Personal Injury Law in Massachusetts
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Massachusetts? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Massachusetts can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Massachusetts relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Massachusetts
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Massachusetts
Boston Magazine released a study that concluded concussions were one of the most common injuries treated in Massachusetts emergency rooms. Due to inclement weather conditions, slips and falls are very common, as well as car accidents. The bulk of unexpected ER visits are attributed to falls and car accidents in Massachusetts.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Massachusetts
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Massachusetts A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either a settlement or a court appearance. After consulting with your attorney for the pre-suit process, in Massachusetts, you then begin the discovery process or (gathering of evidence). Then you enter mediation or negotiations with the party at fault and resolve by either settlement or trial. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and the factors that impact the final amount. Massachusetts official website Mass.gov, lists specific rules for filing and receiving your personal injury settlement. Typically, Massachusetts personal injury settlements tend to run in line with the national average of anywhere from $3,000-$75,000. However, slips and falls are more common in Massachusetts than in most other states, meaning filing a more significant claim could be more possible. When the other party has insurance, their company will likely push for a settlement to avoid the unpredictability of a jury’s decision. Settlements often work in favor of both sides. For injured parties, it means faster access to compensation without the delays of a trial. Taking the case to court in could mean risking a jury ruling against you, leaving you with no compensation at all. If your Massachusetts personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. In Massachusetts, there are no damage caps for personal injury suits. The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized. The statute of limitations for a personal injury suit in Massachusetts is three years. This means you have three years from the date of your injury to file any relevant suit. We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. Pursue a personal injury claim in Massachusetts against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Massachusetts state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Are you curious to learn about other areas of Massachusetts law? We write on many legal topics in the state.Massachusetts Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in Massachusetts
Statute of Limitations in Massachusetts Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Massachusetts Lawyer
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