Westwood Car Accident Lawyer

Trusted car accident lawyers with over 20 years of experience serving Westwood, MA.

Fogelman Law LLC has represented crash victims throughout Massachusetts since 2010. Our founder, Matthew Fogelman, has practiced law for 23 years and currently serves as Vice President of the Massachusetts Association of Trial Attorneys. Working with a Westwood, MD car accident lawyer early in the process protects your claim before the insurer can chip away at it. Free consultations are available.

Car Accident Lawyer Westwood, MA

A car accident claim is a request for compensation from the driver who caused the crash, usually paid through that driver’s insurance company. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means your own insurer pays initial medical costs through personal injury protection coverage regardless of who caused the crash. When injuries are serious enough to cross the statutory threshold, the injured driver can step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim against the at-fault driver.

Westwood drivers face particular hazards. Route 1 and Route 109 carry heavy commuter traffic through commercial corridors. The town sits next to the I-95 and Route 128 interchange, which funnels high-speed regional traffic past local streets. University Avenue sees a steady mix of office traffic and delivery vehicles. A Westwood, MA car accident attorney has to understand how these roadways and traffic patterns shape both crash causation and the insurance defense that follows.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Westwood

Car crashes take many forms, and the type of collision shapes the investigation and the legal strategy. Below are the case types our firm regularly handles for drivers and passengers injured in Westwood.

• Rear-end collisions. Following too closely, distraction, and sudden stops in commuter traffic cause a steady volume of rear-end crashes. These wrecks often produce whiplash, back injuries, and concussions. A good car accident settlement accounts for both immediate treatment and the symptoms that surface days later.
• Head-on crashes. The most dangerous crash type, often caused by wrong-way driving, improper passing, or a driver crossing the center line. Head-on impacts on Route 1 and Route 109 produce catastrophic injuries.
• Intersection and left-turn crashes. Drivers who run lights, misjudge gaps, or turn across oncoming traffic cause serious side-impact collisions. Liability frequently turns on witness accounts and traffic signal timing.
• Multi-vehicle pileups. Crashes near the I-95 and Route 128 interchange often pull in several vehicles. Multiple liable parties raise complicated questions about fault allocation and which insurance policies apply.
• Distracted driving crashes. Texting, phone use, eating, and GPS distraction cause crashes that never should have happened. The driver’s phone records often become central evidence.
• Drunk and impaired driver crashes. Impaired drivers cause some of the most devastating injuries on Westwood roads. Punitive damages may be available depending on the driver’s conduct.
• Hit-and-run crashes. Drivers who flee leave victims to pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage. Hit-and-run claim mistakes often involve delayed reporting or failure to document the scene.
• Crashes with underinsured drivers. When the at-fault driver carries minimal coverage, underinsured situations require pursuing your own policy’s underinsured motorist benefits to close the gap.

Why Choose Fogelman Law LLC for Car Accidents in Westwood, MA?

Trial Experience Insurance Companies Take Seriously

Our founder, Matthew Fogelman, has handled crash cases throughout Massachusetts since 2002. He earned his law degree from Boston College Law and his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and New York. As Vice President of the Massachusetts Association of Trial Attorneys, he holds a leadership role within the state’s plaintiffs’ bar. Our personal injury lawyer in Westwood, MA brings that trial-ready preparation to every crash claim, which is what drives stronger settlement offers.

Partner Jeffrey Simons has practiced for 14 years and earned Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition every year since 2019. Jeff graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and holds bar admissions in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Trial Attorneys.

Real Results for Crash Victims

Our firm has millions of dollars recovered for clients hurt in motor vehicle collisions across Massachusetts. We’ve resolved settlements for drivers rear-ended in serious crashes, passengers injured in multi-car pileups, and victims of hit-and-run drunk drivers. Car accident claims are handled on contingency, which means you owe no legal fees unless we recover compensation. Free consultations are available for every prospective client.

Understanding Car Accident Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

Massachusetts law allows injured drivers and passengers to recover both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party. The value of a case depends on injury severity, treatment length, available insurance coverage, and the strength of the liability evidence.

Recoverable damages typically include:

• Medical bills, past and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement
• Property damage to your vehicle

Liability in a Westwood car accident claim follows Massachusetts’ modified comparative negligence rule, codified at M.G.L. c. 231, § 85. An injured driver can recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% at fault for the crash. Any percentage of fault assigned to you reduces recovery proportionally. Because Massachusetts is a no-fault state, your own personal injury protection coverage pays the first portion of medical expenses, and a claim against the at-fault driver becomes available once injuries meet the statutory threshold. Common claim mistakes often involve accepting an early offer before the full cost of treatment is known.

Important Aspects in Your Car Accident Case

The strength of a crash claim depends heavily on what happens in the first hours and days. Evidence disappears fast, and insurers move quickly to build their defense.

• Photographs of the vehicles, the scene, and visible injuries
• The police crash report and any citation information
• Names and contact details for every witness
• Prompt medical evaluation and consistent follow-up treatment
• Records of all communications with insurance adjusters

Adjusters often request recorded statements early, before an injured driver has spoken to a lawyer. Those statements get used to minimize the claim later. Protecting your rights after a crash means declining recorded statements until you have representation. Passengers have claims too. Passenger rights after a Massachusetts crash allow recovery against any at-fault driver, including the driver of the vehicle they were riding in.

Car Accident Case Timeline

No two crash cases move at the same pace. Minor injury claims may resolve within a year. Serious cases involving disputed liability or long treatment courses can take two or three years.

A typical Massachusetts car accident case follows these stages:

• Investigation and evidence preservation
• Medical treatment until maximum medical improvement
• Demand letter and pre-suit negotiation with the insurer
• Filing suit when settlement talks stall
• Discovery, depositions, and expert witness work
• Mediation, settlement, or trial

The Massachusetts statute of limitations gives most crash victims three years from the date of the accident to file suit. Wrongful death actions and claims against public entities follow different schedules. Missing the deadline bars the claim entirely, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are.

What to Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation

The more information you bring to a first meeting, the better we can assess your claim. Missing records can usually be requested later, so don’t worry if your file is incomplete.

• The police crash report
• Photographs of the vehicles and the scene
• Medical records and bills already received
• Your auto insurance declarations page
• Names and contact details for any witnesses

Questions for your consultation are worth preparing in advance. The first meeting is free, and we usually respond to new inquiries within one business day. The consultation is meant to help both sides decide whether to move forward together.

Massachusetts Legal Resources for Car Accidents

Massachusetts statutes and federal safety data inform every car accident claim. The resources below help injured Westwood drivers locate the original sources for the rules that apply to their cases.

• Massachusetts sets a three-year filing deadline for personal injury actions under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A.
• The modified comparative negligence rule appears at M.G.L. c. 231, § 85.
• The Massachusetts wrongful death statute governs claims after a fatal crash under M.G.L. c. 229, § 2.
• The NHTSA crash data page publishes national statistics on motor vehicle collisions.
• The Massachusetts RMV maintains a crash report portal for drivers to request official records.

Statutes change. The official text on malegislature.gov controls in any legal dispute. Always confirm the current version before relying on any general summary.

Reach Out to Fogelman Law LLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you’ve been hurt in a Westwood car crash, the next step is talking with a lawyer who handles these cases every day. Car accident claims are taken on contingency, which means you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We respond promptly to new inquiries and welcome calls about any type of motor vehicle crash.