They Made the Mistake.
You Got the Bills.
A crash can leave you with a damaged car, mounting medical bills, and an adjuster asking for a recorded statement before treatment is even finished. Massachusetts' no-fault system adds its own rules — PIP first, then an injury threshold, then a claim against the driver who caused it. Connect with a Massachusetts auto accident attorney who can handle the insurers, preserve the evidence, and pursue your claim.
Massachusetts Law
PIP First.
Then the Real Claim.
Massachusetts is a no-fault state, but that doesn't mean nobody is ever at fault. Your own insurer pays first, and a second claim against the at-fault driver opens once your injury clears a statutory threshold. Here's how it generally works.
Most Massachusetts injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash. Claims against a city, town, or the MBTA also require a written notice of claim — called presentment — within two years, before any suit is filed.
To recover for pain and suffering, reasonable medical expenses generally must exceed $2,000 — or the injury must involve death, loss of a body part, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of sight or hearing, or a fracture.
A connected Massachusetts attorney can walk through what happened, explain how PIP and the threshold apply, and flag what evidence to preserve — confidential, and at no cost to you.
"Massachusetts has no-fault insurance, not no-fault accountability — a serious crash can still lead to a claim against the driver who caused it."
How Auto Accident Claims Arise
Every Crash
Has Its Own Rules.
A claim can follow almost any crash where another driver's carelessness, speed, or distraction played a part. These are among the most common situations Boston-area drivers, riders, and pedestrians bring forward.
Rear-End & Intersection Collisions
Stop-and-go traffic on I-93, the Pike, and Storrow Drive produces rear-end and left-turn crashes where fault is often disputed from the start.
Truck, Delivery & Bus Crashes
A crash with a commercial vehicle can involve the driver's employer and larger insurance policies — and a public bus may require a notice of claim within two years.
Motorcycle & Scooter Crashes
Riders are treated differently from car occupants under the no-fault system, which can change how a claim is built and what coverage applies.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Collisions
Crosswalk and bike-lane crashes in dense neighborhoods raise questions about right-of-way, visibility, and what the driver saw — or didn't.
Uber, Lyft & Taxi Accidents
Rideshare crashes can involve several insurance policies, with coverage that may depend on whether the app was on and a passenger was in the car.
Hit-and-Run & Uninsured Drivers
When the driver who hit you can't be found or carries no insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage may be the path to compensation.
Is This You?
A Claim Might
Make Sense If You...
There's no single set of facts that defines a car accident claim — these are some of the situations Massachusetts drivers, riders, and pedestrians bring to an attorney first.
Were hurt in a crash someone else caused
Rear-ended, cut off, or struck while walking or riding — where another driver's carelessness may have played a part.
Have treatment bills past the first few thousand dollars
Reasonable medical costs above $2,000 can open the door to a pain-and-suffering claim against the at-fault driver.
Have already heard from an insurance adjuster
Adjusters often call within days and ask for a recorded statement before the full extent of an injury is known.
Have a police report, photos, or witness names
A crash report, scene photos, or a witness's contact details can be a strong starting point for building the claim.
Are still treating, or feeling symptoms later
Whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue injuries can take days to surface — consistent treatment records help document them.
Were told the crash was partly your fault
You can still recover if your share of fault isn't greater than the other side's — your compensation is simply reduced.
How It Works
From the Crash
to a Resolved Claim.
A Massachusetts auto accident claim takes time to build correctly — but the process itself follows a clear sequence.
Free, Confidential Case Review
A connected Massachusetts attorney listens to what happened, reviews your PIP and treatment status, and explains where your claim may stand.
Reports, Records & Evidence
Your attorney helps confirm the crash report was filed within five days, and gathers photos, medical records, witness details, and vehicle information.
Demand & Negotiation
Once treatment stabilizes, a demand goes to the at-fault driver's insurer and your attorney negotiates toward a fair settlement.
Filing Suit, If Necessary
If a fair resolution isn't reached, your attorney can file within Massachusetts' three-year deadline to keep the claim moving forward.
From People We've Worked With
What They Say
"I had no idea how PIP and my health insurance worked together until someone walked me through it. It took a lot of the stress out of a confusing few weeks after the crash."
"The adjuster kept pushing for a statement. It helped to have someone explain my options first, with no pressure."
"I was told I was partly at fault and assumed that was the end of it. Learning how Massachusetts handles shared fault changed that."
Common Questions
What You Need to Know
Under M.G.L. c. 260 §2A, most personal injury lawsuits from a car accident must be filed within three years of the date of the crash. If the claim is against a city, town, or the MBTA, the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act also requires a written notice of claim — called presentment — within two years, and damages against a public employer are generally capped at $100,000 (that cap doesn't apply to serious-bodily-injury claims against the MBTA). If a crash victim dies, the wrongful death deadline is generally three years from the date of death. Start the conversation now so your claim has time to be built properly.
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, is no-fault coverage built into every Massachusetts auto policy. It pays up to $8,000 per person for reasonable medical expenses, a share of lost wages, and replacement services, no matter who caused the crash. If you have qualifying health insurance, PIP generally covers only the first $2,000 of medical bills before your health plan takes over. PIP doesn't stop you from pursuing the at-fault driver — it's simply the first source of payment. A connected attorney can explain how PIP applies to your crash.
Under M.G.L. c. 231 §6D, you can generally recover for pain and suffering only if your reasonable and necessary medical expenses exceed $2,000, or the injury involves death, loss of a body part, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of sight or hearing, or a fracture. The threshold applies to pain and suffering; economic losses such as unpaid medical bills and lost wages beyond PIP are treated separately. A connected attorney can review whether the threshold is met here.
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule under M.G.L. c. 231 §85. You can still recover if your share of fault isn't greater than the other side's, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If your negligence is greater than the combined negligence of the people you're pursuing, recovery is barred. Talk through how fault may be assigned with a connected attorney.
Most car accident attorneys handle these cases on contingency, meaning there's no upfront cost and the attorney is paid a percentage of any settlement or verdict. If there's no recovery, there's typically no attorney's fee. A connected attorney can explain fee arrangements during your free case review.
Massachusetts requires bodily injury liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident on policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, and uninsured-motorist bodily injury coverage is compulsory. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or low limits, your own uninsured motorist coverage — and underinsured coverage, if you purchased it — may help fill the gap. Talk through your situation with a connected attorney whenever you're ready.
Don't Face the Adjuster
Alone.
A confidential, no-pressure conversation about what happened and what Massachusetts law allows.