Boston Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. If you or a person you love has been injured in a motor vehicle collision that occurred in or around Boston, it is important that you have an experienced attorney on your side advocating for you throughout your entire personal injury case.

Car and automobile accidents are also one of the leading causes of injury in the United States. This is especially true here in Massachusetts. The injured victims of car accidents oftentimes suffer not only from physical injury, but also from economic loss due to lost wages and medical bills. Many injured victims also suffer from associated mental anguish, including a decreased enjoyment of life.

Regardless of how you feel immediately following an accident, you should seek the counsel of an experienced lawyer right away. Certain injuries may not manifest themselves until days after the accident and, by this time, important physical evidence can be lost and witnesses may become harder to find. Also, even minor aches and pains can often times be an indication of a more significant injury. Therefore, even if you think your injury may be minor in nature, it is important that you seek medical attention right away.

 

If you've been injured in a car accident, take these important steps to protect your interests:

• Immediately contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident attorney to help protect your rights.
• Do not make any statements to the insurance company or sign any insurance documentation without first consulting with an attorney.
• If you feel any pain or discomfort after the accident, go to the hospital immediately in order to get appropriate medical treatment.
• Follow any advice given by medical professionals, including follow-up visits and treatment.
• If you are going to miss any time from work, be sure to obtain a medical note explaining that you were advised by a doctor to take the time off.

Most important of all, be sure to consult with a Boston car accident attorney immediately in order to make sure that you are aware of your legal rights related to the accident and your injuries. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. will not charge you for an initial consultation so you have absolutely nothing to lose by talking to us about your accident and your injuries.

The experienced team of Boston car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. are ready and available to assist you with every aspect of filing and litigating your personal injury car accident case. Our experienced team of attorneys can review the facts and circumstances of your accident with you and can help you pursue monetary compensation from both your own insurance company as well as from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to properly and adequately compensate you for all of your injuries and damages, our legal team welcomes the opportunity to litigate your case and take it to trial in the court system – or to an alternative dispute resolution proceeding.

For an absolutely free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced and compassionate Boston car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. please call us at (617) 357-8600 or contact us online for more information about how we can help.

 

Where do car accidents occur in the Boston area?

Car accidents in and around Boston, Massachusetts can occur just about anywhere that motor vehicles tend to be present. This includes all major highways and roadways – like Route 24 – as well as on lesser-traveled roadways. Car collisions can also happen in parking lots and parking garages.

In particular, many motor vehicle crashes tend to happen on Massachusetts Route 24. Several very serious car crashes have occurred on that roadway in just 2021 alone. For instance, in January of this year, an SUV that was involved in a rollover accident on Route 24 left at least one person dead and another individual seriously injured. Just a month earlier, in December of 2020, a multi-vehicle crash on that roadway (near West Bridgewater) resulted in the death of a 21-year old woman.

 

 

As recently as June of 2021, a serious car collision on Massachusetts Route 24 resulted in serious injuries to a two-year-old child who was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved.

In addition to Route 24, serious car accidents are also common on the major highways and bi-ways that are located in the Boston region. These roadways include I-95, I-93, and I-495.

If you have been involved in a car accident that occurred on one of these highways – or in some other location in or around Boston, Massachusetts – it is important that you seek out prompt medical attention. Even if you are not sure whether or not you have been injured, you should have yourself checked out for possible injuries by a licensed physician or other medical practitioner. If there is an injury, regardless how minor, it is also essential that you retain a knowledgeable attorney to represent you throughout your personal injury case. Despite their many promises in television and radio ads, insurance companies are not interested in fully and fairly compensating you for the injuries that you suffer in a car accident. Quite the contrary. Their goal is to save money by paying you as little as possible. However, the Boston car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. have the knowledge and experience necessary to successfully obtain maximum compensation on your behalf.

 

What are some common causes of car accidents that take place in and around Boston?

Car accidents that occur on highways and other roadways in and around Boston happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the at-fault driver is simply not paying attention to the road, while at other times, the at-fault driver is doing something (or failing to do something) that amounts to egregious or gross recklessness. In any case, when a driver fails to follow the rules of the road, he or she can cause an accident that leaves one or more people injured – or dead. Some of the most common causes of Boston car collisions include the following:

 

Failing to obey traffic signs and laws

Traffic signs (including stop signs and yield signs), along with traffic control devices (including traffic lights) are there for one reason – to keep motor vehicle drivers and their passengers safe and alive. However, when drivers violate these traffic laws, disregard traffic signs, and otherwise operate their vehicles in a reckless or careless manner, they put the lives of other drivers and passengers at risk.

 

Careless and reckless driving

In addition to violating traffic laws, signs, and regulations, some Boston car accidents happen when drivers operate their vehicles without exercising due care for their own safety – and for the safety of others. Massachusetts drivers owe a duty to others to operate their vehicles in a careful, safe, and prudent manner at all times. When they engage in reckless driving, they violate that duty of care and increase the chances that they will cause a serious accident. Some of the ways that drivers engage in careless and reckless driving is by tailgating other vehicles, driving far in excess of posted speed limits, carelessly weaving in and out of traffic, failing to use turn signals before executing turns, or engaging in other forms of reckless driving.

 

Distracted motor vehicle operation

The presence of electronic devices in a vehicle significantly increases the chances of distracted motor vehicle operation. Distracted driving occurs when a driver makes a phone call (i.e. without a hands-free Bluetooth device), sends/responds to a text message, or sends an email on a cellular phone, tablet, or other electronic device – all while trying to operate a motor vehicle on the road. Distracted driving also occurs when a driver turns his or her head (even for a second) to discipline a child in the backseat or engages in roughhousing with a passenger while driving. Listening to loud music could also constitute distracted driving. When a driver engages in one or more of these activities while also trying to operate a motor vehicle, he or she increases the likelihood that a serious accident will occur. As such, distracted driving is a type of reckless and negligent motor vehicle operation.

 

Impaired or intoxicated driving

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as in other states, drivers are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle while they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or some other intoxicating substance. Doing so can result not only in criminal fines and penalties, but also in civil liability if the driver negligently causes an accident in which one or more people are injured. A driver is per se intoxicated if he or she is found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. The standard is stricter for commercial motor vehicle drivers (including commercial truck drivers) and minors who are under 21 years of age. For example, there is effectively a zero-tolerance policy in place for minors who are found to be under the influence of alcohol. These rules are in place because alcohol intoxication can have a severe impact on brain functioning. Specifically, alcohol can slow down a driver’s reaction time and can cause blurry vision, among other things. When a driver gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the chances that a motor vehicle accident will occur increase exponentially.

 

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision in the Boston area that resulted from negligent, reckless, distracted, or intoxicated motor vehicle operation, you should look no further than the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. for assistance with your personal injury claim. Our legal team can review how your accident happened with you and will explain all of your legal options. We can then help you pursue the monetary compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

 

Types of Personal Injuries that May Result from a Car Accident

When one motor vehicle collides with another, the driver and occupants on the receiving end can suffer serious and debilitating injuries and other damages. The extent of the injuries that a person suffers in a car accident depends upon several factors, including the force of the impact and that type of car accident that happened.

In some car accidents, the front of one motor vehicle collides with the front of another motor vehicle. These types of collisions are called head-on collisions, and the drivers and passengers can suffer severe – and sometimes deadly – injuries. At other times, the front of one vehicle collides with the rear of another vehicle in a classic rear-end type collision. Finally, some car accidents occur at intersections where the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. These accidents are sometimes called T-bone accidents.

The force of any motor vehicle collision impact can cause the accident victim’s body to move around inside the vehicle. In some cases, the accident victim’s body moves from side to side, and at other times, it moves frontwards and backward in a very abrupt manner. At still other times, the force of the impact causes a part of the accident victim’s body to strike something in the vehicle, such as the steering wheel, headrest, window, or console. If the accident victim strikes his or her head on the steering wheel or some other part of the vehicle, the accident victim could suffer a concussion or some other type of serious head injury.

Injuries that an accident victim suffers in a car collision can sometimes lead to significant impairments and damages. The accident victim might need to visit a hospital emergency room or urgent care center following the accident, follow up with a primary care doctor or medical specialist, undergo a medical procedure (such as a surgery), and/or take part in short or long-term physical therapy or chiropractic care. All of this medical treatment can cost a significant amount of money – especially if the accident victim does not have medical insurance at the time of the accident. Some of the most common injuries that an accident victim can suffer in a car crash include the following:

• Traumatic head and brain injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bone fractures
• Scarring and/or disfigurement
• Spinal cord injuries (including paralysis)
• Internal injuries
• Death

If you or someone you care about has suffered an injury in a car accident that occurred because of negligent driving, the experienced team of Boston car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. is here to help you. Our team will be able to investigate your car accident and focus on the legal aspects of your claim – all while you focus your attention on fully recovering from your injuries. After you have completed all of your accident-related medical treatment, we can assist you with filing a claim seeking the compensation that you deserve as the victim of another’s negligent driving.

 

No-Fault Insurance Laws that Exist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

When it comes to car accidents that occur in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, no-fault insurance laws apply. In fact, Massachusetts is one of the few no-fault insurance states in the country. In a no-fault insurance state like Massachusetts, motor vehicle drivers and passengers who are injured in a car accident must first look to their own insurance companies for certain coverage, including the initial payment of medical bills and lost wages – up to a certain limit. This is true regardless of whether the accident was caused by another driver.

Specifically, unless a deductible is selected, your own Massachusetts insurance company (or the insurance company for the vehicle you were in at the time of the accident) will pay a maximum of $8,000.00 towards your medical bills and lost wages – without regard to how the car collision occurred or who caused it. These are called ‘first-party’ insurance benefits.

In Massachusetts car accident cases, injured accident victims also have the right to claim and recover additional third-party benefits against the at-fault motor vehicle operator who caused the subject accident. These third-party damages are meant to compensate accident victims for any out-of-pocket costs (including medical bills or lost wages not covered under their first-party claim), as well provide compensation for certain other types of noneconomic losses (including general pain and suffering damages).

However, in order for you to be eligible to recover third-party damages in a personal injury claim arising from a car accident, you have to show that you suffered what’s known as a ‘threshold injury.’ So-called threshold injuries are personal injuries to an accident victim that involve some type of serious disfigurement (such as scarring), fracture or serious impairment of some type of bodily function, death, or that the injured victim suffered in excess of $2,000 in reasonable and necessary medical costs related to the accident. Most injuries, even if relatively minor, will satisfy the threshold requirement so long as the accident related medical costs exceed $2,000.

The experienced team of Boston car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. can help you challenge an insurance company’s position that you do not have a threshold injury and, if necessary, litigate the case to a conclusion. When you put your confidence and trust in their legal team, you can rest assured that they will zealously advocate for your legal rights and pursue maximum compensation for your personal injury case.

 

Filing a Claim for Monetary Compensation

When filing a claim for monetary compensation in a personal injury car accident case, your lawyer will typically file a demand package with the insurance company. This demand package will include a demand letter which makes a monetary demand for settlement. In addition to the demand letter, a settlement demand package will include several types of important documents. Those documents will be used by the insurance company adjuster who is assigned to your case. The adjuster will evaluate the documents, including the medical records, medical bills, lost wage documentation, photographs, police diagram, witness statements, as well as any other relevant evidence, and may make an introductory offer to resolve the case by way of a settlement. This initial offer is usually rejected as being too low, but it’s the starting point for ongoing negotiations.

Your attorney and the insurance company adjuster will then negotiate for a while, sometimes for several weeks or even months. The insurance company will likely increase its offer over time, and you may or may not decide to accept the offer. If you accept a settlement offer, the personal injury case effectively ends at that time. If you do not accept an offer, then you have the option of litigating your case in the court system.

Litigating a personal injury car accident case begins by filing a lawsuit in the court system. However, this does not necessarily mean that your case will have to go all the way to a jury trial. A personal injury case can settle at any point along the way, and the majority of cases involving car accidents do end up settling at some point before trial.

A knowledgeable and experienced Boston car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. will be able to help you decide whether you should accept a particular settlement offer or litigate your case to a conclusion in the Massachusetts court system. Your lawyer will also be able to recommend whether you should take a case to trial and what you should reasonably expect to recover in your case.

 

Potential Damages that you Might be Eligible to Recover in a Boston Car Accident Claim

If you have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle collision that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you will quickly find out that medical bills and other out-of-pocket costs tend to pile up fast. You deserve to recover compensation for not only these medical bills and out-of-pocket costs, but also for your pain, suffering, and the overall inconvenience that you suffered, or may continue to suffer, as a result of the accident.

Keep in mind, however, that it is you (the accident victim) who has the legal burden of proof in a personal injury case. As part of your claim, you must demonstrate that the other driver acted unreasonably under the circumstances (i.e., prove that they were negligent), and that as a result you suffered, or continue to suffer, from the injuries you claim. You must also adequately demonstrate that all of your medical treatment was reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the accident. These things are often heavily disputed by insurance companies, so it’s important to have experienced legal counsel on your side to properly navigate your case to a successful resolution.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, the knowledgeable legal team at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. are available to help. Their legal team will work hard to settle your case favorably, and they do not shy away from litigating cases in the court system when that becomes necessary. They will fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Call them today.

 

How an Experienced Boston Car Accident Attorney May be Able to Assist You with Your Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit

An experienced Boston car accident attorney can be an invaluable help to you when it comes to pursuing monetary compensation for your injuries. First of all, while you are still treating for your injuries, your attorney can begin collecting relevant evidence – such as physical evidence, video, and witness statements.  Your lawyer can also gather all of your medical records and bills to date, as well as any wage loss documentation. Your attorney will also put the insurance company on notice of the anticipated personal injury claim, and begin setting the framework for future resolution of the case.

Once you have finished treating for your injuries, your lawyer will submit a demand package and begin negotiating with the insurance adjuster for a reasonable settlement offer. If you decide to settle your case, your attorney can help you with processing the settlement and bringing your case to a prompt and efficient conclusion. On the other hand, if you decide to litigate your case in the Massachusetts court system, your attorney will be with you every step of the way. Your lawyer can file the lawsuit on your behalf, take part in the discovery process, and all the while continue settlement negotiations with the insurance company. Finally, if you decide to take your case all the way to a jury trial (or other alternative dispute resolution proceeding - such as mediation or arbitration), your lawyer will advocate for your interests and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.

 

Speak to a Knowledgeable and Experienced Boston Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been injured in a Boston car accident, the skilled and compassionate legal team at the Law Offices of Christopher Sullivan, P.C. is ready to assist you with your case. Our lawyers will zealously advocate for your legal rights and seek maximum compensation on your behalf.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a Boston car accident lawyer, simply call us today at (617) 357-8600, or contact us online for more information about how we can assist you with the filing and litigating of your personal injury case.