Haverhill, MA Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injuries can produce immense impacts on victims’ lives. Injured parties often face physical pain, emotional stress, and economic uncertainty. Accordingly, the road to recovery can be hard to navigate after suffering a personal injury.
A personal injury lawyer can help pursue financial compensation after being injured because of another person’s negligent actions. However, personal injury lawsuits can take months to years to complete. Defendants and their insurance companies may employ various tactics to delay the settlement of your claim.
If you were injured because of another person’s negligent conduct in Haverhill, MA, get help recovering the financial compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Haverhill personal injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
Time Limit to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Haverhill, MA
Different time limits exist for filing various types of lawsuits. These limits are set by the states’ statutes of limitations. Under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A, you will generally have three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Haverhill. Failure to comply with this deadline could cause you to miss out on compensation.
Still, you should attempt to bring your case to court as soon as possible. There are numerous requirements that plaintiffs must satisfy when filing a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, plaintiffs must file a complete claim, file in the correct court, attach necessary supporting documents, pay any required court fees, and serve all named defendants. Those who fail to meet any of such requirements may be asked to re-file their case. By filing early, you afford yourself time to re-file your case if necessary.
An exception to the statute of limitations exists for minors. A parent may bring a personal injury lawsuit to court on behalf of their child at any point until the child turns 18. Furthermore, Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 7 establishes that a victim will have three years after turning 18 to file a personal injury lawsuit related to an accident that occurred while they were a minor. Our experienced Haverhill personal injury lawyers can help explain how the statute of limitations applies to your case.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Haverhill, MA
There are several different types of personal injury lawsuits. The process for recovering compensation in your case may depend on the cause of your personal injury. The following are common causes of personal injuries in Haverhill, MA:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are a common cause of personal injuries in Haverhill. Property owners are expected to maintain their premises for the safety of their visitors. When property owners breach this duty, serious slip and fall accidents can occur. For example, a restaurant guest may suffer a slip and fall because the owner did not fix a loose rug at the building’s entranceway. Fortunately, victims may be compensated for damages related to their slip and fall accidents.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries. When drivers act carelessly and recklessly, serious crashes can occur. The following are common forms of negligence that lead to car accidents in Haverhill:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failing to obey traffic signals
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Improper lane changes
- Tailgating
- Reckless driving
If you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver, our Haverhill personal injury lawyers can help evaluate the legal options available to you.
Pedestrian Accidents
Furthermore, pedestrian accidents are also a common cause of personal injuries in Haverhill. When pedestrians are struck by careless motorists, catastrophic injuries can occur. These accidents are particularly common in urban areas and at intersections. Injured pedestrians may recover a wide range of monetary damages from the driver who caused their crash.
Truck Accidents
Many personal injuries are also caused by truck accidents. Truck drivers are often asked to remain on the road for extended of periods of time while delivering cargo. Accordingly, many severe crashes are caused by tired truck drivers.
Truck accidents often lead to serious injuries because of the size of the vehicles involved. Victims can contact our Haverhill personal injury lawyers for help holding truck drivers and trucking companies responsible for their negligent actions.
Defective Products
Defective products are another common cause of personal injuries. A product can be considered defective through its design, manufacturing, or marketing. The following are common types of defective products that harm consumers:
- Household appliances
- Children’s toys
- Medical devices
- Cleaning products and chemicals
- Car parts
- Industrial machinery
- Contaminated food
Sellers and manufacturers can be held liable for harm caused by their defective products. However, these cases can be complicated. Copious amounts of complicated evidence are often required to prove that a produce was defective. Therefore, the assistance of our experienced Haverhill personal injury lawyers can be highly valuable when seeking compensation for an injury caused by a defective product.
Medical Malpractice
Lastly, some personal injuries are caused by medical malpractice. Medical practice refers to cases where a patient was injured because of a healthcare professional’s negligent behavior. In such cases, healthcare professionals can be held liable for the harm they cause.
However, just because you are not satisfied with your treatment does not mean you may pursue a claim for medical malpractice. In order for a medical malpractice case to be successful, plaintiffs must show that they would not have been injured if their physician had acted in accordance with the accepted standards of practice. Simply put, plaintiffs must show that the defendant did not act as a reasonable physician would have under similar circumstances.
Medical malpractice cases can be difficult to pursue. Similar to defective products cases, expert witness testimony is typically required to support plaintiffs’ claims. Our Haverhill personal injury lawyers can help assess the validity of your medical malpractice case during a free case review.
If You Suffered a Personal Injury in Haverhill, MA, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of another person’s negligent actions, seek assistance from our experienced Haverhill personal injury lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.