Being involved in a car accident can have a significant impact on both your health and your finances. If you’re injured in a collision, you may sustain injuries requiring costly treatment.
This can happen even if you’re a responsible motorist. The fact that you obey the rules of the road and exercise caution behind the wheel doesn’t mean others will do the same. Thus, you might be injured in a car accident because a driver with whom you were sharing the road was negligent. Other negligent parties who can theoretically cause an accident include:
- Pedestrians
- Government agencies responsible for maintaining safe roads
- Your vehicle’s designers and manufacturers
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, you might not be prepared to pay for your medical bills. Luckily, you also might not have to. Keep reading to learn more about who’s responsible for covering your medical expenses after a Massachusetts collision that leaves you injured.
Massachusetts Car Accidents: Important Information About No-Fault Laws
Most states in the U.S. apply the “at-fault” or “tort” model to car accidents. In an at-fault state, if someone else caused your car accident, their insurance would be responsible for compensating you for your medical bills (and related losses, such as lost wages). Thus, to secure the compensation you deserve, it would be necessary to:
- Investigate the accident to identify the negligent party who caused it
- Gather evidence proving negligence
- File a claim with the negligent party’s insurance showing you deserve compensation
The process of securing compensation is different in Massachusetts. Ours is a “no-fault” state. In Massachusetts, you would file a claim with your own insurance to pursue compensation for your medical bills, even if the accident occurred as a result of another party’s carelessness.
This doesn’t mean recovering the full amount of compensation for which you’re eligible will be easy. Understand, your insurer isn’t necessarily going to enthusiastically offer a large payout when you file a claim. To avoid a large financial loss, your insurer might offer you less money than you’re seeking.
This is one of many reasons it’s wise to hire a Massachusetts car accident attorney in these circumstances. Although an ethical lawyer can’t promise that you will receive a specific amount of compensation, they can leverage a thorough understanding of how insurance companies attempt to minimize settlements to negotiate for an appropriate offer on your behalf.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, you might not be prepared to pay for your medical bills. Luckily, you also might not have to.
When You Can File a Third-Party Claim or Lawsuit After a Massachusetts Car Accident
Along with negotiating with your insurance company, your attorney can review the severity of your injuries/losses and determine whether you have grounds to step outside of Massachusetts’ no-fault system.
In some cases, a Massachusetts car accident victim does have the option to seek compensation by filing a claim or lawsuit against the negligent party who caused their accident. This may be an option when:
- Your reasonable medical expenses total at least $2,000
- Your injuries result in significant disfigurement, cause some type of major impairment, or are otherwise serious enough to justify a third-party claim or lawsuit
A legal professional can determine if it’s worth your time to pursue compensation beyond what your own insurer may provide by taking action against a negligent party or their insurer. If this is a viable option, they can also use the resources of an established Massachusetts personal injury law firm to properly investigate your accident. This is key to gathering the evidence necessary to show that you were hurt because of someone else’s actions or carelessness.
Again, they’ll also handle all negotiations and correspondence with the insurance company. If your own insurer might not be inclined to pay you what you deserve, you can be confident a negligent driver’s insurer will also be unlikely to offer a proper settlement when you initially file a claim.
How a Lawyer Helps You Seek Compensation for Your Medical Bills After a Massachusetts Car Accident
Don’t make the mistake of working directly with an insurance company after being harmed in a collision. One of the best ways you can optimize your chances of receiving the compensation for which you’re eligible is to meet with a lawyer early.
At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., we offer free consultations. At no cost to you, we’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options. If you hire us, we’ll also provide effective representation, helping you pursue full compensation for your medical bills. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us online or calling us at (800) 545-3732.
Need Help?
If you or someone you know, needs help from a lawyer, contact the law offices of Swartz & Swartz, use our live chat, or send us a message using the form below and we’ll get in touch to assess your case and how we can help.
About the Author: David W. Faraci
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