Serious car accidents can create major upheavals in the lives of the victims as well as their families. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers and fourth among the general population. If you or a loved one was involved in a major collision within Framingham or nearby communities that was caused by a negligent driver or other party, then you will need legal counsel to get the compensation you not only need but deserve.
Car Accidents in Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts was listed as one of the top 100 most desirable places in the U.S. to live according to the website Livability. With its excellent school system, affordable housing, parks, and health care system, and its mid-way point between Worcester and Boston, residents are blessed to live in an area so close to the Boston area but still able to enjoy a slower and relaxed lifestyle.
Still, with a population of over 70,000 and its inclusion as part of the Boston MetroWest area, traffic and its inevitable accidents are a concern. The intersection at Worcester Road and California Avenue, Framingham, was listed in a 2015 traffic study as a major crash location within the state with 60 total crashes and 22 injury accidents within a 3-year period.
In many serious car accident cases, victims are unable to work for a substantial period of time and may not be able to return to work at all or have to be re-trained for a different vocation. If permanently injured, a serious car accident victim may be unable to engage in normal daily or recreational activities, forcing families to modify their own daily routines or to hire a caregiver in extreme cases. In any event, the victim’s need for adequate compensation from the responsible party or parties for the accident becomes essential.
Causes of Serious Car Accidents
Anyone who drives a motor vehicle has experienced the risks involved. With this in mind, it helps to drive defensively at all times and to be constantly vigilant about hazards on the roadway. The major factors in serious car accidents are:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs
- Inexperience
- Obstructed view
- Slow reaction to a hazard
- Vehicle defect
- Roadway design defect
Distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents in America followed by speeding and drunk driving. In the past 15 years, cell phones have evolved into small computers that allow users to be in constant communication with friends, retrieve information, and to post comments or photos about their everyday lives. Although most states have laws that ban total use of handheld devices while driving, use of a cell phone continues to plague our roadways and to maim or kill thousands of motorists, passengers and pedestrians each year. If you text and drive, you are 26 times more likely to get into an accident.
Speeding is ubiquitous on our roadways and is the cause of one-third of all car accidents. Even with speed limits of 65 mph, most drivers travel well into the 70s. It is not unusual to see motorists speeding at 80 mph or above, weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating and forcing motorists to move over. At high speeds, a motorist’s ability to recognize a hazard and to have enough time to avoid it is reduced significantly.
Drunk and drugged driving have been a major cause of serious car accident injuries since cars were invented. Despite strict laws and penalties, drivers choose to defy the odds of causing an accident and take to the roads after a few or too many drinks, feeling that they have only a short distance to drive or that they are not so impaired as to place themselves or others at risk. Nearly 1.5 million drivers are arrested each year on suspicion of drunk driving, meaning that you are likely to be on the road with a drunk driver at any time of the day on any day of the week.
Injuries and Damages in Car Accidents
Injuries in a serious car accident can have catastrophic consequences. Serious injuries include:
- Broken limbs
- Facial fractures
- Pelvic fractures
- Damage to internal organs
- Loss of a limb
- Major disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
Your damages can be substantial. These generally include:
- Past and future medical expenses including physical therapy
- Past and future lost earnings
- Loss of earning capacity if applicable
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Spousal Claim for loss of consortium
Unfortunately, many serious accident victims are not adequately compensated since many drivers carry minimum liability coverage or are uninsured. Carrying adequate uninsured or underinsured coverage is essential of at least $100,000 is essential if you want to be protected financially.
Further, there may be other entities responsible for your accident. A defect in a car’s braking or steering system, tire tread, or other flaw may have contributed to the accident. It is not that uncommon for a roadway to have been poorly designed or maintained by the governmental entity that is responsible for it
These are issues that an experienced Framingham car accident lawyer can discuss with you and have an expert investigate if applicable.
Retain the Law Firm of Burns and Jain
Getting the compensation your case deserves is not an easy task in many instances unless you have an experienced, aggressive and resourceful team of Framingham car accident lawyers on your side.
The lawyers at Burns and Jain have been handling complex and serious car accident claims for decades with results that have clients returning for their services and referring numerous other victims to them. Call our firm at (617) 227-7423 if you have a car accident injury claim and be assured that your claim will be thoroughly investigated and your chances for reasonable compensation greatly enhanced.