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 medical bills and lost wages are properly paid, and that medical treatment is appropriate. Most importantly, you need to ensure that the matter is handled in such a way that the maximum compensation possible is obtained on your behalf.

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 crashes are more damaging for the 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 costs, lost wages, recovery-related expenses, 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 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

Accidents with Vans

Large passenger vans are commonly used by church groups, tour guides, schools, and various other organizations. These vehicles are alluring because they can fit up to 15 people and sometimes more, and the driver doesn’t need a special license. Unfortunately, however, 15-passenger vans are especially 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 toll associated with 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.

Uber, Lyft, and Ride Sharing Accidents

With the rise of ride sharing services in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the roads have arguably become more dangerous. 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, you need to contact an attorney. Ridesharing services have some liability policies in place. 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 that clear. Uber and Lyft both have smaller liability policies in place for when the driver is logged into the app but without a passenger in the vehicle; however, this coverage may not be enough to cover significant damages. To protect your financial health, you need an attorney who can artfully prove that the ride sharing service is liable for your injuries. In some cases, the driver may also bear liability.

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 that their negligence led to your damages. Some examples of negligence in auto accident cases include:

• 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, prove negligence, and make a claim for your damages.

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 coverage at a minimum:

• $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 coverage 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 more medical expenses than that 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.

Damages in Auto Accident Cases

In addition to proving negligence, your auto accident attorney needs to show that you suffered damages as a result of the other party’s negligence. Your settlement amount is based on the damages you have suffered. Often, after an automobile accident, victims receive lowball settlement offers from the other driver’s insurance company or from the driver’s employer. Sometimes, inexperienced lawyers even try to obtain lowball settlements for their clients.

To ensure you get a truly fair settlement that really covers the immediate and long-term damages associated with your accident, you need 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:

• 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

What Sets Mazow | McCullough, PC’s Auto Accident Lawyers Apart?

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.

List of Settlements

At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we have secured numerous settlements for our clients, including the following and more.

• $290,000 settlement awarded to a 77-year-old New Hampshire man after he was involved in a head-on collision with an oncoming motorist who crossed the centerline.
• $100,000 settlement awarded to a passenger who was injured when the driver recklessly ran into a guard rail.
• $140,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who was hit by a motorist doing a careless U-turn.
• $200,000 settlement for a passenger who was injured when the driver of that vehicle turned left in front of another car. Originally, the injured passenger was offered a settlement of just $100,000 from the driver’s insurance company, but Mazow | McCullough, PC were able to make an additional claim against the other driver as well, doubling the amount of the original offer.
• $600,000 settlement to a pedestrian who was hit by a motorist while standing at a trolley stop.

What to Expect in a Car Accident Case

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 the ways to immediately take care of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. We will coordinate claims among the various automobile 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, medical examinations and opinions, and witness investigations. 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.

Contact a Salem, MA Car Accident Lawyer Today

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. 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, please click on the links below.

Please contact Mazow | McCullough, PC, today for a free consultation about your auto accident case. The right lawyer makes all the difference.

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