Size violations cause trucking accident at Boston Airport terminals in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts – January 11, 2023
A tractor-trailer slammed into a low tunnel on the ramp to the arrivals level at Terminals B and C at Boston Logan International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred on a ramp near the central parking facility. Signage on the tunnel indicates that it has a clearance of 11-feet 10-inches. A similar incident involving another tractor-trailer happened in the same location last October when a big rig got stuck under an overpass at Boston Logan International Airport, creating roadblocks. A tractor-trailer is approximately 65-75 feet in length and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, causing any type of crash between it and another moving vehicle, stationary object, or person to be catastrophic and/or fatal in many cases. Life-changing consequences of a big rig accident may include serious personal injuries and losses such as those that cause permanent damage, scarring, incapacitation through physical or mental injury, bodily deformity and loss of life or limb. Talk to a Massachusetts truck accident lawyer if you have suffered loss in a truck accident.
Size and weight restrictions.
The size and weight of a commercial truck, and the specific cargo loads they carry can result in significant property damage and bodily injury when crashes occur. Commercial motor vehicles (CMV) have federal and state-imposed restrictions based on size and weight categories, roadways that should not be accessed including some tunnels and bridges based on specific cargo loads, and stringent rules for operators carrying commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). These federal and state trucking laws are in place to protect the public and reduce motor vehicle accidents.
Regulations and violations.
Federal regulations require tractor-trailer trucks to carry various levels of insurance coverage, based on the transported cargo, number of axles, and weight loads of a truck. This extra insurance is in place to pay for injuries to other drivers occurring from truck accidents as most of the time the other driver sustains more injury than the truck driver. The United States Department of Transportation still estimates almost 500,000 truck accidents a year with more than 80% occurring in multi-vehicle incidents. Commercial vehicles need permits to operate in the State of Massachusetts and have certain size and weight restrictions.
Common violations of Massachusetts trucking rules include:
- Improper Maintenance
- Driver Fatigue
- Distracted Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Overweight Cargo
- Commercial Company Negligence
- Unsecured Loads
- Driving in Extreme Weather
- DUI Violations
Penalties.
In Massachusetts, state police may access a commercial carrier’s records to reinforce regulations, If the records show any violations, the inspecting officer will take records and have copies made of them and act in accordance with federal rules of safety compliance. When violations are noted, citations and fines will be administered. If it is found that a substantial health or safety violation exists that could have or has led to serious personal injury or death, a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each offense may be imposed.
Hire a lawyer.
Determining fault is not always easy and negligence laws are established at the state level. To win a negligence claim it is best to hire legal counsel at The Neumann Law Group to argue the elements of a negligence case including duty, breach of duty, cause in fact, proximate cause and damages sought after.
The Neumann Law Group
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston St 16th Floor
Boston, MA 02199
Phone: (617) 918-7790
Fax: (231) 221-0051
Sources:
- Truck gets stuck under overpass at Boston Logan Airport (wcvb.com)
- https://www.mass.gov/service-details/commercial-truck-regulations
- https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/large-trucks/fatalityfacts/large-trucks
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section19L
- https://www.mass.gov/service-details/commercial-truck-regulations
