Truck Accident Lawyer Greenfield

The open road can quickly turn into a scene of devastation when a commercial truck is involved in an accident. These large vehicles, often weighing 20-30 times more than passenger cars, can cause catastrophic damage in the blink of an eye. The sheer size and weight of these trucks can lead to crashes that are far more severe than typical car collisions.

If you or someone you know have had their life irrevocably altered by such a tragic event, you don’t have to buckle under the pressure of medical bills or emotional suffering. Our leading personal injury lawyer John P. DiBartolo, Jr., was once a liability claims adjuster for a national insurance company, so he knows firsthand how unfair the system can be in treating injured people fairly. His unique perspective has allowed us to recover millions of dollars in compensation for our clients over the last 28 years. Call our attorney at (413) 529-2955 or contact us online to tell us your story.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Greenfield

A truck collision in Greenfield usually involves an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or delivery truck, colliding with another vehicle or a pedestrian. There are several reasons why this might happen:

• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours and cover vast distances, which naturally leads to exhaustion. Fatigue can impair a driver’s reaction time, judgment, and ability to control the vehicle.
• Distracted driving: Any activity that diverts attention from driving, like talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, or using a GPS, can also result in a driver losing control.
• Intoxicated driving: Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications can severely impair a driver’s abilities.
• Reckless driving: This includes speeding, changing lanes without signaling, tailgating, and other aggressive driving behaviors.
• Poor vehicle maintenance: Failure to keep a truck in the best shape is bound to lead to mechanical failures, like brake failure or tire blowouts, which can cause a crash.
• Improper loading: If a truck’s cargo is not properly loaded and secured, it can shift during transit, causing the truck to become unbalanced and potentially resulting in a rollover accident.

Most Dangerous Highways in Greenfield, MA

This city is intersected by several major roads and highways that see significant traffic. It’s crucial for drivers in these hotspots to be vigilant and follow all the traffic laws for their own safety. According to our attorney, some of the most traffic-heavy routes in Greenfield for truck drivers are:

• Route 2 (Mohawk Trail): This major east-west route runs through Greenfield and is a key road for local and interstate traffic, including commercial trucks.
• Greenfield Road in Deerfield: This one sees a considerable amount of traffic and is often subject to road work.
• Colrain/Robbins Road: This intersects with Route 2 and has a high volume of traffic which can be particularly risky for large trucks.
• Pond Street: This local road is quite narrow and has more sharp turns compared to highways, so truck drivers unfamiliar with this route generally find it harder to navigate.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

In the experience of our attorney, people injured in a truck accident may suffer from:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Internal organ injuries
• Burn injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations and contusions
• Whiplash
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Death

Federal and State Laws That Can Impact Your Truck Accident Case in Greenfield, MA

There are certain rules that commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are legally required to follow when on the road. If a driver or trucking company breaks these rules and that causes an accident, it can be considered negligence. In a personal injury lawsuit, proving negligence of the other party and proving the medical costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering your accident caused you is key to getting the compensation you deserve.

When you work with us, one of the first steps our attorney will take is to investigate if any of these federal or state laws were broken by the driver or their employer:

Driver qualification and licensing

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict standards for commercial truck drivers. To drive a big rig, you need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). These licenses are divided into Classes A, B, or C based on the size and weight of the truck and what it’s carrying.

To get a CDL, drivers must pass a series of written and practical exams that test their knowledge and skills. If a driver involved in a crash did not have a CDL or had a suspended license, this could be a significant factor in your case.

Hours of service

The FMCSA also regulates how long drivers can be on the road before they need to take a break. For example, a truck driver can drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. If a driver violates these rules and crashes the truck because they were tired, this could be evidence of negligence.

Vehicle maintenance

Trucks need to be kept in good working order, which is why the FMCSA mandates regular inspections and upkeep. If a freight company doesn’t keep up with these requirements and a mechanical failure causes the truck to malfunction, our attorney will collect evidence to prove their liability in your accident.

Cargo securement

The FMCSA also has rules about how cargo should be loaded and secured on trucks. The agency actually specifies in detail exactly how specific commodities (logs, paper rolls, metal coils, dressed lumber, concrete pipes, etc.) must be secured. If cargo shifts or falls off a truck, whoever was in charge of loading and securing the cargo can be held liable for the resulting crash.

Height and weight limits

The prescribed height limit commercial for trucks is generally 13 feet 6 inches. This is important because if a truck is taller than this, it might not be able to safely pass under bridges or through tunnels.The maximum weight for a truck depends on how many axles it has. The maximum gross weight for any truck, regardless of the number of axles, is typically 80,000 lbs when fully loaded. If a truck is too tall or too heavy, it can be harder to control and more likely to cause a crash.

How Our Attorney Can Maximize Your Compensation

Establish negligence

Truck accidents are not like regular car accidents. They involve a lot of regulations, and potentially multiple parties could be at fault. Sure, the truck driver could be responsible, maybe they were speeding or not paying attention. What if the trucking company pushed the driver to skip required rest breaks to meet a deadline? What if the truck’s brakes failed because they were defective? That could bring the freight carrier, the maintenance company or the truck’s manufacturer into the picture.

At the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr., we don’t just look at the obvious; we dig deeper to make sure all responsible parties are held accountable.

Engage with insurance companies

As we tell our clients, dealing with an insurance provider after an accident is like playing a game, but the other team has more players, and they have been playing a lot longer than you. These organizations have deep pockets, and they use them to hire teams of experienced lawyers. Their job is to make sure the insurance company pays out as little as possible.

Attorney DiBartolo, Jr. is here to level the playing field for you. Having worked for the other side – as a claims adjuster – John knows they often try to settle cases quickly before the full extent of your injuries and expenses might be known. We can help you understand exactly what you are agreeing to, so you don’t sign away your rights without realizing it.

Gather and analyze evidence

To build a strong case, you will need solid evidence – police reports, witness statements, photos of the accident scene, and data from the truck’s “black box,” which records information about the truck’s operation, like how fast it was going or when the brakes were applied. This data can be a key piece of the puzzle, helping to confirm or challenge the accounts given by the drivers involved.

We will gather these pieces of evidence and if the picture is still unclear, we will bring in experts, like accident reconstruction specialists, to analyze the evidence and use their expertise to explain what likely happened.

Represent you in court

While most truck accident cases are settled out of court, we will be prepared to fight for you in front of a judge and jury if necessary. If a fair settlement can’t be reached and your case goes to court, we will present your case in the best light, cross-examine witnesses, and argue on your behalf. We will also prepare for any defenses the other side might raise and have counter arguments ready.

The other party might try to argue that you were partially at fault for the accident, or they might downplay the extent of your injuries or argue that your injuries were pre-existing – we will be ready to counter any argument they throw our way.

Why Choose the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr.

When you are going against large trucking companies or their insurance carriers, you want a lawyer who not only knows the local court system but has built relationships with the people who work there. Our Greenfield personal injury lawyer John P. DiBartolo, Jr. has stood up to these powerful liable parties throughout the last three decades and successfully fought for the rights of the injured victims.  

Whether you were injured in a jackknife or rear-end truck crash or you lost a loved one in a head-on truck collision, we are here to pursue the maximum possible compensation you are entitled to. Keep in mind that the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in truck accident claims in Massachusetts is three years from the date of the crash – so time is of the essence.

We don’t get paid unless you do, so you can trust us to work hard for your success. Complete this form or call us at (413) 529-2955 to schedule a free consultation with our legal team today.