Truck Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Federal Trucking Regulations That Establish Fault

Most Massachusetts truck accidents trace back to driver or company negligence, and federal regulations set the standard against which that conduct is measured. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) limits cargo-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window. Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative driving hours and can’t exceed 60 hours of driving over 7 days or 70 hours over 8 days. Violations of these hours-of-service rules are a documented source of driver fatigue and a common ground for fault.

Massachusetts defines commercial motor vehicles largely by weight. Vehicles or combinations with a gross combination weight or rating exceeding 26,000 pounds generally require a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate. Federal and state rules also govern maintenance standards and cargo loading. Cutting corners on either can make a fully licensed driver operating a properly registered truck dangerous on the road.

Who Can Be Held Liable Beyond the Driver

A truck accident claim rarely stops at the driver. Because commercial trucks range from roughly 10,000 to 80,000 pounds, collisions with smaller vehicles frequently cause catastrophic injuries, which is why thorough investigation typically covers multiple parties.

Potentially liable parties in a Massachusetts truck accident can include:

• The trucking company: Responsible for hiring qualified drivers, enforcing hours-of-service compliance, and maintaining the fleet
• Maintenance contractors: If mechanical failure caused the crash, the company or personnel responsible for upkeep may share liability
• Cargo loaders: Improper loading that shifts weight or causes a rollover can implicate whoever loaded or secured the cargo
• Equipment manufacturers: A defective part can give rise to a products liability claim under Massachusetts law, including breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, negligence, or Chapter 93A consumer protection violations

How Modified Comparative Negligence Affects Your Recovery

Massachusetts follows modified comparative negligence under G.L. c. 231, Section 85. If an injured party shares some fault for the accident, their damages are reduced in proportion to that share. A claimant found 20 percent at fault recovers 80 percent of total damages, and recovery is barred entirely if the claimant’s share exceeds 50 percent. Because trucking defendants and their insurers routinely argue shared fault to reduce exposure, how fault is assigned matters significantly to what a victim can recover.

Filing Deadlines, PIP Coverage, & Government Vehicles

Massachusetts personal injury claims, including truck accident lawsuits, must generally be filed within three years of the accident date under G.L. c. 260, Section 2A. Missing that deadline bars the claim permanently.

Massachusetts is a modified no-fault jurisdiction. Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for medical bills and lost wages up to $8,000 regardless of fault, so initial medical costs are addressed through your own policy. A direct claim against the at-fault trucking company can become available once reasonable medical expenses exceed $2,000, though whether a specific claim clears that threshold depends on the facts of the case.

If a government-owned or government-operated truck was involved, the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act applies. That statute requires written notice, known as presentment, delivered to the appropriate government office within two years of the accident. That’s a shorter window than the standard three-year filing deadline, so identifying the vehicle’s ownership early is important.

Compensation Available to Truck Accident Victims

Recoverable damages fall into two broad categories. Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses: past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and medication; lost wages during recovery; and loss of future earning capacity when an injury produces lasting impairment. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

When a truck accident is fatal, wrongful death damages in Massachusetts can include funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of personal support such as love, guidance, and companionship. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct. Calculating the full scope of these losses accurately is where Attorney Matos’s Certified Financial Litigator credential becomes directly relevant to building a complete damages picture.