Auto Accident Attorneys of Salem, MA
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident in Massachusetts, you need to contact a car accident attorney who specializes in achieving the best possible results in auto collision cases. You have only one opportunity to ensure that your medical treatment is appropriate and your damages are properly paid. Most importantly, it’s critical to ensure that the matter is handled in a way that increases your chances of obtaining the maximum possible settlement.
What Causes Auto Accidents?
There are numerous causes of automobile collisions, including but not limited to:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Inclement weather
- Vehicle design or manufacturing defects
- Driving while fatigued
- Poorly trained drivers
- Road rage or aggressive driving behaviors
- Passenger interference
- Poor road conditions
- Racing
- Tailgating
Negligence in Auto Accident Cases
Whether you are in an accident with a commercial truck, a passenger van, a ride sharing vehicle, or a personal vehicle, you need to establish that the other driver, their employer, or another entity was negligent and this negligence directly caused your accident.
Some examples of negligence in auto accident cases include but are not limited to:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver impairment
- Distracted driving (using cell phones, GPS, eating, grooming, or talking)
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Failure to maintain vehicles to meet proper safety standards
- Failure to screen drivers, by employers
- Other negligent hiring patterns
- Not training drivers correctly
- Breaching federal regulations related to commercial drivers
- Breaking state laws on ridesharing services
- Overloaded commercial trucks
- Manufacturing issues with vehicle components (airbags and tires, for example)
A quality auto accident lawyer can help you identify the liable party or parties, prove negligence, and file an insurance claim or a lawsuit for your damages.
Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries can range from minor to severe and in many cases are life-threatening or deadly. Some of the most common injuries that occur in automobile collisions include:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Concussions
- Open head wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Injuries to the ribs and sternum from the seat belt
- Bleeding
- Soft tissue and organ injuries
- Loss of limb
- Crush injuries
- Cuts, bruising, and lacerations
- Disfigurement
- Burn injuries
- Wrongful death
Additional Resources for Car Accident Injuries
What Happens to the Body in a Car Accident
5 Ways to Make a Hospital Stay More Comfortable After an Accident
Types of Car Accidents
There are many different types of car accidents that can result in injury or death, including but not limited to:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving is quickly becoming the most dangerous – and preventable – causes of serious and fatal accidents on Massachusetts and New Hampshire roadways. Here are the most common forms of distracted driving, some of which you may not expect:
- Texting and driving
- Eating and driving
- Putting on makeup while driving
- Using the radio or climate controls while driving
- Interacting with passengers while driving
- Reading and driving
- Watching a video and driving
- Typing in map directions or a phone number while driving
Generally, engaging in anything that takes your eyes off the road (visual distractions), takes your hands off the wheel (manual distractions), or takes your mind off driving (cognitive distractions) can be considered distracted driving.
Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it accomplishes all three forms of distraction at the same time: visual, manual, and cognitive.
Additional Resources About Distracted Driving
Massachusetts Auto Accidents and New Ban on Texting
Young Drivers Warned of Texting Behind the Wheel
OUI Accidents
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited in both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire. Even if a driver had only one or two drinks, they may still be unable to safely operate their vehicle.
Drunk drivers that cause accidents face harsh lifetime penalties and families of drunk driving victims are often eligible for significant compensation for the massive damages alcohol- or drug-induced accidents cause.
Additional Resources About Drinking and Driving
Who Is Liable When You Get into an Accident with an Intoxicated Driver?
What to Do If You Were Injured by a Drunk Driver Leaving a Party
Parental Responsibility for Intoxicated Teen Drivers
How Are Drunk Drivers Penalized for Fatal Accidents?
What Happens to the Driver After a DUI Accident?
Where to Find Support As a Victim of a Drunk Driving Accident
Uber, Lyft, and Ridesharing Accidents
With the rise of ride sharing services in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the roads have inherently become more dangerous simply because there are more vehicles traveling from Point A to B. Boston drivers face a higher risk of getting into an accident than drivers in metro areas in other parts of the country.
If you are in an accident involving a ride sharing service, an attorney can help. Ridesharing services have some liability policies in place that protect riders. Massachusetts law requires these companies to carry a million-dollar liability policy that’s in effect when the driver has a passenger in the vehicle, and both Lyft and Uber voluntarily have these policies in place in New Hampshire and other states where it’s not legally required.
However, the liability in ride sharing accidents isn’t always clear. Uber and Lyft both have much smaller liability policies in place for when the driver is logged into the app but without a passenger in the vehicle and this coverage may not be enough to cover accident damages. To protect your interests, you need an attorney who can work to prove that the ride sharing service is liable for your injuries. In some cases, the driver may also bear liability.
Additional Resources for Uber, Lyft, and Ridesharing Accidents
Liability in Accidents with Uber and Lyft Drivers
Compensation for Ridesharing Accidents
Causes of Ridesharing Accidents
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Ridesharing Accidents?
Types of Injuries from Ridesharing Accidents
Ridesharing and Intoxicated Driving
Ridesharing Accidents Lawsuits: What to Expect
Who Is Liable in a Ridesharing Accident?
What to Do When Your Uber or Lyft Driver Wants to Handle an Accident Privately
Uber and Lyft Lawsuits (Podcast)
Steps to Take After a Ridesharing Accident
Do Regulations for Taxis Reduce Accidents?
The Dangers of Ridesharing Services (Podcast)
Can Ridesharing Companies Be Held Liable for Hiring Unsafe Drivers?
Are Ridesharing Accidents More Common Than Accident with Other Commercial Vehicles?
Commercial Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks are involved in 14% of single-vehicle crashes that cause injuries and 24% of crashes involving property damage. Generally, these collisions are more harmful for passengers in other vehicles than in the commercial truck itself — in fact, 83% of fatalities are not occupants of the truck.
If you are injured or if you lose a loved one in a crash with a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, recovery-related costs, lost future earning potential, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, disfigurement, wrongful death, and more.
In some cases, the driver may be personally liable for the damages, but if the driver was employed by the trucking company and acting within the scope of employment, the trucking company may also be liable. When dealing with a claim to a commercial trucking company, you need a lawyer who understands how to establish liability in these cases and who has experience obtaining large settlements for their clients.
Additional Resources for Truck Accidents
3 Obstacles Faced After a Truck Accident
How to Navigate a Truck Accident with a Package Delivery Service
What is a Black Box and How Does It Relate to Truck Accidents?
Teen Driving Accidents
Teens are significantly more likely to get into an accident than an adult. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the risk of an automobile collision is highest among teens age 16 to 19 – above any other age group. Per each mile driven, drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 are almost three times as likely to become involved in an accident than drivers age 20 and above.
Additional Resources for Teen Driving Accidents
Are Parents Liable If Their Teens Injure Others in Car Accidents?
Winter Driving Accidents
Winters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire can be harsh and the risk of a traffic accident increases when there’s snow and ice on the road. Combined with heavy traffic around cities like Boston and Manchester, winter driving can easily turn into a deadly activity.
If you can avoid driving on snow and ice at all, it’s better to wait until the roads have been cleared before venturing out in your vehicle. If not, it’s critical to practice safe winter driving habits, such as driving slower, giving yourself more time to brake, and taking curves very carefully.
Additional Resources for Winter Driving Accidents
Consider These 3 Safe Driving Tips for Winter Before Hitting the Road
Van & Bus Accidents
Large passenger vans are commonly used by church groups, tour guides, schools, and various other organizations to transport groups of people. These vehicles are alluring because they can fit up to 15+ riders and the driver doesn’t need a special license to operate the van. Unfortunately, however, 15-passenger vans are particularly dangerous on the road. They tend to have a low center of gravity and uneven weight distribution that heightens the risk of rolling over or getting into an accident.
After a van accident, you may face a number of physical injuries, or you may have even lost a loved one. When you contact a van accident attorney, they can help you obtain compensation to cover the cost of your damages as well as the physical and mental anguish of the accident. In some cases, they may bring a claim against the individual or organization who owns the van. In other cases, they may file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the van, or both depending on who is considered at fault or having had contributed to the incident.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Accidents with large 18-wheeler trucks, delivery trucks, cargo vans, box trucks, and other vehicles that are used for commercial purposes can result in devastating injuries. This is generally because they are larger in size than your typical passenger vehicle and pack a heavier punch in the event of a collision. The risk of death in a commercial auto accident is often much higher than other types of motor vehicle collisions.
Additional Resources for Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Accidents on Public Transit: Who’s Responsible? What Are Your Rights?
Damages in Auto Accident Cases
In addition to proving negligence, your auto accident attorney needs to show that you suffered damages directly as a result of the other party’s negligence. Often, after an automobile accident, victims receive lowball settlement offers from the other driver’s insurance company or from the driver’s employer in an attempt to pay as little as possible for the accident. Sometimes, inexperienced lawyers even try to obtain lowball settlements for their clients for the sake of settling the case.
To ensure you get a truly fair settlement that covers both the immediate and long-term damages associated with your accident, you need zealous, aggressive attorneys like those at Mazow | McCullough, PC who have experience estimating and obtaining fair settlements for their clients.
Depending on the specifics of your case, your damages may include the following or more:
- Medical bills
- Medical devices and equipment
- Medication costs
- Ambulance fees
- In-home services (healthcare, cleaning, childcare)
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental or physical distress
- Costs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Final medical expenses for deceased victims
- Funeral expenses related to wrongful death
- Property damage to your vehicle or other property
Car Accident Liability
Determining who may be liable for your car accident is key to recovering the maximum settlement award available in your case. Your attorney should explore the following potential responsible parties depending on the circumstances and facts surrounding your case.
- The other driver
- The company the driver works for, if applicable
- The designer manufacturer of your vehicle, the other driver’s vehicle, or any of its components or parts
- The city or municipality where the accident occurred
- Bars under dram shop liability laws
Additional Resources for Car Accident Liability
Inherent Liability: Who’s Liable When a Driver Crashes Someone Else’s Car?
What to Expect After a Car Accident
When you contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Mazow | McCullough, PC, you will meet directly with a partner or senior attorney who will help you understand how to immediately take care of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
We will coordinate claims among auto and health insurance companies to ensure that your auto accident injury claim is processed swiftly and correctly. From the moment we meet with you, we will immediately begin to work on your case to ensure that no stone is left unturned.
We will monitor your medical treatment and make sure you are receiving high-quality care. We will consult with a broad range of experts to assist with accident reconstruction and investigation, medical examinations, and witness statements.
Our goals are to be more prepared and have a better knowledge of your case than the insurance companies who are fighting against you. Motor vehicle collisions often involve complex issues of liability and insurance coverage, difficult evidentiary fact patterns, and statutory requirements.
Our decades of experience pursuing compensation for automobile accident victims have resulted in substantial results for our clients. This is the experience that we bring to bear on your claim.
Additional Resources for Navigating Post-Accident Life
Top Mistakes People Make After a Car Accident
What to Do in Case of a Car Accident
Insurance Laws in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that both drivers’ insurance coverage may come into play in an automobile accident. Legally, Massachusetts drivers must have the following types of basic coverage:
- $20,000 liability coverage for bodily injury per person
- $40,000 liability bodily injury coverage per accident
- $5,000 liability coverage for property damage
- $8,000 no-fault coverage for personal injury projection
- $20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
- $40,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
Under the no-fault rules, your own insurance policy must pay up to $2,000 for medical bills if you are injured in a car accident, regardless of who causes the accident. If you incur additional medical expenses or if you suffer serious injuries including permanent disfiguration, broken bones, or lost vision or hearing, you can hold the other driver responsible and make a claim to their insurance company. Alternatively, you can bring forward a personal injury lawsuit and hold the other driver responsible for a variety of damages.
In New Hampshire, drivers are required to carry slightly higher levels of liability and underinsured motorist coverage than drivers in Massachusetts. However, New Hampshire is not a no-fault state. As a result, if you are in an accident caused by another driver, you don’t have to meet a threshold of damages to bring forward a personal injury lawsuit; you always have that option open to you.
Additional Resources for Motor Vehicle Insurance
Why Are Insurance Companies such a Pain to Deal with After an Accident?
Talking to an Insurance Adjuster After an Auto Accident
Is the Insurance Adjuster on My Side?
What Will a Car Insurance Company Pay for in the Event of an Accident-Related Death? (Podcast)
Cooperating with the Insurance Company
What to Do If Your Auto Insurance Claim Is Denied
Who Pays If I’m Involved in a Crash with an Uninsured Driver? (Video)
Massachusetts Auto Accident Injury Lawyers – Insurance Companies (Video)
Car Safety Tips
Driving is an inherently risky activity and always carries the danger of potentially getting into an accident. However, there are several steps you can take to reduce your likelihood of being involved in an automobile collision, such as:
- Driving the speed limit
- Obeying all traffic laws
- Ensuring your vehicle is well-maintained
- Keeping your cell phone on silent while driving
- Wearing your seat belt
- Check your map and plan your route before you start driving
- Using a hands-free device for GPS or voice calls if needed
Additional Resources for Motor Vehicle Safety
Driving into the Glare of the Sun
Wrongful Death & Auto Accidents
Unfortunately, automobile accidents are a major cause of death across the nation. Many people mistakenly believe that a car accident is simply just that – an accident that no one saw coming or could have done anything about. However, this is often far from the case. Frequently, deadly auto accidents could have been prevented.
If your loved one was killed in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, your family deserves justice and restitution for your losses. An experienced car accident wrongful death attorney can help.
Additional Resources for Wrongful Death Caused by Car Accidents
What Are the Most Common Causes of Death in an Auto Accident?
Wrongful Death Commercial Car Accident Attorneys
What Makes Car Accidents Deadlier than Other Types of Accidents? (Podcast)
More Car Accident Resources
Visit the following pages for more resources on car accidents and getting the legal help you need for compensation after being hurt in a motor vehicle collision.
Hurt in a Car Accident? Experienced Collision and Injury Lawyers Mazow | McCullough, PC Can Help
The expert car accident attorneys at Mazow | McCullough, PC represent people who have been injured or killed as a result of negligence. Our attorneys recognize that every client is unique, every situation is different, and every motor vehicle collision victim should receive aggressive, personal, and high-quality legal representation. From the moment you contact us, your auto accident lawyer will pursue your case with the goal of getting you the fairest compensation possible.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident — be it as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist — contact the experienced car accident lawyers at Mazow | McCullough, PC right away. We will pursue your case with dedication and integrity.
To learn more about our history of pursuing auto accident cases on behalf of our clients, and the particular legal issues a motor vehicle collision may entail, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Please contact Mazow | McCullough, PC, today for a free consultation about your auto accident case. The right lawyer makes all the difference.
FREE EBOOK
