Call Earley Before It’s Too Late!A visit to Boston can be a fantastic experience, but it can become devastating in an instant. If you’re involved in a car accident during your trip, you can be left facing serious injuries, significant financial distress, and a complicated legal situation.
Earley Law Group understands how challenging car accidents can be for tourists who get injured, and we’re dedicated to seeking justice on their behalf. We can help you pursue a Boston personal injury claim and demand the compensation you deserve, regardless of where you call home. Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation.
How a Boston Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Tourists
Many people don’t know where to begin when pursuing a tourist auto accident claim. That’s understandable, as dealing with out-of-state personal injury cases presents not only legal challenges, but practical ones. These hurdles mean having an experienced lawyer on your case is crucial.
Our tourist injury lawyers can help by:
- Explaining Massachusetts laws – Personal injury law varies from state to state. We’ll help you understand your rights under Massachusetts’ insurance and liability rules.
- Reducing travel burdens – In many cases, we can handle most of your claim without requiring you to return to Massachusetts.
- Gathering evidence – Building your case can be difficult when you’re out of state. We can investigate the accident and secure the evidence to hold the at-fault party responsible, even if you return home.
- Keeping you in the loop – We’ll regularly update you on the progress of your case and answer any questions you have promptly.
- Negotiating and litigating – Insurance companies may capitalize on your long-distance case by offering lowball settlements you may feel compelled to accept to avoid the challenges your claim presents. We’re right here in Boston, ready to fight for a fair settlement or take your claim to court if necessary.
Why Tourists Face Unique Challenges in Boston Car Accidents
Collisions are already stressful and confusing to deal with, but car accidents involving tourists are even more complicated. Some unique challenges tourists face when pursuing personal injury claims in another state include:
- Rental cars – Many tourists drive rental vehicles, which means added complications due to supplemental insurance policies, liability issues, and dealing with the rental company.
- Out-of-state insurance – Your home state’s policy may work differently from Massachusetts’ insurance requirements, which can create confusion about what is covered.
- Distance from home – Once a tourist returns home, coordinating medical care, insurance claims, and legal action across state lines can be time-consuming and confusing.
- Insurance company tactics – Insurance companies know all the challenges out-of-state claimants face and frequently try to take advantage of them.
These unique issues make it particularly important for injured tourists to work with an experienced Boston tourist car accident attorney. Your attorney will not only be within the right jurisdiction for pursuing your claim, but they’ll also be familiar with the area and the local court systems.
What Tourists Should Do After a Car Accident in Boston
The steps you take immediately after a crash are critical for protecting both your health and your legal rights. If you’re involved in a car accident while visiting Boston, be sure to:
- Seek prompt medical attention. If you haven’t already, see a healthcare professional as soon as possible. A doctor’s visit can catch injuries that may not have presented themselves yet. Quick medical care can also strengthen your tourist auto accident claim.
- Report the accident. Police reports can provide helpful evidence when pursuing your claim. They offer key details about the collision, including the date, time, location, statements from involved parties and witnesses, and an initial fault assessment.
- Collect contact information. Gather the names, contact information, license and plate numbers, and insurance details of all involved parties. If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact information.
- Notify the rental car company. If you are driving a rental car, report the accident as soon as possible to avoid complications with the rental company.
Contact an attorney. Before speaking with insurance adjusters, contact an experienced Boston tourist car accident attorney. They can protect your rights and lead you through the process of seeking compensation.
Who Pays for Medical Bills and Damages?
Massachusetts is a no-fault insurance state. This means that after most accidents in Massachusetts, your car insurance pays for your medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the collision. However, each case is unique, and your compensation can potentially come from a few different places, including:
- Personal injury protection (PIP) – PIP helps cover some of your medical bills, lost wages, and replacement household services after a collision, regardless of who was at fault. If you were driving a rental car and purchased their coverage, PIP coverage may be included in the insurance policy. But even if you didn’t purchase rental car insurance, your own auto insurance policy may have PIP coverage.
- Liability claims against the at-fault driver – If your medical costs are greater than $2,000 or you suffer serious injuries, such as permanent disfigurement, a fracture, loss of a body part, or substantial loss of hearing or sight, you can potentially file a claim against the at-fault driver. This compensation can cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress
- Other potential liable parties – Another driver isn’t always the one to blame after a car wreck. For example, a manufacturer of a faulty vehicle or even a rental car company that didn’t perform proper maintenance could be liable for your injuries and losses.
Massachusetts’ insurance system is difficult to navigate, even for someone who lives in the state. It can be even more challenging to determine what compensation options a tourist may have after a Massachusetts car crash. A Boston personal injury attorney can review your claim, identify all your potential compensation sources, and pursue the maximum amount to cover your losses.
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Statute of Limitations in Massachusetts
Under Massachusetts law, you typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once this deadline passes, your legal options will likely be severely limited.
Three years may seem like a long time, but it only becomes more challenging to build your case the longer you wait. Evidence can be lost, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and insurance companies may use stalling tactics to push you past the filing deadline. That’s why contacting a lawyer and pursuing your case as soon as possible is crucial.
Contact Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers
Here at Earley Law, we believe in giving every customer the “Earley Experience.” When you work with us, you’ll get the “white glove treatment.” That means we’ll treat you and your case with the utmost respect. You’ll get frequent and honest communication and our maximum effort to seek the maximum compensation you deserve – and you’ll only pay us if we recover money for you.
The experienced tourist injury lawyers at Earley Law have over 20 years of experience handling complex car accident cases. We’ve recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for injury victims, and many of them have offered kind words about the quality of our legal services through over 700 Google reviews. We’ll fight for your rights here while you focus on recovery back home. Contact us today for your free consultation.