Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
September brought a mix of sobering crash headlines and meaningful developments that affect how injury claims are investigated, valued, and resolved. Below, we explain what changed, what investigators and insurers will be looking at this fall, and how these updates can strengthen a car accident or wrongful death case in Massachusetts.
What’s new in Massachusetts right now
Serious crashes kept the spotlight on crosswalk and lane-departure liability. High-profile collisions this month included child-pedestrian injuries and head-on impacts on suburban and coastal roads. For injured pedestrians and occupants, the legal lens quickly turns to duty and breach, examining rules such as marked crosswalks, lane-keeping obligations, speed in context, phone use, and line of sight at intersections. In practical terms, this means that scene evidence matters more than ever; video from nearby homes or businesses, roadway paint condition, skid marks, event data recorder (EDR) downloads, and cell phone metadata can be decisive.
Minimum auto insurance limits are higher in Massachusetts. If you’re hurt in a crash today, there’s a better chance that the at-fault driver carries more bodily injury and property damage coverage than in prior years. For victims, higher limits can mean larger available recoveries without waiting on underinsured motorist coverage. For families facing catastrophic injuries, this affects strategy—early preservation of evidence, comprehensive damage documentation, and timely policy disclosure requests are even more important to position the claim for policy-limit tenders.
Enforcement remains visible as fall begins. After the summer “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” wave, law enforcement continued high-visibility traffic enforcement into September. For civil claims, an associated criminal citation (such as speeding, marked lanes, crosswalk violation, or OUI) is not the whole story. Still, it becomes one more piece of liability evidence to anchor negotiations or trial themes.
National developments, Massachusetts victims should know.
Fatalities trend: cautious optimism, unchanged duty of care. Nationally, roadway deaths have been trending downward compared to recent years. This is good news, but it doesn’t alter standards of care in your case. Negligence still hinges on what a reasonably careful driver would have done under the same conditions, including weather, traffic, work zones, nighttime glare, school zone rules, and other relevant factors.
Counterfeit airbag parts warning. Federal safety officials have highlighted the danger of counterfeit or uncertified air-bag inflators entering the supply chain. If you were seriously injured in a crash that “shouldn’t have been” catastrophic, product provenance may be a hidden factor. We now routinely request parts invoices and lot numbers from body shops, insurers, and salvage yards. In some instances, we add negligent repair or product liability counts alongside the traditional negligence claim against the at-fault driver.
Renewed focus on heavy-truck crash factors. With regulators re-examining the causes of major trucking crashes, expect increased attention to electronic logging devices, driver scheduling and fatigue, hiring and training practices, and maintenance documentation. For victims of car-versus-tractor-trailer collisions, this widens the lane for discovery and settlement leverage; trucking policies are typically higher, and violations in hours-of-service or equipment upkeep can amplify liability.
How these updates change the playbook for victims
1) Preserve the proper evidence immediately.
In September’s crosswalk and head-on cases, the difference between a mid-range settlement and a policy-limits payout often came down to evidence preserved in the first two weeks. We push for:
- 911 audio and CAD logs to identify witnesses and timing
- Traffic, school, or business-camera footage before it overwrites
- Doorbell/hallway video within a two-to-four-week window
- Full EDR/black-box downloads (speed, braking, throttle, belt use)
- Phone carrier records and app telemetry when distraction is suspected
- Work-zone, paving, or line-striping logs if lane guidance is at issue
2) Re-map the insurance stack early.
With increased minimum limits in Massachusetts, we now recalibrate damage models and demand brackets earlier. We still stack coverages, including at-fault bodily injury, your medical payments, underinsured motorist (UIM), and any umbrella coverage. Still, the sequence and negotiation posture can shift when more primary coverage is available. Early policy disclosure letters and asset checks become even more valuable for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
3) Look beyond the police report.
A civil case is broader than a citation. We correlate the report with roadway design, sight distance, school-zone timing, sun angle, and human factors principles, then support it with forensic downloads and phone data. In pedestrian cases, we compare crosswalk markings and sign retroreflectivity to current standards; in lane-departure crashes, we analyze center-line location, lane width, taper lengths, and edge conditions.
4) Consider product and repair claims when injuries don’t add up.
If airbags didn’t deploy, or deployed abnormally, or restraint systems appeared to fail, we preserve the vehicle and route it for a component inspection. That includes photographing inflators and modules, capturing part numbers, and securing the chain of custody. This single step can transform a “limited-policy” case into a multi-defendant claim with access to higher coverage.
5) In truck cases, widen discovery, now.
We send early preservation notices to motor carriers for ELD data, dash-cam footage, telematics, dispatch notes, maintenance and brake records, and prior incident histories. September’s enforcement climate and regulatory focus make carriers more responsive, and gaps in these records can themselves support negligence or spoliation arguments.
Practical guidance after a September crash
- Get checked and create the record. Even if you feel “okay,” delayed-onset symptoms are common. ER or urgent-care documentation ties your injuries to the collision and protects you from later insurer arguments about “gaps in care.”
- Photograph everything. Scene, vehicles, debris, skid marks, crosswalks, signal heads, signage, construction barrels, and lighting. If you’re a pedestrian, capture the view a driver had as they approached the crosswalk.
- Identify and secure video quickly. Nearby homes, schools, buses, and businesses often auto-delete in days. We conduct canvassing and send preservation letters promptly.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. They are trained to minimize your claim. Talk to us first; we’ll handle communications and protect your rights.
- Track all expenses and impacts. Medical bills, co-pays, PT mileage, medication, medical devices, home help, missed work, job-duty changes, and the ways pain limits daily life. This is the backbone of pain-and-suffering and loss-of-function damages in Massachusetts.
Common September crash scenarios and how we build them
Child pedestrian in a marked crosswalk
We reconstruct the driver’s line of sight, approach speed, and reaction time, cross-check school-zone beacons and timing, download EDR data, and analyze phone usage. We also examine the quality of crosswalk marking and signage to determine whether roadway conditions contributed to the issue. Damages focus on pediatric trauma care, future medicals, schooling impacts, and life-care planning where appropriate.
Head-on collision on a two-lane road
We locate the true centerline relative to tire marks, inspect edge drop-offs and shoulder condition, explore speed and fatigue, and pull phone and navigation data. We evaluate whether road design or temporary traffic control played a role in the incident. For severe orthopedic or TBI cases, we coordinate surgical opinions and future-care projections to support a policy-limits strategy.
Rideshare or delivery-app crashes
Coverage can change by the minute, off-app, en route, or while carrying a passenger/order. We secure app status logs and periodic summaries. With higher Massachusetts minimums in play and layered rideshare coverage, early coverage mapping is crucial to avoid leaving money on the table.
Truck underride or side-impact
We move fast to capture tractor-trailer ECM data, dash-cam video, brake measurements, conspicuity tape condition, and loading practices. We also evaluate driver qualification files and prior violations. These cases often necessitate the immediate involvement of accident reconstruction and human factors experts.
What your case may be worth after these updates
Every case is different, but higher Massachusetts minimums and expanded evidence pathways can increase the ceiling for fair compensation. The core categories remain:
- Medical costs: ER, imaging, surgery, rehab, medications, future care
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity: Pay stubs, W-2/1099, vocational assessments
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment: Documented through treatment notes and specific daily-life impacts
- Property damage and out-of-pocket losses: Vehicle repair or total loss, rentals, assistive devices
- Consortium and wrongful-death damages: For spouses and qualifying family members in fatal cases
We build value by connecting each dollar in these categories to credible evidence—medical opinions, vocational analysis, structured life-care plans, and, where warranted, expert testimony on reconstruction, biomechanics, roadway engineering, or product defects.
Why hire Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers now
- Local focus, statewide reach. We know Massachusetts roads, judges, and insurers, and we know how to find the video, data, and witnesses that make liability undeniable.
- Rapid evidence preservation. We send spoliation and preservation letters immediately, coordinate EDR downloads, and canvass for third-party video before it disappears.
- Coverage maximization. We re-map at-fault and UIM coverage in light of today’s higher minimum limits and identify additional areas of recovery—such as rental cars, employers, bars or restaurants in dram-shop cases, repair facilities, or product manufacturers, as appropriate.
- Trial-ready from day one. Our cases are prepared for a jury, which positions you for more substantial settlements. When insurers stall, we file and move.
Free case review, 24/7
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash in September—or any time—call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers at (617) 777-7777. We will listen, explain your options in plain English, and take immediate steps to protect your rights. No fee unless we win.
Quick FAQ for September crashes
Is a ticket against the other driver enough to win my case?
A ticket helps, but your civil case relies on all the evidence. We gather video, downloads, and roadway data to prove negligence beyond the citation.
I felt fine at the scene, but I’m sore now. What should I do?
Get evaluated as soon as possible. Many serious injuries—concussions, soft-tissue damage, internal injuries, appear hours or days later. Medical documentation ties your symptoms to the crash.
The airbag didn’t deploy. Does that matter?
It can. We preserve the vehicle, inspect the airbag system, and trace the sourcing of parts. In some cases, we pursue additional defendants for defective or counterfeit components or negligent repairs.
A truck hit me. Is the process different?
Yes. Trucking companies are required to maintain specific records and adhere to strict federal regulations. We send preservation letters for ELD data, dash-cam video, maintenance logs, and driver files right away and pursue every applicable insurance layer.
What if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance?
We look at your underinsured motorist coverage, the at-fault driver’s assets, and any third parties who may share responsibility. With higher Massachusetts minimums, there is often more primary coverage than before, but we still leave no stone unturned.
When you’re ready, call (617) 777-7777 or contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers online. We are here to help you rebuild, starting today.