1. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
Focus Area: Civil injury litigation including catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and class-action lawsuits
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability, workplace injuries, workers’ compensation appeals
Background: Jeffrey Glassman has practiced civil injury law in Boston for more than 25 years. The firm has built its reputation through client referrals, testimonials, and peer recommendations in the legal community. Attorneys are admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and experienced in both state and federal court systems.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Greater Boston area)
Contact: (617) 367-2900 | https://www.jeffreysglassman.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless you recover compensation.
2. Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers
Focus Area: Personal injury litigation with combined experience as both litigators and judges
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, slip and fall injuries, catastrophic injuries
Background: The firm’s attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases. Founded over a decade ago, the firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlement agreements and jury verdicts for accident victims throughout Massachusetts.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: (617) 391-9001 | https://www.sweeneymerrigan.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee arrangement with no upfront costs.
3. Breakstone, White & Gluck
Focus Area: Catastrophic injury and complex personal injury litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries, construction accidents, premises liability, wrongful death
Background: The firm’s attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers in Massachusetts and New England. David White is a Past President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Marc Breakstone and Ronald Gluck serve as Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. The firm founded Project KidSafe and has donated over 36,000 bicycle helmets to children since 2013.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: (800) 379-1244 | https://www.bwglaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation. Contingency fee basis.
4. Diller Law, LLP
Focus Area: Personal injury law with emphasis on complex and catastrophic injury cases
Practice Areas: Auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, product liability, post-traumatic injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death
Background: Marc A. Diller is a partner at the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. The firm has handled cases involving eBay harassment litigation and high-profile civil matters. Attorneys are members of various legal professional organizations and regularly contribute to legal publications.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: (617) 523-7771 | https://www.dillerlaw.com/
Consultation: Free legal consultations and case evaluations. The firm works exclusively for injured parties and never represents insurance companies.
5. SUGARMAN Law Firm
Focus Area: Personal injury trial law with client-centered representation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, defective products
Background: SUGARMAN has represented injured individuals throughout Massachusetts for over 60 years. The firm employs medical experts and conducts detailed legal research and analysis of Massachusetts law for each case. Partners personally contact prospective clients to evaluate potential cases.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: (617) 542-1000 | https://www.sugarman.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Cases handled on a contingency fee basis.
Personal Injury Laws in Massachusetts
Statute of Limitations
Massachusetts law provides a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2A, injured individuals must file their lawsuit within three years from the date of injury. The same three-year period applies to wrongful death claims under MGL Chapter 229, Section 2, calculated from the date of death. Medical malpractice claims must also be filed within three years from the date of discovery, with an absolute cap of seven years from the date of the malpractice (except in cases involving foreign objects left in the body). Workers’ compensation claims generally must be filed within four years.
Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence standard under MGL Chapter 231, Section 85. Injured parties can recover damages as long as they are not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. If found to be 51 percent or more at fault, the injured party cannot recover any damages. When the injured party bears some fault but less than 51 percent, their total recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.
Damage Caps
Massachusetts does not impose damage caps on most personal injury cases, including car accidents and premises liability claims. However, non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases are generally limited to $500,000, though this cap may not apply in cases involving permanent and substantial physical impairment.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Massachusetts is a no-fault auto insurance state. All drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance providing at least $8,000 per person per accident. Minimum bodily injury liability requirements are $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Property damage liability minimum is $5,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist coverage is required at $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. To file a third-party claim against an at-fault driver, the injured party must either have medical expenses exceeding $2,000 or have suffered a serious disfigurement.
Government Claims Notice
Claims against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or municipal governments are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, but require a “presentment” letter to be served on the government entity within two years under MGL Chapter 258, Section 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the $2,000 medical expense threshold affect my ability to sue after a car accident in Boston?
Massachusetts requires that car accident victims either have reasonable medical expenses exceeding $2,000 or suffer a serious disfigurement before they can step outside the no-fault system to sue the at-fault driver. This threshold exists because Massachusetts uses a no-fault insurance system where your own PIP coverage pays for initial medical costs regardless of who caused the accident. If your injuries are minor and medical bills stay below $2,000 with no disfigurement, you are limited to recovering through your own insurance. However, if your injuries meet the threshold, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, additional medical expenses, and other damages.
What happens if I am injured by a city-owned vehicle or on Boston city property?
When a government entity such as the City of Boston or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts causes your injury, special rules apply under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act. You must provide written notice of your claim to the appropriate government employer within two years of the incident. The lawsuit itself must still be filed within three years. Missing the two-year notice requirement can bar your claim entirely, even if you file the lawsuit on time. Government entities may also have additional defenses not available to private parties.
Can I still recover damages if the other driver was texting but I was speeding at the time of the crash?
Yes, under Massachusetts law you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault, provided your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. If a jury finds you were 20 percent at fault for speeding while the texting driver was 80 percent at fault, your recovery would be reduced by 20 percent. For example, if your total damages are $100,000, you would receive $80,000. However, if the jury determines you were 51 percent or more at fault, you would be barred from recovering any damages.
What is the difference between PIP benefits and a personal injury lawsuit in Massachusetts?
PIP (Personal Injury Protection) benefits are available through your own auto insurance policy regardless of who caused the accident. PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages up to your policy limits, typically starting at $8,000. You receive these benefits quickly without proving fault. A personal injury lawsuit, by contrast, requires proving the other party was negligent and is only available when your injuries meet certain thresholds. A lawsuit allows you to recover damages for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other losses that PIP does not cover. Many injured individuals use both PIP benefits and pursue a lawsuit when their injuries are serious.
How long do I actually have to file a lawsuit if I did not immediately know I was injured?
Massachusetts recognizes a “discovery rule” that can extend the standard three-year deadline in cases where an injury was not immediately apparent. Under this rule, the statute of limitations may begin running on the date you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) that you were injured and that someone else’s negligence caused it. This commonly applies in medical malpractice cases where complications arise long after treatment. However, courts interpret this rule narrowly, and there are outer limits. For medical malpractice, no lawsuit may be filed more than seven years after the act of malpractice, regardless of when the injury was discovered.