BOSTON, MA - October 20, 2026 — A jackknifing tractor-trailer can transform a routine commute into a multi-vehicle collision within seconds, leaving injured motorists with urgent questions about what caused the crash and who may be responsible. Boston truck accident attorney Dino M. Colucci of Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. (https://www.coluccilaw.com/boston-truck-accident-attorney/jackknife/) has released a detailed overview addressing the causes of jackknife crashes, liability, injuries, applicable trucking laws, filing deadlines, and the steps victims should take after a collision.
According to Boston truck accident attorney Dino M. Colucci, jackknife crashes frequently occur on heavily traveled routes such as the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), I-93, the Southeast Expressway, and the ramps near the Ted Williams Tunnel. "When a trailer swings sideways across traffic, nearby drivers often have very little time or space to react," Colucci explains. "Identifying exactly how the jackknife occurred is one of the most important steps in determining who is responsible for the collision."
Boston truck accident attorney Dino M. Colucci notes that several factors can cause a driver to lose control of a tractor or trailer, including hard or unbalanced braking, worn or improperly adjusted brake components, excessive speed on curves, and lightly loaded trailers with less weight over the axles. Weather and road conditions also play a significant role. Under federal regulation 49 CFR § 392.14, commercial drivers must use extreme caution when hazardous conditions affect traction or visibility, reduce their speed, and stop operating when conditions become sufficiently dangerous.
The guide explains that a jackknifed trailer can swing across multiple lanes and block much of the roadway, creating the risk of chain-reaction collisions and underride crashes, in which part of a passenger vehicle travels beneath the trailer. Colucci points out that crash reconstruction can help establish the trailer's path, vehicle speeds, sight distances, and the amount of time drivers had to react. Preserving this evidence is especially important when multiple injured people and insurance claims are involved.
Jackknife crashes can produce severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, and permanent scarring or disfigurement. In fatal cases, the article notes, a wrongful death claim may arise under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 229, Section 2, allowing the estate's personal representative to seek damages for lost income and services, loss of companionship and guidance, and funeral and burial expenses. "The effects of a serious jackknife crash can extend well beyond the initial medical treatment," Colucci observes. "Families often face long-term care needs and financial losses that must be fully documented."
Attorney Colucci emphasizes that more than one party may bear responsibility for a jackknife crash. The truck driver may be liable for speeding, following too closely, fatigue, or improper braking, while the trucking company may be responsible for inadequate hiring, unsafe delivery schedules, or failure to maintain its vehicles. Maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and parts manufacturers can also face liability depending on their role. Hours-of-service records, electronic logging device data, event data recorders, and maintenance documents can all help establish what led to the loss of control.
The firm also highlights key Massachusetts deadlines. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 26, a driver involved in a crash causing injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage must submit a written report to the Registry of Motor Vehicles within five days, with the reporting period suspended while a person is physically incapable of filing. Colucci advises that personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within three years under Chapter 260, Section 2A, while wrongful death actions carry a separate three-year deadline.
On the subject of fault, Colucci adds that Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Chapter 231, Section 85. Injured individuals can recover compensation if their share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants, with any award reduced by their percentage of fault. "Do not let an insurer's allegations about a driver's conduct determine the value of a claim without a closer look at the evidence," Colucci advises, noting that the defense carries the burden of proving comparative negligence.
The practice represents injured people throughout Boston, including Downtown, the Seaport, South Boston, Back Bay, the North End, Charlestown, East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brighton, Allston, Hyde Park, and West Roxbury, as well as across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Plymouth, and Worcester counties. Recoverable damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium for family members.
For those injured in a jackknife or other commercial truck crash, contacting a Boston truck accident attorney may help preserve critical evidence, manage communications with the trucking company's insurer, and pursue the compensation available under Massachusetts law.
About Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C.:
Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. is a Boston-based law firm focused on personal injury and civil litigation, including commercial trucking accidents, motor vehicle crashes, product liability, and wrongful death claims. Led by founding partner and lead trial counsel Dino M. Colucci, the firm serves injured individuals and families throughout Boston and across Massachusetts from its office at 31 Milk Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. For consultations, call (617) 958-3807.
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Phone: (617) 958-3807
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Website: https://www.coluccilaw.com/
