Published on: April 15, 2012

Telling Your Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney About Prior Accidents and Claims

One of the first questions I ask a potential personal injury client is whether he has made any claims in the past. Whether it be a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall or some other claim, it is important for me to know this information. The reason is that the claims adjuster and the defense attorney (if the claim goes into suit) has access to a claims index. If you have made claims in the past, they will appear in the claims index and will come up on a search.

Therefore, before meeting with your attorney for the first time, think back to any claims you have made in the past and write them down on a piece of paper. Write down the approximate date of the accident, the type of accident it was, and any injuries you suffered as a result.

It is better that your attorney learn of these accidents at the beginning of the case, rather than during your deposition when the defense attorney will be sure to bring them up to weaken your case.

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Published on: April 15, 2012

Telling Your Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney About Prior Accidents and Claims

By Christopher Earley

One of the first questions I ask a potential personal injury client is whether he has made any claims in the past. Whether it be a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall or some other claim, it is important for me to know this information. The reason is that the claims adjuster and the defense attorney (if the claim goes into suit) has access to a claims index. If you have made claims in the past, they will appear in the claims index and will come up on a search.

Therefore, before meeting with your attorney for the first time, think back to any claims you have made in the past and write them down on a piece of paper. Write down the approximate date of the accident, the type of accident it was, and any injuries you suffered as a result.

It is better that your attorney learn of these accidents at the beginning of the case, rather than during your deposition when the defense attorney will be sure to bring them up to weaken your case.

Continue reading →

Published on: April 9, 2012

What is a Statute of Limitations?

By Christopher Earley

A statute of limitations is the period of time set through law in which you are allowed to sue someone in court. Generally, in Massachusetts, personal injury claims such as auto accidents, slip and falls, and dog bites, have, respectively, a three-year statute of limitations.

But be very clear that not all accident/personal injury claims have a three-year statute of limitations. Some have shorter or longer periods depending on the facts and the applicable law. If you have been hurt in an accident, I suggest you call an attorney immediately in order to protect your legal rights.

Please contact me with any questions of comments you may have in connection with Massachusetts personal injury law.

Published on: April 9, 2012

What is a Statute of Limitations?

By Christopher Earley

A statute of limitations is the period of time set through law in which you are allowed to sue someone in court. Generally, in Massachusetts, personal injury claims such as auto accidents, slip and falls, and dog bites, have, respectively, a three-year statute of limitations.

But be very clear that not all accident/personal injury claims have a three-year statute of limitations. Some have shorter or longer periods depending on the facts and the applicable law. If you have been hurt in an accident, I suggest you call an attorney immediately in order to protect your legal rights.

Please contact me with any questions of comments you may have in connection with Massachusetts personal injury law.

Published on: March 22, 2012

My 600th Post

By Christopher Earley

Nothing substantive here; I just wanted to thank all my loyal readers and clients who read this blog. I am proud to be able to blog and deliver information to people in Massaschusetts and beyond who have been negligently injured by someone else. I hope my readers feel a little better about their rights after reading my blog, when dealing with injuries, mounting medical bills and lost time from work following a personal injury event.

Thank you for reading.

Published on: February 25, 2012

Is A Lawyer Contacting You After A Car Accident?

By Christopher Earley

Is A Lawyer Contacting You After A Car Accident?
Following a motor vehicle collision people typically start receiving a ton of mail from insurance companies. Unfortunately, some of this mail may also be from car accident lawyers soliciting you. Sadly, there are lawyers who actually scour the accident reports from recent car crashes in order to solicit, either on the telephone, letter, or both, potential clients in hopes of drumming up business. Many lawyers, including myself, look with disfavor on this practice because it gives personal injury lawyers a bad name. I have written before on how injury lawyers do not deserve a bad reputation, but certainly these lawyers who solicit in this manner do nothing to elevate the reputation of personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts.
If you receive a letter from a lawyer after a car accident whom you did not contact, be careful when dealing with such a desperate and unscrupulous attorney.

Published on: October 16, 2011

Boston Work Injury Lawyer

By Christopher Earley

Boston Work Injury Lawyer

As a Boston work injury lawyer, I get asked this question very often. The answer is, it depends. If you fell at work in Massachusetts, you cannot sue your employer. But, you can make a claim for Massachusetts workers compensation benefits with your employer’s insurance company. A claim is not of course the same thing as a lawsuit.

However, if your slip and fall accident was caused by the negligence of someone other than your employer, than you may be able to sue that third-party for your injuries. In example would be a delivery driver injured on the steps of a home he is delivering a product to, or a cook who slips and falls on a wet and slippery floor that was caused by an outside cleaning company. You get the picture.

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