Massachusetts Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Can An Undocumented Worker File a Personal Injury Claim?

There are many undocumented workers in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these people work in occupations which are inherently dangerous. That means, with great frequency, these individuals are subjected to the risk of serious personal injuries. Many of these injured individuals believe that they are not allowed to file a claim because of their immigration status. However, regardless of their immigration status, they may and have the right to file a claim for personal injuries.

Frequently, our office represents individuals who have been injured on the job that are undocumented cash employees. Regardless of how the work accident occurred, these individuals have no less rights to Workers’ Compensation benefits than those workers who are, in fact, documented workers.

Answers To Frequently Asked Massachusetts Slip And Fall Law Questions

Massachusetts personal injury law encompasses a wide array of accident cases. By far, the most common type of personal injury accident is a motor vehicle accident. Also, extremely prevalent are industrial accidents oftentimes referred to as Workers’ Compensation accidents. Slip and fall accidents, as well, comprise a large proportion of accident cases in Massachusetts. These cases can often be very complex and challenging to the victim of the accident. Here are some answers to frequently asked Massachusetts slip and fall law questions.

How long do I have to file a claim?:

Answers to Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law Frequently Asked Questions

As a Workers’ Compensation attorney in Massachusetts, my office represents those who have been injured on the job. Many of these injury victims have questions relating to what their rights are following an accident at work. The following are some answers to some frequently asked questions that I typically field each and every day. While by no means exhaustive, the following questions are those that typically arise on the part of those that are injured on the job.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Massachusetts Personal Injury FAQs

For those that are not familiar with Massachusetts personal injury law, it can be, at times, a very confusing subject. Besides providing legal services to our clients, our office also believes in sharing free legal information. The following are some answers to frequently asked questions relating to Massachusetts personal injury laws. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does cover many areas of personal injury law in Massachusetts.

How long do I have to file a claim?

Can my personal injury attorney settle my case without my consent?

Many people who have experienced an accident caused by negligence, end up hiring a personal injury lawyer for legal representation. That is almost always a good decision to make because by hiring an attorney for your accident case, you’ll be assured that your rights are fully protected and that you will get the best possible resolution for your claim.

Your attorney must operate within certain ethical boundaries that are set forth by the state. These ethical duties are very strict and numerous. First and foremost, an attorney is an advocate for a client. The attorney must operate and make decisions for a case that are fully for the benefit of the client.

What Makes a Good Personal Injury Lawyer?

There is definitely no shortage of personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts. With so many attorneys to choose from, how are you supposed to find the right one? And moreover, what makes a good personal injury lawyer? Here are some considerations to consider when determining whether or not a personal injury lawyer is a good fit for you.

A good personal injury attorney always communicates with his or her clients. Communication in the context of the attorney-client relationship is paramount. Generally speaking, the number one complaint clients have with their attorneys is, failure to communicate. The best and most effective personal injury lawyers regularly communicate with their clients. What makes a good personal injury attorney is the one who informs the client as to case progress. If the attorney is not communicating with the client, the client can often feel neglected and unimportant. That can only cause problems between the attorney and the client. Therefore, regular and effective communication is definitely an attribute of a good personal injury lawyer.

What Percentage Do Personal Injury Attorneys Get?

Many clients who have been involved in any type of accident are concerned about their cost of hiring an attorney. While some attorneys do, in fact, charge very, very high, exorbitant hourly rates, that is not the case with personal injury attorneys in Boston. These attorneys handle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney is only paid his or her fee in the event the case settles.

The contingency fee is reflected in the contingency fee agreement that is signed at the outset of the case by both the client and the attorney. The percentage depends on the case involved and the attorney involved. Generally, the fee percentage for personal injury cases is 33.3%. However, for some cases, such as slip and fall cases or other premises liability cases, the fee could be more than 33.3%. It may be 37% or even as high as 40%.

Why Do Personal Injury Attorneys Have a Bad Reputation?

There are over a million licensed attorneys in the United States. However, there is no question that, generally speaking, attorneys can oftentimes be not held in the highest regard by the public. Most notably, personal injury lawyers fall into this category. Regrettably, many people in society view personal injury lawyers very unfavorably.

The overwhelming majority of attorneys who handle personal injury cases are good, honest, ethical people. However, there are some bad apples that have sullied, unfortunately, the reputation of personal injury lawyers. So, why do personal injury attorneys have a bad reputation?

Answers to Commonly Asked Personal Injury Litigation Questions

The vast majority of personal injury claims do settle amicably. These settlements are reached between the insurance company and the victim of the personal injury accident. However, some cases don’t settle amicably, and when that occurs, a lawsuit is necessary. For many, the litigation process can seem like a very different and foreign experience. Here are some answers to some frequently asked personal injury litigation questions we hope you find useful.

Q: How long does the litigation process typically take?

Answers to Frequently Asked Massachusetts Car Accident Questions

It is a fact of life that car accidents are a common occurrence. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, car accidents have seemingly not waned. Regardless of the circumstances of your particular case, many, many people seem to have questions about car accidents. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to Massachusetts car accident law.

Q: Can I be sued if I cause a car accident?