Massachusetts Traffic Accident Attorneys
If you have been injured in an accident, you will be trying to collect compensation from the insurance company. It will have a dedicated team of experienced attorneys whose only purpose is to stand between you and your money. You should be equally armed with skilled and experienced Massachusetts traffic accident lawyers who will fight hard for your interests. You must recover enough compensation to cover the existing and long-term costs of your injuries.
Massachusetts No-Fault Rules
Massachusetts is a no-fault accident state. That means that no matter who was at fault for the accident, you collect from the insurance carrier for the car you were driving or riding in. Pedestrians and bicyclists collect from the insurance carrier of the vehicle that hit them. Since you do not need to prove fault you can collect quickly, but the amount you can collect is very limited and you cannot recover compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. You can receive:
- Up to $2,000 in medical expenses if you have health insurance
- Up to $8,000 in medical expenses if you do not have health insurance
- 75% of your lost wages up to $8,000
You are barred from suing the other driver unless your medical expenses are more than $2,000 or your injuries include at least one of the following:
- Serious and permanent disfigurement
- Broken bone
- Loss of sight
- Loss of hearing
Damages
If you meet the threshold and are able to sue for your injuries, you can recover compensation for economic and noneconomic damages such as:
- Existing and future medical expenses
- Home health care
- Custodial care
- Long-term care
- Existing and future lost income
- Diminished earing capacity
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
No Seat Belt Cannot be Used Against You
One tactic the insurance companies like to use against you is to say that you cannot collect or that your damages will be reduced because you were not wearing a seat belt at the time of your accident. In some states that is true, but not in Massachusetts. Failure to wear your seatbelt has no bearing on your case. Massachusetts law prohibits using seat belt non-use against you in a civil suit.
If you have been injured in a Massachusetts traffic accident or lost a loved one in a fatal crash, please browse our directory of car accident lawyers to speak to one of the experienced Massachusetts traffic accident lawyers profiled on this website.