Fall River Truck Accident Lawyer

Fall River's deep-water port, historic mills, and strategic location along Interstate 195 and Route 24 make it a busy corridor for tractor-trailers carrying a wide range of goods, from textiles to fuel. While this commercial activity powers the South Shore economy, it also increases the likelihood of devastating truck crashes. Data compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation show that large trucks are involved in a disproportionate share of fatal and incapacitating injury collisions statewide, even though they make up a small fraction of registered vehicles. Our Fall River truck accident lawyers are highly experienced in obtaining the maximum compensation for our injuries and losses.

Truck accident litigation is fundamentally different from the typical fender-benders. Multiple state and federal safety regimes apply, sophisticated corporate defendants and insurers are waiting to limit their exposure, and the injuries are often catastrophic. That is why victims in Bristol County routinely turn to Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers. Our Fall River personal injury team has represented injured Massachusetts residents for over 25 years, and we stand ready to fight for you.

Because an 80,000-pound eighteen-wheeler can produce forces that a 4,000-pound passenger car cannot, the physics and the law become more complicated. Some of the factors that make truck cases unique include:

• Severe injuries and higher medical costs. Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputations, and wrongful death frequently occur, driving the value of claims far beyond ordinary policy limits.
• Layered insurance coverage. Federal law requires interstate carriers to maintain at least $750,000 in liability coverage; however, many fleets purchase policies with primary and excess limits of several million dollars.
• Multiple corporate actorsmay bear responsibility. Motor carriers, logistics brokers, shippers, truck manufacturers, and repair vendors may each bear responsibility.
• Complex evidence. Electronic logging devices (ELDs), onboard telematics, and event data recorders generate digital footprints that can prove or disprove driver error.
• Federal preemption issues. Litigants must understand how federal regulations interact with state tort law to avoid pitfalls of preemption.

Understanding why crashes occur helps victims and their attorneys identify liable parties. Common contributing factors we see in Fall River include:

• Driver fatigue. Violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours-of-Service limits are frequently uncovered through log audits.
• Distracted driving. Federal regulations and Massachusetts' hands-free law prohibit the use of cell phones behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle.
• Improper cargo securement. Shifting loads can cause a trailer to jackknife or overturn on the Braga Bridge.
• Speeding on downhill grades. Route 24's steep descents entering Fall River have been the site of several runaway-truck incidents.
• Mechanical failure. Negligent maintenance can cause brake system defects, tire blowouts, and steering component failures.
• Substance abuse. FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse data show a troubling uptick in positive drug tests among CDL holders.

Local news coverage underscores the stakes: a July 18, 2024, incident on Plymouth Avenue left a 67-year-old Dartmouth woman dead when a box truck reversed into volunteers unloading groceries.

A winning truck accident claim rests on proving that one or more defendants violated a duty of care. Relevant rules include:

• Hours-of-Service (49 CFR § 395). Limits most property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, with a 14-hour on-duty window and a mandatory 30-minute rest break within eight hours.
• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. This mandate requirescarriers to install compliant devices that automatically record driving time, helping attorneys detect logbook falsification.
• Massachusetts Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. State Police commercial compliance units conduct roadside inspections along I-195 and Route 24; violations can prove negligence per se.
• Gen. Laws ch. 90 § 7L. Prohibits the use of handheld devices by any driver and imposes fines that escalate with subsequent offenses.
• 49 CFR Parts 393 & 396. Establish minimum vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance standards, which can provide fertile ground for spoliation letters and discovery requests.

Unlike standard auto claims, truck cases often involve more than just the driver. Depending on the facts, our firm may pursue damages against:

• The motor carrier/employer. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, carriers are generally held liable for the negligence of their drivers.
• Freight shippers and brokers. Parties that negligently hire an unsafe carrier or misload cargo can face direct liability.
• Maintenance contractors. Independent shops that sign off on faulty brakes or tires may share some of the blame.
• Truck and component manufacturers. Product-liability principles apply if a defectively designed underride guard or air-brake valve fails.
• Government entities. Poor roadway design or inadequate signage on Route 79 could implicate municipal or state agencies, subject to notice requirements under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act.

Time is an enemy when digital data can be overwritten in as little as seven days. Our litigation team moves quickly to preserve:

• Electronic logging device downloads. A forensic image reveals speed, RPM, hard-brake events, and duty-status changes.
• Event data recorder (black box) data. Modern power units store pre-crash speed, throttle position, and sudden deceleration metrics.
• Dash-cam and outward-facing video. Carriers like Schneider and J.B. Hunt are increasingly equipping their fleets with dual-lens cameras.
• Driver qualification file. Federal regulations require carriers to maintain employment applications, medical certificates, and records of past violations.
• Maintenance and inspection reports. Document whether the crash could have been avoided with proper upkeep.
• Bill of lading and weight tickets. Show who loaded the cargo and whether legal weight limits were exceeded.
• 911 audio and police reports. Provide contemporaneous accounts and potential admissions.
• Eyewitness and first-responder testimony. Critical for reconstructing events before professional investigators arrive.

Protecting your health and legal claim begins at the scene:

• Seek emergency medical attention even if you feel "okay." Adrenaline masks injury, and prompt care links your condition to the collision.
• Call 911 and cooperate with investigating officers, but limit statements about fault.
• Use your phone to photograph the vehicle's positions, skid marks, cargo spills, weather conditions, and any DOT numbers on the cab.
• Collect witness contact information; memories fade quickly.
• Do not sign anything from the trucking company or its insurer without counsel.
• Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers before the evidence disappears.

Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence system, which means you remain eligible for compensation if you are not more than 50 percent at fault. Potential recoverable damages include:

• Economic losses: Past and future medical expenses; rehabilitation and assistive devices; lost wages and diminished earning capacity; property damage
• Non-economic losses: Pain and suffering; emotional distress; loss of consortium for spouses; scarring and disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages: Funeral and burial costs; loss of expected income and services; loss of guidance, care, and companionship for surviving family members

Under Massachusetts law, punitive damages are generally unavailable in negligence actions; however, they can be sought in limited circumstances, such as when gross negligence results in wrongful death.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers leverages decades of experience and cutting-edge technology to maximize client recoveries:

• Rapid response investigation. We deploy investigators and accident reconstruction experts to secure skid-distance measurements, drone imagery, and ECM downloads before trucks disappear into secured yards.
• Comprehensive discovery. We obtain court orders compelling carriers to produce driver logs, GPS records, and cell-phone metadata.
• Collaboration with experts. From human-factors analysts to life-care planners, we build a multidisciplinary team tailored to your injuries.
• Aggressive negotiation. Detailed settlement demand letters documenting the full impact of your losses.
• Trial-ready preparation. While most cases settle, we prepare every claim as if it will be tried before a Bristol County jury at the Fall River Justice Center.
• No fee unless we win. Our contingency-fee representation means you pay nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.

Q: "How long do I have to file a claim?"

Massachusetts' statute of limitations for personal injury is generally three years from the date of the crash, but shorter deadlines apply to claims against government entities.

Q: "Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?"

Yes, as long as your share of negligence does not exceed 50 percent. Your damages will be reduced in proportion to your fault.

Q: "What if the truck was from another state?"

Federal diversity jurisdiction and Massachusetts' long-arm statute often allow you to sue out-of-state carriers in Bristol County Superior Court.

Q: "Will my case settle or go to trial?"

Most settle, but our willingness to take cases to verdict improves bargaining power.

Q: "How much does it cost to hire Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers?"

We advance all litigation costs and only collect a fee if we recover your compensation.

A serious truck accident can upend every aspect of your life, but you do not have to face the trucking company or its insurers alone. LetJeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers shoulder the legal burden while you focus on healing. To learn how we can help, call (508) 974-3304 or use our online form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We are available 24/7 and will even come to your home or hospital room if you are unable to travel.

Fall River Office

99 S Main St #350
Fall River, MA 02721
Phone: (508) 974-3304