Cambridge Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a car accident in Cambridge, MA?
At Fogelman Law LLC, we are trial-tested car accident lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Cambridge, an attorney can help you pursue compensation for medical treatment, lost income, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. Our Cambridge, MA car accident lawyer investigates how the crash occurred, identifies every applicable insurance policy, and manages communication with adjusters from the outset.
Fogelman Law LLC has represented injured clients throughout Massachusetts since 2010, and we handle every car accident claim on a contingency basis. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and receive a candid assessment of your claim.
Car Accident Lawyer Cambridge, MA
Cambridge police filed 73 crash reports involving two drivers on the section of Cambridge Street between Oak Street and Second Street from January 2021 through September 2023, and 25 of those collisions caused an injury, according to the City’s Cambridge Street crash data.
A car accident lawyer represents people injured by another driver’s negligence. That representation includes investigating the collision, identifying each insurer that may owe coverage, documenting every loss, and filing suit when an offer falls short. The involvement of car accident attorneys also changes negotiations, because insurers evaluate a represented claim differently from one an individual handles alone. In Cambridge, a single crash may involve a private driver, a delivery company, and a rideshare policy.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Cambridge
We represent drivers, passengers, and others injured in collisions throughout Cambridge, MA. The type of crash determines which evidence matters most, so each investigation begins with how the collision occurred and who may be responsible.
- Rear-end collisions. These crashes are common in the stop-and-go traffic along Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway. Liability is often clear, so we focus on documenting neck, back, and head injuries that insurers tend to discount when vehicle damage appears minor.
- T-bone collisions. Side-impact crashes usually occur when a driver runs a signal or turns without yielding at an intersection. We request signal timing records and nearby camera footage promptly, before that evidence is overwritten.
- Head-on collisions. Wrong-way driving, impairment, and drifting across the center line commonly lead to these crashes. Because the injuries are typically severe, we work with treating physicians to establish the cost of future care.
- Truck accidents. Delivery and box trucks make frequent stops on Cambridge’s commercial streets. We examine company records and maintenance histories to identify every business that shares liability.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders face serious injury in collisions that a car occupant might walk away from. We gather physical evidence early to counter the assumption that the rider caused the crash.
- Pedestrian accidents. Drivers who fail to yield at crosswalks near Cambridge’s squares and campuses cause many of these collisions. We obtain witness statements and footage to establish where the pedestrian was and what the driver could see.
- Hit-and-run crashes. A driver who leaves the scene does not end your claim. We pursue camera footage to identify the vehicle and, when the driver cannot be found, present the claim under your own policy.
- Drunk driving crashes. Impaired drivers cause some of the most serious collisions on Massachusetts roads. The civil claim for your injuries proceeds independently of any criminal case, and we use the police investigation to help establish fault.
- Rideshare accidents. Passengers in an Uber or Lyft, and drivers struck by one, may have access to commercial coverage that applies while a trip is active. We determine the rideshare driver’s status at the moment of the crash, because that status affects which policy responds.
- Uninsured motorist claims. When the at-fault driver carries no insurance or too little, uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy may become the primary source of recovery. We document these claims as thoroughly as any claim against another driver’s carrier.
Why Choose Fogelman Law LLC as my Car Accident Lawyer in Cambridge, MA?
Proven Results in Car Accident Cases
Our record includes millions of dollars recovered for injured clients. Car accident results include:
- A $500,000 settlement for a woman rear-ended in a serious collision
- A $500,000 policy-limits settlement following the death of a young man in a car crash
- A $250,000 underinsured motorist settlement for a woman who suffered a concussion and seizures in a multiple-car pileup
- A $95,000 trial verdict against Liberty Mutual for a woman whose elbow nerve injury required surgery
Trial Preparation in Massachusetts Courts
Our attorneys have tried cases to verdict in Middlesex Superior Court, which hears civil cases arising in Cambridge. Jeffrey Simons was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2019. He has represented injured clients for 14 years. Matthew Fogelman, a Boston College Law School graduate, founded the firm in 2010. He also holds a leadership role in the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. Every car accident case we accept is handled on contingency, with no upfront cost to you.
Understanding Car Accident Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases
Compensation in a Massachusetts car accident claim falls into a few categories:
- Economic losses: Hospital bills, physical therapy, prescriptions, and the wages or earning capacity an injury takes away.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress. Under G.L. c. 231, § 6D, this category is available only when reasonable medical expenses exceed $2,000, unless the injury involves a fracture, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of a body member, certain loss of sight or hearing, or death.
- Property losses: Vehicle repair or replacement, towing, rental costs, and personal property damaged in the crash.
Liability depends on proof that another driver acted carelessly. When more than one person contributed to a collision, Massachusetts applies the modified comparative negligence rule in G.L. c. 231, § 85. An injured person may recover if their share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants, and the award is reduced by that share.
What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?
Several factors influence both the value of a claim and the time needed to resolve it. The following deserve attention early:
- Most lawsuits must be filed within three years after the claim accrues under G.L. c. 260, § 2A.
- The at-fault driver’s liability limits may be lower than the value of a serious injury, which makes other sources of coverage important.
- Signing a release in exchange for an early payment ends the claim permanently and is among the costliest car accident claim mistakes.
- Health insurers that paid for treatment may assert a lien against the recovery, and lien reductions can affect the amount a client ultimately receives.
What Is The Car Accident Case Timeline?
Most claims resolve through negotiation, although some require litigation. A typical case moves through the following stages:
- Collection of the crash report, photographs, video, and witness accounts in the first weeks
- Medical treatment until physicians can describe the long-term prognosis
- A demand package presenting records and a valuation to each responsible insurer
- Negotiation, followed by a lawsuit if the insurer’s offer remains inadequate
- Discovery, mediation, and trial when a case does not settle
Disputed fault and serious injuries lengthen several of these stages, which explains why claims take longer than many clients anticipate.
What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?
Records gathered after the crash allow us to evaluate the claim accurately at the first meeting. Helpful materials include:
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- Letters, emails, and claim numbers from any insurance company
- Receipts for towing, rental vehicles, and other out-of-pocket costs
- Rideshare or taxi trip receipts if you were a passenger
During the free consultation, an attorney reviews these materials, explains how fault and coverage apply to your situation, and outlines the next steps.
Most Dangerous Locations for Car Accidents in Cambridge
The City’s Department of Transportation ranks local intersections by the number and severity of crashes through its Intersection Safety Program.
Dangerous streets and intersections:
- Massachusetts Avenue at Albany Street: At the top of the City’s High Crash Location list, near MIT’s heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
- Massachusetts Avenue at Vassar Street: Selected by the City for a detailed safety review.
- Hampshire Street at Prospect Street: Another intersection chosen for review, near Inman Square.
- Cambridge Street between Oak Street and Second Street: A dense commercial corridor with frequent turning conflicts.
Dangerous highways:
- Memorial Drive (Route 3): The City has identified state-owned intersections as among the highest crash locations in Cambridge, and it names Memorial Drive among those state roads.
- Monsignor O’Brien Highway (Route 28): A wide state roadway connecting East Cambridge to Somerville and Boston, with fast traffic and complex merges.
- Alewife Brook Parkway (Route 16): A heavily traveled parkway near the Route 2 interchange, where commuter traffic merges at speed.
Reach Out to Fogelman Law LLC to Schedule a Consultation
A Cambridge car accident attorney at Fogelman Law LLC can evaluate your claim during a free initial consultation, and we charge no fees unless we win. In that meeting, we assess liability, identify the insurance policies that may apply, and discuss the factors that will determine the value of your claim. Live call answering is available 24 hours a day. Contact us to schedule your consultation.
