We can be there for you right after an accident, ready to preserve evidence, tally damages, and prove fault. We will stress the importance of seeking medical attention immediately and throughout the lawsuit, ensuring you have accurate medical evidence proving your injuries.
The sooner we start identifying your damages, the more accurate our tally may be. Victims might misplace some medical bills or other proof of damages, which we can keep organized. Victims may prove their pain and suffering from a personal injury when they testify in court, which we will prepare them for. We will also ensure you do not miss the statute of limitations for your case, which would, unfortunately, block you from getting damages.
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review from our personal injury lawyers.
What Should I Do Right After Sustaining an Injury?
If you are at all injured in an accident, get medical attention. Going to an urgent care facility may be sufficient for a fracture, while the emergency room may be necessary for a head or back injury.
You can call the police if you need help processing the scene, gathering information, or even taking photos. You can tell the 911 operator if you are injured, and they can send an ambulance along with the police.
If paramedics suggest you go to the hospital, take their advice. If you are hurt in a slip and fall, car crash, or other accident, take pictures before you leave. Try to document any property damage or anything that indicates an accident’s cause or identifies involved parties.
Call us soon after you suffer an injury due to another person’s negligence. The quicker we start working on your case, the faster we can file it, and the sooner you may get compensation.
What is the Most Compensation I Can Get from My Sharon Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Your compensation should reflect your losses due to negligence. We can identify all compensable damages, get proof of them, and assert your right to recover them during your lawsuit.
Massachusetts does not cap damages in regular personal injury lawsuits, but it does in medical malpractice claims. In these lawsuits, plaintiffs may only get up to $500,000 in non-economic damages, with some exceptions. Economic damages are not capped.
To get the most compensation possible, let us keep proof of your damages. We need medical bills to prove hospital expenses, financial records to prove lost wages, and documentation of other out-of-pocket expenses.
Compensation is not guaranteed, and you may have to go to trial to get enough from a lawsuit. Settlements are not always fair, and we will stop you from signing a bad agreement that leaves too many damages uncompensated.
Massachusetts restricts when plaintiffs may get punitive damages, which punish defendants for their egregious misconduct. You may get punitive damages in a wrongful death lawsuit or medical malpractice claim, but not a normal personal injury case.
How Can I Prove My Pain and Suffering from a Personal Injury in Sharon?
Proving your pain and suffering requires different tactics than proving economic damages. We cannot prove non-economic damages with bills, but we can prove them with testimony.
You understand your pain and suffering better than anyone else. So, if your injury lawsuit goes to court, you may testify to prove your pain and suffering.
When lawsuits do not go to trial, victims may discuss their pain and suffering during depositions. If the defense “deposes” you, they get to ask you questions during the lawsuit’s discovery phase. Since the goal is to better prepare for the trial, the defense may ask you general questions about your injury, recovery progress, and total damages. During a deposition, you may explain your non-economic damages if asked. Rather than risking your testimony yielding a very large jury award, the defense may offer a sizeable out-of-court settlement.
Journals detailing daily difficulties after an accident and testimony from mental health professionals who have evaluated and diagnosed you are also strong evidence of non-economic damages.
What if I Miss the Statute of Limitations for My Injury Lawsuit?
Missing the statute of limitations for your injury lawsuit means you cannot get compensation. We can determine your filing deadline based on the accident’s date and circumstances and make sure to follow it.
Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, barring some exceptions. There are exceptions for victims injured as minors, for whom the statute of limitations does not start to run until they turn 18, according to § 7.
There is also an exception for delayed discovery, meaning you did not realize your injuries immediately. Massachusetts provides several more exceptions to the statute of limitations, and we can see if any apply to your lawsuit, especially if it has been close to three years since your injury.
Do not rely on possible exceptions before speaking with our lawyers, as you might mistakenly miss the right filing deadline.
The statute of limitations only dictates when you must file your lawsuit, not how long the case can take once filed.
How Long Will My Personal Injury Lawsuit Take in Sharon?
From the get-go, we can gauge how long your case may take, keeping you updated throughout on any changes that threaten to extend it.
Some lawsuits take a few short weeks; others take months or years. Your desire to settle affects how long the case takes, as does the defendant’s willingness. While settling can yield a faster recovery, so might a trial, which may only take a few days. More convoluted lawsuits may take longer, and we can estimate their length based on their complexity.
Call Us in Sharon for Help with Your Lawsuit
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case assessment from our personal injury lawyers.