Car Accidents
Springfield Car Accident Lawyer
At Alekman DiTusa, every case matters. Whether you’re facing minor injuries with a short recovery or life-changing, catastrophic harm, we are committed to holding negligent drivers and insurance companies accountable. We also advocate for families pursuing wrongful death claims after the tragic loss of a loved one due to someone else's recklessness.
Our approach is personal, tenacious, and client-focused. As “Lawyers You Can Talk To,” we’ll take the time to listen to your story, explain your legal options clearly, and guide you through every step of the process.
We offer free consultations and handle personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. We also cover all upfront costs, so you can focus on your recovery while we focus on getting results.
Testimonial
"Alekman and DiTusa are the best! I was in a very bad car accident - on my way home from work, I was hit by a huge tractor-trailer. I was seriously injured and my Suburban was totaled. Attorney Alekman and staff did an amazing job answering any questions my family and I had and putting our minds at ease."
Featured Law Services
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur excepteur sint occaecat sunt.
Business Law
Dolor sit amet consec tetur adipis cing elit sed do eiusmod tempor ut labore et magna aliqua.
Legal Audit
Dolor sit amet consec tetur adipis cing elit sed do eiusmod tempor ut labore et magna aliqua.
All Services
Dolor sit amet consec tetur adipis cing elit sed do eiusmod tempor ut labore et magna aliqua.
In a Car Accident? Here’s What You Need to Know
After a car accident, there are key legal steps you should know. What you do next can affect your ability to recover compensation for injuries, damages, and other losses. Understanding your rights is essential.
Seeking Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation from your insurance company through PIP, uninsured, and/or underinsured policies. We’ll help determine what policies may exist and seek to obtain any proceeds as quickly as possible.
Statute of Limitations
In Massachusetts, this period for injury cases is normally 3 years from the date of the crash (or after the 18th birthday if a minor was injured) or other incident, however, there may be much shorter deadlines if a municipality, state, or the federal government is potentially liable (such as if the crash was caused by a US Postal Service driver).
Benefits of Calling An Attorney Early
It will be in your interest to contact us as soon as possible for evidentiary purposes. We will want to examine the crash scene before changes occur, and (in severe crash cases) seek event recorder “black boxes” from vehicles before those have been destroyed. We will also seek video of a crash before it is destroyed, and witness statements before their recollection fades.
Navigating Insurance Companies
Even if the insurance company for the driver is the same company you use, they are not acting in your interest. Insurance companies have a duty to protect their drivers, and to minimize their potential liability. Even if the other driver uses the same insurance company as you, their claims’ adjuster will still do everything possible against your interests. This is why you will need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side.
Determine Damages Before Settlement
It’s important to thoroughly determine all damages before settling, including future damages like lost wages, future medical treatment, and pain and suffering. In an injury lawsuit, you will only have one opportunity to get full compensation. If it turns out that your injuries were worse than understood before settlement, you won’t be able to seek additional compensation at a later point. As tenacious accident injury lawyers, we will fully document all of your past damages as well as likely future damages so that you can get the full compensation that you deserve. We work with physicians, other medical personnel, wage experts, vocational professionals, and other experts as needed to determine future damages.
Determine All Accountable Parties
We are meticulous in identifying and holding accountable all parties for causing injury. In some cases, in addition to the driver causing the crash, there may be others liable – a municipality for failing to make a roadway safe, a bar for overserving the driver so that the driver became drunk, or a construction company for failing to make a construction zone safe. We initiate litigation against all responsible parties so that full compensation can be recovered.
Compensation
There may be many different types of compensation to which you may be entitled. When we represent clients, we work with them in identifying the full range of damages to which they may be entitled so that we can demand full compensation. In many cases, injury victims do not understand such compensation opportunities, so when they settle a case without using experienced legal counsel, they don’t get the full damages that they deserve.
Frequently Asked Question
What Are Common Types of Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents?
Car, truck, and SUV wrecks can cause a variety of injuries. The following are some of the most common conditions that victims experience:
- Lacerations, Cuts, and Scrapes
- Broken Bones (Ribs, arms legs, hips, shoulders, etc.)
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Internal Bleeding
- Spine Trauma
- Herniated Discs
- Internal Bleeding
- Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
- Whiplash and Soft-Tissue Injuries
Can I Get Compensation for Whiplash or a Soft-Tissue Injury?
Insurance companies often offer low-ball settlements to accident victims who suffer from soft-tissue injuries like whiplash, bruising, muscle tears, and minor sprains. Unlike broken bones, these injuries do not always show up on x-rays or other imaging as clearly as broken bones. Thus insurance companies often try to minimize these injuries, and they sometimes claim that they do not exist (or that they are not as severe as they actually are).
This is wrong.
In fact, these so-called “soft tissue injuries” are common in vehicle crashes. Victims are often in such debilitating pain that they can no longer work or carry out their daily activities. We fight aggressively to get our clients the maximum compensation possible when they have suffered these types of injuries. As whiplash lawyers, we know how to prove the existence and extent of soft tissue and whiplash injuries through both accident scene investigation and medical expert testimony.
Will My Insurance Pay for Any of My Medical Bills or Lost Wages?
After an auto accident, one important question on the mind of many accident victims is “How am I going to pay my medical or other bills if I can’t work?” Fortunately, Massachusetts has a no-fault system that requires vehicles to carry Personal Injury Protection Benefits insurance (also called PIP). Individuals are entitled to PIP benefits no matter whose fault the accident was, and PIP insurance guarantees that the first $2,000 of all medical bills will be paid. If you do not have private health insurance, PIP will pay up to $8,000 total in a combination of medical benefits and lost wages. You may also be entitled to other, fairly immediate benefits, such as additional Medical Payments (“Medpay”) benefits and from an uninsured or underinsured policy if you have these coverages.
We help accident victims access these benefits.
How Do Massachusetts Car Accident Settlements Work?
Most car accident claims are resolved through negotiations between a victim’s attorney and an at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. Many settlements occur before a lawsuit being filed; however, in some cases, insurance companies will not settle until after a suit commences.
When we represent clients, our primary objective is to prove fault and make a strong case for full damages, including:
- Medical Bills
- Vehicle Damage
- Damage to Other Personal Property
- Lost Wages
- Lost Future Earning Capacity
- Pain and Suffering
- Other Damages Depending Upon the Case
In cases where damages are modest, we often can utilize our in-depth knowledge to prove fault and damages to insurance adjusters so that a lawsuit is not needed. However, if severe injuries and significant compensation are involved, aggressive litigation may be required.
Can I Seek Compensation if My Loved One Died in A Car Accident?
If a family member died as a result of someone else’s reckless, irresponsible, negligent, or wrongful behavior or driving, you might be entitled to seek damages through a Massachusetts wrongful death claim.
In Massachusetts, the executor of a decedent’s estate has three years to pursue a claim. If the individual has not appointed an executor, the courts may do so on their behalf. Any damages awarded in a wrongful death case are paid to a decedent’s estate, which in turn is distributed to family members. These damages can include:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses
- Medical Costs
- The Lost Earning Capacity of the Deceased
- Loss of Companionship and Love
- Loss of Guidance, Advice, and Support from the Deceased
A court may also award punitive damages if they find that a person or corporation’s gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct causes a death.
Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuits can be complicated; once we understand your case we can advise as to the types of compensation available and how to proceed. At Alekman DiTusa, we have over 9 decades of combined experience in handling personal injury and wrongful death claims and can fight to hold those responsible for the death of your loved accountable for their actions.
We Want to Help You! Call Today to Schedule a Free Car Accident Injury Consultation!
We offer a free and confidential initial consultation to anyone who has questions about a personal injury lawsuit following an auto accident. If you have been injured in a car crash, call our office at (413) 781-0000 to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated car and truck accident attorneys. We can listen to your story, explain your options, and tenaciously fight to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve.
[1] Motor Vehicle Safety Issues, Injury Facts