Boston Car Accident Lawyer
Have you or a loved one been injured in a car accident in Boston, MA? You may be entitled to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
An experienced Boston car accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP will fight to get the full amount you deserve.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch with our lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options for moving forward.
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How Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP Can Help If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident in Boston
Hiring a lawyer might be the last thing on your mind if you were seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident here in Boston, Massachusetts. However, your lawyer can make a world of difference in recovering the fair compensation you need to move on with your life. Insurance companies are supposed to provide compensation when you need it most.
Unfortunately, that money has to come out of their profits–and car insurance companies are very much motivated by profit. That means the auto insurance adjuster will often go to great lengths to deny, delay, or minimize the value of your payout. And they have the resources to succeed.
You need a Boston personal injury lawyer to even the playing field. When you choose Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, you’ll have over 100 years of combined legal experience in your corner.
That means a lawyer who will:
- Investigate to identify all responsible parties
- Stand up for your rights when the insurance company tries to blame you for getting hurt
- Handle the paperwork and administrative aspects of your personal injury case
- Hire experts and specialists who can convince the insurance company of what your injury claim is really worth
- Negotiate and advocate on your behalf so that you get every dollar you deserve
If you’re hurt and wondering where to turn for help in maximizing your settlement offer, look no further. Our legal team at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP is standing by to take your call.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Massachusetts?
There are more than 36,000 miles of road crisscrossing the state of Massachusetts. Roughly 5 million vehicles travel these roads every single day. Not everyone makes it to their destination safely.
Traffic accidents are incredibly common in the Commonwealth – and have been for years.
- 2012: 122,646
- 2013: 125,285
- 2014: 130,233
- 2015: 139,050
- 2016: 143,474
- 2017: 145,068
- 2018: 142,403
- 2019: 140,512
In just a few short years, the number of accidents in Massachusetts has increased significantly. Between 2019 and 2019, the state saw crashes rise by almost 15%.
On a given day in 2019, there were roughly 385 car accidents in the state every single day.
As the largest city in the Commonwealth, it’s no surprise that Boston and its suburbs are where many of these collisions take place. In the years spanning 2012-2019, there were a total of 34,956 collisions reported in the city of Boston, alone.
That’s about 4,370 collisions a year, or 12 a day, inside city limits.
Boston, MA Car Accident Statistics – December 2020 Update
With more than 3 licensed million drivers in the Boston area, it’s not surprising that the city has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. And, where there’s traffic, accidents tend to follow.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, there were a total of 2,965 traffic accidents in Boston. And, thanks to Covid, that does reflect a decline in the overall number of collisions in the city. However, what’s striking, is that car accident fatalities remained consistent.
Fatal crashes remained static between 2019 and 2020 (19 in each year) and actually increased from the number reported in 2018 (15).
Where Are Car Accidents Happening in Boston?
While auto accidents can unfold anywhere in the city of Boston, certain stretches of road and intersections are simply more dangerous than others.
Crash data from the Massachusetts DOT shows that these are where car accidents tend to happen in Boston:
- Morton Street & Harvard Street
- Gallivan Boulevard & Adams Street
- Gallivan Boulevard & Granite Avenue
- Massachusetts Avenue Connector & Frontage Road
- Gallivan Boulevard & Dorchester Avenue
- Morton Street & Gallivan Boulevard
- Riverway & Longwood Avenue
An investigation by NBC10 in Boston also found that Columbia Road at the Southeast Expressway and North Washington Street at Central Artery are also among the most dangerous crossroads in the city, simply due to the fact that a lot of accidents happen there.
What Types of Compensation Can Car Accident Victims in Boston Recover?
Personal injury victims in Boston are entitled to full compensation for past and future losses related to the injury. In the state of Massachusetts, these damages fall into one of two categories: economic or non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those awarded to make up for the financial costs, expenses, and losses you experience because of your accident.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial expenses, if a car accident is fatal
These are verifiable and quantifiable costs – often using invoices, bills, and/or receipts. Economic awards can compensate for both your present costs and whatever future expenses you’ll likely have.
Non-Economic Damages
Some consequences of a car wreck don’t have direct or specific costs. Some consequences are so intimate and personal that the true cost really varies from one victim to the next. Non-economic damages are awarded to account for these subjective injuries.
Examples include:
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- PTSD
Don’t let the insurance company decide how much you deserve. At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we have the resources to hire respected experts who can make sure your injury claim is fairly valued. Remember, it’s the insurance adjuster’s job to get you to settle for less. Call our firm today to speak with a lawyer who has the skills to protect your best interests at the negotiating table.
How Could Massachusetts Laws on Shared Fault Impact My Right to Damages?
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence law. That means accident victims can only recover compensation if they were less than 51% to blame for the crash. If you were 51% or more “at fault” for causing the accident, you’re prohibited from recovering any compensation from the other at-fault parties.
If you do share some – but not most – of the blame, your damages will be reduced accordingly. For instance, imagine that your damages from a crash in Boston total $100,000. You’re also allocated 30% of the blame for the accident. Under the state’s contributory fault rules, you’ll be able to recover a maximum of $70,000. Why? Your total compensation ($100,000) is reduced in direct proportion to your share of the blame (30%).
There are very few exceptions to the rule. Because of the shared fault rules in Massachusetts, it’s particularly important to speak with an attorney right away. You can expect the insurance company to do everything possible to shift the blame to you.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, our personal injury attorneys know how to fight back. We’ll conduct a detailed investigation to find the proof you need to move forward with your injury claim. If you’re interested in learning more, call our law offices for a free case review as soon as you can.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Accidents in Eastern Massachusetts??
Any number of factors can come together to cause a car accident. In fact, multiple factors might lead to the same car accident.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Boston include:
- Excessive speeds
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe passing
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Defects in the vehicle
- Aggressive driving
- Poorly marked roads and construction zones
- Road hazards
You might not know what caused your car wreck. In fact, this is fairly common. After all, an accident can happen in the blink of an eye–and don’t count on the other driver to admit fault.
With over 100 years of combined experience, our attorneys at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP can help you get to the bottom of what happened.
Get in touch with our law firm by calling or filling out our online contact form today. Your first consultation is always completely free of charge.
We Help Clients Get Fair Compensation For All Car Accident Injuries
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, our lawyers have experience representing car accident victims who have suffered:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Whiplash injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Chest injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash in Boston or nearby areas in Suffolk County, call our car accident attorneys today. We can arrange a virtual consultation or travel to you to talk about your options for recovering fair compensation to help get your life back on track.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims in Boston
Any type of auto accident can have serious consequences. The type of accident in which you’re involved can ultimately impact your pursuit of compensation. It’s important to work with an attorney who has a lot of experience representing clients who have been injured in different types of wrecks.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we help clients who have been injured in:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe crashes
- DUI accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Fatal car accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured motorists
- Highway accidents
- Single-vehicle crashes
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Accidents involving bicycles or pedestrians
Regardless of how you were hurt, our team is here to help. We’ve devoted our careers to helping injured clients across Boston. All you have to do is call to find out what we can do for you.
Who Is Responsible For Paying Damages After a Boston Car Wreck?
Massachusetts is a no-fault insurance state. That means you’ll typically begin by filing a claim with your own insurance company.
However, you’re entitled to sue the at-fault driver for compensation if you either:
- Sustained a permanent or serious injury, or
- Had at least $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses
If you satisfy either of these requirements, you can pursue a lawsuit against anyone who played a role in your car crash.
That might include:
- The at-fault driver
- Truck drivers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Employers of a negligent driver
- The city authorities responsible for road repairs or maintenance
- A company that manufactured a defective product
Our team at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP will put in the work needed to identify every responsible party. That greatly increases the odds of recovering the maximum available compensation for your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Suffolk County, MA?
Massachusetts personal injury law gives accident victims three years to file a lawsuit for damages. This time limit is called the statute of limitations.
There isn’t much flexibility in this rule–once three years have passed, you’ll lose your right to recover compensation, even if you were seriously hurt.
In fact, you might even have less time to sue for damages. For example, if your claim involves the city of Boston itself, you’re required to provide notice of your intent to pursue damages within 30 days of the accident.
It’s never too early to get started with your claim. In fact, our investigation is often much more successful if we get started right away. If you have questions about the deadline for filing a lawsuit, don’t hesitate to call our attorneys for answers.
What Should I Do After I’m Involved in a Collision in Boston?
It’s understandable that you might be a bit shaken up after you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving in or around Boston. However, it’s essential that you keep in mind that the things you do and the decisions you make in these moments are important. They could have a sizable impact on your health, as well as the strength and value of any injury claims you decide to pursue.
Following, a traffic accident in Boston:
- Stay at the Scene: It can be a crime to leave the scene of an accident in Massachusetts. Remain at or near the scene, but move to the side of the road, if possible.
- Determine if Emergency Medical Attention is Required: Check to see if other accident victims need medical attention. If so, request an ambulance when you report the crash.
- Report the Accident: Call the police and report the crash
- Exchange Information: Exchange basic information and insurance details with others involved in the wreck
- Don’t Apologize or Admit Fault: You might think the crash is your fault or just feel the need to apologize. Resist the urge to act on those feelings. Admitting fault now could derail your injury case before it has a chance to get off the ground. Definitely don’t say those things in a recorded statement for an insurance company.
- Be Hesitant to Accept Early Settlement Offers: Insurance companies might reach out with an offer to settle your claim not long after your accident. While getting cash in your hands now might be attractive, accepting a check could do a lot of damage in the long run. You’ll likely be barred from seeking additional compensation, which means that you’ll be stuck with the lowball payout the insurer pressured you to take.
- Direct Communication to Your Lawyer: Let an experienced attorney handle your conversations with insurance companies and other parties. You focus on getting better. Leave the fight for compensation up to your trusted attorney.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we know that accidents are anything but convenient. That’s why our team is always standing by to take your call – 24/7/365. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Boston, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and contact us immediately. The sooner you call and get us in your corner, the sooner we can get to work on fighting for the money you deserve.
Call Our Experienced Boston Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
Money is no guarantee that you’ll fully recover from your physical injuries. It can give you the financial security needed to get the best possible treatment and move on with your life.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash, call a Boston car accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP for a free consultation today. We have the experience you need to get the full and fair compensation your family deserves.