Reading, MA Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injuries can come in many forms. A personal injury lawyer can help obtain compensation for anyone who suffered injuries because of another party’s negligent actions. There are several categories of damages available to plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits.
However, the process for recovering compensation is not always straightforward. Personal injury lawsuits may take weeks to months to years to complete. Furthermore, defendants and their insurance companies may use various tactics to refute various parts of your claim.
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligent conduct in Reading, MA, get help recovering the compensation available to you. Contact our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
Settling a Personal Injury Case vs. Taking a Personal Injury Case to Trial in Reading, MA
A settlement agreement is a type of legal contact that ensures a defendant will pay an agreed-upon sum to a plaintiff in exchange for their case being voluntarily dismissed. Many plaintiffs will face the difficult decision of either reaching a settlement agreement or taking their case to trial. There are multiple potential benefits to settling your case early. For instance, by settling early, you may get paid faster. Furthermore, settling early allows both parties to save on the expensive costs of taking a case to trial.
Plaintiffs who take their case to trial will have the opportunity to obtain additional compensation. Not all settlement offers are appropriate. Some offers do not reflect the true value of a plaintiff’s case. Our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers can help victims decide if going to trial is the right decision in their case.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Reading, MA
There strategies and analyses that apply to your case can depend on the type of accident that caused your injuries. There are many types of accidents that can cause personal injuries. The following are common examples of personal injuries in Reading:
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are a common cause of personal injuries in Reading. When pedestrians are struck by vehicles, catastrophic injuries can occur. Such accidents are particularly common at intersections and in urban areas. Pedestrians can contact our Reading personal injury lawyers for help recovering compensation for their injuries.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are another common cause of personal injuries. Accidents involving trucks are particularly devastating because of the size of the vehicles involved. Trucking companies often force their drivers to stay on the road for extended periods to deliver their loads on time. Accordingly, many crashes are caused by fatigued truck drivers. In such cases, victims of truck accidents may file suits against both the truck drivers and trucking companies.
Medical Malpractice
Furthermore, medical malpractice is also a cause of personal injuries in Reading. Medical malpractice occurs when patients suffer injuries because of healthcare professionals’ negligent conduct. Proving negligence in a medical malpractice lawsuit can be difficult. Expert witness testimony is typically required. Our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers can help victims gather evidence to support claims of medical malpractice.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries. Drivers are supposed to obey traffic laws and exercise reasonable care in operation of their motor vehicles. Still, many motorists act carelessly and recklessly on the road. The following are common causes of car accidents in Reading:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Improper left turns
- Improper lane changes
- Wrong-way driving
- Braking abruptly
- Running red lights
Victims of accidents caused by any of the aforementioned forms of negligence may be entitled to financial compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Additionally, slip and fall accidents are a common cause of personal injuries in Reading. Property managers and property owners are responsible for maintaining their premises for the safety of their visitors. For example, a restaurant owner can be held liable for slip and fall accidents that occur because they did not fix a loose rug in a public walkway. Victims of slip and fall accidents can contact our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers for help assessing the validity of their case.
Defective Product Accidents
Lastly, defective products are another common cause of personal injuries. Products can be defective in their design, manufacturing, or marketing. When products are defective, severe injuries can happen. For example, a construction worker working with defective safety equipment on a construction site can suffer devastating injuries. Like other complicated cases, personal injury lawsuits centered around defective products often require expert testimony. If you were injured because of a defective product, our team can help prove a negligent manufacturer or seller caused your injuries.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Reading, MA
Generally, plaintiffs will have three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are numerous other requirements plaintiffs must comply with when filing their lawsuits. Plaintiffs must file their cases in the correct court, attach supporting documents, serve all defendants, pay required court fees, and file a complete and valid claim. Failing to comply with any of these requirements could force you to re-file your case. Our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers can offer support and guidance when filing your claim.
Evidence Needed to Prove Fault in a Reading Personal Injury Case
In order for your personal injury lawsuit to succeed, you must prove that the defendant’s negligent actions were the cause of your injuries. There are numerous types of evidence that may be used to prove fault. The following are common examples of evidence our lawyers use to establish a link between a defendant’s actions and your injuries:
- Accident reports
- Physical evidence
- Photographic evidence
- Security camera footage
- Traffic camera footage
- Expert witness testimony
- Eyewitness testimony
Our Reading personal injury can help when gathering the aforementioned evidence in your case.
If You Were Injured Because of Another Person’s Negligent Actions in Reading, MA, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligent actions, seek assistance from our experienced Reading personal injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
