What should I
do immediately following a car accident?
Who is liable for paying for my physical
injuries as well as any personal property damage?
Who is responsible for an accident
involving my vehicle and a city street pothole?
Should I take the settlement my insurance
company is offering me?
What issues will I face in making a claim
for my injuries sustained in an auto accident?
What if I cannot afford to pay my medical
bills?
When will my personal injury claim be
resolved?
What is a permanent injury?
Am I at fault if I rear-end another
vehicle?
I did not feel pain at the scene and
refused medical treatment. Now, a few days later I am in pain. What should I
do?
What should I
do immediately following a car accident?
Remain calm and wait for paramedics to arrive on the scene. If you are not
severely injured, collect all pertinent information from the other drivers -
driver’s license numbers, address, telephone numbers, insurance card
information, etc. Keep a daily journal beginning with the date of the
accident to document all physical and mental injuries, as well as document
your view of the accident.
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Who is liable
for paying for my physical injuries as well as any personal property damage?
The driver(s) who caused the accident’s liability insurance pays for your
car damage and personal injuries. If you are at fault for the accident, your
liability insurance will pay the other driver(s) for property damage and
personal injuries up to your policy's limits.
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Who is
responsible for an accident involving my vehicle and a city street pothole?
Responsibility for damage caused by improper maintenance or repair of roads
and highways generally lies with the government agency responsible for the
upkeep of such roadways. If it were a pothole on a city street, the city
would be responsible, etc.
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Should I take
the settlement my insurance company is offering me?
You should not take any settlements offered by an insurance company without
first speaking with an experienced lawyer. Insurance companies typically
offer a minimal amount of money in return for your signature stating that
you will not sue them. Never take an insurance check without first
consulting an attorney.
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What issues
will I face in making a claim for my injuries sustained in an auto accident?
The three categories of issues that typically arise in a tort claim after an
automobile accident are:
• Liability – who is at fault and to what degree
• Damages – injuries or losses that were caused by the accident
• Insurance Coverage – what the insurance company will pay for after an
accident
A claim for injuries usually is based upon carelessness or negligence. In
worse case scenarios, it involves an intentional or reckless act.
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What if I
cannot afford to pay my medical bills?
If you suffer injuries from a car accident, you will likely have medical
bills from physicians, hospitals, physical therapists, and other health care
providers. You are primarily responsible for paying your bills, regardless
of the cause of your injuries. The at-fault person's liability insurance
carrier is responsible for paying you reasonable compensation for damages
incurred, which includes medical bills, but the insurance carrier is not
responsible for paying your doctors, hospitals, and other providers.
Sometimes the amount the insurance company is willing to pay is far less
than the actual amount you owe.
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When will my
personal injury claim be resolved?
Personal injury claims can be resolved in a matter of a few weeks or months.
However, they can take up to several years depending on the complexity of
the case. It is best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney
about your specific case.
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What is a
permanent injury?
A permanent injury is an injury that will be with you for the rest of your
life or for some period beyond the settlement of the claim. In most cases,
the injured party is entitled to compensation from the at-fault party or
their insurance company for all medical bills incurred to date and into the
future for all injuries caused by the accident.
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Am I at fault
if I rear-end another vehicle?
Usually, yes. Massachusetts’s law states that you must maintain a safe
distance to be able to stop safely if a car stops in front of you.
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I did not feel
pain at the scene and refused medical treatment. Now, a few days later I am
in pain. What should I do?
You should immediately consult your medical provider regarding any pain,
discomfort or possible injuries from a car accident, even if you think they
may be only minor injuries. Even if you did not complain of injuries at the
scene of the car accident, you may be entitled to payment of your medical
bills, compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earnings
capacity, and emotional distress due to personal injuries. You should
consult an experienced Massachusetts car accident attorney to discuss
whether you need representation on your claim.
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Call Kantrovitz & Associates today to have your legal situation
evaluated and to preserve your rights under the law. We can be reached at
800-367-0871 or contact us via email at
info@kantrovitzlaw.com.
