Agawam sits on several major shipping routes for the East Coast, including U.S. 5, Henry E. Bodurtha Highway, and Route 187. Between long-haul shipping and local deliveries, tractor trailer traffic is a common sight on Agawam’s busy roads.
Close vehicle proximity, high speeds, and traffic congestion can cause dangerous conditions for truck drivers and those sharing the road. Sadly, accidents with loaded tractor trailers often lead to catastrophic or fatal injuries to occupants of other vehicles.
If you or someone you love sustained serious injuries in a collision with a semi-truck, an Agawam truck accident lawyer with Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC can help you seek justice and fair compensation for your losses.
Types of Losses You Could Pursue After an Agawam Truck Accident
Following a truck accident, you may feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Medical bills, lost income, and regular expenses seem to pile up while you struggle to recover from painful and perhaps disabling injuries. Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s personal injury attorneys in Agawam can work with you to recover the compensation you need, including:
Hospital Bills and Medical Expenses
Truck accident injuries may require emergency transportation, critical care, and surgical treatment. Once you are stabilized, you may need to remain in the hospital for some time. Beyond immediate treatment, medical costs may include rehabilitation, physical therapy, and in-home nursing care. Your injuries may require prescription drugs, medical devices, and assistive equipment to help enhance your comfort and mobility after a truck crash.
All medical costs related to your truck accident should be covered by the at-fault party and their insurance company. Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC will fight to recover the full extent of your current and future medical costs for the truck accident.
Lost Wages and Potential Reduced Income
Whether you are a salaried employee, hourly worker, or self-employed, time away from work for a truck accident can be costly. While you receive treatment, you are not earning the money you need to pay bills. You and your family can suffer as a result.
Our Agawam truck accident lawyers will gather income documentation, financial statements, and economic expert testimony to prove your income losses. If your injuries do not allow you to return to your previous position, we can help you seek compensation for diminished potential income and career rehabilitation.
Property Damage Repairs and Replacements
You need your vehicle to work and engage in daily activities like childcare and grocery shopping. Replacing a car can be a significant part of your truck accident-related expenses. Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s on-staff property damage expert can review your repair and replacement estimates to ensure you receive fair value for your car and any other damaged property.
Pain and Suffering and Diminished Quality of Life
At Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, we understand that you suffer more than monetary losses in a truck accident. Our team knows how a truck accident can diminish your quality of life by affecting your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Massachusetts law allows accident victims to seek compensation for these intangible losses as well. Our legal team will help you examine the ways the accident has affected you, from physical pain and suffering to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. You deserve monetary compensation for all the ways you suffered, even if they are difficult to quantify. We can help you get it.
Advantages of Working With Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Agawam
The compassionate attorneys at Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC are committed to helping injured victims recover fair compensation. Over the past 85 years, we have established a reputation for attentive representation and aggressive litigation. We are not afraid to take on giant corporations and aggressive insurance carriers to recover the compensation you deserve.
Our Clients Are Family
Throughout your case, you can expect constant communication and regular updates about your case. We treat all our clients like family, which means personalized legal assistance and comprehensive support throughout your case.
A Track Record of Success
We are committed to ensuring our clients receive a fair settlement or award for their losses. Our dedication is reflected in our case results, with millions of dollars recovered on behalf of motor vehicle accident victims.
Free Consultations and Contingency Fees
We offer free consultations to truck accident victims in Agawam. During your visit, a member of our team will review your case information and hear your story. We will help you understand what your legal rights and options are and provide an honest legal assessment.
If you decide to work with us, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing for our services unless we win your case. Reach out today to learn more.
Our Agawam Truck Accident Lawyers Represent Your Interests
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s compassionate truck accident lawyers understand the challenges you face after a truck crash. We are here to help you get the medical help and legal support you need.
While you focus on recovering your health, we can handle all communication, gather documents, and negotiate with insurance companies to recover a fair settlement. If we cannot achieve a reasonable settlement agreement, we are prepared to take your case to trial.
Statute of Limitations for Filing an Agawam Truck Accident Lawsuit
Massachusetts has a statute of limitations of three years for injury claims. This timeline can vary depending on your case information, so you should contact an attorney on our team right away to avoid missing crucial deadlines.
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s Agawam truck accident lawyers can help you meet critical legal filing deadlines and help you build a compelling case. Contact us as soon as possible after your accident. We can help you file within the appropriate legal time frame.
Determining Liability Following a Semi-Truck Crash in Agawam
One of the most important aspects of any truck accident claim is determining fault determination. While your case may seem simple, truck accident claims are notoriously complex. While a truck operator may be at fault, they could also share liability with their employer, logistics company, maintenance technician, or even the truck manufacturer.
To discover who is liable for your commercial truck accident, we investigate how the crash occurred. Common causes of truck accidents in Agawam include the following:.
Fatigued Driving
Commercial truck drivers must adhere to hours of service regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Drivers may be liable if they exceed legal driving hours and, for example, fall asleep at the wheel. However, the driver’s employer may also be liable if they set unreasonable delivery schedules or fail to monitor drivers.
Aggressive Driving
Tailgating, quick lane changes, illegal passing, and speeding are all signs of aggressive driving that can lead to truck accidents. While an aggressive truck operator can be held responsible for aggressive behavior, their employer may share fault if they were aware of previous instances of aggression or failed to check the driver’s record for prior incidents.
Distracted Driving
Drivers may become distracted by phone calls, texts, or navigation systems. A truck driver who fails to pay attention to the road may be responsible for any resulting accidents. The trucking company could also be liable if their policies or procedures are partly to blame for the driver’s distraction.
Inattentive Driving
Inattentive driving often occurs when a commercial driver is not sufficiently trained or experienced to handle their trailer. For example, they may change lanes without checking if someone is next to them, or they might turn a corner and strike a vehicle in their blind spot. These types of accidents may be partly the driver’s fault, but the trucking company is also responsible for ensuring their drivers have sufficient training.
Driving While Intoxicated
Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs can both lead to serious truck accidents. Truck drivers are responsible for their actions when it comes to intoxicated driving. The truck driver’s employer could also be responsible for an accident if they were aware of the driver’s substance abuse issues or prior DUI offenses.
Poor Road Conditions
Some truck accidents arise because the roads are poorly maintained or marked. A semi-truck operator could also be in a crash if there are objects or debris in the road. In this case, a local municipality, construction company, or utility organization may be liable for creating unsafe road conditions that led to the accident.
Maintenance, Repair, and Manufacturing Defects
Other factors that often affect truck accidents include component defects, such as defective brakes, and poor maintenance and repairs. Depending on who is responsible for maintaining the vehicle, the liable party could be the driver, trucking company, garage, or manufacturer.
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC’s truck accident lawyers conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your truck accident and all liable parties, ensuring these individuals and entities are held fully accountable for your losses.
Contact an Agawam Truck Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a crash with a commercial truck, our truck accident lawyers in Agawam are here to help. Contact Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC today to schedule your free no-obligation consultation. Let Our Family, Help Your Family.