A rental truck or a commercial delivery van wedged under a low bridge near the Esplanade creates a mess that locals call Storrowing. This frequent occurrence happens because drivers ignore the clear signs that prohibit heavy vehicles on these historic parkways.
When a driver takes Trucks on Storrow Drive, they violate state safety laws immediately upon entering the road. This violation triggers a legal concept called negligence per se, which means the act of breaking the law serves as proof that the driver was at fault.
We hold these reckless drivers and their employers accountable for the damage they cause to other motorists and the city. A truck accident lawyer at Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can help pursue claims against negligent drivers and the companies responsible for their conduct. Negligence per se acts as a powerful tool in a personal injury claim.
This term means that because the driver broke a safety law designed to prevent this exact type of accident, you do not have to spend months proving they acted carelessly.
Their presence on the road provides proof of their negligence. Our team at Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys pursues these cases aggressively because trucking companies often try to blame their GPS systems rather than take responsibility for their failures.
Winning Insights for Your Claim
- Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive are passenger-only parkways with bridge clearances as low as ten feet.
- Driving a commercial vehicle on these restricted roads violates Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 85 Section 2, which regulates traffic signs and safety.
- Negligence per se allows a person to establish that a driver acted negligently because they violated a specific safety law or regulation.
- Bridge strikes often happen because trucking companies fail to provide drivers with commercial-grade GPS systems that account for vehicle height and weight restrictions.
- Liability in a bridge strike case often extends to the trucking company for their failure to train drivers and provide proper equipment for city driving.
These facts show that a bridge strike is rarely a simple accident and almost always the result of a driver or company ignoring the law.
Proving Fault for Trucks on Storrow Drive
When a truck hits a bridge on Storrow Drive, it creates a dangerous situation for every vehicle nearby. Concrete debris falls onto the road and the truck often swerves into other lanes as it hits the structure. A truck accident attorney can use the police report and the physical evidence at the scene to confirm the driver violated the truck ban. This violation establishes the foundation for your claim because the driver had no legal right to be on that road in the first place.
- We collect photos of the height warning signs that the driver passed before reaching the bridge.
- Our team secures the driver’s logs and employment records to see if they were rushing to meet a deadline.
- We identify the specific company that owns the truck to hold them responsible for the actions of their employee.
By establishing the violation of the law early, we put the insurance company on the defensive. They cannot argue that the driver was being careful if the driver was breaking the law from the moment they entered the parkway. This aggressive approach helps us move your case toward a resolution.
The Role of GPS and Corporate Negligence
One of the biggest causes of bridge strikes involves the use of consumer GPS apps on smartphones. These apps work well for cars, but they do not know about the low bridges that affect trucks. Commercial trucking companies have a duty to provide their drivers with professional GPS tools that identify height restrictions and truck-prohibited routes. When a company lets a driver use a standard map app, they are being negligent in their training and equipment.
- Professional GPS systems require the driver to enter the height of the truck to avoid low bridges.
- Many trucking companies skip the cost of these systems to protect their own profits.
- We investigate the technology used in the truck to show that the company failed to provide the driver with the necessary tools for safety.
This failure by the company adds another layer of accountability to your case. We do not just blame the driver; we go after the corporation that put an untrained driver in a dangerous situation. We demand that they pay for the consequences of their laziness and greed.
How Negligence Per Se Works for You
The legal world uses many complicated phrases, but negligence per se is straightforward when we break it down. We use this rule to cut through the excuses that insurance companies make after a crash.
The Legal Definition of the Rule
Usually, a person seeking money must prove that the other driver did something wrong, like speeding or failing to look. Under negligence per se, the law assumes the driver was negligent because they broke a specific law that was meant to keep people safe. Since the truck ban on Storrow Drive exists specifically to prevent bridge strikes, breaking that ban is the proof of negligence and highlights one of the causes of truck accidents in this area.
Why This Advantage Matters for Your Case
You do not have to argue about whether the driver was paying enough attention or if they saw the signs. The focus of the case shifts to the damages you suffered because of the illegal act. This rule simplifies the legal battle and makes it much harder for the insurance company to shift the blame onto you.
The Purpose of Safety Statutes in Boston
The signs and height restrictions on city parkways are safety statutes, which are laws created to protect the public from harm. When a driver ignores these laws, they are not just making a mistake; they are disregarding the safety of everyone on the road. We use this disregard to show a jury why the defendant bears the responsibility for the results of the crash.
Using these rules allows us to bypass many of the common defenses that trucking companies use. Our attorneys stay focused on the fact that the driver broke a law that exists to keep the city safe.
Liability for Rental Trucks and Moving Vans
Many Storrowing incidents involve people driving rental trucks who may not have a commercial driver’s license. These drivers are still responsible for following the height restrictions and road signs. If you are hurt because a rental truck hits a bridge and causes a crash, after a truck accident we pursue the driver and investigate the rental company’s insurance policy. The rental company must make sure the people they rent to understand the size and the limits of the vehicle.
- Rental companies often provide warnings about height, but drivers ignore them in the rush of a move.
- We look at the rental agreement to see what insurance coverage is available for your injuries.
- If a professional moving company was in charge of the truck, we hold the business accountable for the crash.
No matter who was behind the wheel, the rules of the road apply to everyone. We hold the people who choose to ignore those rules responsible for the harm they cause to others. Our team knows how to handle the different insurance policies involved in rental and commercial vehicle crashes.
FAQs: TRUCKS ON STORROW DRIVE
Recognizing the laws that govern the roads in Boston helps you see why these accidents are preventable and why the drivers are liable. We provide these answers to help you handle the results of a bridge strike incident.
What is the height limit for the bridges on Storrow Drive?
Most of the bridges on Storrow Drive have a clearance of approximately ten feet, which is much lower than the height of a standard box truck or semi-truck. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation maintains these roads and places many warning signs before the low bridges. Drivers of trucks should know their vehicle height and stay on roads that are approved for commercial traffic.
Can I sue if debris from a bridge strike hit my car?
Yes, you can pursue a claim for property damage and any physical injuries caused by falling debris or the resulting crash. The driver who hit the bridge is responsible for the sequence of events they started by entering a restricted road. We gather the evidence of the bridge strike to prove that the driver’s illegal action caused the damage to your vehicle.
Is the trucking company responsible if the driver was using a personal phone for directions?
Yes, a trucking company is generally responsible for the actions of their employees while they are working. If the company failed to provide a commercial GPS and the driver used a personal phone instead, the company is negligent for failing to equip their driver properly. We hold the employer accountable for the lack of training and the lack of proper safety equipment provided to their staff.
How do I prove the truck was a commercial vehicle?
Commercial vehicles often have the company name and a Department of Transportation number printed on the side of the truck. The police report will also document the type of vehicle and whether it was being used for business purposes. We use these records to confirm that the vehicle was prohibited from being on Storrow Drive at the time of the accident.
What happens if the driver claims the signs were confusing?
The signs on Storrow Drive are numerous and clear, often including hanging chains that hit the top of a truck before it reaches the bridge. The law does not excuse a driver for being confused by clearly marked safety signs. We use photos of the route the driver took to show the jury that the driver had many opportunities to see the warnings and exit the parkway.
Force the Negligent Parties to Take Responsibility
The insurance company for a trucking business will fight hard to avoid paying for a bridge strike. They have deep pockets and a team of adjusters who deal with these cases every day. You need a team that fights back with more strength and a refusal to settle for less than you deserve. At Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, we have recovered over $1,000,000,000 because we know how to hold corporations accountable when they break the law.
Contact Our Boston Trial Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt because of a bridge strike or a reckless truck driver, take action now. Our team at Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is ready to investigate your case and hold the negligent parties responsible for their choices. We handle the paperwork, the investigation, and the courtroom battles so you can focus on your life. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and put a fighter in your corner who won’t back down.
