Quick Answer Massachusetts drunk driving accident statistics show that impaired driving continues to cause fatal and serious crashes across the Commonwealth every year. A person injured by a drunk driver may pursue a civil lawsuit even if the driver faces criminal OUI...
Car Accidents
Qué hacer después de un accidente de auto en Massachusetts
Respuesta rápida Después de un accidente de auto en Massachusetts, llame al 911, busque atención médica lo antes posible y presente su reclamación de seguro de Protección por Lesiones Personales (PIP, por sus siglas en inglés) lo antes posible. Massachusetts es un...
Using the Crashworthiness Doctrine in Massachusetts When a Roof Collapses in a Rollover
How does the crashworthiness doctrine apply in Massachusetts when a roof collapses in a rollover? The crashworthiness doctrine in Massachusetts allows injured occupants to sue an auto manufacturer when a vehicle's roof collapses during a rollover and makes injuries...
Bypassing the $5,000 Road Defect Cap in Massachusetts Tripped Rollover Cases
Can Massachusetts tripped rollover victims recover beyond the $5,000 road defect cap? Yes, in some cases. The $5,000 cap under M.G.L. c. 84, § 15 generally limits certain public-way defect claims against cities, towns, counties, and local water and sewer commissions....
The Collision Deductible Waiver Trap After a Massachusetts Hit-and-Run
Why do I still have to pay my collision deductible after a Massachusetts hit-and-run if the crash was not my fault? In Massachusetts, the collision deductible waiver usually applies only when the other driver can be identified. If the other driver leaves the scene and...
Overcoming the Sudden Medical Emergency Defense After a Head-On Crash
Who has the burden of proof when a Massachusetts driver claims a sudden medical emergency caused them to cross the center line? In Massachusetts, a sudden medical emergency is an affirmative defense. This means the driver must prove the medical emergency was sudden,...
Why No-Contact Accidents Are Valid Hit-and-Run Claims in Massachusetts
Why can no-contact accidents still count as hit-and-run claims in Massachusetts? A phantom vehicle accident in Massachusetts is a crash caused by an unidentifiable driver who never physically touches your car. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled in...
Employer Liability for Distracted Driving Accidents in Massachusetts
Under certain conditions, a business can be held financially responsible if a worker causes a crash while sending a work-related text. The law holds the employer responsible for accidents caused by their staff while on the clock. The concept of vicarious liability for...
How the Consent to Settle Clause Can Affect Your UIM Claim
If you have been seriously hurt in a car accident and the other driver's insurance is not enough to cover your losses, you may be counting on your own underinsured motorist settlement in Massachusetts to fill the gap. But there is a hidden procedural rule in your auto...
When Does Texting While Driving Cross the Line Into Gross Negligence?
When a texting driver causes a serious crash, the legal consequences should match the recklessness behind the wheel. Under state law, gross negligence in Massachusetts texting while driving cases carries far greater legal weight than ordinary carelessness, and that...