We’re Your Car Accident Lawyer

As one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Cambridge is well known for its heavy amounts of traffic. Unfortunately, traffic in Cambridge amounts to a significant number of deaths and injuries each year, and most of these accidents are often the result of distracted or negligent drivers.

If you were injured in a car accident, the collision can affect many areas of your life, including:

• Physical health
• Mental stability
• Financial well-being.

After an auto accident, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable attorney who can help you obtain the compensation you need.

The attorneys at Nadeau Harkavy LLC are dedicated to helping those who have been injured as a result of negligence. With more than 60 years of committed experience in automobile collision injury cases, the firm prides itself in bringing individualized attention to each and every client. The attorneys at Nadeau Harkavy LLC work tirelessly to help victims fight for their right to a fair compensation.

Our firm offers a free, no obligation initial consultation – contact a highly skilled Cambridge car accident lawyer at Nadeau Harkavy LLC by calling (617) 674-7640.

General Statistics on Traffic Accidents

The NHTSA has published a national data report highlighting the following information about traffic accidents in 2018:

Fatal Injuries:

• In 2018, there were a total of 6,734,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic accidents
• There were a total of 24,221 drivers and passengers who suffered fatal injuries as a result of traffic accidents
• 4,985 motorcyclists lost their lives
• 6,283 pedestrians suffered fatal injuries
• 857 cyclists suffered traffic-related fatal injuries

Non-Fatal Injuries:

• 2,494,000 drivers and passengers suffered traffic-related injuries
• 82,000 motorcyclists were injured
• 75,000 pedestrians suffered traffic-related injuries
• 47,000 cyclists suffered traffic-related injuries

Proficient Experience in a Wide-Variety of Auto Accident Cases

The attorneys at Nadeau Harkavy LLC have a deep understanding on the complexities and challenges often faced with auto accidents, including:

• Hit-and-run accidents
• Drunk-driving accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• High speed collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Side-impact accidents
• Sideswipe accidents
• Multiple vehicle accidents
• Chain reaction collisions
• Rideshare accidents, including Uber, Lyft, and Taxi accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Distracted driver accidents

An auto accident can happen in many different forms, and regardless of how the accident occurred, it is critically important for you to seek legal counsel. That’s where Nadeau Harkavy LLC can help as an aggressive and highly experienced law firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Even when taking all the necessary precautions, you will always run the risk of being involved in an automobile accident. Unfortunately, car accidents can have a tremendous effect on many areas of your life.

One of the primary concerns you may face is the extent of damage done to your property. However, if you are involved in an auto accident, you may also have concerns with your physical and emotional well-being. By speaking to a skilled attorney, you may be able to recover the compensation you need that will set you on the right path toward recovery.

Auto Accident Injuries

Just as there are a wide variety of auto accidents, there are also many different forms of injuries that can occur. Common automobile accident injuries include:

• Back injuries
• Herniated discs and spinal cord injury
• Severe head injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Neck injury
• Whiplash
• Catastrophic burns
• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Emotional distress
• Psychological disorders, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Depression

The extent of injury can vary on multiple factors, such as airbag deployment, the use of seatbelt, the type of motor vehicles involved, the speed of all vehicles involved, where the victim was hit from, and much more.

Regrettably, many injuries associated with auto accidents will not be discovered immediately. Although some injuries may appear shortly after the collision, others can take many weeks or even months to become apparent.

Injuries that may be perceived as minor could in fact have major implications in a person’s life. When an injury is severe, a victim can suffer chronic pain, disability, and other permanent medical conditions.

Some of the most common injuries that may be difficult to diagnose but can result in long-lasting damage include:

• Whiplash – The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, reports that whiplash is an injury to the neck that is caused by a sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement. Common signs of whiplash include neck stiffness, headaches, and pain. In severe cases, victims can suffer memory loss or other cognitive disorders. Even when whiplash does not have long-term effects, victims can expect a recovery period of three months or more.
• Traumatic Brain Injury – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a traumatic brain injury is the disruption of normal brain functioning that has been caused by a blow, bump, or even jolt to the head. It can also be caused by an object penetrating the skull of the individual. Traumatic brain injuries can range anywhere from mild to severe, which can involve small concussions to amnesia or death.
• Spinal Cord Injury – NINDS defines a spinal cord injury as an injury that begins with a sudden and traumatic blow to the spine, which dislocates or fractures the vertebrae. A spinal cord injury can affect movement below the site of injury. Other medical complications can include bowel and bladder
  dysfunction, respiratory problems, and/or chronic pain.

The Monetary Expenses Associated With a Car Accident

Aside from property damage, if you have been involved in an auto accident, you can expect a number of other expenses, some of which may include, but are not limited to:

• A loss of wages, while you take time from work for your recovery
• A loss of earning capacity, which can be a consequence of a permanent disability
• Medical expenses, such as ambulance ride, medical treatment, and medications
• Future medical expenses, such including at-home medical care or future surgeries
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life

When an accident has caused the death of a loved one, the victim’s family may be able to recover compensation. Financial compensation for the victim’s survivors can include, but is not limited to the following:

• Funeral expenses
• Burial or cremation costs
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium

How to Handle a Car Accident

Following an automobile accident, there are important steps you should consider taking. Many of these steps may be critical in your ability to recover compensation.

1. Seek Medical Attention – As previously noted, there are medical conditions that will not always be immediately recognizable following an accident. Consequently, it is crucial to seek medical attention after an accident to ensure that any unrecognized and/or external injuries can be taken care of.Additionally, seeking medical care will help you establish a record that demonstrates your need for compensation. With a medical record, you can demonstrate the existence of your injuries, your need for treatment, and the costs associated with the injuries, which ultimately need to be covered by the responsible party.
2. Collect Valuable Information After a Car Accident – When possible, collecting information at the accident site can provide valuable evidence demonstrating your version of events. Unfortunately, many accident victims face rebuttal from the other party when it comes to auto accident responsibility. A way you can undermine this is by collecting evidence at the crash site.Some of the best key pieces of evidence you can collect include:
   • Pictures of the scene, including street signs and traffic lanes
   • Pictures of the extent of property damage of all vehicles involved
   • Collecting contact information of the parties involved, including their insurance information
   • Collecting contact information of witnesses who can attest to your version of events

Massachusetts Statute of Limitations on Injury & Accident Matters

When you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, the ability to recover compensation is made possible through a personal injury claim. It is very important to know, however, that individuals seeking to file a personal injury claim will only have a limited amount of time to bring a case forward.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this is referred to as a statute of limitations, and generally, people have three years from the time of the accident to file the case.

The time you have to file a case is time restricted, and failing to file on time can result in an invalidated claim. In order to give your case the best opportunity at having a successful outcome, speak to a knowledgeable attorney who can help you collect necessary evidence, build a strong case, and file your claim on time.

Consult With a Knowledgeable Auto Accident Attorney in Cambridge, MA

Traffic accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence and can completely devastate a victim’s personal and family life. If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a car accident, you should immediately speak to an experienced attorney at Nadeau Harkavy LLC. One of our skilled lawyers will answer your questions, investigate the available evidence and fight for your right to a fair financial compensation.

With more than 60 years of dedicated experience, our attorneys are seasoned in the most complex automotive accident cases and we’ve successfully helped thousands of auto accident victims obtain the maximum compensation they deserved. Contact our car accident laywers at Nadeau Harkavy, LLC at (617) 674-7640 and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

Nadeau Harkavy LLC serves clients injured in car accidents in Cambridge, Boston, Somerville, Medford, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Malden, Newton, Lowell, Concord, Waltham, Woburn, Wellesley, Reading and throughout Massachusetts.