Have you or your loved ones suffered from a car accident in Boston? Our experienced car accident lawyers can help get you the compensation and justice you deserve.
- Essential Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Boston
- Meet our team!
- Causes of Boston Car Accidents
- The Most Common Injuries in Car Accidents in Boston
- How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
- Car Accident Cases We Handle
- How Do I Choose a Car Accident Lawyer?
- Car Accident Lawyer in Boston
- Client Reviews
- Cooperating with a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
- Who Can File a Lawsuit for a Boston Car Accident?
- What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Car Accident in Boston?
- Determining Fault and Massachusetts No-Fault Rules
- Massachusetts Car Insurance Requirements
- Boston Car Accident Statute of Limitations
- Dealing with an Insurance Company After a Car Accident
- Car Accident Statistics in Massachusetts
- Contact a Boston Car Accident Lawyer Today!
- Related resources
- Massachusetts Car Accident FAQs
- 30-Day, Risk-Free Guarantee
Essential Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Boston
Your Boston car accident claim begins at the car accident scene. The steps you take immediately after the accident can affect the potential financial compensation you can recover. It’s important to take the following steps to protect your health and your claim:
Report the Accident
Call 911 to report the accident. Police and emergency personnel can respond to the auto accident site. If you are injured, they can transport you to the nearest hospital for treatment and evaluation. A law enforcement officer can investigate the crash and make an official police report that can serve as an important document to support your claim.
Seek Medical Treatment
If the emergency medical technicians who responded to your call recommend medical treatment, accept the treatment. Your health is the top priority. Delaying treatment can not only cause your injuries to worsen but also risk having your claim denied by the insurance company.
Your treatment also provides a medical record of your injuries, which can show that you took the situation seriously and responded promptly. It can also serve as proof of the connection between the accident and your injuries.
Gather Information
Gather information from the other drivers involved in the accident, including:
- Their names and contact information
- Their driver’s license numbers
- Their registration information
- Their insurance information
- A description of their vehicle, including year, make, and model.
While much of this information may be included in the police report, police officers are busy and may forget to collect some data or make an error in obtaining it. If you personally collect it, you will have the information you need to file a claim against the at-fault party. Additionally, experienced lawyers will know whether the driver’s vehicle has an event data recorder that may have stored valuable information in the vehicle, which they can obtain for additional evidence to use in your case.
If any witnesses stopped at the accident scene, ask for their names and contact information, too. Your attorney can follow up with them later to get an objective witness statement about how the accident occurred to use when filing your insurance claim.
Take Photos
Photos are valuable evidence in a car accident claim. Drivers often have different versions of how the accident occurred because they don’t want to be found at fault. However, photos are objective and can help paint the scene.
It’s important to get as many pictures of the accident as possible. This is because the auto accident site will quickly be cleaned up, and the evidence can disappear forever. Insurance companies and juries will want to evaluate objective evidence, and pictures are one of the best forms of evidence in these cases.
If possible, take photos of the following:
- Wide shots and close-ups of the car accident site
- The vehicles involved
- Names of nearby streets
- Road and weather conditions
- Nearby traffic signs or lights
- Skid marks
- Debris on the roadway
- Property damage.
Obtain the Police Report
You can obtain a copy of the police report by sending a written request to the local or state police department or Registry of Motor Vehicles. Your car accident attorney can use the information on the report to verify insurance coverage and its limits and file your personal injury claim.
Document Your Losses
You may begin suffering immediate financial consequences due to the wreck. However, you may be able to recover compensation for these losses as a car accident victim, so keep all of your receipts, invoices, estimates, and bills related to them, such as:
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Medical bills
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Co-pays and deductibles you paid
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Rideshare receipts
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Car rental receipts
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Payments to car mechanics
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Check stubs and employment records regarding your lost wages
Continue Your Medical Treatment
Continue your medical treatment and follow your doctor’s orders so you do not worsen your injuries or slow your medical recovery. Your Boston car accident attorney may also advise you to keep a journal with details about your medical care regimes, pain, and complications you face due to your car accident injuries.
Call Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers
Our lawyers handle car accident claims regularly. They know the tactics insurance companies use to try to avoid paying fair compensation. They can advise you of the next steps to take in your case and handle the insurance claim process so you can focus on your recovery.
Boston car accident lawyers also know the steps to obtain additional evidence to support your claim, such as traffic camera footage, dashcam footage, cell phone records, and information stored in electronic data recorders. A lawyer can send letters instructing parties to preserve this information as potential evidence for your car accident case. This can help prevent valuable evidence from being lost or destroyed.
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we are focused on helping you through this challenging time and securing meaningful compensation for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation.
Meet our team!
Causes of Boston Car Accidents
It is well-known that Boston is a dangerous place to drive. Boston has heavy commuter traffic and a high number of aggressive drivers that make it more likely that you or someone you know will be involved in a serious accident. Many types of driver behaviors prove to be dangerous or deadly. Among the common causes of car accidents are:
The Most Common Injuries in Car Accidents in Boston
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing car accident victims who have suffered various types of injuries. We also understand that not all Boston car accidents are the same—some are far more serious than others.
In some car accidents, you might not sustain injuries at all. But in a very serious incident, you may sustain bodily injury, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Amputations
- Burn injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is important to consult with an experienced car accident attorney to learn about your rights after sustaining injuries. Unfortunately, in some motor vehicle accidents, you might not know that you are injured up front. It might take time for injuries to appear and for you to realize the long-term implications of the incident.
An experienced lawyer will analyze the long-term implications and potential complications that might come up down the road. The best attorneys will consider this when seeking compensation for your injuries.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Serious car accidents can be complicated to resolve. If the accident caused serious injuries, disputes about payment of medical bills often arise. You should not have to pay medical bills or be burdened with medical debt if someone else caused the collision.
You may be unsure whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit or have questions about whether another driver involved in the accident should pay your medical expenses. We will review the details of the car crash and explain your legal options free of charge.
If we represent you, we will handle your claim on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe any attorney’s fee unless we obtain money for you.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
The variety of auto accidents that you can get hurt in is, unfortunately, exceptionally versatile. A distracted driver, a road defect, or bad weather can serve as the cause of severe bodily injury, property damage, or other losses and implications.
The type of the accident, along with its severity, usually predetermines the compensation you can claim. By working with experienced car accident lawyers, your chances of settling for the reimbursement that covers your past, present, and future expenses multiply.
Our Boston car accident attorneys are well-versed in most motor vehicle accidents, including but not limited to the following cases:
- Rideshare accident
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end accidents
- Side-impact
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Rollovers
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Parking lot accidents
How Do I Choose a Car Accident Lawyer?
You want to select an experienced Boston car accident lawyer who you can trust to fight for you and never give up. At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to pursuing justice for our clients. Some suggestions for selecting an attorney include:
- Work with a Boston lawyer who has a thorough knowledge of Massachusetts personal injury law.
- Choose an accident lawyer who has handled numerous similar cases. The energetic car accident attorneys at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers work on auto accident cases every day.
- Select a lawyer who is a good communicator, one who will keep you informed of developments in your case and who will return your phone calls when you have questions.
- Look for a lawyer who will investigate your case thoroughly and pursue it where it leads.
- You should be represented by a lawyer who has proven skills in negotiating settlements with insurance companies. We have settled hundreds of cases.
- Opt for a trial lawyer who has the litigation skills to take your case to court if necessary.
Having a trial lawyer negotiating on your behalf signals to the insurance companies that you are serious about receiving full compensation for your car accident injuries. Insurance companies are more likely to offer maximum compensation if they know they will end up in court otherwise. The personal injury attorneys at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers are talented, experienced trial lawyers.
Car Accident Lawyer in Boston
Contact our Boston car accident attorneys for a free consultation. We will focus on recovering money for you while you heal from your injuries.
A serious car crash is a chaotic event that disrupts the lives of the accident victims and their loved ones. It is stressful. Understandably, people who suffer serious injuries in such an accident are often overwhelmed and in no position to advocate for themselves.
Most personal injury victims have not dealt with a car accident settlement, and it is normal to have questions. You need trusted guidance from a knowledgeable lawyer who can answer your questions and handle the insurance company issues. You need a Boston car accident attorney who you can trust. An experienced car accident lawyer at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers is ready to help you move forward after a serious accident.
We recognize that you are going through one of the most difficult experiences of your life. With us, you’ll get dependable guidance based on an understanding of your specific situation. The attorneys at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers are ready to listen to your concerns and offer a free evaluation of your claim.
Why choose us to handle your motor vehicle accident? Three reasons:
If your claim is the type that we handle, we will deal with the paperwork and the other driver’s insurance company and make sure they do not take advantage of you. You will not owe any legal fee unless we obtain money for you. Rated 4.9 out of 5.0 on Google with over 340 client reviews.
Client Reviews
Mike and Steff thank you for your patience with me. Great service especially when time gets the best of me. Absolutely fabulous work. Thank you, from my family you yours.
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Cooperating with a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
Working with an experienced car accident attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. From the start, a Boston car accident lawyer will guide you through the legal process and help you understand your rights and options.
Your role in this cooperation is to provide all necessary documents, such as the accident report, photos, and any communication with insurance companies. Open and honest communication is key — share every detail about the accident, even if it seems like it won’t matter.
Your lawyer will handle the complexities of the Boston car accident claim. They will negotiate with insurance companies, gather evidence, and represent you in court if the case goes to trial. They will also work to secure the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to our car accident clients’ cause and do our best to support them in this stressful period. When you work with us, you can be sure that we will stay in touch with you and do everything to build a strong car accident case and achieve the resolution you are hoping for.
Who Can File a Lawsuit for a Boston Car Accident?
According to Massachusetts law, when a collision occurs between two or more vehicles, one driver is usually held responsible for the accident. If you are a victim and have sustained car accident injuries, you have the legal right to compensation for your accident-related losses. This can be done by filing a motor vehicle accident claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
If the settlement offered by the insurance company is not fair, you may decide that the best course of action is to pursue a car accident lawsuit according to Massachusetts law. This legal action can help you recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to auto accidents.
Car crash victims deserve to know their rights and how the legal process can significantly affect their recovery, especially in the case of catastrophic injuries where it is necessary to receive funds for injuries sustained. An attorney with car accident experience can help you achieve fair results in your Boston car accident case.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Car Accident in Boston?
If you have been injured in such an accident, you should initially file a claim with the insurer of the car in which you were riding. Drivers in Massachusetts are required to carry certain mandatory amounts of auto insurance coverage, including Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This is sometimes referred to as no-fault insurance.
PIP covers the medical bills for each person in the car who is injured in an accident. Regardless of who caused the accident, the insurance company should cover your medical bills for personal injuries and may cover a portion of your lost wages up to $8,000 per person, according to the terms of the policy.
If your injuries are more serious and exceed $2,000 or meet certain conditions, such as involving broken bones, spinal cord injury, serious disfigurement, eye damage, hearing loss, or burn injuries, you may be entitled to file a car accident lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries and other losses if another driver was at fault for the accident.
Medical Bills
You may have a right to seek compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation, prescription medicines, and the costs of your future medical treatment or rehabilitation related to your injuries.
Lost Wages
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts allows you to seek compensation for lost income if your injuries forced you to miss work. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or limit the type of work you can perform, then you may seek compensation for your reduced earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
Massachusetts juries may award compensation for both physical and emotional pain. You may seek compensation for your pain and mental anguish, as well as the past and future shock and anxiety resulting from your injury. This is commonly referred to as pain and suffering.
Disfigurement
If your injuries caused scarring and disfigurement, the loss of a limb, or changes in your appearance, you may seek compensation for disfigurement.
Property Damage
You may seek compensation to pay for your car repairs or replace your car if it was totaled.
Determining Fault and Massachusetts No-Fault Rules
All drivers in the state of Massachusetts have a legal responsibility to operate their vehicles with reasonable care so they do not put others at risk. If a driver shirks their legal duty and drives in a careless manner, such as speeding or running a traffic light, the driver is considered to be negligent in the eyes of the law.
An insurance claims adjuster will make a determination of fault based on the police accident report, witness statements, medical records, and evidence gathered at the scene.
In some car accidents, more than one driver or other party is partially at fault. Massachusetts uses the legal doctrine of comparative fault in these cases. A jury will be instructed to determine the degree of fault that each party bears for causing the crash.
In the Commonwealth, you may still collect damages in a car accident lawsuit, so long as you are no more than 50 percent responsible for causing your injuries. If you are found to be partly responsible, any compensation you are awarded will be reduced proportionately by your percentage of fault.
For example, if a Suffolk County jury awarded $100,000 in damages and found that you were 25 percent at fault for causing your own injuries, then you would be entitled to receive $75,000 in damages.
As to minor car accidents, Massachusetts handles most of them under the no-fault rules. In these situations, drivers cannot take each other to court for accidents unless the following conditions apply:
- You have incurred $2,000 or more in medical bills or other expenses.
- You have suffered a serious injury as the result of the accident, which can include loss of hearing or vision, broken bones, and/or permanent disfigurement.
Massachusetts Car Insurance Requirements
The state of Massachusetts has a few specific requirements for car insurance to make sure residents have coverage that is adequate in case they are involved in an accident. These requirements are in place to protect you but can quickly increase the cost of your policy’s rates depending on the limits you choose. If you’re a safe driver, you will probably be eligible for a discount on your insurance premium.
You must carry the following four types of insurance if you own a vehicle in the state of Massachusetts:
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) will cover your or your passenger’s injuries caused in an accident. This coverage is there regardless of who is at fault.
Boston Car Accident Statute of Limitations
All states have a statute of limitations—the time limit you have to file a lawsuit or legal claim after a car accident. The Massachusetts car accident limit is three years, according to Chapter 260 § 2A of Massachusetts General Law. This limit applies to all Boston car accident cases, including wrongful death claims.
However, certain exceptions may extend or delay the statute of limitations. As an example, if the injured person was a minor or mentally incapacitated at the time of the accident, the time limit doesn’t apply until they reach the age of 18 or regain mental competence. And, if the at-fault driver leaves Massachusetts after the accident, the statute of limitations may be paused during their absence. This gives you more time to file your Boston car accident lawsuit.
To ensure that your claim is filed within the right timeframe, it’s best to consult with a Boston car accident lawyer soon after the incident. Our experienced car accident lawyer can guide you through the process and take the appropriate legal steps.
Dealing with an Insurance Company After a Car Accident
Dealing with an insurance company that has denied your claim can be extremely frustrating. If you are trying to recover from a serious injury such as broken bones, it can add to your stress and slow your recovery. It is important to understand why your claim was denied.
You should seek the help of a Boston car accident lawyer if another driver’s insurance company has denied your claim. Our car accident attorneys can review the facts regarding the accident and explain whether you have a valid claim and what steps to take.
Having a clear understanding of your legal options is important to know how to proceed. If the car insurance company is acting in bad faith, a seasoned car accident lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf against the at-fault driver and their insurer to pursue full and fair compensation.
Car Accident Statistics in Massachusetts
According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2024 has shown a promising decline in traffic accidents nationwide. However, there have been over 116K car crashes in Massachusetts as of December 2024 — 339 of them being fatal.
Boston, being one of the largest cities in the state, counts the most fatal collisions according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation — there have been 14 traffic fatalities in the city, which is a slight increase in comparison to the previous two years. Vehicle operators, pedestrians, and bicyclists remain the most vulnerable road user categories in Massachusetts.
Here’s a comparison of the severity of injuries that accident victims have suffered from 2022 to 2024 as per the most recent MassDOT data:
| Injury type | Year | ||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Fatal injuries | 409 | 324 | 339 |
| Serious injuries | 2,531 | 2,421 | 2,031 |
| Minor injuries | 17,419 | 18,668 | 16,459 |
| Possible injury crashes | 10,521 | 9,736 | 8,287 |
| No injury collisions | 94,869 | 96,193 | 83,644 |
| Other | 8,574 | 8,108 | 5,312 |
Most deadly injuries in the state come from three main types of two-vehicle fatal crashes:
- Front-end collisions — 66%
- T-bone collisions — 29%
- Rear-end collisions — 6%.
Although every vehicle incident is unique, they often rely on a variety of contributing factors:
- Impaired driving: According to recent reports, as many as 34% of deadly car accidents involved an impaired operator.
- Distracted driving: People talking on their phones, checking messages, directions, or other data on their electronic devices, speaking with their passengers, or paying attention to something outside the vehicle caused over 8K of collisions across the state, year-to-date.
- Speeding: Over 27% of all the fatal incidents in 2022 in Massachusetts were a direct outcome of speeding, resulting in over 100 casualties.
Contact a Boston Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Our lawyers will move quickly to investigate your personal injury case and preserve evidence. We will interview witnesses, gather photos of the accident scene, and talk with the police.
Based on our investigation, we will determine all the potentially responsible parties. In some car accidents, more than one party shares responsibility. We will identify all the insurance coverage potentially available to provide compensation to you. Identifying multiple insurance policies can increase the amount of compensation you can receive.
- We will estimate your present and future losses related to the accident, including loss of income if you cannot return to work. We will present a claim to the insurance company reflecting the full amount of your losses.
- We will negotiate aggressively on your behalf for a reasonable settlement. We are successful in settling most claims out of court. But if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, we will be prepared to go to court to pursue justice for you if necessary.
Having an experienced car accident attorney advocating for you offers you the best chance of recovering a settlement or jury award that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses. With a skilled attorney on your side, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery.
Related resources
- CDC – Transportation Safety Guide
- Mass.gov – Report the car accident
- General Laws – Car Accident Laws
- Division of Insurance (DOI)
- Boston Municipal Court
- Mass.gov – Auto Insurance Claims
Massachusetts Car Accident FAQs
How Do I Know if My Car Accident Claim Is Valid?
Every motor vehicle accident is different in terms of circumstances, liabilities, and damages sustained. The easiest way to figure out where you are standing with your personal injury claim is to contact a professional legal representative. Our Boston car accident lawyers offer free case evaluations that car accident clients can reach out to.
Even if you don’t have a valid car accident case, at least you will be sure of it instead of wondering whether you should have hired a lawyer and eased the financial toll the incident had on you.
Can I Settle My Car Accident Claim Without Going to Court?
Most car accident claims are resolved without going to trial due to the court expenses that both parties are willing to escape. Usually, the cases are negotiated between personal injury lawyers and insurance companies. However, if a satisfactory conclusion can be made or the insurance provider denies the claim, you can ask your legal representative to prepare and file a lawsuit.
Often, it is the client who chooses which route to take. An experienced legal representative will inform you of the advantages and drawbacks of either course so that you can make an informed final decision.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Car Crash?
There are three main categories of damages you can recover after a car accident:
- Economic
- Non-economic
- Punitive
The first covers monetary losses, such as medical expenses, loss of income, property damage, and other related costs. Non-economic damages that you can recover refer to the pain and suffering that severe car accident injuries have inflicted on you and your loved ones after the incident. The last type of damage is the rarest since it implies that the party responsible has been extremely reckless or inflicted injuries or, in some cases, wrongful death intentionally. They are exemplary measures added to the financial compensation.
Who Can I Sue for My Car Accident?
There may be more than a single liable party in some personal injury cases. Usually, you can sue the at-fault driver, the driver’s employer, or another driver’s insurance company after an auto incident. However, in some instances, you can also file car accident lawsuits against the government entity, vehicle manufacturer, or property owner. It is possible to sue multiple parties if the accident is highly complicated.
You can make the most of your bodily injury claim with an expert auto accident attorney by your side. They will help you assess the full scale of the sustained losses so that no detail is left out.
