Traveling the roads and highways throughout Massachusetts can be beautiful, but driving always comes with risk. Hopefully, the person in the next lane is alert and safety conscious. However, they could also be distracted, drunk, speeding, or simply reckless. If a negligent motorist caused a crash that injured you, turn to the Massachusetts car accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for help.
Through no fault of your own, you may now be facing serious damage and severe or even catastrophic injuries. Under state law, you have the right to request compensation from the responsible person or parties that caused your losses. Reach out to our dedicated MA car accident lawyers today for a free consultation and to better understand your legal rights.
How the Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyers at Dolman Law Group Work For You
Our team of MA car accident lawyers have served more than 11,000 clients with decades of legal experience. We understand that you might spend months, even years, managing medical, psychological, and emotional trauma. In addition, you may suffer from physical injury, long-term disabilities, and financial consequences that may change your life. We are dedicated to helping you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible to help you recover.
Most accidents are usually the result of poor driving, negligent actions, and preventable circumstances. When a negligent driver harms you, you deserve financial recovery, and you should not have to pay for the losses that were caused by someone else.
When you work with our Massachusetts auto accident lawyers, we promise to work hard to hold negligent drivers responsible and make them pay for their actions. Whether you receive an insurance settlement or we must litigate your claim as a personal injury lawsuit, we will take whatever steps are necessary to bring you justice, including possibly seeking punitive damages, depending on the circumstances.
Contact an auto accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group today to learn how we can help you with your personal injury case.
You Deserve a Compassionate Massachusetts Car Accident Attorney Fighting For You
At Dolman Law Group, we believe that negligent drivers must pay for the damages they inflict upon others. We have always fought hard for our injured clients, and our case results prove our dedication. When you work with our legal team, we will use our law firm’s resources to recover compensation on your behalf, including:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Future wages or lost wages
- Repair costs
- Non-economic damages, including reduced quality of life, mental distress, and pain and suffering
We have dedicated our practice to providing big-firm advocacy with small-firm compassion.
Our personal injury attorneys fight for the best results for our injured clients. We will investigate, review, and evaluate your injuries to understand how the accident affected your life. And we will explored every option to recover damages for you and your family.
Dolman Law Group’s Past Accident Claims Results
Our auto accident lawyers have a consistent track record of recovering substantial damages for our injured clients. As a result, we have recovered millions of dollars by resolving cases in ways that best meet their immediate and future needs.
When possible, we resolve cases through aggressive negotiations. For example, we often work directly with insurance carriers, self-insured entities, and their defense attorneys. In addition, our attorneys have resolved our clients’ cases through mediation, settlement conferences, and other alternative resolution forums.
We prepare each case from the beginning, anticipating that a civil lawsuit is one of the possible outcomes. When litigation is the best option, we have no problem bringing our clients’ cases to trial. Our attorneys are prepared to present evidence before the court and let a judge or jury make an informed decision.
Since no two cases are alike, we cannot promise a specific settlement. However, here are a few of our case results to demonstrate our firm’s commitment to client advocacy and optimum outcomes.
- $3.2 million trucking accident: Our law firm recovered $3.2 million for our client’s brain injury. We are complying with our client’s privacy request by keeping the details confidential.
- $1.58 million jury verdict, car accident: Our client sustained two herniated discs resulting in spinal cord impingement. The negligent driver’s insurance company would not settle fairly and tried to show that the injuries were pre-existing. We allowed a jury to make the decision based on evidence.
- $1 million settlement, car accident: Our client sustained bodily injury in an auto accident. We filed suit and litigated the case for 14 months. We eventually settled before the trial date.
- $1.75 million settlement, trucking accident: A semi-truck struck our client’s vehicle, causing multiple injuries. Our legal team filed a suit because the liability insurance company would not negotiate fairly. Eventually, they increased their offer, and we settled the accident lawsuit.
Massachusetts Auto Accidents Statistics
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation documented 140,410 vehicle crashes during one recent year. The statewide crash portal lists 99,743 as non-injury accidents. The numbers are not as positive as they seem.
Statistics also show 33,168 confirmed or suspected injuries. Some victims sustained fatal injuries. Others have medical issues with the potential to cause life-changing consequences.
Common Causes of Massachusetts Car Accidents Include Bad Driving Behaviors
Risky driving behaviors often cause or contribute to most accidents. While some drivers operate their cars defensively and drive safely, others drive as though safety does not matter. Here are a few of the most common causes of Massachusetts crashes:
Drinking and Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has documented 28 drunk driving deaths each day. In addition, the agency’s recent statistics show that 488 Massachusetts drivers were involved in fatal accidents.
Based on Section 24 of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Laws, a person is legally considered a drunk driver when a test confirms that they have a 0.08% blood alcohol content. Alcohol affects a person’s driving behavior long before their blood reaches that level. At BAC levels as low as 0.02%, drivers begin experiencing reduced judgment and declines in functioning that often contribute to impaired driving.
Driving While Impaired by Drugs
Drugs impair drivers’ actions and often cause or contribute to accidents. Drugs can affect driving, whether legal or illegal, prescription, non-prescription, or recreational. Marijuana and other drugs often cause drowsiness, sleepiness, and delayed reaction times.
In a recent drug-impaired driving study, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association discussed drug use and how it relates to traffic accidents. Of the fatally injured drivers who were tested for drugs after an accident, 43.6% tested positive for drugs.
They also found that 50.5% tested positive for two or more drugs, and 40.7% had both drugs and alcohol in their blood.
Speeding
NHTSA’s most recent annual statistics show that speeding was a factor in 9,478 traffic fatalities nationwide. When a driver is operating a vehicle under the influence or involved in other unsafe behaviors, speeding worsens the outcome.
Often a speeding driver will not stop because they never notice that there is a problem. When a speeding driver detects a problem, excessive speed cuts down their time to execute defensive maneuvers and avoid an accident.
Some states reinforce traffic laws and reduce speeding incidents by using automated enforcement technology and red-light cameras at critical intersections.
Distracted Driving
The NHTSA recently documented 3,142 distracted driving-related fatalities in a single year. The figures are likely higher, but after an accident occurs, it is often difficult to confirm that a driver was distracted. The National Transportation Safety Board acknowledges distracted driving as a significant transportation concern. They recommend eliminating all digital device use while driving.
Ubiquitous phone use has inspired a backlash against distracted drivers, but digital devices are not the only driving distraction. As the NTSB explains, “…executing any task other than driving is dangerous and risks a crash….”
The agency does not see hands-free phones as a distraction solution. They still take the mind off its primary driving tasks. The NTSB recommends driver education, stricter enforcement, and banning all digital devices while driving.
Drowsy driving
Drowsy driving is preventable, yet it causes numerous fatalities each year. Accidents often occur when a driver fails to get enough restorative sleep due to work schedule, sleep apnea, or other medical conditions.
Drowsy driving is also a problem with drivers taking prescription or non-prescription drugs. But, as the NHTSA explains, it is challenging to confirm drowsy driving after an accident. This is because there are not enough clues.
Older Drivers
As drivers age, they deal with additional driving challenges. Massachusetts DOT statistics show that older adults caused or contributed to 25.4 thousand accidents in one recent year. The most recent annual NHTSA nationwide statistics show that 7,214 older drivers died in car and truck accidents. The following physical and cognitive issues may play a role in causing more accidents as people age:
- Physical and medical conditions contribute to accident severity.
- Some older adults have difficulty maintaining speed and controlling lane positioning.
- Some older drivers misjudge gaps between moving cars.
- A recent NHTSA study concluded that older adults often focus on the road ahead and forgo the visual scanning that would make them more aware of hazards around them.
- Older adults with mild cognitive impairments had fewer problems than those with dementia and more severe mental issues. However, the NHTSA still recommends additional training to help older adults overcome the spectrum of cognitive issues.
- When older drivers are involved in crashes, their frailty leaves them more prone to severe and catastrophic medical conditions.
Top Locations in Massachusetts Where Accidents Occur
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation tracked seven years of accident data and identified the areas where frequent accidents occur. The Crash Locations Map shows a significant cluster of crashes in the Boston area.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s recent top location accident report pinpoints the two intersections in the state where more crashes occurred than any other location.
- #1 Lowell, MA: A Veterans of Foreign Wars Highway intersection accommodates traffic flow from Bridge St and a third intersecting street, Lakeview Ave. Over the seven years studied, 124 wrecks occurred at this intersection. These included 96 non-injury accidents and 28 crashes that had injuries or fatalities.
- #2 Milton, MA: The intersection of Randolph Ave. and Chickatawbut Rd is the second most frequent location for accidents in the state. Sixty crashes occurred there over the seven years studied. Thirty were non-injury crashes, and 30 involved injuries or fatalities.
Common Car Accident Injury Cases Handled by our Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyers
In Massachusetts, vehicle occupants do not sustain injuries in most accidents. Some accidents are simple fender benders. When the impact is light, many people walk away unharmed. Unfortunately, some seriously injured vehicle occupants are not as fortunate.
Of the accidents that occurred in the state during a recent one-year time frame, 2,311 people reported severe injuries, and 323 died. (These casualty figures include pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.)
How and Why Massachusetts Car Accident Injuries Occur
Injured passengers seek treatment for various conditions, from soft tissue injuries and sprains to catastrophic, disabling trauma.
Several factors increase the chance of catastrophic injuries.
- When an accident occurs, speed enhances both property damage and injuries. Speed multiplies the force on impact, increasing the chance of more severe injuries. When a speeding driver observes an unsafe situation, brakes do not always slow them down enough to reduce the impact.
- The impact points often determine the type of injury a driver or passenger sustains. For example, a severe frontal impact often injures a passenger’s lower extremities. Serious side impacts, also known as T-bone collisions, sometimes cause injuries due to metal intrusions into the rear passenger compartment. A rear impact often causes the whiplash movement that injures a passenger’s neck, back, and spine.
- Safety equipment sometimes prevents or lessens injury severity, but not always. For instance, seat belts often constrict a passenger’s abdomen and chest when an impact is severe. This sometimes causes fractures and internal damage.
Types of Massachusetts Car Crash Injuries
Serious crashes often cause catastrophic injuries. For example, statistics from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Database show that vehicular accidents caused 50% of the brain injuries to the 18,126 patients in their database.
The National Spinal Cord Statistical Center statistics show that vehicular accidents caused 38.6% of the spinal cord injuries (SCIs) for the 34,130 people they currently monitor.
Car accidents cause many additional types of injuries.
- SCI-related paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disc and spine injuries
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Severe sprains and strains
- Muscular damage
- Severe Burns
- Multiple fractures and crushes
- Traumatic amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Fatal injuries
Car accidents can also cause emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages.
Massachusetts Car Accident FAQs
At Dolman Law Group, we want you to be safe. However, we also want you to be prepared if an accident occurs. Therefore, we created these Car Accident FAQs so you will know what to expect and you will understand your basic legal options.
MassDOT crash and fatal injury portals track accidents throughout the state. A recent year’s statistics show that 140,411 accidents occurred in Massachusetts. These statistics include vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents.
No one reported injuries for 99,743 of the 140,411 crashes reported in a recent year. That sounds positive until you consider the fates of those who did sustain injuries. Those with catastrophic or serious injuries often remain hospitalized for extended periods, leading to exorbitant hospital bills, repair bills, and other expenses. Even people with minor injuries need medical care. Many injured people lose income because of temporary impairments. People with the most severe injuries never work again.
In just one recent year, Massachusetts saw:
- 140,411 crashes.
- 99,743 crashes did not cause injuries.
- 2,311 serious injuries.
- 15,335 minor injuries.
- 15,200 possible injuries.
- 323 fatal injuries.
The NHTSA tracks data for all accident types. Their recent statistics documented these national trends:
- Nationally, rear-end impacts caused 594,000 injuries, more than other accident types.
- Rear-end impacts also led to 2,439 fatal car accidents.
- Angled impacts (T-bones, intersections, etc.) caused 6,037 fatalities, more than other types of accidents. Angled impacts caused 515,000 injuries nationwide.
Insurance companies, attorneys, and courts use the legal process to look at many factors in determining the legal liability of an accident.
“Cause” is often a combination of human, vehicle, and environmental factors.
- Vehicle: Some vehicles contribute to accidents due to improper maintenance, failed repairs, and defects such as bad brakes.
- Environmental: Poorly maintained pavement, adverse weather, and confusing traffic patterns often contribute to accidents.
- Human: Vehicle operators are usually the most significant factor in causing an accident. Risky behaviors that prevent drivers from reacting to the road surface, weather, traffic, or mechanical emergencies include:
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Driving distracted,
- Falling asleep at the wheel and driving while drug- or alcohol-impaired.
Insurance companies decide when their insureds are responsible for damages by investigating to determine if their insured is at fault.
Then they often rely on a simple negligence formula to evaluate liability.
- A duty owed: Did their insured driver have a responsibility to you? (to stop at a traffic sign, drive safely, etc.)
- Breach of duty: Did their insured driver fail to comply with that duty of care?
- Proximate cause: Did that failure cause the accident?
- Damages: Did you sustain damage or injuries due to that failure/accident?
Insurance companies must make prudent decisions based on their insured’s legal responsibilities. They sometimes decide that their insured’s negligent behavior is not liable for a person’s damages, and they deny liability. They sometimes make a quick settlement offer and refuse to pay more. Often settlement decisions involve financial issues such as policy limits and claim reserves.
If you disagree with an insurer’s decision, you have other options. An experienced team of Massachusetts car accident attorneys can help you recover financial compensation. However, you must take action before the statute of limitations period of time expires.
To insurance adjusters, a police officer’s report is formal documentation of the people, vehicles, accident scene, and circumstances. Unless the police officer witnessed an accident, anything they say about fault is just their opinion.
Even if the officer issues a ticket to an at-fault driver, insurance companies do not automatically accept it as a measure of responsibility.
Massachusetts General Laws provide a three-year statute of limitations time limit for an auto accident lawsuit. Therefore, the clock begins ticking when your accident occurs. Your time to file a lawsuit expires three years later. If you fail to settle your claim or file a lawsuit in time, you lose your right to bring your claim for damages to trial.
You can try to work out a settlement with the responsible party’s insurer, but that does not always happen. Insurers sometimes refuse to pay. They do not always make fair offers when they do decide to pay. When you realize that you may never reach a fair settlement, a lawsuit may be your best option.
It is challenging enough when you have to deal with a problematic liability insurer. It is worse when there is no liability insurance to pay for your injuries. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens when the person who injures you does not have liability coverage or when they leave the scene.
When you have uninsured motorist coverage on your auto policy, your insurer pays your damages under these circumstances:
- The person who caused the accident leaves the scene.
- The liability carrier denies its insured’s coverage.
- The liability insurer becomes insolvent.
- The responsible driver has insurance but not enough to cover your damages.
Uninsured/underinsured motorists’ coverage is mandatory under Massachusetts law. When you have an injury claim, and the coverage applies, your insurer must establish a liability claim file for your damages. Then, they negotiate, settle, and handle your claim as a liability insurer would.
How Can a Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
From the moment an auto accident injures you, your life becomes complicated. Your insurance provider investigators want information, so they may visit you in your hospital room. They might call you to ask questions or knock on your door. Investigators may even talk to your neighbors to get the information they need.
Car accident attorneys help you through this difficult time. They intervene on your behalf and protect your legal interests while you take time to heal.
The decision to work with a legal representative is up to you. You have the right to deal directly with the negligent party who injured you or their insurer, but we don’t recommend it. The insurance company will also want you to give a recorded statement. Speak to a knowledgeable car accident attorney before you give any statements that might harm your case later.
In the end, the insurers retain the right to deny your claim even when you cooperate and comply with every request.
When you choose to work with an experienced car crash attorney, your legal professional handles these complications on your behalf. They use their time, energy, and resources to provide essential services.
We Offer a Free Consultation
When you consult with an accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident, you’ll better understand your choices and legal options. Sitting down with a qualified MA car crash lawyer during a free consultation is a no-pressure opportunity to help you determine your next move.
We Promise to Listen to Your Version of the Accident
Our car accident lawyers understand that every accident and all legal claims are different. WE ask questions because we know that your story is the key to resolving your injury claim. Your information helps determine the negligent parties, contributing factors, and legal issues that create the roadmap we can use to investigate the accident.
When you discuss medical bills, treatment protocols, and accident-related impairments, we can also explain more about your compensable damages. These details help us evaluate your case and determine your maximum settlement value to cover property damage claims, medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, along iwth other non-economic losses.
We Will Answer Your Questions
We know you have a lot of questions for us. The car accident attorneys at Dolman Law Group will help you feel comfortable with an ongoing discussion throughout your case. We are legal professionals who are available and ready to answer your questions 24/7. You will receive the personal cell phone number of your personal injury attorney and the managing partner so you always have someone to call when you need answers.
Our Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Cases on a Contingency Fee Basis
When you go to the doctor or any other professional, they give you a bill and expect immediate payment. Car accident attorneys do not work that way. We understand that injured people often have financial concerns, but they still deserve solid legal representation.
Our attorneys accept cases and perform services for weeks, often for years, without payment upfront. We will work hard on your behalf, and according to our contingency fee agreement, we are only paid when we successfully resolve your case.
Our Team Will Thoroughly Investigate Your Accident
Your version of the accident becomes the starting point for our thorough investigation. Our investigators rely on your information to research and uncover relevant evidence to support your case. Our work may include
- Site investigation
- Photographs
- Videos
- Vehicle impact analysis
- Witness statements
- Police reports and formal documents
Using Decades of Experience, Our Massachusetts Car Accident Attorneys Can Evaluate Who is Responsible For Your Losses
Once our skilled car accident attorneys have a complete picture of the issues, they can evaluate liability. This involves reviewing the evidence and establishing a viable liability theory. They will ensure that supporting evidence meets necessary standards that allow it to hold up if presented in court.
If your attorney believes they can negotiate a settlement, they will present their theories to the liability insurance carrier to demand compensation based on their liability and injury evaluations.
We Will Also Evaluate Your Injuries
Our personal injury lawyers understand that no two injuries are the same. That is why we obtain and review all relevant medical reports and hospital records before giving an opinion about case value. In addition, we may seek opinions from medical experts.
We also rely on our prior case experience with past settlements and recent court judgments involving similar injuries and liability issues.
Let Us Negotiate Your Settlement
Car accident lawyers always do what is best for their clients. We will give you the best advice about when it is best to settle your injury claim so you can move on with your life. When liability insurers cooperate, attorneys work with them to accomplish that goal.
With aggressive negotiation skills, your attorney might resolve your case without the expense and time commitments involved in filing a lawsuit.
If Necessary, We Will File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf
If negotiations do not deliver the anticipated results, your attorneys may recommend filing a lawsuit. We will always consult with you before filing on your behalf. If we agree this is your best alternative, we will draft a complaint and follow a process that complies with Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure.
A lawsuit names you as the plaintiff and the responsible party as the defendant. Next, the suit explains your attorney’s liability theory and describes your injuries. Finally, it makes a formal demand for damages.
The lawsuit process is often prolonged. In preparation for a day in court, attorneys conduct discovery, including depositions, document requests, and independent medical testimony.
Before a judge adds your case to a trial docket, the attorneys participate in settlement phone calls, mediations, and conferences. In most cases, attorneys settle during one of these sessions.
When Required, We Will Advocate For You in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
In Massachusetts, dispute resolution rules make ADR mandatory in many situations. Mediation is a frequently used form of ADR. It is a system of facilitated negotiation that brings together all the involved parties in a neutral setting. These sessions often lead to settlements.
Lastly, We Will Be Prepared to Present Your Case in Court
Injury cases rarely go to trial. Most court officials encourage the parties to resolve their differences informally. If they cannot, your attorney must try your case. A trial often requires costly preparation.
Car accident attorneys often present live or video testimony from liability, medical, and financial specialists. Then, they offer their evidence and argue their liability theories in open court.
Your attorney will advise you whether a bench or a jury trial is the right option for your case. In a bench trial, a judge hears the evidence and renders a verdict. In a jury trial, the attorneys select jurors. The judge provides instructions at the end of a jury trial, and jurors decide the outcome.
Once Your Case is Resolved, We’ll Take Care of Executing Settlement Documents and Ensuring You are Paid
Whether your attorney settles or tries your case, it is not over until the two of you handle the final details.
- Your attorney prepares a release of all claims and an order dismissing the lawsuit dismissal.
- You sign the completed documents.
- The liability insurer releases your settlement funds.
- Your attorney files the dismissal order with the court.
- Your attorney disburses your settlement and collects their fee.
Why You Need to Work With a Massachusetts Car Accident Attorney to Resolve Your Injury Claim
It generally works out better when you do. Auto accident attorneys understand liability and damage issues in personal injury claims. Skilled attorneys address legal matters you might not recognize.
We will confront insurance companies, insurance adjusters, and responsible parties and stand up to them when they are unfair. Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys do all we can to help make sure you receive a fair settlement.
Call The Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyers at Dolman Law Group Today
If another driver caused an accident that injured you or a member of your family, you should seek immediate legal assistance from our team of qualified vehicle crash attorneys. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, our legal professionals will work to recover damages from the person who caused your injuries.
The experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers on our team will do everything we can to help you recover maximum compensation to pay for vehicle repairs, physical therapy, wage loss, medical costs, and other accident-related expenses. For a free consultation and to learn how we can help you, reach out to us by calling (857) 407-4182 or sending a message through our contact page.
The Dolman Law Group works with local counsel in any jurisdiction outside Florida for the purpose of filing lawsuits in jurisdictions wherein we are not licensed. Thus, we will follow each State’s ethical rules to ensure a local attorney is involved.