So much goes into preparing, filing, and navigating personal injury claims, which is why plaintiffs heavily benefit from relying on our skilled attorneys. After taking on your case, we can immediately identify your filing deadline, see how much longer we have to sue and start building a compelling case with strong evidence.
We need proof of your injury, proof of the defendant’s negligence, and proof of your damages, all of which we can start collecting right away. Eyewitness testimony, medical records, and bills stemming from an accident are good evidence and may help us get a bigger settlement without you having to go to trial. Since settling ends your lawsuit, we will ensure it is fair and worth accepting.
Call our personal injury lawyers at (617) 925-6407 and discuss your case for free with the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.
How Long Do I Have to File My Westwood Personal Injury Lawsuit?
You do not have indefinite time to bring a personal injury claim in Westwood. Plaintiffs who do not file within Massachusetts’ statute of limitations risk not getting any compensation, so reach out to our lawyers immediately to avoid this scenario.
Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A gives you three years from sustaining an injury to file your lawsuit. Not all injuries are immediately apparent. In those situations, the statute of limitations begins to run from the date of discovery rather than the date of injury. Tell us if you discovered your injuries later, and we can see if that “tolling” exception applies.
There are other reasons the statute of limitations is tolled, like if the defendant is a nonresident or if they fraudulently conceal the cause of action from the victim.
We can determine your exact filing deadline and take the necessary steps to meet it. Always assume you have only three years to file, and do not expect any tolling exceptions to apply without consulting us.
Do I Have to Call the Police to Report a Personal Injury?
Whether or not you call the police after an accident depends on the severity of your injury and the help you need. First responders are essential after most auto accidents, especially those involving pedestrians or bicyclists, and can also assist victims in the aftermath of severe construction accidents.
Calling the police yields an incident report that our lawyers can get and review. This report details who is involved in an accident, who appears liable for an accident, the immediate injuries a victim sustained, and other important information.
Please let us know if you contacted the police to report an accident or injury, and we can obtain any relevant materials from law enforcement.
What Evidence Should I Have Before Filing My Personal Injury Lawsuit?
We help plaintiffs gather the right evidence before filing their injury lawsuits so that their claims are strong from the get-go.
Proof of Injury
We need proof that you suffered the injuries outlined in your claim. This means we need medical records, so victims should always seek medical attention after sustaining an injury due to negligence. If you do not feel injured right away and notice injuries later, get assessed then. Do not wait any longer than necessary, as delaying medical attention could jeopardize your case.
Tell us which hospitals and providers you sought treatment from, and our personal injury lawyers can obtain records with your permission.
Proof of injury is very important in personal injury claims. Do not neglect your physical recovery at any time, whether by missing doctor appointments or engaging in risky physical activity that might worsen an injury.
Proof of Negligence
To prove the defendant is liable for your injuries, we need evidence of negligence. Evidence that proves fault includes eyewitness testimony, surveillance footage, and accident photos. Give us any evidence you might have gathered, like pictures or videos. We can gather more information by investigating soon after you suffer an injury, so please do not wait to reach out.
Proof of Damages
We also need proof of your damages from a personal injury. Medical expenses may make up much of your damages, so give us all the medical bills you have received. Report lost wages to us as well. Financial and income records let us calculate your lost wages, making them crucial evidence.
Proof of non-economic damages typically comes in the form of victim testimony. When you describe your reduced quality of life and pain and suffering since an accident, the jury may be more sympathetic. If the jury understands your intangible damages, it may award more compensation for those non-economic losses.
What Happens if I Settle My Personal Injury Case in Westwood?
Settling personal injury claims is common, and many victims file lawsuits expecting to settle without a trial. While settling can often yield enough compensation, signing an agreement too quickly can be a mistake that we help victims avoid.
Settling a case ends it, which is why ensuring the agreement is fair is so important. Otherwise, a victim might realize later that they need more compensation but might be unable to get it.
We only advise victims to sign good settlement agreements. A good settlement should cover economic and non-economic damages. It should also cover much of your future damages, which are common when victims suffer injuries that are hard to heal from or are permanent.
When settling a personal injury case, we must ensure the payment structure is fair. Some defendants offer lump sum settlements to resolve cases, meaning they pay the whole amount at one time.
Structured settlements are generally more common. While you still get the entire settlement amount, the defendant pays it in installments. We can carefully review structured settlements to ensure they are fair, changing terms as necessary to favor you.
Call Our Westwood Injury Attorneys for Help Now
Call the personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan for help with your case at (617) 925-6407.