New Hampshire Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorneys

Protecting the Rights of Accident Victims for 40 Years

Commercial vehicles tend to dwarf personal vehicles in size. A semi-truck, for example, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds with cargo, while a Honda Civic weighs in at a little over 2,700 pounds. This can lead to severe or fatal injury in the event of a crash between a passenger car and a commercial vehicle, or even between two commercial vehicles. The scale of the accident is simply much larger than a fender bender.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a commercial vehicle accident? If the other party was responsible, you may have the right to compensation for your damages, including pain and suffering, hospital bills, rehabilitative care, past and future lost wages, and others.

Work with an Experienced Legal Team

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we have 40 years of experience in advocating for the victims of commercial vehicle accidents. Our New Hampshire attorney team brings a lot to the table, such as:

• 40 years of litigation experience
• Fearless, results-oriented advocacy
• Compassionate, client-focused legal counsel
• Team of 40 exceptional attorneys and staff
• Established track record of multimillion-dollar case results

We cannot promise a favorable outcome for your case—no firm can. But we promise that we will fight with your best interests at heart, exploring every avenue possible to win you compensation.

Book your free consultation today—contact a New Hampshire commercial vehicle accident attorney via an online form.

Types of Commercial Vehicles

Any vehicle used to transport cargo, carry passengers, or for any other commercial purpose is considered a “commercial vehicle.” This includes vehicles that are used sometimes as a personal vehicle and sometimes as a commercial vehicle, like an Uber or Lyft.

Common types of commercial vehicles include:

• City buses
• School buses
• Rideshare vehicles
• Delivery trucks and vehicles
• Large trucks, such as semi-trucks or big rigs

Filing a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawsuit

To be eligible for a lawsuit, New Hampshire’s “modified comparative negligence” rule requires that you must be the least at fault/liable for the accident.

It is important to note that just because a commercial vehicle was involved in the accident does not mean that the commercial driver was at fault. Liability relies on who was negligent, not who has the biggest vehicle.

Identifying Negligence in a Commercial Vehicle Accident

Potential types of negligence that may lead to a commercial vehicle accident include:

• Driver fatigue/drowsiness
• Distracted driving
• Rushed deliveries
• Overloaded cargo
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Carrying too many passengers
• Defective vehicle parts
• Poorly maintained commercial vehicles
• Speeding or driving recklessly
• Ignoring industry regulations or traffic laws

The Question of Liability: Who Is at Fault?

Most often, the commercial vehicle driver’s employer is found to be at fault for a crash, as it is responsible for making sure its drivers are qualified to be on the road. Employers are also responsible for maintaining their vehicles.

When accidents are caused by a defective vehicle part, the manufacturer will be held liable. These accidents are dealt with under product liability law. At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we are equipped to handle cases in this area of the law, as well.

Commercial drivers themselves are rarely liable, unless they were acting beyond the scope of their job (e.g. driving off the clock or drinking and driving). In this sense, personal vehicle drivers have less protection. Since driving is not their job, they are considered liable if they are negligent on the road or fail to maintain their vehicles.

As much as we have represented everyday commuters injured by commercial drivers, we have also represented commercial drivers injured by everyday commuters or by another commercial driver. If you are unsure whether another party was negligent for your commercial vehicle accident injury, our trial lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case to identify negligence. Then, we can help prove it.

Put Our Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Your Corner

Founded 40 years ago, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. has become known for its skill in attaining multimillion-dollar case results for those injured. Today, we are one of the fastest-growing full-service law firms in Northern New England, with New Hampshire offices in Concord, Dover, Manchester, and Nashua. If you are looking for a team of trial lawyers who will put their all into fighting for you, look no further than Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.

Call (888) 801-9916 today to talk to a New Hampshire commercial vehicle accident lawyer!