Massachusetts Car Accident and Injury Lawyer for Attleboro, Fall River, and Taunton
Massachusetts handles car accident claims differently from Rhode Island. There's no-fault coverage to deal with first, an injury threshold before you can claim pain and suffering, and stricter rules on shared fault. I represent injured people in Attleboro, Fall River, Taunton, and across southeastern Massachusetts, and because I practice in both states, crashes that cross the state line on I-95, I-195, or Route 1 don't slow me down. The consultation is free, and you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover.
Injury cases I handle in Massachusetts
-
Car and truck accidents
-
Motorcycle accidents
-
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
-
Uber and Lyft accidents
-
Slip and fall and other unsafe-property injuries
-
Dog bites
-
Serious injuries: broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spine injuries
How Massachusetts injury claims work
No-fault coverage comes first. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays up to $8,000 in medical bills and lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. If you have health insurance, it may pay some of your medical bills first, depending on how the policies coordinate.
There's an injury threshold. To claim pain and suffering against the at-fault driver, you generally need more than $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses, or an injury like a broken bone, permanent disfigurement, or loss of sight or hearing.
Shared fault matters more here. In Massachusetts, you can recover only if you were not more than 50% at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share. In Rhode Island, you can recover even if you were mostly at fault. Which state's rules apply can change the whole case.
Insurers have to deal fairly. Massachusetts law requires insurance companies to make prompt, fair settlement offers once liability is reasonably clear. An insurer that stalls or lowballs a clear claim can be liable for multiple damages.
There are deadlines. Most Massachusetts injury claims must be filed within three years. Claims against a city or town require written notice within two years, so don't wait.
Crashes across the state line
Attleboro, Fall River, and Taunton sit minutes from Rhode Island, and a lot of crashes involve drivers from both states. When a Rhode Island driver crashes in Massachusetts, or the other way around, questions come up fast: whose coverage applies, whether PIP is available, which state's fault rules control, and which court the case belongs in. Because I practice in both states, I can answer those questions and handle the claim wherever it needs to go.
What to do after a crash in Massachusetts
-
Get medical care right away. Gaps in treatment hurt your claim, and your PIP claim depends on prompt treatment records.
-
Call the police and get the report number.
-
File a crash report. Massachusetts generally requires drivers to file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report within five days when someone is hurt or damage exceeds $1,000.
-
Notify your own insurer so your PIP claim can start.
-
Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
-
Call a lawyer before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
I live in Rhode Island but crashed in Massachusetts. Which state's rules apply? It depends on where the crash happened, where the vehicles are registered, and the policies involved. This is one of the first things I'll sort out, because it affects what you can recover.
Do I have to go through PIP? If you were in a Massachusetts-insured vehicle, PIP is usually the first source for your medical bills and lost wages. Your claim against the at-fault driver comes after.
The insurance company is stalling. What can I do? Massachusetts law gives injured people tools against insurers that don't handle clear claims fairly. Call me, and bring every letter and email you've received from the insurer.
Talk to a Massachusetts injury lawyer today
The consultation is free. Call (401) 656-5555 or send a message.