Lawrence Car Accident Lawyer
The injuries caused by car crashes can be hard to predict. Typically, collisions that occur at high speeds will lead to more serious injuries. Still, every accident has the potential to produce devastating harm.
Thankfully, you can seek payment after being hurt because of a car accident in Lawrence, MA. However, the type of injury you suffered can impact your path to compensation. During your free case evaluation, our experienced attorneys can help weigh the legal options in front of you.
Consult with our experienced car accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan by calling us at (617) 925-6407.
How Long Does it Take for Your Car Accident Injuries to Appear in Lawrence, MA?
The length of time it takes for car accident injuries to appear varies from injury to injury. Some injuries like broken bones and lacerations will be noticeable right away. Meanwhile, other injuries may not produce symptoms until days after a crash.
Concussions are a common car accident injury that many victims do not immediately detect. For example, you may sustain a concussion and feel fine initially. Then, after returning home, you will experience headaches, nausea, and dizziness. These are often signs that you suffered a concussion.
Whiplash is another car accident injury that may not produce painful symptoms until days after a collision. This injury happens when victims’ necks bend back and forth rapidly, like a cracking whip. It can cause severe pain and stiffness in the neck. In severe cases, those who experience whiplash will experience high degrees of immobility.
Finally, mental health injuries are another type of harm caused by car accidents that may produce delayed symptoms. Many accidents are traumatic. It is understandable that some people would suffer from conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of their experiences. For some, the symptoms of mental injuries like PTSD do not manifest themselves until distressing experiences have had time to truly sink in.
What Happens if Your Car Gets Totaled in a Crash in Lawrence, MA?
The property damage caused by motor vehicle collisions can be immense. Many victims incur devastating damage to their cars. If your car was totaled because of your crash, you may obtain compensation for the value of its replacement. That value is typically established by looking at the fair market price of similar cars in the area, or from independent sources like Kelley Blue Book.
However, defendants in car accident lawsuits often try to shift responsibility for plaintiffs’ property damage. For example, the defendant in your case may allege that your car was actually damaged by another crash that occurred at a later date. For that reason, you should always take photos of your vehicle in the immediate aftermath of your collision. These photos will help our car accident lawyers when proving that your vehicle was damaged by the crash at issue.
Common Places Where Car Crashes Happen in Lawrence, MA
Each day, several motorists in this city suffer harmful car collisions while commuting to work, running errands, and travelling to social gatherings. These crashes can occur anywhere, but there are certain locations where they happen more frequently than others. The following are common places where car accidents happen in Lawrence:
Highways
When drivers travel at excessive speeds, it can become more difficult to control their cars and avoid other vehicles. Many highway accidents happen because people are speeding or driving distracted.
Urban Areas
Accidents in urban areas are particularly common during rush hour, when impatient drivers commit careless maneuvers on their way to and from work. Furthermore, crowded city streets are also locations where pedestrians are often struck by negligent drivers.
Parking Lots
Drivers often cause parking lot accidents by not appropriately checking their surroundings before bulling into or out of parking spaces. While these accidents do not always happen at high speeds, they still have the potential to cause significant damage.
Intersections
Finally, intersections are a common location for car accidents. These collisions usually occur because drivers run red lights or fail to yield the right of way.
Suing for Your Car Accident Injuries in Lawrence, MA
Massachusetts follows no-fault car insurance rules. This means that you may have to file a claim with your own insurance company when seeking payment for your car accident injuries. Lawsuits can only be filed against other drivers when potential plaintiffs suffer serious injuries.
You may be able to bring a case against another motorist if you sustained a minimum of $2,000 in medical bills. Furthermore, you can file a car accident lawsuit if you incurred permanent and substantial disfigurement, fractured bones, or significant loss of sight or hearing.
Plaintiffs in car accident lawsuits can recover multiple types of economic and non-economic damages that are not available through no-fault insurance claims. In many cases, filing a lawsuit is the only way for victims to obtain the payment they deserve.
Should You Talk to the Defendant’s Insurance Company After a Car Accident in Lawrence?
You should never talk to a defendant’s insurance company without first consulting with our car accident attorneys. After accidents that cause serious injuries, damages are typically paid by the at-fault motorist’s insurer. However, these insurance companies often attempt to entice low settlement agreements in the immediate aftermath of their policyholders’ accidents. If you accept the first offer presented by an insurance company, you may miss out on the full range of payment you deserve.
Furthermore, our attorneys can protect your interests by preventing you from making statements that can be construed as admissions of fault. For example, it may be natural to apologize after a crash, even if you are not to blame. However, making apologetic statements to insurers can inhibit your ability to recover payment for the harm you endured.
Those Hurt Because of Car Crashes in Lawrence Can Contact Our Legal Team for Help
After enduring a harmful collision in Lawrence, get in touch with our experienced car accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan by dialing (617) 925-6407.
