Personal injuries can arise from many unexpected situations, including car accidents, workplace mishaps, medical negligence, or slips and falls. These incidents often leave victims facing painful injuries, psychological toll, and financial strain.
While the law gives injured individuals the right to seek compensation for their losses, pursuing a claim can be overwhelming. Insurance companies may minimize payouts, deny responsibility, or shift blame, frustrating your efforts to recover from the injury.
You should, therefore, work with a legal professional after the incident to understand and protect your rights. At Shebell & Shebell, our personal injury attorneys understand the impact of accidents and are committed to fighting for fair and just compensation.
We know how to prove liability, calculate damages, and handle negotiations with insurers so you can focus on healing.
Key Takeaways About Somerville Personal Injury Cases
- Our Somerville personal injury attorneys provide trusted legal representation to help protect your rights after an accident.
- The value of your claim depends on injury severity, available evidence, insurance coverage, and shared fault.
- Accidents in Somerville often occur on McGrath Highway (Route 28), near Assembly Square, and in high-traffic areas like Davis Square.
- Insurance companies may minimize payouts, but our personal injury attorneys investigate thoroughly, negotiate aggressively, and litigate if necessary.
- After an accident, seek immediate medical attention (for example, at CHA Somerville Campus) and consult our personal injury lawyers to protect your rights.
- Call our personal injury attorney to protect your legal rights after an accident.
Why Choose Our Somerville Personal Injury Attorneys?
When facing a personal accident’s aftermath, a legal professional’s representation can make a difference. Having trusted and qualified guidance gives you the confidence to protect your legal rights.
Our personal injury attorneys have combined decades of experience, leading to millions of settlement values for injured victims. You can, therefore, count on us to protect your legal right to compensation.
How Much Is a Personal Injury Claim Worth?
There is no average value for a personal injury claim. The outcome depends on the facts and circumstances of the accident. Some of the factors that influence the value of a personal injury accident include:
Severity of the Injury. The extent and impact of your injuries form the foundation of your claim’s value. More severe injuries typically result in higher settlements to cover hefty medical expenses, lost income, and life disruptions.
Catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or permanent disabilities command substantial compensation due to their long-term consequences.
Even seemingly minor injuries can be valuable if they require ongoing treatment or affect your ability to work. Our personal injury lawyers work with medical experts to fully document your injuries and project future medical needs to ensure no aspect of your suffering goes uncompensated.
Availability of Evidence. Strong evidence directly correlates to higher claim values because it establishes liability and damages convincingly. Clear documentation of the accident scene, witness statements, medical records, and expert testimony strengthens your negotiation position.
Conversely, weak or missing evidence can reduce your claim’s worth, as insurance companies exploit gaps to minimize payouts. Our personal injury attorneys begin preserving evidence, including surveillance footage, accident reports, and medical documentation, immediately after the incident.
Insurance Coverage of the Negligent Party. In most cases, the at-fault party’s insurance coverage is the source of compensation for the injured victim. Therefore, the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits can determine how much you receive for your losses.
If the negligent party carries only minimum coverage, your compensation may be limited to those policy limits, even if your injuries warrant more. However, additional coverage sources might be available, including your underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, or multiple liable parties.
Our personal injury lawyers investigate all potential insurance coverage to maximize your recovery options and ensure you receive every dollar available.
Shared Fault. Massachusetts follows a modified shared fault rule, which applies when the injured party shares responsibility for the accident. Under this legal principle, you can recover compensation if you are 50 percent or less at fault for the accident.
Insurance companies aggressively argue for higher fault percentages to reduce their payouts. Our skilled personal injury lawyers at Shebell & Shebell fight these allegations, presenting evidence to minimize your assigned fault percentage and protect your full compensation rights.
Where Do Personal Accidents Occur in Somerville
Accidents that cause personal injuries are common in Somerville, MA, a densely populated city with high volumes of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic. Road users and pedestrians face an increased risk in specific zones:
- McGrath Highway (Route 28): This corridor is known for high-speed traffic, especially near its intersections with Mystic Avenue and access to Assembly Square, leading to serious car and pedestrian collisions.
- Davis Square and Union Square: As vibrant commercial and transit hubs, accidents here frequently involve pedestrians and cyclists due to distracted driving, failure to yield, and traffic congestion.
- Broadway and Somerville Avenue: These main city thoroughfares see a mix of high-volume traffic and commercial activity. Crashes often occur at intersections and while drivers attempt to turn across traffic.
- Areas near Tufts University: The concentration of students and academic life increases pedestrian activity, posing a heightened risk for vehicle-pedestrian incidents, especially where traffic patterns change around the campus.
Why Do You Need a Somerville Personal Injury Attorney?
When injured in a personal accident in Somerville, you need a legal professional you can trust. Our Somerville personal injury attorneys understand the unique challenges facing injury victims in our community.
We combine deep knowledge of Massachusetts law with personalized attention, fighting tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our personal injury attorneys can represent you if you sustain an injury in the following accidents:
- Car Accidents: We investigate the crash, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
- Truck Accidents: Our personal injury lawyers handle commercial vehicle cases, examining driver logs, maintenance records, and federal regulations to hold trucking companies accountable for serious injuries.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Our personal injury lawyers can handle insurance negotiations, investigate your accident, and gather evidence after the crash. They can also protect you from lowball settlement offers and fight for your rights in court.
- Construction Accidents: We represent construction workers injured on job sites, pursuing compensation through workers’ compensation claims and third-party liability cases against negligent contractors or equipment manufacturers in the heavily developed Assembly Square region.
- Birth Injuries: Our personal injury lawyers investigate medical malpractice during childbirth, working with medical experts to prove negligence and secure compensation for the lifelong care needs of injured children.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: We establish property owner negligence in premises liability cases, documenting hazardous conditions and pursuing compensation for injuries sustained on unsafe commercial or residential properties.
- Dog Bites: Our personal injury attorneys handle animal attack cases, holding pet owners responsible for injuries. We can explore insurance coverage and local ordinances to maximize your recovery.
Our personal injury lawyers can also protect your rights if you sustain various types of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
- Lacerations and cuts
Fighting the Insurance Company
You are likely to face resistance from the insurer of the negligent party, who may reject your claim or make a low settlement offer. However, our personal injury lawyers can level the playing field against the insurer, increasing your chances of receiving a fair settlement value.
Here is how our personal injury lawyers can face the insurer:
Investigating the Cause of the Accident. You must investigate the cause of the incident to build a strong case against the negligent party. Our personal injury lawyers will examine the details of your accident to determine liability and gather evidence to support your claim.
By conducting a comprehensive investigation, we can uncover information that may strengthen your case and help us negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Negotiating With Insurers. Insurers will likely make a quick settlement offer after the crash, hoping you will accept without objections. Our seasoned personal injury lawyers have extensive experience dealing with insurance adjusters and are skilled negotiators.
We know how much insurance companies are willing to offer and will use evidence to push a higher settlement offer that covers your losses.
Representing You in Court. We can litigate the matter in court if you cannot reach an agreement with an insurer. Our personal injury lawyers are seasoned litigators who will aggressively represent you in court, whether at the Somerville District Court (175 Fellsway) or the Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. We will present a compelling case on your behalf, using our years of experience to secure a favorable outcome.
What to Do After a Personal Accident
After a personal accident, your actions can enhance your wellness and protect your legal rights. Here’s what to do after an accident:
Seek Immediate Medical Attention. You should seek immediate medical attention after sustaining an injury in a personal accident. Many serious injuries do not present symptoms immediately due to adrenaline and shock masking pain and discomfort.
A healthcare provider, such as at the CHA Somerville Campus, can diagnose hidden injuries and initiate a treatment plan. They will also document the injury and treatment plan, linking your injuries directly to the accident. Our personal injury lawyers can use medical records to establish the extent of your injuries and the necessity of treatment.
Most importantly, immediate medical attention provides important legal protection for your claim. Insurance companies routinely argue that delayed medical care indicates injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident.
Consult Our Personal Injury Lawyers. You should also consult our personal injury lawyers after sustaining an injury due to someone else’s negligence. They can evaluate details and facts of the case and design a strategy of pursuing compensation from the negligent party.
They will also advise you, allowing you to make appropriate decisions that protect your legal right to compensation. For example, the Massachusetts personal injury statute of limitations requires injured victims to initiate legal action within a three-year timeline.
You can lose your right to compensation if you initiate a lawsuit beyond the three-year timeline. Our personal injury lawyers understand the applicable timelines in your case and will initiate a timely claim so you do not lose your right to compensation.
Don’t Face a Personal Injury Claim Alone
Your quality of life will likely worsen after sustaining an injury caused by someone else’s negligence. For example, a severe bone fracture can prevent you from enjoying nature walks in Seven Hills Park or enjoying the vibrant life in Davis Square.
You must also demonstrate why the negligent actions of the at-fault party contributed to your losses. Our Somerville, MA, personal injury lawyers can use evidence to negotiate or litigate the case and fight for deserved compensation.
Contact us online or at (732) 663-1122 to schedule an initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What court hears personal injury cases filed by Somerville residents?
Most civil personal injury cases originating in Somerville are heard at the Somerville District Court (for smaller claims) or the Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn (for claims exceeding the District Court's monetary limit of $50,000). The choice of court depends on the complexity and value of your case.
If I was hurt in a slip and fall in a Somerville business, what is the key to proving negligence?
In a slip and fall claim in a Somerville store or apartment complex, you must prove the property owner or manager was negligent. The key is demonstrating that they either created the dangerous condition (like a spill) or knew, or reasonably should have known, about the condition (like poor lighting or an uneven sidewalk) and failed to fix it or warn you in time.
How does Massachusetts's no-fault car insurance affect a collision I had on McGrath Highway?
Massachusetts is a no-fault state for car accidents. This means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance covers your first $8,000 in medical bills and lost wages. To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering damages, your injuries must meet a legal threshold, such as incurring more than $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses or sustaining a fractured bone.
What is my first step if I am hit by a car while bicycling in Davis Square?
First, seek immediate medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor. Next, report the incident to the Somerville Police Department to ensure an official report is filed. Then, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. Bicycle accident cases often rely on time-sensitive evidence like traffic camera footage from the densely monitored square, which an attorney can quickly secure.