It is in your best interests to hold a negligent driver responsible for an accident that leaves you with an injury. If you get hurt in an auto crash in Cambridge, MA, legal help is available. Partner with a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
At DiBella Law Offices, P.C., every case is personal. A Cambridge personal injury lawyer is available to review your claim. Contact us today to get started.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Cambridge
It is easy to panic as soon as an auto crash happens. At this point, take a deep breath and try to remain calm, cool, and collected. Here are things you should do to protect yourself in the moments after your collision:
- If possible, move your car to a safe spot away from traffic.
- Call 911.
- Get medical care.
- Tell police officers about your accident.
- Use your smartphone to take photos and videos at the accident scene.
- Ask the at-fault driver for their contact information, insurance information, and driver’s license number.
- Request the contact information of anyone who saw your crash happen.
Along with these things, contact a personal injury lawyer in Cambridge in the days following your crash. Choose an attorney who has plenty of experience with auto crash claims. This lawyer can help you figure out who is at fault in your car crash and submit your claim in accordance with Massachusetts laws.
Give us a call today to discover how we can assist you.
Statute of Limitations in Cambridge Car Accident Cases
According to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, §2A, there is a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. You have up to three years from the date of your auto crash and injury to sue any at-fault parties. Following a car accident, one or more parties may be accountable, including:
- The other driver
- Car manufacturer
- Municipality where the accident happened
In Massachusetts, every driver is required to have auto insurance. If someone else crashes their car into your vehicle, you may be able to get compensation through the at-fault motorist’s insurer. If this driver does not have insurance or their insurer does not pay the full cost of your collision, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
A Cambridge car accident attorney can take a look at your case and determine if now is the right time to submit a personal injury claim. The team at DiBella Law Offices, P.C. can answer frequently asked questions and many others about car crash lawsuits. For more information, get in touch with us.
How to Prove Negligence After a Car Accident
If someone is negligent, they have acted in a way that puts others in danger. There are four elements of negligence that must be present to prove a driver was at fault for a collision. These are:
1. Duty of Care
A duty of care refers to a legal obligation for one person to act reasonably toward another. For example, Massachusetts has a law about drunk or drugged driving. It is reasonable for anyone to expect all motorists in the Commonwealth to follow this law at all times.
2. Breach of Duty of Care
A duty of care gets breached when a person harms someone else due to an action that they knew was dangerous. As an example, someone can drive a car in spite of the fact that they are intoxicated. If this individual causes a drunk driving accident that injures another driver or pedestrian, they breach their duty of care toward these people.
3. Causation
Causation is present when someone breaches their duty of care and harms another person. For instance, you can get hurt in an auto crash in which the other motorist was speeding. In this instance, your accident and injury happened due to the fact that the other driver was traveling faster than the posted speed limit.
4. Damages
Damages refer to the losses you incur as a result of an at-fault party’s actions. In an auto crash, you may suffer economic and non-economic damages. Common losses associated with car crashes include medical bills, vehicle damage, pain, and suffering.
A car accident lawyer in Cambridge helps you gather evidence and witness statements to support your request for compensation. They also help you calculate your damages. By doing so, a car accident attorney in Cambridge, MA can build an argument designed to compel a judge or jury to award you the most compensation possible.
We've offered crucial support and guidance to individuals who have suffered injuries, ensuring their financial and emotional well-being.
How Much a Car Accident Claim Is Worth
As you search for a car accident attorney in Cambridge, look at the lawyer’s case results. You cannot put a price tag on an auto crash. Regardless, how well an attorney has performed in past cases is a strong indicator of whether this lawyer can get you the maximum amount of compensation.
Your lawyer considers the immediate and long-term impact of your auto collision and injuries. They then craft an argument to help you get a fair amount of compensation. Over the course of your litigation, a car accident lawyer in Cambridge, MA may exchange multiple settlement proposals with the defendant.
There is no requirement to approve a settlement offer. If no settlement is reached, your case goes to trial. Here, your attorney protects your legal rights, advocates for you, and helps you show a judge or jury why you deserve compensation.
Get in touch with us today to get a free consultation.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to an Auto Accident Case
Expect the defendant in your auto collision case to put up a fight. No matter what happens, your attorney will attempt to show that you are in no way at fault for your collision. They can teach you about comparative negligence and put you in the best position to prove that the defendant is 100% at fault.
Massachusetts follows a 51% comparative negligence rule. In most personal injury cases, you cannot be awarded any damages in a personal injury lawsuit unless you show that the defendant was primarily responsible. Meanwhile, you can still share responsibility for a collision and have your damages reduced based on your percentage of fault.
If a judge or jury finds the defendant in your car collision case to be 100% responsible, you get the full damages you originally requested. Comparatively, in an instance where you are found to be 20% at fault, you still get damages, but the amount you receive is reduced by 20%. Lastly, in a scenario where you are found to be primarily responsible for your crash, you do not get any compensation from the defendant.
Hire a Cambridge Auto Accident Lawyer
DiBella Law Offices, P.C. is a trusted advocate for those in need of legal help with auto crash cases. Our Cambridge auto accident attorney can evaluate your case. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today.
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