None of us think of being injured in a car crash during our day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, accidents happen when you least expect it. Case in point, a young woman we represent from Natick, Massachusetts could not have imagined she would be out disabled on day three of her new job. She was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Route 9 in Wellesley, which required surgical repair for a broken ankle. She faced mounting medical bills and was out of work for an extended period with no source of income. What do people do in situations like this?
If you find yourself in a situation like this, you should strongly consider hiring or at least consulting with an experienced Massachusetts personal injury law firm. Our Framingham injury lawyers specialize in representing and helping accident victims in all aspects of an accident case. Not only does having qualified accident lawyers on your side provide you with peace of mind, but it will also allow you and your family to focus on recovering from your injuries without the added stress of dealing with insurance companies and trying to navigate the insurance process alone.
The Insurance Process Can Be Complex – Skilled Injury Lawyers Can Help
It can be overwhelming to deal with the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, especially where serious injuries are involved. Not only is there the pain and inconvenience associated with the injuries and treatment, but you have insurance adjusters, insurance forms, medical bills, and bill collectors to deal with.
Experienced injury attorneys know how to handle an injury claim after a car crash. Our legal team understands and is proficient in knowing what claims must be filed, what needs to be obtained and prepared to properly pursue and recover compensation. There are usually two or more insurance companies involved in a typical two car collision. There may be several different claims that must be filed and handled with each insurance company. For instance, an accident may involve a property damage claim, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits claim, bodily injury claim, uninsured claim, and/or an underinsured motorist claim. Each claim will be handled by a different insurance adjuster and require various documentation to support each claim. Many accident victims find it mind-boggling to deal with all these different claims and adjusters. This is one aspect where a qualified injury lawyer can help.
In the example above, our Framingham accident attorneys were able to quickly take the necessary steps to get our client her lost wages. It’s not just a matter of calling the insurance carrier and saying I need lost wages. There are forms to prepare, documentation to obtain from the employer and treating physicians, and most importantly instructing the auto insurance company on the amount attributed to lost wages. By acting quickly, we were able to provide our client with lost wage payments while she recuperated from her injuries.
Additionally, in a situation where the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy does not carry adequate coverage to fully compensate an accident victim, an experienced lawyer will know where else to look for insurance coverage. It may be necessary to pursue an underinsured motor vehicle claim or pursue an injury claim under a household policy.
Our Experienced Framingham Accident Lawyers Can Protect Your Rights
Skilled and qualified accident lawyers can also help protect your rights to compensation after an accident. Our first objective after an accident is to make sure our clients do not fall victim to the many auto insurance tactics and strategies that may prevent them from recovering the compensation they deserve after being injured in a car crash.
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to try to place blame on you for the accident, even when it appears the facts are clear that you did nothing wrong. Remember, you must be able to establish that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence was the cause of the crash and your injuries. The insurance companies, however, will scrutinize the facts of an accident to try to allege that you were comparatively negligent (i.e., that you contributed to the accident and your own injuries). One way they do this is by trying to get you to give a statement before you speak with an attorney.
If you unwittingly gave a statement to the insurance company, your version of the accident can be twisted in such a manner that you’re, either, wholly or in part, responsible for the accident. Once you’ve committed to a story, without first seeking the advice of a lawyer, that statement will stay with you to the conclusion of the case. In a case we handled, our client from Marlborough gave a recorded statement to the insurance company prior to our representation. Only after the insurance company denied coverage did he seek our help. Insurance adjusters are trained in how to take a statement of an accident victim. They will pose question that are designed to elicit an ambiguous response, such as “could you have steered your vehicle to avoid the accident?” There’s always answers to “could have or should have”. Once we got involved, that recorded statement given by our client had no effect in shifting blame for the accident. Our client had the right of way traveling on Route 20 west and the other driver, who pulled out from a side street, did not.
Complicated Legal Issues May Arise that Require the Skill of Expert Injury Lawyers
Not all accidents are simply one party versus another. Complex legal issues can arise, such as accidents that involve multiple parties, accidents involving commercial vehicles and their commercial policies, pedestrian accidents, and so on. Our client from Hopkinton was a passenger in a motor vehicle and was seriously injured in an accident on Interstate 90. The other vehicle was initially responsible for the accident but upon arrival by the state police, the driver of our client’s vehicle was arrested for drunk driving. This case is presently in litigation, but our office is demanding contributions from both vehicles’ insurance policies. Fortunately, in this instance there is sufficient insurance coverage to protect our client. If there wasn’t, there could be availability in coverage from a motor vehicle policy associated with our client’s household. And liability could extend to the establishment that served alcohol to the operator of the vehicle our client was a passenger in.
Injury Attorneys Will Know What is Needed to Support an Injury Claim
When someone suffers a serious injury in a car accident, it is not enough to just tell the insurance company that you were hurt and required medical treatment. Sometimes, experts need to be hired to suitably document and explain the injury, treatment, and any resulting impairment. Similarly, if your injuries prevented you from returning to work or return to your occupation indefinitely, an expert economist or vocational expert needs to be consulted to sufficiently prove any lost earnings to make sure you recover fair compensation for all of your damages.
There are many complicated aspects to personal injury law. The first thing you should do after seeking appropriate medical treatment is to contact experienced personal injury attorneys. Our Framingham injury law office is available to answer any question you may have and explain the insurance process. We will take immediately action to gather the necessary evidence, coordinate payment of medical bills, file the appropriate paperwork with the insurance companies, communicate and negotiate with insurance adjuster, file a lawsuit when necessary and, most importantly, negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Don’t forget, for answers to many questions and great information on how to get the best possible settlement in your accident case, get a copy of our book: 