Boston Car Accident Lawyer

Hiring a car accident 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.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident in Boston, MA, You may be entitled to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, suffering, and more. Get in touch with an experienced Boston car accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP at (617) 391-9001 to schedule a free consultation, or fill out our contact form.

Our experienced car accident attorneys will fight to get the full amount you deserve. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options for moving forward with your case.

How Our Car Accident Lawyers Can Help If You’ve Been Injured In a Car Accident In Boston

After a car accident, not only are you dealing with inconvenience from your car being damaged or totaled, pain from injuries, and lost wages from missing work, but you may also have bills adding up from all of these difficulties you’ve faced. Insurance companies are supposed to provide compensation to help with situations like these 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. Often, they have the resources to succeed.

You need a Boston car accident 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 2020, 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, Massachusetts Car Accident Statistics Update for 2021

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, there were 2,870 vehicle accidents in the city of Boston as of early October 2021. Of those, 708 crashes have caused injuries. There have been 19 fatal accidents so far in 2021—already matching the number of fatalities in all of 2020.

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. They are 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 Boston car accident 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.

How Will a Car Accident Impact My Auto Insurance?

No matter how safe of a driver you may be, a car accident can happen to anyone when they least expect it. Being involved in a car accident can leave victims feeling lost as they assess the damages they have suffered due to another person acting carelessly. After the accident, you may be concerned about how this incident could affect your car insurance. Depending on the type of accident you were involved in and how much liability you hold for the crash, you may see different impacts on your auto insurance.

Chargeable Accidents

If you were involved in a chargeable accident, you will generally see an increase in your auto insurance rate. Chargeable accidents usually mean that you were found to be more than fifty percent liable for the crash which resulted in:

Property damage
Bodily injury or death

Chargeable accidents can also be defined based on the dollar amount in damages. For example, if the other party suffered more than $500 in bodily harm, this may be considered a chargeable accident.

Non-Chargeable Accidents

Not all accidents will cause an increase in your insurance rate. An example of car accidents that are not considered to be chargeable are:

Your vehicle was legally parked when it was damaged
Your car was rear-ended by another vehicle and you were not convicted of a moving traffic violation in relation to the accident
You were struck in a hit-and-run accident
The other party involved was convicted of a moving traffic violation associated with the accident, but you were not convicted of a moving traffic violation
The accident occurred as a result of a collision with an animal
The damage to your vehicle was caused by falling objects or flying gravel or missile-like objects
The car crash occurred when you were responding to an emergency and you are a volunteer or paid member of the fire department, first aid squad, or law enforcement agency
You were reimbursed by the driver or party that caused the damage
Your car insurance company was able to recover 80% or more of your collision insurance claim through subrogation, which means they were able collect compensation from the other party’s car insurance provider
There is a court judgment for the accident against the party that caused the damage
Accidents where claim payments are made under the personal injury protection coverage and no payments are made under liability or collision insurance

Prevent an Auto Insurance Rate Increase

You can prevent any impact on your auto insurance by providing proof that you were not at fault for the accident. This proof may include:

The police report from the day of the accident
A statement from the other driver’s insurance provider accepting liability
A statement from witnesses who saw the accident occur
A statement from the at-fault driver accepting fault
A legal document proving that you were reimbursed for any losses you suffered as a result of the accident

To avoid having a car accident negatively impact your auto insurance, our Boston car accident lawyers may be able to help.

What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage?

After being involved in a car accident with another driver, one of the first steps you take is to get the insurance information from the other driver involved. However, you may be left wondering what your next steps should be if you have been involved in a crash with a driver who does not have any car insurance or is underinsured. In some cases, the other driver may even drive off before you get the chance to take down their insurance information.

Because of possible scenarios like these, it is extremely important that you know what uninsured and underinsured coverage is. If you are in a situation with an irresponsible driver, carrying this type of coverage can financially protect you and help you cover the costs of the losses you may have suffered as a result.

How Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motor Coverage Work?

After you have been injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you will generally speak with a car accident lawyer who can help you file a car accident claim with the other driver’s insurance. Through this claim, you can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

If the driver only carries minimum liability insurance they may not have enough coverage to pay as much as you are owed in compensation. Additionally, if they are uninsured, you may be thinking that you will receive no compensation at all. However, when you carry uninsured and underinsured motor coverage, you will have your own coverage to help you pay off the cost of any losses not covered by the at-fault party.

What Is the Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motor Insurance?

If you are considering getting underinsured insurance, uninsured insurance, or both, it is crucial that you understand what each covers and how that coverage could be beneficial to you.

Uninsured motorist insurance: This insurance protects you if you are involved in an accident with a negligent driver who doesn’t carry liability insurance
Underinsured motorist coverage: This type of motor insurance steps in when the at-fault driver has liability coverage limits that are too low to cover the costs of the losses you have suffered as a result of their negligence. Generally, the at-fault party will cover the cost of your damages up to the limit of their policy and the underinsured motorist coverage will come in to cover the rest of any other costs like medical bills.

Being involved in an accident is already traumatic. However, when you are in an accident with a negligent party who is unable to pay you the compensation you are owed, you may be feeling helpless and unsure if you will get the justice you deserve.

If you are unsure of what your next steps should be after being involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Boston, it is important that you contact a trusted car accident lawyer as soon as possible. At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we are passionate about helping you fight for fair compensation as you recover from the physical and emotional injuries you have sustained as a result of another person’s carelessness.

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 car accident 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 contact form today. Your first consultation is always completely free of charge.

How Is Liability Established After a Boston, Massachusetts Car Accident?

Anytime that you get behind the wheel of your car, you run the risk of being involved in an accident. Whether you were involved in a T-bone accident, rear-end collision, or a side swipe accident, you may have suffered extensive injuries and losses as a result. Regardless of whether your accident was minor or more severe, someone will always be held liable for the accident occurring in the first place. In some cases, it can be clear who is at-fault for an accident. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes, liability is muddled and requires the help of a Boston car accident lawyer to help you determine if you hold some or any of the liability for the accident.

How Liability Is Determined in Massachusetts

Even if you walk away from an accident with injuries, it is not as easy as you may think to prove that the other driver should be held liable for the accident. Massachusetts is a no-fault state. This means that when filing your claim, you will be receiving certain benefits and compensation from your own insurance provider. While you will not initially pursue damages from the other party’s insurance provider, that does not mean that it is not possible if they are found to be at fault for the accident. If fault is found to be with the other driver, you can file a claim through your insurance provider, but you must provide proof. The proof you may provide could include:

Witness statements from the accident scene
The official police report from the day of the accident
A written statement from the other driver accepting fault
Photos and videos of the accident scene, property damage, and any visible injuries

State law allows anyone to pursue non-monetary damages like pain and suffering by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party if the losses they have suffered exceed $2,000. During the investigation, if it is discovered that either party was acting negligently, thus causing the accident, it may be determined that one of the drivers hold more than fifty percent liability for the accident.

Requirements a Party Must Meet to Be Considered At Fault

When determining who is liable for a car accident in Massachusetts, the at-fault driver must meet the following requirements:

Under Massachusetts Standards of Fault, the other driver is determined to be more than fifty percent at fault for the accident
The intended use of the driver’s vehicle is for private passengers
The damage suffered is more than $500 in excess of any insurance deductible
The claim is for collision, bodily injury to others, limited collision, or damage to property

Depending on the type of insurance coverage you have and your driving record, if you are at-fault for a car accident you may receive negative points and an increase to your insurance rate as a result. That is why it is crucial that you work with our trusted Boston car accident lawyers who can help prove the fault of the other party while building a strong claim.

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 a car accident 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
Unlicensed driver car 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
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, Massachusetts?

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 am 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.

Get Help From Our Experienced Boston Car Accident Lawyers Today

Money is no guarantee that you’ll fully recover from your physical injuries. However, it can give you the financial security needed to get the best possible treatment and move on with your life.

Our trusted legal team is led by our experienced co-managing partners, J. Tucker Merrigan and Peter M. Merrigan. J. Tucker Merrigan has been a co-managing partner of the firm for over a decade. He has been recognized for his work in the Massachusetts legal system with awards that include: Under 40, National Trial Lawyers; 2020-2021 Lawyer.com Top Attorney Award. Our other co-managing partner, Peter M. Merrigan, has been recognized for his work helping the communities of Boston: 2018 Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers; and 2021 Massachusetts “Super Lawyer.”

If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash, reach out to a car accident attorney at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP for a free consultation. We have the experience you need to get the full and fair compensation your family deserves. You can call us at (617) 391-9001 or fill out our contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make a Claim if the At-Fault Driver Left the Scene?

If the at-fault driver left the scene and you are unable to identify the driver, you can make a claim with your own automobile insurance for uninsured motorist benefits. These benefits provide compensation in situations where you are unable to identify the at-fault party, or where the at-fault party does not have automobile insurance. You will, however, need to provide evidence to show that another vehicle was at fault for the crash.

What Should I Do if a Defective Part in My Car Caused My Accident?

When dealing with any defective product in a legal case, the most important first step is preserving the product so that it can be inspected. Too often we come across cases we believe would be strong cases to pursue, but the product is nowhere to be found; it was thrown out in the mechanic’s garage, lost when someone needs medical care, or trashed because that’s our first response when things go wrong. The problem is, without this product, the manufacturers can make all sorts of defenses blaming everything but the widget that serves as a backbone to their business’ bottom line.

Can I Recover Compensation if I Was a Passenger in a Car Crash?

Yes. Passengers may still recover compensation through the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance.

Who Will Pay For My Medical Bills Following the Accident?

Massachusetts is a no-fault state, meaning that your own automobile insurance will pay up to the first $8,000 in medical bills regardless of fault. This coverage is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, and is part of every Massachusetts automobile policy for motor vehicles. Once your PIP coverage is exhausted, your medical bills will be resubmitted to your health insurance for payment. However, if you were injured while operating or riding a motorcycle, your automobile insurance will not have PIP coverage. Depending on your motorcycle insurance policy, you may have MedPay benefits. This is another form of no-fault coverage which will pay medical bills arising from your crash.

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Highly rated Auto Repair Shops in Boston, MA

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