Biddeford Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck Accident Lawyers in Biddeford, Maine

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a commercial truck accident in Biddeford, Maine, Northeast Injury Law offers experienced legal representation to protect your rights. Truck accident claims can be complex personal injury cases because they often involve truck companies, truck drivers, and their insurers, and each of these parties has a commercial or personal interest in protecting their bottom line. To make matters more complicated, truck accidents often involve more serious and disabling injuries due to the sheer weights and sizes of the vehicles involved. Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, truck companies are required to maintain minimum insurance coverage of $750,000 to $5,000,000, depending on the cargo type and vehicle weight, While insurance companies have legitimate interests to protect, they may contest claims or dispute liability in truck accident cases. Or the truck insurance company might offer victims and their families what might appear on the surface to be a significant settlement, but victims and families should carefully evaluate any settlement offer with experienced counsel to ensure it adequately addresses all current and future expenses, including disability costs, medical care, nursing care, and rehabilitative expenses.

If you’ve been seriously injured in a truck accident in Biddeford, Maine, the truck accident lawyers at Northeast Injury Law are here to help. Our experienced attorneys have extensive knowledge of state and federal trucking regulations, including FMCSA regulations, Maine state transportation laws, and we thoroughly investigate each case to identify any regulatory violations or negligence by truck companies or drivers. There are many more reasons and ways a truck company or driver could be held negligent following a truck accident.

The trucking industry is a significant part of the U.S. economy, yet serious accidents involving commercial vehicles continue to occur, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. When victims and their families stand up to fight truck companies after a serious injury, they can sometimes find themselves at a disadvantage. Truck companies and their insurers may have teams of lawyers on their side representing their interests. Who is representing yours? The truck accident lawyers in Biddeford, Maine at Northeast Injury Law fight for the rights of victims. We work hard to hold big truck companies and their insurers accountable.

Who is Liable After a Truck Accident: The Driver or the Truck Company?

Both the truck company and the driver could be held liable after a truck accident in Biddeford, Maine, though there are certain circumstances where only one party might be ultimately liable. For example, if the truck driver is an independent contractor, the truck driver may be solely liable for the truck accident. Independent contractors are required by federal regulations to maintain their own insurance coverage and operate in compliance with FMCSA regulations, including minimum insurance requirements of $750,000 for general freight carriers. Sometimes truck drivers are hired as independent contractors by truck companies, but they have been improperly classified as independent contractors so that the truck company can save money. Sometimes the truck company still holds a great deal of control over the driver’s actions, choices, and schedule. If this is the case, a semi truck accident lawyer in Biddeford, Maine can investigate employment classification and establish appropriate liability under Maine employment law.

In most cases, however, both the truck company and the driver could be held liable. The truck company might be responsible for properly maintaining vehicles, hiring truck drivers, and setting reasonable schedules that allow truck drivers to remain compliant with hours-of-service laws. Truck drivers are also responsible for following the rules of the road, driving sober, maintaining their licensure and medical records, and avoiding distracted driving. Other parties may also be responsible for truck accidents. For example, defective products like tires, brakes, or other vehicle components may give rise to product liability claims against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers. Mechanics who fail to do their job could also potentially be held liable if they failed to properly repair a vehicle and the lack of repair resulted in an accident (think brake failure). And if a truck company hires a third party to load their trucks, the truck company could be held responsible for their hiring practices, but the third party might also be liable if they overloaded a truck or loaded a truck unevenly or in a manner that caused it to tip, lose items on the road, or get into an accident.

There are many factors that go into determining negligence and responsibility following a truck accident. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck crash, you need the semi-truck accident lawyers in Biddeford, Maine at Northeast Injury Law on your side. We take the time to investigate the cases we take on, identify all negligent parties, and hold them responsible so that our clients can pursue fair compensation for damages as permitted under Maine law.

Are Truck Accident Claims Different from Car Accident Claims in Biddeford, Maine?

Truck accident cases can be more complicated than car accident cases because these cases often involve commercial interests with a bottom line to protect. Unlike car accident claims where both parties often turn to their car insurance companies first to make a claim, truck companies typically have substantial resources, including dedicated legal teams and insurance defense counsel, ready to defend against claims. Truck accident cases involve complex federal regulations including FMCSA rules, Maine state transportation laws, and local ordinances governing commercial vehicle operations. The experienced attorneys at Northeast Injury Law in Biddeford, Maine are well-versed in these regulations and can help truck accident victims understand their rights and legal options under Maine law.

How Can I Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Biddeford, Maine?

The truck accident lawyers in Biddeford, Maine at Northeast Injury Law can be reached at 207-307-2300. We are here to help. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any information provided during an initial consultation will be kept confidential in accordance with Maine Rules of Professional Conduct. Contact us today to discuss your situation.