Auto Accidents

Distracted driving is quickly becoming the most dangerous – and preventable – causes of serious and fatal accidents on Massachusetts and New Hampshire roadways. Here are the most common forms of distracted driving, some of which you may not expect:

• Texting and driving
• Eating and driving
• Putting on makeup while driving
• Using the radio or climate controls while driving
• Interacting with passengers while driving
• Reading and driving
• Watching a video and driving
• Typing in map directions or a phone number while driving

Generally, engaging in anything that takes your eyes off the road (visual distractions), takes your hands off the wheel (manual distractions), or takes your mind off driving (cognitive distractions) can be considered distracted driving.

Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it accomplishes all three forms of distraction at the same time: visual, manual, and cognitive.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited in both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire. Even if a driver had only one or two drinks, they may still be unable to safely operate their vehicle.

Drunk drivers that cause accidents face harsh lifetime penalties and families of drunk driving victims are often eligible for significant compensation for the massive damages alcohol- or drug-induced accidents cause.

With the rise of ride sharing services in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the roads have inherently become more dangerous simply because there are more vehicles traveling from Point A to B. Boston drivers face a higher risk of getting into an accident than drivers in metro areas in other parts of the country.

If you are in an accident involving a ride sharing service, an attorney can help. Ridesharing services have some liability policies in place that protect riders. Massachusetts law requires these companies to carry a million-dollar liability policy that’s in effect when the driver has a passenger in the vehicle, and both Lyft and Uber voluntarily have these policies in place in New Hampshire and other states where it’s not legally required.

However, the liability in ride sharing accidents isn’t always clear. Uber and Lyft both have much smaller liability policies in place for when the driver is logged into the app but without a passenger in the vehicle and this coverage may not be enough to cover accident damages. To protect your interests, you need an attorney who can work to prove that the ride sharing service is liable for your injuries. In some cases, the driver may also bear liability.

Large commercial trucks are involved in 14% of single-vehicle crashes that cause injuries and 24% of crashes involving property damage. Generally, these collisions are more harmful for passengers in other vehicles than in the commercial truck itself — in fact, 83% of fatalities are not occupants of the truck.

If you are injured or if you lose a loved one in a crash with a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, recovery-related costs, lost future earning potential, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, disfigurement, wrongful death, and more.

In some cases, the driver may be personally liable for the damages, but if the driver was employed by the trucking company and acting within the scope of employment, the trucking company may also be liable. When dealing with a claim to a commercial trucking company, you need a lawyer who understands how to establish liability in these cases and who has experience obtaining large settlements for their clients.

Teens are significantly more likely to get into an accident than an adult. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the risk of an automobile collision is highest among teens age 16 to 19 – above any other age group. Per each mile driven, drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 are almost three times as likely to become involved in an accident than drivers age 20 and above.

Winters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire can be harsh and the risk of a traffic accident increases when there’s snow and ice on the road. Combined with heavy traffic around cities like Boston and Manchester, winter driving can easily turn into a deadly activity.

If you can avoid driving on snow and ice at all, it’s better to wait until the roads have been cleared before venturing out in your vehicle. If not, it’s critical to practice safe winter driving habits, such as driving slower, giving yourself more time to brake, and taking curves very carefully.

When you contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Mazow | McCullough, PC, you will meet directly with a partner or senior attorney who will help you understand how to immediately take care of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

We will coordinate claims among auto and health insurance companies to ensure that your auto accident injury claim is processed swiftly and correctly. From the moment we meet with you, we will immediately begin to work on your case to ensure that no stone is left unturned.

We will monitor your medical treatment and make sure you are receiving high-quality care. We will consult with a broad range of experts to assist with accident reconstruction and investigation, medical examinations, and witness statements.

Our goals are to be more prepared and have a better knowledge of your case than the insurance companies who are fighting against you. Motor vehicle collisions often involve complex issues of liability and insurance coverage, difficult evidentiary fact patterns, and statutory requirements.

Our decades of experience pursuing compensation for automobile accident victims have resulted in substantial results for our clients. This is the experience that we bring to bear on your claim.

Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means that both drivers’ insurance coverage may come into play in an automobile accident. Legally, Massachusetts drivers must have the following types of basic coverage:

• $20,000 liability coverage for bodily injury per person
• $40,000 liability bodily injury coverage per accident
• $5,000 liability coverage for property damage
• $8,000 no-fault coverage for personal injury projection
• $20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
• $40,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident

Under the no-fault rules, your own insurance policy must pay up to $2,000 for medical bills if you are injured in a car accident, regardless of who causes the accident. If you incur additional medical expenses  or if you suffer serious injuries including permanent disfiguration, broken bones, or lost vision or hearing, you can hold the other driver responsible and make a claim to their insurance company. Alternatively, you can bring forward a personal injury lawsuit and hold the other driver responsible for a variety of damages.

In New Hampshire, drivers are required to carry slightly higher levels of liability and underinsured motorist coverage than drivers in Massachusetts. However, New Hampshire is not a no-fault state. As a result, if you are in an accident caused by another driver, you don’t have to meet a threshold of damages to bring forward a personal injury lawsuit; you always have that option open to you.