Meet Our Trial Team

Trucking litigation is complex. The defense often arrives early with investigators, corporate counsel, and a plan to minimize exposure. You want a legal team that can respond with the same urgency and the ability to prove the case all the way to verdict.

Our team includes shareholders such as:

• Charles P. “Chuck” Hehmeyer: Lead trial counsel in the record $25M federal trucking verdict involving a tractor-trailer crash, an award that garnered national recognition.  
• Travis M. Brennan: Shareholder with a record of notable results in trucking and commercial vehicle crashes across Maine, including cases where pedestrians have been catastrophically injured by distracted truck drivers. 
• Elizabeth A. Kayatta: A shareholder with notable commercial vehicle and trucking outcomes, including a record-setting $23,500,000 settlement in a fatal trucking crash case—the largest trucking accident settlement in Maine’s history.

Clients consistently describe the firm’s work in terms that reflect both professionalism and follow-through:

“Chuck is without a doubt one of the most brilliant, compassionate, and determined attorneys with one of the highest standards of integrity that I have ever met.” – Former Client[TB1] 

“Elizabeth is one of the smartest and most passionate attorneys I know. She is quick-thinking, honest, and creative, and I would trust her with my life.” – Former Client

See more testimonials.

Truck Accident Cases We Handle in York County

Commercial truck crashes are a serious issue locally. MaineDOT reports 1,423 truck/bus crashes in York County from 2019–2023, including 9 fatal crashes. 

We represent clients in serious injury and wrongful death claims involving many types of commercial vehicles and crash scenarios, including:

• Tractor-trailer and 18-wheeler collisions
• Box trucks, delivery fleets, and last-mile vehicles
• Dump trucks, construction vehicles, and commercial work trucks
• Jackknife, rollover, and loss-of-control crashes
• Rear-end and chain-reaction collisions (common in congestion and tourist traffic)
• Underride/override crashes
• Cargo shift, unsecured loads, and roadway debris/spill events
• Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other maintenance-related wrecks

If you were hurt in a crash involving a commercial vehicle in York County, the right question is usually not “was the truck bigger?” It’s what safety failure made the collision preventable, and which company is responsible for it.

What Typically Makes a Truck Accident Case “Winnable”

Most viable truck accident claims come down to two core issues:

1) Proving Preventability

A strong case identifies what went wrong—then ties it to the party that had the power to prevent it. In trucking cases, that might involve:

• Unsafe driving (speed, inattention, impairment, fatigue, following too closely)
• Poor operational decisions (unrealistic schedules, inadequate training, weak supervision)
• Mechanical issues (brakes, tires, coupling systems, skipped inspections)
• Cargo problems (overweight loads, unbalanced freight, insecure securement)

2) Proving Damages That Match Reality

Catastrophic truck crashes can create losses that unfold over months, years, or a lifetime—especially when the injuries affect mobility, cognition, independence, or employability. A serious case doesn’t measure value by early bills alone; it builds credible proof of:

• Future care needs and long-term medical costs
• Work loss and reduced earning capacity
• The daily, permanent impact of disability and pain
• Family consequences when life roles change

Compensation in York County Truck Accident Claims

A truck accident claim should reflect the full impact of the collision—not just what’s easy to calculate in the first 30 days.

Economic damages may include:

• Past and future medical treatment (hospital care, surgery, rehab, medications)
• Therapy and long-term care needs (including home assistance when required)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket costs tied to limitations (transportation, equipment, household help)
• Property damage and related financial losses

Non-economic damages may include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring, disfigurement, and the long-term impact of impairment

Wrongful death damages (in fatal cases) commonly include:

• Economic examples: funeral and burial costs; medical bills related to the final injury; lost income/support; and the value of services the person provided to the household
• Non-economic examples: compensation tied to the family’s loss of the person’s companionship, comfort, and guidance (as allowed under Maine’s wrongful death framework)

FAQ: York County Truck Accident Question