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Worcester Car Accident Lawyer

Have you or a loved one been injured in a car crash in Worcester, MA? You may be entitled to compensation for the damages you suffered, including your pain and suffering and medical bills. A Worcester car accident lawyer can help you protect your rights and pursue the compensation you need from the responsible party.

Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP has represented accident victims in Worcester County, Massachusetts, for more than a decade. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer to discuss how we can help you.

How Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP Can Help You After a Car Accident in Worcester, MA

After a life-changing car accident, you should not have to fight with a profit-driven insurance company for fair compensation. At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we put our years of legal experience to work for you. We will fight the insurance company on your behalf to pursue fair compensation and fight its attempts to shift blame or undervalue your claim.

Our Worcester personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience, and we have been named among the Most Powerful Attorneys by Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly. 

Hire Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP to represent you in your car accident case in Worcester, Massachusetts, and we will:

  • Offer insightful legal advice and guidance through an attorney-client relationship built on trust
  • Carefully investigate your accident to gather evidence supporting causation
  • Explore all avenues to recover compensation
  • Work with specialists for expert testimony to prove causation, fault, damages, and how your injuries will affect you in the future
  • Fight attempts to shift blame or minimize your injuries
  • Negotiate for a fair settlement with the insurance company

Our award-winning trial lawyers are not afraid to take your case before a jury if the insurance company will not treat you fairly. Contact our elite trial lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you.

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How Common Are Car Accidents in Worcester, MA?

car crash

Worcester may be the second-largest city in New England, but it ranks much higher in terms of accidents. The “Heart of the Commonwealth” consistently has one of the country’s highest car accident rates, taking the number 1 spot in 2014. Worcester drivers are estimated to have a collision every 4.3 years

To put that into perspective, the city with the lowest accident rate that year was Ft. Collins, CO, with an average of 14.2 years between accidents for residents. However, things are improving with Boston, Washington, and Baltimore pushing Worcester into 4th place in 2019.

In 2019, the city of Worcester had 5,234 traffic accidents. 

These accidents included the following:

  • 91 crashes with serious injuries
  • 441 crashes with minor injuries
  • 649 accidents with possible injuries
  • 8 fatal auto accidents
  • 141 pedestrian accidents
  • 701 accidents involving a young driver
  • 713 accidents involving an older driver
  • 57 motorcycle accident cases

According to MassDOT, there are 4,690 traffic accidents reported to police every year on average in Worcester. There were 4,646 reported crashes in 2019 which declined dramatically to 3,184 in 2020, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

Case Worth

Numerous factors will determine how much your personal injury case is worth. A thorough and in-depth assessment will always be necessary to understand the circumstances of your accident and the financial losses or injuries you’ve sustained.

During your free consultation with a Worcester car accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we’ll help you understand what your case may be worth. We’ll take into account the severity of any injuries you’ve sustained, whether you suffered disfigurement or impairment, and how the collision will impact your life going forward.

It’s worth remembering that the value of your claim can be limited depending on the strength of your negligence case and available insurance coverage. Contact our law office today to discuss your case and find out how much you could be owed.

What Kind of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims in Worcester, MA?

Massachusetts is a no-fault state. Your case will generally begin with a claim against your own insurance policy. 

You may seek additional compensation from the at-fault party if:

  • You suffered at least $2,000 in reasonable medical bills, or
  • You sustained a permanent or serious injury

If you meet either requirement, you can seek economic and non-economic damages from anyone who caused or contributed to your crash.

Economic damages compensate you for financial losses you suffered, such as:

  • Current medical bills
  • Future reasonable medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced or lost earning capacity

Non-economic damages compensate for non-financial losses, including:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement or scarring
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Do not allow an insurance company to undervalue your claim or minimize your damages. Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP will help you accurately value your damages and fight for fair compensation.

Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in Massachusetts?

Medical bills

Massachusetts uses a comparative negligence law to assign liability in accidents involving shared fault. Specifically, Massachusetts uses a 51% bar for comparative negligence. This means the judge or jury will consider all presented evidence and then place a percentage of the blame on each party. As long as you are assigned less than 51% fault, you can recover damages.

However, the amount you recover is adjusted depending on your share of blame. This is why it is crucial to seek experienced legal counsel if you are being blamed for your crash. Insurance companies use this negligence rule to their benefit to shift as much blame as they can onto you.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Car Accident Injuries

recover compensation

At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, our Worcester car accident lawyers know exactly how enormous an impact a car accident can have on your life. We make it our mission to ensure each and every one of our clients receives the compensation they deserve.

We represent car accident victims who have suffered all types of crash injuries, such as:

Get in touch today for a free consultation. We will do everything in our power to fight for the fair compensation you deserve for your pain, medical bills, and other losses.

What Causes Most Car Accidents in Worcester, Massachusetts?

Thanks to its location in the heart of Massachusetts, Worcester sees heavier than average levels of traffic from both locals and visitors. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94-96% of all car accidents are caused by human error. 

Some of the most common critical reasons for car crashes in Worcester include:

  • Aggressive driving
  • Distracted driving such as texting while driving 
  • Improper lane change or usage
  • Fatigued driving
  • Reckless driving
  • Speeding
  • Drugged or drunk driving
  • Following too closely
  • Running a stop sign or red light

In 2019, MassDOT reported over 3,200 crashes caused by electronic devices and texting alone in Massachusetts. Other activities like eating while driving caused 4,800 crashes.

Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP represents clients injured in all types of motor vehicle collisions, including:

We’ve seen almost every type of accident imaginable. So, you can count on us to pursue maximum compensation for your damages no matter where or how your accident occurred.

Where Do Accidents Happen in Worcester?

Several intersections account for a large share of crashes in Worcester, including:

  • Southbridge St & Hammond St
  • Chandler St & Mason St
  • I-290
  • Park Ave & Pleasant St
  • Canterbury St & Gardner St
  • Park Ave & May St
  • Main St & Mill St

Whenever an accident has occurred, it’s vital to call Worcester Police right away to investigate and issue a police report. This will eventually become important evidence when putting together your car accident case.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident in Massachusetts?

When it comes to proving negligence after a car accident in Massachusetts, there are four key factors you must show:

  • The defendant owed a duty of care. As a motorist, this means that they were required to take reasonable caution and adhere to traffic laws to ensure the safety of others.
  • The defendant breached that duty of care to you.
  • By breaching their duty of care, they caused the collision.
  • You suffered damages—whether physical or financial —as a result of the breach of duty.

Your Worcester car accident lawyer will investigate your claim thoroughly and put together the strongest possible negligence case to prove the defendant failed in their duty of care. 

Some of the evidence we will gather, assess, and use may include:

  • Accident-related arrests and citations
  • Any cell phone, traffic camera, surveillance, or dashcam photos or videos of the scene of the accident
  • Any evidence related to truck collisions, including company records and policies, maintenance logs, black box data, and driver logs
  • Cell phone records (if the defendant is suspected of being on the phone at the time of the collision)
  • Medical records
  • Police reports
  • Witness statements
  • Expert testimony from specialists like accident reconstruction experts

At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we will not rest until we have investigated every possible avenue of your accident. We’ll work quickly to identify all parties who could be liable and build the best negligence case based on available evidence.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Massachusetts?

File a Lawsuit

Massachusetts has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. This same deadline applies to wrongful death claims resulting from car accidents. You must file your suit within three years of your accident or lose your right to compensation. 

In some limited circumstances, this statute of limitations may be longer or shorter. For instance, claims against city or state government agencies have a shorter deadline.

For the best possible chances of compensation, it’s vital that you contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. This will ensure that all necessary evidence is properly preserved.

Contact a Worcester Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

The last thing anyone needs after a major car accident is to struggle with insurance companies. Put your trust in Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP to do all the hard legal work for you so you can focus on healing. Our team of experienced personal injury lawyers is here to fight for you and seek the full compensation you deserve.

Call our law office for a free consultation with a Worcester car accident lawyer today. We work on a contingency fee basis; you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you.

Award-Winning Legal Team

Attorneys at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP have been recognized and honored by several of the top legal associations, including SuperLawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, and Best Lawyers.

Over $500 Million Recovered

Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP is a highly successful personal injury law firm serving Massachusetts since 2011.

No Fee Until You Win

There are no fees or costs unless we win your case!

Meet the Personal Injury Attorneys at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP