Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney has represented the interests of transportation companies for decades. Our attorneys have a depth of experience representing leading bus companies and all types of trucking companies from local delivery firms to national entities.
By their very nature, accidents involving tractor trailers, school buses and public buses often produce multiple claims involving widespread property damage, catastrophic injuries, and deaths.
Our attorneys and professionals will evaluate the exposure quickly and accurately and work with our client to resolve the matter as efficiently as possible.
We have a complete staff of investigators and engineers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week prepared to respond to any need that may arise immediately
Commercial transportation cases often raise a variety of questions involving driver conduct, vehicle defects, business practices, insurance coverage, and adherence to federal motor carrier safety regulations as well as extensive discovery of electronic records and documents.
Complex litigation may ensue in different tribunals concurrently, such as a jury trial in federal court with companion workers’ compensation claims being handled in state court.
Our lawyers have achieved considerable success in handling all aspects of liability claims and losses in the trucking and transportation field.We have an experienced team of trial lawyers who are ready to go to trial but aggressively seek the best result whether through trial, arbitration, mediation or settlement.
We regularly counsel our clients relative to changes in federal regulations, state law, and industry protocols and have experience representing clients before the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
Representative cases:
– Defending a trucking company against allegations that a manager at an automobile dealership was severely injured when the truck driver negligently unloaded one of the vehicles from the multilevel transporter. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island entered a jury verdict for the defendants; the judgment was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
– Defending a bus company regarding allegations of negligence in the operation of a school bus, resulting in a head-on collision with an automobile. The operator of the car was killed, and her parents subsequently filed a wrongful death action against the client company. The jury trial resulted in a jury verdict.
– Defending a trucking company in a wrongful death action – after a collision involving a tractor trailer and an automobile resulted in the death of the driver of the car. The case was settled favorably early in the litigation.
– Defending a national automobile rental company against assertions that a negligent, unauthorized driver had constructive or implied permission from the rental car company to operate its vehicle. This case of first impression was dismissed on summary judgment, and the dismissal affirmed on appeal by the Rhode Island Supreme Court which held the rental agreement defining “Authorized Drivers” provided the requisite proof to deny all liability in this case.
Representing numerous trucking companies, and other transportations clients, with comprehensive, on-the-scene investigations to access accurately liability and damage issues.
