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Your Malden Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Massachusetts most injury claims must be filed within three years (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A). A child, or a person whose mental illness left them incapacitated when the claim arose, may have more time (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 7). The trial court for Middlesex County sits in Woburn, at 200 Tradecenter Drive, 2nd Floor, Woburn, MA 01801. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Nobody plans for the call that follows an accident. Whether you were hurt in a crash, a fall or something else in Malden, the weeks afterward bring decisions that feel bigger than they should. Here is what Massachusetts law says, in plain terms, so you can ask better questions.
This page is general information, not legal advice. NeedAnAttorney.net matches people with attorneys and does not represent anyone. The legal points below come from Massachusetts’s statutes, and the form at the top of the page is how you reach an attorney.
Questions To Ask A Malden Injury Attorney
Bring these to your first call, whoever it is with:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is three years (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A).
- Any ceiling. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Massachusetts.
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (M.G.L. c. 231, s. 85).
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
Personal Injury Types of Cases
Premises Liability
Many premises liability claims are from a property owner’s duty to maintain a property in the way that does not endanger others. There are may ways a property owner can violate this duty.
- Broken Stairs
- Unlit alleyways
- Slippery Floors
- Surfaces that are uneven
- Places to receive burns
- Places to receive chemical exposure
- Dog bites
- and other dangerous conditions
Work Place Accidents
These types of personal injury lawsuits involve more that just a employee and employer. If you feel like your place of employment was negligent in some way, you might have a claim for compensation. These types of accidents can include.
- Slip and Fall
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unmaintained equipment
- Auto Accidents
- Death
- Electrical Hazards
- Occupational illnesses like COPD, contagious diseases, and asbestosis
- personal injuries at work
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As long as the person that was operating the vehicle that injured you was negligent in some way, you can could have a claim for compensation. This can include.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- 18 wheeler Accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- and other types of motor vehicle accidents
Wrongful Death
When negligence leads to fatal injuries, a wrongful death suit can help the surviving family members hold the negligent company, persons, and or person accountable for what was done. A wrongful death case can involve different types of compensation from other personal injury claims. After a fatal accident, family members can ask an attorney to review what compensation the surviving loved ones may have a right to. These types of accidents can include.
- Auto Accident
- Maritime Accident
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Helicopter Accident
- Fire
- Firearm
- and other types of wrongful deaths
Injured in Malden? Get matched with an attorney now.
When You Were Partly At Fault
Fault is divided by percentage in Massachusetts, and the dividing line sits at fifty percent. The source is M.G.L. c. 231, s. 85.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (M.G.L. c. 231, s. 85). Insurers often press this point first, so keep notes about how the injury happened.
When The Clock Starts And Stops
The general time limit for an injury claim in Massachusetts is three years (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 7).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (M.G.L. c. 229, s. 2). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (M.G.L. c. 258, s. 4). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Malden Claim
Middlesex County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Malden. For Middlesex County, the Massachusetts court directory shows the superior court in Woburn, at 200 Tradecenter Drive, 2nd Floor, Woburn, MA 01801. The state list of trauma centers names Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, in Middlesex County as well, as a Level III trauma center.
In the federal Hospital General Information file, the closest Massachusetts acute care or critical access hospital to Malden is MelroseWakefield Healthcare in Melrose, 2.1 miles, an acute care hospital (585 Lebanon Street, Melrose, MA 02176). After it come Winchester Hospital in Winchester, 4.1 miles, an acute care hospital; then Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, 4.4 miles, an acute care hospital. All distances are straight line miles from Malden.
A straight line is shorter than the drive from Malden. Ask each provider for your complete records and an itemized bill, and note the date of every appointment.
Further down the same list are Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston (4.7 miles) and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (4.7 miles). The file lists 15 Massachusetts acute care and critical access hospitals within 10 miles of Malden, 27 within 25 miles and 39 within 50 miles, all in a straight line.
The nearest places in Massachusetts that this site has pages for, by the same coordinates, are Everett (1.6 miles south), Chelsea (2.6 miles southeast) and Somerville (3.4 miles southwest). Boston is 7 miles south of Malden and Worcester is 40 miles west.
Beginning Your Case Review In Malden
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Massachusetts. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Meanwhile, jot down the facts while they are fresh: date, time, place, who was there, what care you have had and what work you have missed. Save every bill and every message from an insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a notice requirement for a claim against a city or county?
Special rules may apply. Special claim or notice steps can apply (M.G.L. c. 258, s. 4). The rules for public bodies differ from the rules for private parties. Do not wait to ask.
How long until an injury case is resolved?
It depends on how long you need treatment. Many claims wait until treatment has finished so the full cost is known. A lawsuit takes longer than a settlement.
Is there a deadline for suing after an accident in Massachusetts?
Generally three years (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 7). A wrongful death claim follows its own rules (M.G.L. c. 229, s. 2).
How does shared fault change what I can recover in Massachusetts?
Short answer: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (M.G.L. c. 231, s. 85). Photographs and witness names help show where the fault lies. Do not guess about fault when you talk to an insurer.
Does Massachusetts put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
It depends on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects, and an attorney can tell you whether any rule limits the amount. The amount depends on the facts of your claim. Ask an attorney whether any rule reaches your claim.
Does Massachusetts require drivers to carry liability insurance?
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries (M.G.L. c. 90, s. 34A and s. 34O). Your own policy may add coverage. Check uninsured and underinsured coverage on your own policy.
How far is the closest hospital from Malden?
In a straight line the nearest Massachusetts acute care or critical access hospital is MelroseWakefield Healthcare in Melrose, 2.1 miles, an acute care hospital; Winchester Hospital in Winchester is 4.1 miles and Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge is 4.4 miles. Call 911 in an emergency; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Which nearby places does this site cover besides Malden?
Closest by straight line are Everett (1.6 miles south), Chelsea (2.6 miles southeast) and Somerville (3.4 miles southwest).
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Massachusetts Communities
If your injury happened outside Malden, one of these pages may fit better.
