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Your Somerville 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.
If you are reading this after an accident in Somerville, you are probably tired, sore and unsure whom to trust. That is normal. A few rules learned early can keep you from making choices that are hard to undo.
NeedAnAttorney.net is a matching service. It does not give legal advice about your case. What follows is general information about Massachusetts injury law, taken from the text of the statutes, so you know which questions to ask. The form at the top of the page connects you with an attorney when you are ready.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Somerville Attorney
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- 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).
- Limits on damages. 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 Somerville? 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.
How Long You Have To File
A lawsuit for most injuries in Massachusetts must be started within three years (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A). Extra time can be available for a child and in some other limited situations (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 7).
A claim against a government body usually has its own claim or notice steps that must be followed before you sue, so ask early (M.G.L. c. 258, s. 4). If someone died, a separate set of rules can apply (M.G.L. c. 229, s. 2). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Somerville Claim
Middlesex County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Somerville. The Massachusetts court directory lists the superior court for Middlesex County 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.
Measured in a straight line from Somerville, the nearest Massachusetts acute care and critical access hospitals in the federal Hospital General Information file are Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, 1.1 miles, an acute care hospital, then Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, 2.0 miles, an acute care hospital, then Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, 2.5 miles, an acute care hospital. Cambridge Health Alliance is at 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.
Road distance from Somerville is longer than a straight line. Wherever you were treated, ask for the full records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every visit.
Fourth and fifth on the list are Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, 2.5 miles, and Tufts Medical Center in Boston, 3.4 miles. Within 10, 25 and 50 miles of Somerville the file shows 16, 28 and 40 Massachusetts acute care and critical access hospitals, by straight line.
Other places this site covers near Somerville: Cambridge at 1.3 miles southwest, Everett at 2.6 miles northeast, Malden at 3.4 miles northeast. The reference cities are 6 miles southeast (Boston) and 37 miles west (Worcester).
Your First Step After Getting Hurt In Somerville
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.
Before the first call, collect the basics: the date, the place, names of witnesses, your medical visits and your missed work. A single folder for bills, letters and photographs saves time later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a limit on damages reduce my claim?
Ask an attorney whether any rule limits the amount for your kind of claim; the facts and the records drive the number. Medical bills and lost income are handled separately from pain and suffering. An attorney can tell you which rules apply to your facts.
What coverage must a driver near Somerville have?
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). Several policies can apply to one crash. Before you accept a payment, check for every policy that may apply.
What is the nearest hospital to Somerville?
On the federal list the nearest Massachusetts acute care or critical access hospital is Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge (1.1 miles, straight line), then Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge (2.0 miles) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston (2.5 miles). In an emergency call 911; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Which nearby places does this site cover besides Somerville?
Closest by straight line are Cambridge (1.3 miles southwest), Everett (2.6 miles northeast) and Malden (3.4 miles northeast).
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 soon can an injury claim settle?
That depends on the injury and how the insurer responds. Settlement usually comes after the extent of your injury is known. Court dates add months.
What is the deadline to sue for an injury in Somerville?
Three years for most injury claims (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 2A). Extra time can be available for a child and in some other limited situations (M.G.L. c. 260, s. 7). Do not wait to ask.
What happens to my claim if I share some of the fault?
Massachusetts answers this directly. 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). How the blame is assigned matters. Keep notes about how the injury happened.
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Massachusetts Communities
If your injury happened outside Somerville, one of these pages may fit better.
