A reckless driver slams into your vehicle while you sit in traffic on the Southeast Expressway, and your world changes in a single heartbeat. One moment, you are thinking about your plans for the evening, and the next, you are facing a totaled car, mounting medical bills, and a physical recovery that feels like a mountain. 

The insurance company for the other driver is likely already looking for ways to pay you as little as possible. They view your life as a series of numbers on a spreadsheet rather than a person in pain. 

You need a Boston Car Accident Lawyer who fights back with aggression and refuses to let billion-dollar corporations push you around. At Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, we take on the insurance companies that treat people like claim numbers.

We define liability as the legal responsibility someone has for the harm they caused. When another person fails to act with the care that a reasonable person would use, they are being negligent. This negligence leads to crashes that leave honest people with life-altering injuries. 

We gather the facts, hold the responsible parties accountable, and pursue the money you need to put your life back together. We do not settle for lowball offers, and we do not fear the courtroom.

Why Choose Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys for a Boston Car Accident Lawyer

Alexander ShunnarahSelecting the right legal team is the most important choice you make after a crash. You need a group that possesses the resources and the grit to go the distance against powerful opponents, which is why hiring a car accident lawyer can make all the difference.

We have built a reputation for being relentless because we believe every client needs a fierce advocate in their corner. We have recovered over $1,000,000,000 for our clients because we are not afraid to stand up to big insurance companies and their teams of lawyers.

  • Our firm has served more than 100,000 clients, giving us deep knowledge of the tactics insurance adjusters use to devalue legitimate claims.
  • We offer free consultations, which are initial meetings where we review your case at no cost to you, so you can hear about your options without spending any of your own money.
  • We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay us any attorney fees unless we win your case and recover money for you.
  • Our trial attorneys prepare every case as if it will go before a jury at the Moakley Courthouse, which forces the insurance company to take us seriously.
  • We maintain a nationwide presence with referring lawyers in all 50 states, providing us with a massive network of support to build the strongest possible case.

We choose to be aggressive because we know what is at stake for your family and your future. We refuse to let our clients receive treatment like a settlement number or a burden. 

When you hire us, you hire a team that is dedicated to holding negligent drivers responsible and fighting for every cent available under the law. We are the reason the insurance companies know they cannot simply walk away from their obligations.

Breaking Through the Massachusetts No-Fault Barrier

Massachusetts uses a no-fault insurance system that can be confusing for people who have never been in an accident, especially during a car accident case. Under this system, your own insurance company pays for your initial medical bills and a portion of your lost wages through Personal Injury Protection, or PIP.

This coverage is mandatory for every driver in the state under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 34M. While PIP provides quick help, the limit is often only $8,000, which barely covers a single trip to the emergency room at Massachusetts General Hospital.

  • PIP pays the first $2,000 of your medical costs, and then your private health insurance usually takes over the rest.
  • The insurance company often uses the no-fault rules as an excuse to tell you that you cannot file a lawsuit against the other driver.
  • We identify the ways to move beyond the PIP limits to seek payment for your physical pain and emotional distress.

We do not let the insurance company hide behind the no-fault laws. If your injuries are serious, the law allows us to step outside this system and sue the person who caused the crash. We manage the PIP claim for you while simultaneously building a powerful case for a larger recovery.

The $2,000 Threshold for Filing a Lawsuit

To file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your case must meet a specific threshold. Pain and suffering is the legal term for the physical pain and emotional trauma caused by an injury. 

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231 Section 6D, your medical bills must exceed a total of $2,000. This threshold exists to prevent lawsuits for very minor injuries, but insurance adjusters often try to argue that your bills are not reasonable just to keep you from suing.

  • You can also meet the threshold if your injury involves a broken bone, the loss of a limb, or permanent disfigurement.
  • Loss of sight or hearing also allows you to bypass the $2,000 medical bill requirement.
  • We use medical evidence and testimony from your doctors to show the court that your injuries meet the standard for a lawsuit.

If the insurance company claims your treatment was not necessary, we fight those assertions with facts. We make certain that your physical injuries are documented correctly so the legal path remains open. We don’t let the defense use math tricks to take away your right to a trial.

Fighting the 51 Percent Fault Rule in Boston

Boston Car Accident Lawyer discussing case strategy with client at desk with gavel and model car
Insurance companies love to shift the blame onto the person who was hurt. They use a rule called modified comparative negligence to reduce the amount of money they have to pay you. In Massachusetts, this is found in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231 Section 85. 

This law states that you can only recover money if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less. If a jury decides you were 51 percent responsible for the crash, you receive nothing.

  • If you are 20 percent at fault, the court reduces your final check by 20 percent.
  • Adjusters often use recorded statements to trick you into admitting fault for the wreck.
  • Our team uses accident reconstruction and witness statements to keep the blame where it belongs, which is on the person who caused the crash.

We know the city streets, from the narrow roads of the North End to the busy traffic near the Seaport District. We use our knowledge of local traffic patterns after a car accident to show exactly how the other driver failed to share the road safely.

We fight every attempt to pin the blame on you.

Avoiding the Statute of Limitations Traps

Time is a factor that works against you after a car accident. The statute of limitations is a law that sets a strict deadline for filing a lawsuit in court. In Massachusetts, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to start your legal case. 

However, there are specific traps in Boston that have much shorter deadlines. If you miss these dates, you lose your right to recover money forever.

  • If your accident involves an MBTA bus or train, you must send a formal presentment letter to the government within two years.
  • If you slip on ice or snow on a city sidewalk while leaving your car, you must give written notice to the city within 30 days.
  • We move fast to identify every deadline that applies to your case so the insurance company cannot use the calendar to defeat you.

Do not listen to an adjuster who tells you to wait until you are fully healed before talking to a lawyer. They want you to wait until the clock hits zero. We file the necessary paperwork early to protect your claim and keep the pressure on the opposition.

Investigation and Evidence Gathering for Your Claim

Boston Car Accident Lawyer reviewing crash damage between two vehicles after a rear-end collisionA winning case requires more than just your word against the other driver’s word. We build a wall of evidence to support your version of the facts, especially when determining car accident settlement amounts. This process starts the moment we take your case.

We use our resources to find proof that the insurance company would rather keep hidden.

  • We secure the black box data from modern vehicles, which shows the speed, braking, and steering of the cars in the seconds before the impact.
  • Our team obtains cell phone records to prove the other driver was texting or distracted when they should have been looking at the road.
  • We collect video from traffic cameras near local landmarks like the Tobin Bridge or Faneuil Hall to show the jury exactly how the crash happened.
  • We interview witnesses and record their statements while their memories of the event are still clear.

By gathering this data, we take the guesswork out of the claim. When we show the insurance company a video of their driver running a red light, they lose their ability to argue about fault. We use facts to force them into a fair negotiation or a courtroom battle.

FAQs

What should I do if the insurance adjuster offers me a check right away?

You should never accept a check or sign a release without talking to our team first. These early offers are almost always lowball amounts that do not cover the true cost of your injuries. Once you accept that money and sign their paperwork, you lose your right to ask for more money later, even if your condition gets worse. We evaluate the offer and tell you if it is fair based on the evidence we have gathered.

Can I still win my case if the police report says I was at fault?

A police report is a powerful piece of evidence, but it is not the final word in a civil lawsuit. Officers sometimes make mistakes or do not have all the facts at the scene of the crash. We conduct our own investigation to find the truth and challenge any errors in the official report. Our team uses accident reconstruction experts to show the jury what actually happened, even if it contradicts the initial police findings.

How much does it cost to hire your firm for my car accident case?

It costs you nothing out of your own pocket to hire our firm. We use a contingency fee agreement, which means our payment is a percentage of the money we recover for you. If we do not win any money for your case, you do not owe us any attorney fees at all. This allows you to have a powerful legal ally in your corner without worrying about upfront costs or hourly bills.

What happens if the other driver has no insurance at all?

If you are hit by an uninsured driver, you can often recover money through your own insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage.

Massachusetts requires drivers to carry this coverage to protect them in this exact situation. We handle the process of filing a claim with your own insurance company and ensure they treat you fairly and pay what they owe under your policy.

How long will it take to finish my car accident lawsuit?

The timeline for a case depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries and the willingness of the insurance company to be fair. Some cases settle in a few months, while others that go to a jury trial can take a year or longer. We do not rush cases just to get them over with because that usually results in less money for our clients. We take the time necessary to build the strongest possible case and fight for every dollar available.

Contact Our Boston Trial Attorneys for a Free Case Evaluation

Do not let a billion-dollar insurance corporation dictate your future. Take control by putting a fierce advocate in your corner who handles the big companies for you. 

We are ready to start building your case today and demand the accountability you need to move forward. Reach out to Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys now to schedule your free consultation with a team that never backs down from a fight. 

Your recovery is our priority, and we will not stop until we hold the negligent parties responsible for the harm they caused you.