Not every large truck accident is the truck driver's fault. As with any other type of motor vehicle accident, either driver may be at fault or there may be one or more third parties who share in the blame. However, this analysis gets a little more complicated with commercial truck accidents. That's because the truck driver may or may not be the owner of the truck. If the truck driver is an employee - - or in some cases even a contractor - - the hiring company may be liable for damages. If the truck driver is an independent owner operator driving his own vehicle, he will typically be responsible for his own negligence. But, there are limited circumstances in which the company contracting with him may bear or share responsibility.
The analysis is further complicated by the fact that other parties may have played a role in the accident. That could be another vehicle on the road, just as it could in any motor vehicle accident. Or, it could be a third party who negligently loaded the vehicle, or the manufacturer of a defective part, or a company that was responsible for maintaining the vehicle in safe condition and failed to do so.
Because of this complexity, it is important to talk to an experienced Massachusetts commercial trucking accident attorney as soon as possible after your injury.