An accident with a semi-truck can have serious consequences for you and your loved ones. Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s Westfield personal injury lawyers have been helping injured victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages since 1938. We can help you identify the at-fault parties, negotiate with insurers, and file a lawsuit, if necessary.
Our Westfield truck accident lawyers are well-versed in trucking regulations on a state and federal level, including licensing requirements, training, hours of service, and drug testing. While you recover from your truck accident injuries, we work to discover the fundamental cause of your accident and pursue fair compensation on your behalf.
Let Our Compassionate Westfield Truck Accident Attorneys Fight for You
Following a serious injury in a truck accident, you could spend months or years receiving treatment or rehabilitation. We are committed to helping you recover fair compensation, including:
- Current and future medical costs
- Lost income and reduced future income
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your truck accident injury
- Property damage, including vehicle repairs and replacement
- Emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment
We will draw on our experience and resources to make sure we seek a settlement or verdict that addresses all of your economic and non-economic damages.
A Personal Injury Law Firm With a Winning Reputation
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC has been fighting for the rights of injured victims for over 85 years. Our team has the experience, knowledge, and resources to take on even the most complicated truck accident cases. We won’t stop fighting until we have held the responsible parties accountable.
Our case results reflect our dedication to justice, with millions recovered for truck accident victims. Some of our truck accident case results include:
- $3,000,000 settlement for a motorcycle rider who suffered fatal injuries when struck by a left-turning large truck
- $2,500,000 settlement for a motorcyclist in a truck collision who passed away in the ambulance
- $1,900,000 settlement for a motorcycle passenger injured when a truck turned left in front of the bike.
- $840,000 settlement for a client whose car was T-boned by a utility truck, resulting in severe injuries
- $834,000 settlement for a client whose vehicle was struck by a truck driving too fast for conditions
The value of a truck accident settlement will vary between cases, as everyone has different injuries and losses. Factors like severity of injuries, expected medical needs, and the impact of your injuries on your ability to work (among others), will influence the value of your claim. You should not have to pay for a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence. We are here to see you receive the compensation you deserve.
Personalized Legal Help From Dedicated Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Westfield
Collisions with large trucks are often serious because the trucks are extremely large and heavy, and are also much harder to stop or maneuver. As a result, truck crash victims often face debilitating and sometimes fatal injuries. Our team has experience assisting catastrophic injury victims and their families following a semi-truck collision. We offer comprehensive legal assistance and guidance so you can focus on recovering.
When you hire Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, you receive full-service legal support, including:
Communication Management
Our legal team will answer phone calls and emails, so you don’t have to worry about aggressive insurance adjusters while you heal. We handle communication with the insurance company, trucking company, other attorneys, and the court. Our team will also respond to document requests and liaise with your doctor and the insurance company to provide the appropriate evidence to support your claim.
Case Investigation
We review your case and gather evidence to establish who was responsible. During the investigation, we take your statement, interview witnesses, pull dashcam and traffic camera footage, and obtain copies of the police report for your truck crash. To help support your claim for damages, we seek expert testimony from accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and our own property damage expert.
Attentive Representation
At Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, our clients are like family. We know how stressful a truck accident is for you and your loved ones, and we aim to provide personal attention to reduce the pressure and support you during this difficult time. Each of our clients is assigned a dedicated team for their case.
Your team works together with the common goal of recovering justice and fair compensation for your losses. Throughout your case, you can expect regular updates and prompt responses to your questions or concerns.
Case Negotiation
We are compassionate for our clients and relentless against trucking companies that want to take advantage of accident victims. Our truck accident attorneys serving Westfield have extensive experience fighting insurance companies for fair settlements.
We aggressively pursue justice, and we will NOT settle for less than you deserve. If we cannot achieve a fair settlement out of court, we will not hesitate to pursue your case at trial.
Establishing Fault in a Westfield Truck Accident Claim
The first step of a truck accident claim is discovering who is responsible. On the surface, it may seem that the truck operator is responsible. However, their employers, often large trucking companies, frequently share liability for semi-truck crashes.
We review the accident footage, witness statements, police reports, and your own story to establish the crash timeline and the fundamental cause of your collision.
Truck crashes in Massachusetts arise on busy highways and city roads alike. Wherever trucks are in close proximity, they can cause damage to surrounding vehicles. Factors that lead to serious truck accidents on Westfield’s roads include:
Intoxicated Driving
Whether they are drunk or high, intoxicated vehicle operators pose a serious safety risk to themselves and others. Drivers under the influence have slower response time, poor decision-making skills, and are more likely to swerve out of their lane.
While a truck driver is responsible for their own behavior, their employer may share some liability. For example, if the trucker has a known history of substance abuse or driving while intoxicated, the trucking company could be liable for putting them behind the wheel of a big rig.
Drowsy Driving
Truckers often spend days and weeks on the road, driving long hours across state lines. When a driver spends too much time on the road without sufficient sleep, they can suffer impairments similar to alcohol intoxication. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established hours of service rules to prevent this.
Unfortunately, trucking companies may set unrealistic delivery expectations that force the driver to exceed legal driving hours limits. When a fatigued driver swerves or falls asleep at the wheel, the resulting accidents can be devastating. Trucking companies that fail to enforce FMCSA hours may be liable for ensuing collisions.
Aggressive Driving
Speeding, driving too fast for conditions, tailgating, and passing illegally are all signs of aggressive driving. Truckers and trucking companies that set unreasonable delivery expectations can be liable for accidents that occur because the driver is in a hurry. As with drunk driving, if a trucker has a record of aggressive behavior, their employer could share liability for accidents that arise from an employee’s aggressive behavior.
Distracted Driving
Drivers are easily distracted by cell phones, navigation equipment, and other things both inside and outside the cab. Even a moment of inattention can make it hard for a truck driver to avoid a collision. Distracted driving can be circumstantial or a result of inadequate training. Trucking companies that fail to ensure appropriate training and safe practices can be partially responsible for their employees’ distracted driving.
Vehicle Defects
Defective vehicle components can lead to serious accidents and injuries. Brake failure is one of the most common issues that arise with trucks. Component defects may occur due to poor maintenance and repair or defective parts.
The liable party for a vehicle defect depends on the source. For instance, if the truck’s brakes failed because of a manufacturing defect, you could sue the truck manufacturer for your losses. However, a truck brake failure caused by poor brake maintenance or repair could be the truck owner, trucking company, or repair person’s fault. We can help you discover who is responsible and hold them accountable.
Get Help For Filing a Westfield Truck Accident Lawsuit
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC has spent more than 85 years building winning cases for injured victims. Let us help you recover the compensation you deserve. Time is of the essence when filing a truck accident lawsuit in Massachusetts. You typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If you miss the deadline, you could lose the chance for compensation.
Our legal team will manage the legal filings and other work related to your case while you focus on your recovery. We offer free consultations and representation on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing until and unless we win your case. Contact us today to speak with one of our dedicated Westfield truck accident lawyers.