Leominster, MA Car Accident Lawyer
All it takes is one bad crash to upend your life completely. If you are the unfortunate victim of a vehicle crash, you should get emergency help and contact an attorney about your rights.
You should seriously think about hiring a lawyer very soon after an auto accident. The statute of limitations in Massachusetts gives you only 3 years to file a case, and time is of the essence. You can talk to your attorney about how your accident might have happened. Distractions on the road, intoxication, and speeding are common factors. Auto insurance is legally required in these kinds of cases, and Massachusetts is a no-fault state. If you want to sue another driver, you must meet the state’s serious injury requirement. Once you are ready to begin your case, your lawyer can help you assess your damages and determine fair compensation.
Call our car accident lawyers at (617) 925-6407 for a free case evaluation to start your case with our team at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.
When You Should Consider Hiring a Lawyer After a Vehicle Crash in Leominster, MA
The weeks and months after a bad car accident can feel like a whirlwind, and it is easy to become overwhelmed. While it is more than reasonable to take some time to rest and recover, you should speak to a lawyer immediately.
The statute of limitation in Massachusetts, found under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260 § 2A, allows potential plaintiffs only 3 years to file injury claims in court. If you wait too long, you might have difficulty developing your case with a lawyer, preparing all the necessary legal documentation, and filing everything before the deadline.
Even if you are not totally sure that you want to file an injury case in court, you should still seek advice from an experienced attorney. Our car accident lawyers can help you recognize whether you have a legal claim in the first place. If you do, we can assist you in deciding how to handle it and hopefully get fair compensation as quickly as possible.
Some injured drivers never file a lawsuit. Instead, they take their claims to their insurance company. Since Massachusetts is a no-fault state, your own insurance policy should cover you no matter who is at fault for the accident. Even if a driver is at fault for the crash, their insurance should still cover them.
While many drivers find insurance helpful, it is a notoriously complicated and frustrating process. It is a good idea to have an experienced car accident lawyer by your side to help you present your claims to the insurance company and get you the compensation you deserve.
How Your Auto Accident Might Have Occurred in Leominster, MA
A major step in your car accident case is determining how your crash happened. Knowing the causational factors behind your accident will help us figure out who to hold responsible and where we can find evidence to build your case.
One of the biggest causes of car accidents today is distracted drivers. While it has always been important to keep your eyes on the road, there seem to be more distractions behind the wheel now than ever before. Many drivers are distracted by their phones or tablets, and texting and driving is a huge problem. Others might be distracted by GPS devices and other electronics in the vehicle.
Intoxicated drivers are another very dangerous problem on the road. When drivers have had too much to drink or have consumed intoxicating substances, they should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle. Reflexes and reaction times of intoxicated drivers may be significantly dulled, and they might be unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.
Even when drivers are not distracted and are perfectly sober, they might still choose to drive recklessly. High rates of speed can be very dangerous and have been known to cause accidents. The faster the vehicles are going when they crash, the worse the damage and injuries are likely to be.
How Car Insurance in Leominster, MA Might Impact Your Car Accident Case
Under Massachusetts’s no-fault insurance system, drivers are legally required to submit claims to their own insurance, and they are typically covered regardless of who is at fault for the collision. While many drivers are sufficiently covered under this system, many others are not.
If your insurance is not enough to cover all your damages, you might be able to sue the other driver under very specific circumstances. According to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 231 § 6D, you can file a lawsuit for a car accident under two possible conditions. First, you must show that your medical expenses from the accident are more than $2,000. Second and alternatively, you must show you suffered a serious injury.
What makes an injury serious can be a bit subjective, and the law has explained exactly what this means. A serious injury includes injuries that lead to the loss of body parts, impaired vision or hearing, death, serious disfigurement, or fractures.
Determining Fair Compensation for Your Damages After a Leominster, MA Car Crash
Every car accident is different. Your injuries and damages are unique to your situation, and you should speak to an attorney about evaluating your losses. When we begin preparing your case, we need to understand the extent of your damages so we know how much compensation to claim when we file the initial complaint.
A big part of your overall damages may stem from your personal and subjective experiences with the accident. Many accident survivors are haunted by their memories of the crash for a long time, and moving on is difficult. Others are deeply distressed by the extent of their injuries. If you are so badly hurt that you now have a permanent disability, you likely have to deal with a lot of emotional and mental turmoil as well as physical changes.
Your damages are also based on the actual money you spent because of the car accident. Medical bills from treating your injuries and the cost to repair damaged property may be way more than you can handle. You might also lose income from missing work because of your painful injuries.
For Legal Support, Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Leominster, MA
Call our car accident attorneys at (617) 925-6407 for a free case evaluation to start your case with our team at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.
