non-economic damages that you need to heal.

Efficiency is even more important in truck accidents, as victims are more likely to sustain life-altering injuries, like traumatic brain injuries. Not to mention, the longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult it can be to recover compensatory damages against a negligent truck driver or trucking company.

Call Our Massachusetts Lawyers if You’ve Been Injured in a Truck Accident

Truck accident victims in Massachusetts deserve justice against negligent drivers and trucking companies. For a free case evaluation with the Somerville truck accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.