Boston 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

News coverage of 18 wheelers involved in accidents has increased in the past couple of years, including an accident involving a woman killed on a bicycle in the Back Bay neighborhood and numerous fatal crashes that have occurred on I-93.

Accidents involving 18 wheelers lead to over 95,000 injuries per year. Thanks to the huge weight and size of tractor-trailers compared to most passenger vehicles, these collisions are more likely to leave the driver of the smaller vehicle severely injured and with large repair bills.

If you were involved in a truck accident in Massachusetts, you have the right to file a lawsuit for financial compensation. Even if you do not yet understand the full extent of your injuries, it is advisable to retain a Boston 18 wheeler accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Joel H. Schwartz and begin exploring your options.

Comparative Negligence and Truck Accidents

Massachusetts has comparative negligence laws, meaning that both parties in an accident can be assigned a percentage of responsibility for what happened. Your percentage of negligence will directly reduce the compensation you receive by that same amount.

This underscores how important it is to work with an attorney who can investigate the cause of the crash and gather enough evidence to prove that you had very little, if anything, to do with what led to it.

Identifying the Negligent Parties

If you are involved in a crash with a large truck, it can sometimes be difficult to identify precisely who was responsible. This is because the owner of the truck may be someone other than the driver and could also be negligent.

For example, if the truck’s owner did not properly maintain the truck or ensure that the driver was well trained, the crash could be partially their fault. In this case, both the driver and truck owner could be sued.

It will be essential to fully investigate the cause of your 18 wheeler accident in order to determine who owes you financial compensation for the injuries and damages you have suffered. This will require looking beyond just the scene of the accident:

• Trucking company data and service records
• Training documentation for the driver
• The driver’s accident and ticket history
• And more

You Are Entitled to Compensation

After a truck accident, it is important to see a doctor immediately so that you can be fully examined and diagnosed. Truck accidents are often violent, chaotic events that leave drivers injured and their cars heavily damaged.

The medical care and repairs required in a truck accident’s aftermath can quickly add up to large amounts of money owed. However, if the other driver or some other party was at fault, you can pursue financial compensation for any accident-related expenses:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages due to time off work
• Expenses associated with long-term care
• Money to retrofit your home or vehicle to accommodate an injury
• Pain and suffering

Discuss Your 18 Wheeler Accident with a Boston Attorney

As a personal injury claim, you only have three years in which to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the negligent parties. An 18 wheeler accident can change your life for the worse in a heartbeat, but you don’t have to simply accept it.

To discuss the details of your case with an experienced attorney, call the Law Offices of Joel H. Schwartz today at 617-742-1170.