Auto accidents happen all over Boston and are caused by a variety of circumstances. Simply getting into a car is one of the most dangerous actions we take every day. If someone else caused a car crash that injured you or a loved one, reach out to a Boston car accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, to protect your legal rights.
Insurance industry experts estimate that the average motor vehicle driver will be involved in an auto accident once every 17.9 years. There are an average of 6 million car accidents in the United States each year. Preliminary estimates recently released by the National Safety Council (NSC) showed that in 2021, an estimated 46,020 people lost their lives in car crashes. In the Boston area, there were 4,367 crashes involving nonfatal injuries in one recent year. This amounts to an average of 12 car accidents every day.
After an auto accident in Boston, you can trust the dedicated, experienced Boston auto accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group to guide you through the legal processes, negotiations, and more. We promise to work zealously to protect your rights and recover the compensation you need.
Why You Need a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
Some motor vehicle collision injuries are minor, while others prove catastrophic or even fatal. At first, it may be difficult to determine the long-term consequences of an accident, both personal and financial. Specifically, the financial implications of a serious accident can be shocking. The cost of medical care, loss of income, and unpaid bills due to an injury can quickly add up, especially if you cannot work for weeks or months or perhaps ever again.
Knowing who to turn to when you need professional legal assistance can make the difference between living with overwhelming losses and receiving the compensation you deserve.
Why You Should Choose Dolman Law Group as Your Boston Car Accident Lawyers
At Dolman Law Group, we strive to stand out among the crowd by offering top-tier legal services to each client we represent. Below are some facts that set our firm and Boston car accident lawyers apart from other law firms:
- Our car accident attorneys have a combined 115+ years of experience handling a wide array of car accident claims.
- We have handled over 10,000 car accident and injury cases.
- We have recovered over $175 million for our clients.
- We are an award-winning personal injury law firm.
- Four of our car accident attorneys have been previously selected by their colleagues as Super Lawyers.
- Dolman Law Group has resolved twelve individual cases for over $1 million.
In addition, we offer our services on a contingency fee basis. This type of fee arrangement takes the financial burden of seeking damages off you and places it on our firm. We cover the costs to handle your case and take payment only when we deliver a successful court verdict or settlement.
Hear What Our Previous Clients Think
Our commitment to providing compassionate, comprehensive legal services shines through in the testimonials past clients have offered. For insight into what it’s like to have us represent you, consider some of our recent Google reviews:
- “They helped me with my car accident claim. I worked with a gentleman named Larry who was one of the attorneys there. He did an outstanding job and I am happy I decided to choose this firm to represent me.” — Marcia Renaldo
- “Larry represented me and did a stellar job to say the least. I was very impressed with this ability to effectively communicate with the insurance company (who was very difficult to work with) and just a few days ago I got word that my case was finally about to settle for a number I am very happy with!” — Barry Hayes
- “I had a car accident and called this firm. Out of the four other firms I called, this firm is actually the one I was able to speak with the quickest. I liked this because from the beginning after my accident occurred, I could tell that they were going to work hard and cared about their clients beyond the monetary incentives.” — William Lahutski
Consider Our Track Record of Substantial Client Compensation Awards
The amount of compensation available to accident victims depends on a variety of circumstances, including injury severity, financial losses, and ability to recover. While there is no guaranteed settlement or court award amount, considering the results of our past cases can give you a sense of what we can do with the right evidence. Some of our recent car accident case results include:
- $1.58 million for a herniated disc injury
- $6.7 million jury verdict
- $5 million for burn injuries
- $3.85 million for a brain injury
To estimate the compensation you could recover for car accident injuries, our team will need to review the specific details of the collision and its aftermath. We are ready to evaluate your case for free today.
Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers Advocate for Our Community
Every greater Boston resident or visitor deserves an advocate when they sustain a physical injury through the negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation. We are a law firm with the financial resources to take on any corporate defendant. We have successfully litigated lawsuits against Walt Disney World, Walmart, Target, Publix Supermarkets, Amazon, and practically every conceivable auto insurance carrier.
Larry Nussbaum heads the Boston office of Dolman Law Group. This means he has access to all our financial resources and our entire team’s experience gained during more than 10,000 personal injury claims since the firm’s inception.
Our Mission: Never Leave Money on the Table
We pride ourselves on maximizing the value of every personal injury case we handle. We focus our practice primarily on vehicle collision injuries and finding all available insurance coverage. In Boston car accidents, several types of insurance may provide coverage for your losses, including bodily injury coverage, no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policies, and general insurance carried by the at-fault driver that may apply to your situation. Also, we may discover uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that can cover your financial damages if the other driver either lacked insurance coverage or their coverage is insufficient to pay for your losses.
Insurance companies are well aware of which attorneys and law firms have a reputation for filing lawsuits when an insurance company makes a settlement offer that is unreasonable and not fair considering the genuine value of the claim. All auto insurance carriers keep data on each injury law firm they have dealt with and whether the firm or individual lawyer settled the case under the full value or fought for more.
Dolman Law Group is different. We are not a settlement mill or a mass advertiser that must cover a very large overhead. Thus, the only pressure we face to resolve a claim comes from our clients. We always inform our clients about any settlement offer and provide quality legal advice about their best interests. We are a successful car accident and catastrophic personal injury law firm that puts our clients first. See our clients’ success stories to learn how our personal injury lawyers can recover substantial settlements or jury verdicts on behalf of our deserving clients.
You Need a Boston Auto Collision Attorney Who Understands How to Prove a Car Accident Case
A study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study reported that “driver error” caused 94 percent of crashes. The commonly accepted definition of negligence is “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.”
If negligence is the basis of your claim or lawsuit, we must establish that the defendant (the at-fault driver) had a legal duty to protect you, the defendant breached that duty, you suffered an injury, and the defendant’s breach caused your injuries.
Statute of Limitations That Applies to Boston Car Wrecks
Knowing when to hire a car accident lawyer is an important first step to making sure you don’t miss essential legal deadlines. For example, the statute of limitations determines the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an accident. It’s like an expiration date controlling when you can officially file a civil complaint.
The Massachusetts statute of limitations begins on the date of the car wreck and ends when you are no longer able to file a lawsuit based on that crash. Thus, once the statute of limitations expires, you will be barred from pursuing your potential case. For most personal injury cases in Massachusetts, the statute of limitations is three (3) years. This means you have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit.
Although Boston’s statutes of limitations are fixed, there are some exceptions and unique circumstances. A knowledgeable Boston car accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group can help you understand how the statute applies to your specific case.
Time Limits for Reporting the Accident to Your Insurer
Car insurance companies have their own rules for filing claims, so an insurance carrier may also have a deadline of their own that applies to your policy. This is part of the contract you signed with your insurance company, which stated how long you have to notify them about any accidents.
Typically, insurance companies require you to file a claim within a ‘reasonable’ amount of time after an accident. However, you should discuss all time limits with your auto collision attorney as early as possible to avoid missing any important deadlines.
Common Causes of Boston Car Accidents
Several factors may contribute to car accidents in Boston, including:
- The average Boston commuter will experience 64 hours of delay annually due to traffic and congested roads.
- Boston has more young drivers than the national average.
- About 42% of Suffolk County roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
- Distracted driving smartphone ownership has increased by more than 175% in the past seven years.
- Summer visitors are unfamiliar with the roads.
Since unsafe driving can happen anywhere, our Boston car collision lawyers are familiar with the common causes of crashes which include:
- Speeding – According to the NHTSA, speed is a primary factor in accidents in the United States. In one recent year, speeding killed 9,717 people, accounting for more than a quarter (26 percent) of all traffic fatalities that year. Some crashes result from breaking the speed limit while other drivers may be going too fast for conditions.
- Distracted driving – Approximately 20 percent of traffic accidents each year are related to texting and driving or other in-vehicle distractions. Whether you are eating, adjusting the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system, or doing anything that diverts your attention from driving, you are taking a huge risk. Texting is especially risky. A driver who is texting is 23 times as likely to crash.
- Driving while impaired – Alcohol is a major factor in traffic accidents. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), there was an alcohol-impaired traffic fatality every 48 minutes in one recent year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30 people die on a typical day in accidents caused by drunk drivers. Massachusetts has strict laws and penalties governing impaired driving.
- Tailgating and aggressive driving – There are many aggressive drivers on the roads. They follow too closely, swerve in and out of lanes, cut off other cars, or drive recklessly. NHTSA found that more than half of the drivers in a survey admitted to driving aggressively.
- Failure to yield – These accidents happen in many types of situations, such as when a driver making a left turn fails to yield to oncoming traffic, a flashing yellow or red light, or a driver is entering the street from a private driveway. Often the injury victim drove into the car that failed to yield.
- Drowsy driving – Everyone is under pressure to work harder and do more in a day, so driver fatigue is no surprise. Per NHTSA data, approximately 7.5 million drivers in the United States admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel within the past month. A fatigued driver may experience the same level of cognitive impairment as someone impaired by drinking or drugs. Fatigued drivers often do not try to stop or avoid the accident, leading to more serious injuries.
- Vehicle defects – If a defective vehicle or component caused the accident, the manufacturer and others in the chain of distribution might be legally liable.
Upon investigating and reviewing the case evidence, our car accident lawyers can pinpoint the cause of your collision and identify the responsible party or parties.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Boston, call 833-552-7274
Our Boston Auto Accident Lawyers Help Recover Compensation For These Common Car Crash Injuries
Per the NSC, about 4.4 million people were injured seriously enough to require medical attention in crashes last year. Common collision injuries include:
Neck or Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is a term for a neck injury caused by the violent forward and backward motion of the neck and head. It may injure the neck joints, nerves, muscles, and discs. This injury is often the result of a rear-end accident, in which your neck is suddenly thrust forward, past the normal range of motion.
Symptoms may include headache, neck stiffness, dizziness, and nausea. Insurance adjusters may call whiplash a fake or a minor injury; however, it can be painful and have a long-term impact.
Back Injury
A back injury may include a herniated or ruptured disc, crushed vertebrae, a fractured spine, a lower back injury, or paralysis. These tend to be complicated and may be very serious. Victims who suffer lower back injuries typically experience sciatica, which causes radiating pain, tingling, and numbness in the buttocks, legs, and feet.
Broken Bones
Car accidents often result in fractures and broken bones. These injuries may sound simple but can have serious consequences. Commonly broken bones include skull fractures, and fractured legs, arms, wrists, ribs, hips, and pelvis.
In some cases, broken bones lead to impaired mobility, infections, inadequate healing, metal plates, and screws. Broken bones can also affect connective tissue, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The victim may temporarily or permanently lose work or need extensive rehabilitation. In the case of a child, bone fractures may affect growth or development.
Head Injury or Concussion
Those who suffer head or brain injuries sometimes suffer from the effects for the rest of their lives. Unlike more obvious injuries, such as broken bones or cuts, head injuries may not be apparent right away, but they can be devastating. Therefore, accident victims should receive immediate medical care.
Car accidents are among the leading causes of head injuries or brain trauma. In a collision, a driver or passenger’s head may hit an object, such as a steering wheel or windshield, causing bruising, bleeding, tearing, and swelling of the brain. Symptoms such as headaches, confusion, nausea, impaired vision or speech, mood swings, and difficulty with concentration may indicate a head injury or traumatic brain injury.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries caused by car accidents occur for two reasons: either blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma when an object punctures the body. A severe blow to the midsection might result in damage to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, and stomach. A broken rib may puncture the lung, causing the lung to collapse.
As with brain injuries, one of the dangers is that the victim may not know how badly they are hurt. Delaying treatment may lead to internal bleeding or other potentially-life threatening health problems. Common symptoms of an internal injury include:
- Abdominal pain and/or swelling, which may be a result of a liver or spleen injury
- A large area of discoloration of the skin
- Clammy skin
- Light-headiness or dizziness
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- General weakness
- Shallow breathing
Knee Injury
In the fast, violent impact of a car accident, someone’s knee may hit the dashboard, steering column, or door, damaging bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Knee injuries include a broken knee cap, or tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), or torn meniscus.
A knee injury may require surgery, such as knee replacement, as well as long-term physical therapy. Common symptoms of a knee injury include a popping sound or snapping feeling at the time of the injury, swelling, pain, limited mobility, and instability. Victims often can’t work for a long time and suffer high medical costs.
Shoulder Injury
Shoulder injuries can affect your daily life, from performing self-care to doing chores around the house. Victims may experience a loss of range of motion in the shoulder, pain, or weakness. These injuries often occur due to rear-end crashes because the victim tenses up, and the shoulder absorbs the brunt of the impact.
Shoulder injuries may include dislocated shoulders, muscle tears, rotator cuff tears, or require arthroscopy surgery. A shoulder injury typically involves damage to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Wrist Injury
Wrist injuries are also common in car accidents. Victims typically experience pain as well as swelling and bruising of the wrist and numbness in the hand or fingers. Wrist injuries may require the placement of devices, rods, and pins. If not promptly treated, the bones may not heal properly.
Aggravation of Pre-Existing Injuries
Many people involved in accidents have pre-existing injuries. What if the car accident aggravated pre-existing injuries? A previously manageable pre-existing condition may become a serious complication. Medical experts can support a victim’s claim that the car accident aggravated a pre-existing condition.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Scarring and disfigurement from car accidents can lead to profound psychological trauma and social challenges. In some cases, these are more difficult to overcome than physical challenges.
Lacerations from accidents can leave permanent scars. A car accident may result in burn injuries, which result in devastating scars. Treatment may include skin grafts, surgical removal of built-up scar tissue, or reconstructive surgery.
The Legal Damages Our Boston Car Accident Attorneys Can Recover After a Wreck
The purpose of damages is to compensate someone injured due to the negligent actions of another party. Economic damages commonly include medical expenses, lost wages, and future economic losses. Non-economic damages refer to pain and suffering, which is the physical and emotional distress resulting from the accident.
The family or heirs of someone killed in an accident might be eligible for compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. In cases of egregious conduct on the part of the wrongdoer, the court may award punitive damages. The intention here is to punish the defendant and deter others from similar bad conduct in the future.
What to Do After a Boston Car Accident
After an accident occurs, you may not be thinking clearly. Your first instinct may be just to drive away. However, you must not panic and drive away after an accident. Leaving an accident scene is almost always against the law. If the other driver leaves the scene of the accident, stay, and report the incident to first responders.
Assess the Situation
Any accident, even a minor one, can be traumatic. For your own safety and for the safety of others, remain calm and assess the situation. Are you injured? Is anyone else injured? If so, call for medical help right away. Injuries may not be obvious at first and may be masked by shock or adrenaline. If anyone is experiencing back or neck pain, do not move them unless they are in danger or a medical provider tells you to. It is always best to obtain medical attention because some injuries or symptoms do not appear until some time after the accident.
Once you have checked on yourself and others, take a look at the scene of the accident. Where did your car come to rest? Are there dangers such as downed power lines? If so, remain in the vehicle until help arrives. However, if the car is smoking or burning, get everybody out of the vehicle and to a safe area quickly.
Move to a Safe Area
The accident scene may be a dangerous place to wait. If possible, move to a safe area and put on your warning lights.
Report the Accident to the Police
Even if it was only a fender-bender, call 911. After an accident, everyone is emotional. The other driver may ask that you not report the car wreck because they have problems with an expired driver’s license, car insurance, or other circumstances. You are not responsible to protect a negligent driver who caused your crash.
The information in the police report will be important for an insurance claim or future legal action, particularly when the collision was not your fault. If an officer questions you, answer the officer’s questions as calmly and clearly as possible. If you do not know the answer, just say so.
Exchange Information
Everyone involved in the accident should exchange information, including:
- Names, addresses, phone numbers;
- Driver license numbers;
- License plate numbers;
- The vehicle makes, models, and years;
- Car insurance information;
- Location of the accident.
Gather Evidence
If possible, take photos of your vehicle and all other involved vehicles from several angles, including the interior. These photos will help demonstrate the property damage that happened in the accident. Photos showing debris and the area surrounding the crash can explain traffic signals, signage, and any hazards that may have contributed to the collision. These pictures may be valuable evidence to support your claim or lawsuit if other parties have a different version of the facts.
Do Not Discuss Who Was at Fault
You may have the impulse to argue, explain, or apologize immediately after the accident. Many people post the details and photos of the accident on social media. However, pictures or comments on social media may damage your claim in the future. When talking with others at the scene or when discussing your crash with an insurance representative, do not discuss who may have been at fault with anyone except your own attorney. You should let your car accident lawyer talk to the adjuster on your behalf to ensure you do not say anything that might harm your case.
Consult Our Boston Car Accident Attorneys
Always speak with an attorney before discussing the accident with other parties, particularly representatives of an insurance company, or signing any papers or release forms. Try to contact an attorney as soon as possible after the accident occurs and definitely before reaching a settlement with the insurance company.
What Can a Boston Car Accident Lawyer at Dolman Law Group Do for You?
When you are involved in a collision, you have certain legal rights. Massachusetts, like all states, has time limits for filing personal injury lawsuits. Our auto accident lawyers can ensure you do not miss any important time deadlines. Also, insurance companies may try to pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement offer before you understand the true value of your claim. Let us negotiate with the adjusters to protect your rights while you focus on recovering from your injuries. You have nothing to lose when you contact the Boston car accident attorneys at Dolman Law Group for a free consultation and case review today.
Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers Answer Common FAQs
When a motor vehicle accident occurs, life can change in an instant. Accidents can have far-reaching personal and legal consequences. A car crash raises a great many questions.
These Boston auto accident FAQs provide general information on collisions in Boston. However, each case is different, and you should always consult with a Boston car accident attorney for advice on your situation. Dolman Law Group offers a free case evaluation to discuss your legal options and how we can help.
Each case is different. The facts and circumstances determine how the law affects your case. There may be more than one party and insurance company involved, so the whole process may be confusing and overwhelming.
Massachusetts law, your automobile insurance policy, and the other driver’s automobile insurance policy or policies all play a part in your case. You may have claims against the other driver and their insurance company. You may also have claims against the manufacturer of the car or its components or other business entities.
Massachusetts is a no-fault auto accident state, so drivers must buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage when purchasing auto insurance. With PIP coverage on your auto insurance policy, you can receive benefits up to your policy’s maximum to cover damages, such as medical costs and lost wages, regardless of whether you caused the car accident.
In accordance with Massachusetts car insurance requirements, your auto insurance company will provide you with $8000 in personal injury protection coverage (PIP). Thus, your PIP insurance coverage will pay the first $8000 of your medical bills. The purpose of PIP is to enable the accident victim to obtain medical treatment right away without having to wait for a Court of Law to determine who was at fault. PIP is available whether you were in an accident with significant or minor property damage.
After your PIP benefits run out, the private or public health insurance you have may pay for your future medical treatment, just as it would normally under the insurance policy. However, you can’t recover lost wages or pain and suffering resulting from the accident Under PIP coverage. You will have to bring a claim against the responsible driver and wait until either the case settles or a court awards compensation.
These circumstances may further harm injured individuals who have to go without income. If your medical bills are greater than the amount covered by PIP, you may file a claim against the person liable for the accident, provided you meet the tort threshold under Massachusetts law.
In Boston, you must meet the tort threshold to file a claim for damages against the party who is at fault for the crash. An injured person may bring a claim for injuries, including pain and suffering, against a person responsible for a collision only if the claimant’s reasonable and necessary medical expenses are over $2,000 unless the injury resulting from the accident meets one of the following exceptions:
- Causes death, or
- Loss of a body member, or
- Permanent and serious disfigurement, or
- Loss of sight or hearing, or
- Consists of a fracture.
In some cases, insurers will keep records of all medical expenses they have paid related to the injuries you suffered in your motor vehicle accident. They will then place a lien for that amount on the compensation you receive following a successful car accident lawsuit.
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, in Massachusetts, is three years. This means that you must file a lawsuit within three years from the date of the wreck. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that you do not miss any deadlines.
Claims for car accident injuries are usually based on negligence, or in some cases, on an intentional or reckless act. The primary issue after a motor vehicle accident is determining who is liable for the crash. Fault is usually clear when a driver has engaged in intentional or reckless actions, such as drunk driving.
Yet, when it comes to general negligence, such as fender-benders or driver errors in judgment, establishing fault becomes more difficult. For example, a driver may have been driving within the speed limit, but if driving at that speed was dangerous due to traffic conditions or weather, they might be liable for an accident. More than one driver may be at least partially responsible.
Compensation, also known as legal damages, is payment for the injuries or losses you sustained in the accident. After an accident, most people have no idea how much they should receive. Some injuries are not immediately apparent and may not show up for some time after an accident.
Your losses may go far beyond medical bills. They may include such losses as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, there are different types of awards available to help compensate for your losses, such as:
- Compensation for the cost of medical bills arising from all injuries caused by the defendant
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship or loss of consortium
Wrongful death lawsuits aim to hold the responsible party accountable for the car accident victim’s death. The law may entitle the victim’s family members or beneficiaries to recover monetary damages due to the defendant’s negligence. Massachusetts has very specific laws regarding these lawsuits and who may file them.
Each case is unique. Factors such as the available bodily injury insurance through the other driver’s insurance company, whether you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) through your own insurance company, the number of persons in the accident, and the medical treatment needed may influence the time frame. In a Boston car accident, the victim can collect compensation from the negligent person in two ways. The defendant or insurance company may offer a settlement that the plaintiff accepts, or the plaintiff can take the case to trial and pursue all available auto insurance coverage.
The opposing side may make a settlement offer before the injured person files a Massachusetts car accident lawsuit, during the trial process, or even while a jury is deliberating. If the parties reach a settlement agreement, the plaintiff signs a release and releases all claims arising from the incident. Boston car accident cases often settle outside of court. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, only 4 percent to 5 percent of personal injury cases in the United States go to trial.
However, from the date a victim files a lawsuit through the date of trial, it often takes several years to resolve the case, depending on which court is involved. There is a strict time limit to file a claim, but there is no specific time limit for the case to be resolved.
In many cases, insurance companies will offer a lump sum payment for you to release them from liability for your injuries. You need to consider whether the settlement offer is fair and provides full compensation for your injuries. It is imperative to know how much insurance coverage is available.
If you are not represented by an experienced car accident attorney, you may not know what damages you are entitled to. Further, you may not understand how to determine or locate all available insurance coverage. Therefore, if the insurance company is trying to deal with you directly before an attorney is involved, they often make an unreasonably low offer in lieu of the bodily injury coverage available through the at-fault driver.
You may be wondering if and when you should hire a car accident lawyer. Your case may seem simple and straightforward to you. However, the question is whether it is in your best interest to have an attorney. Motor vehicle accidents and the resulting injuries often involve complex legal or medical issues.
An average car insurance company will have teams of defense attorneys and adjusters who evaluate auto accidents every day. Waiting too long to consult a car accident lawyer is risky because you may make mistakes that could affect your claim. Your own attorney has the skills and resources to guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf. Consider seeking advice from a car accident attorney if:
- It is unclear who is responsible for the car crash.
- If more than one party may be liable for the collision.
- You have severe injuries.
- You do not know how to determine your damages, especially for your medical bills.
- Your recovery process is going to be long or difficult.
- There are special circumstances that may affect your compensation.
- It is difficult to prove lost wages, perhaps because you are a salesperson or entrepreneur.
- The insurance company tries to make you an offer right away.
- The insurance company wants to see your medical records from before the accident.
- The insurance company has denied your claim or will not provide bodily injury coverage for the at-fault driver.
- The insurance company is claiming that your property damage was minor.
- The insurance company has made an offer you believe to be unfair.
- The insurance company is offering a structured settlement rather than a lump-sum payment.
- The other party has filed a lawsuit against you.
- Your case may require expert witnesses.
- You need help handling settlement negotiations.
That depends on the circumstances of the case. Delays and errors in the early stages of a case can weaken your case or diminish its value. It is best to have experienced Boston car accident lawyers involved early to protect your rights. Unexpected issues may arise, making a case that appears to be simple become incredibly complex. Work performed by your car accident lawyer may include:
Investigating Your Claims
Our car accident lawyers offer a free case evaluation. When we work together on your automobile accident case, we will investigate every aspect to identify all responsible parties.
Gathering Important Evidence
We give our experienced Boston car accident lawyers the resources needed to gather evidence. Gathering evidence may include obtaining police reports, locating witnesses, taking pictures, and locating any available video footage of the accident.
Your auto accident lawyer will also obtain medical evidence, such as medical reports, as well as expert testimony, to establish the long-term consequences of your injuries. The evidence will help determine damages and support your claim.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
An experienced Boston car accident lawyer can review all the details of the insurance policy so that they know what compensation may be available in a particular case. Your lawyer will negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company and your insurance company (if necessary) and handle any and all communications. This protects you from accidentally damaging your claim and also relieves a great deal of stress.
Preparing and Filing Legal Documents
If the insurance company refuses to settle, the lawyer may draft a complaint and file a lawsuit in the appropriate court within the legal time limits. The complaint states the reasons for the lawsuit and the damages you are requesting. There are many detailed procedural rules involved in starting a lawsuit.
Completing the Pre-trial Discovery Phase
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), discovery is the process by which the parties exchange information about the witnesses and evidence they intend to produce. It is a critical part of trial preparation. Discovery is usually wide-ranging in car accident cases. After the parties have completed the discovery process, they may reach a settlement agreement. There are four key types of discovery.
- Interrogatories are written questions that the opposing party must answer.
- Requests for production ask that the opposing side produce documents for review.
- Requests for admission are written discovery requests that ask parties to a lawsuit to admit or deny certain statements while under oath.
- Depositions are testimony recorded out of court for later use.
Representing You at Trial
If the case proceeds to trial, our Boston car accident lawyers provide representation in court. Your lawyer will use all the evidence to prove the facts of your case. An enormous amount of preparation goes into any trial. Your accident attorney will advise and support you throughout the process. The steps in a complete trial (unless the parties reach a settlement agreement during the trial) include:
- Selecting a jury
- Making opening statements
- Examining or cross-examining witnesses
- Submitting evidence
- Making closing arguments
- The final steps are the jury deliberation and the verdict
Meet Some of Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers
Dolman Law Group is a team of zealous and aggressive lawyers who take great pride in being the best and beating the best.
Dave Altman is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which he achieved by recovering results in excess of $1 Million and $2 Million, respectively.
Larry Nussbaum is a talented and experienced car accident lawyer. National Trial Lawyers named Mr. Nussbaum one of America’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in 2018. He also earned recognition from Super Lawyers, has a perfect score on AVVO, and Expertise.com named him as one of Boston’s top lawyers. Larry has handled in excess of 5,000 motor vehicle accident cases.
Reach Out to a Boston Car Accident Lawyer at Dolman Law Group For a Free Consultation Now
The dedicated, experienced Boston personal injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group can guide you through every step of the insurance claim and litigation processes while we work zealously to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
Reach out to Dolman Law Group today for a free consultation and case evaluation with a skilled and compassionate Boston car accident lawyer. There are no risks or obligations involved. Give us a call at (857) 407-4182 or fill out our simple online contact form. We look forward to serving you and protecting your legal rights.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA – Serving the Greater Boston Area
We represent car accident victims throughout the greater Boston area and, more specifically, in the following areas of Boston; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown Boston, East Boston, Fenway – Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, and the Wharf District. We also represent clients in the following towns; Chelsea, Revere, Watertown, Winthrop, Lynn, Malden, Everett, Somerville, Medford, Brighton, Cambridge, Newton, Chestnut Hill, and Brookline.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
76 Canal Street, Suite 302
Boston, MA 02114
(857) 407-4182
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