After a car accident, the steps you take in the minutes and hours that follow can directly affect your ability to recover compensation. If you have been hurt in a crash, an accident lawyer can walk you through the process and protect your rights from the start.
Your priority is safety. Move out of traffic if you can do so without making your injuries worse, and call 911 immediately.
Massachusetts law requires drivers to report accidents that result in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 under M.G.L. c. 90, § 26. A Quincy Police Department or Massachusetts State Police report creates an official record that your attorney and insurer will both need.
Wait at the scene until responding officers clear you to leave. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a criminal offense in Massachusetts. While you wait, do not apologize or speculate about fault, because those statements can be used against you later.
Some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft-tissue damage, don't show symptoms right away. They can take hours or even days to appear. Even if you feel fine, get checked out the same day. Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center in Quincy and South Shore Hospital in Weymouth both serve the Quincy area and can create the medical record you'll need to connect your injuries to the crash.
Massachusetts operates under a no-fault car insurance system, which means your own Personal Injury Protection coverage, known as PIP, pays your initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. You may step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if your reasonable medical expenses exceed $2,000 or you suffer a serious injury such as a fracture or significant disfigurement, under M.G.L. c. 231, § 6D.
Evidence disappears quickly on Quincy's busy roads, especially along Route 3A, the I-93 and Route 3 interchange, and Hancock Street. If you are physically able, take photographs of every vehicle involved, the road surface, traffic controls, skid marks, and any visible injuries.
Get the name, license number, registration, and insurance information from every driver. Collect names and phone numbers from witnesses before they leave the scene.
Request a copy of the police report from the Quincy Police Department as soon as it becomes available. That report will identify which officer responded, record both drivers' accounts, and may include the officer's preliminary assessment of fault.
Massachusetts requires you to notify your own insurer of an accident promptly, but you are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and anything you say can be reframed to reduce your claim. Politely decline recorded statements until you have spoken with an attorney.
Keep a written log of every symptom, every medical appointment, every day of work you miss, and every expense the crash has caused. Those records form the foundation of your damages calculation.
Massachusetts gives personal injury victims three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A. Missing that deadline bars you from recovering anything in court, regardless of how clear the other driver's fault was.
Three years sounds like a long time, but evidence fades, witnesses move, and building a strong case takes time. Speaking with a car accident lawyer in Quincy early protects your options.
| Situation | Key Rule | MA Authority |
|---|---|---|
| PIP pays first after any crash | Your insurer covers initial medical bills regardless of fault | M.G.L. c. 90, § 34M |
| Suing the at-fault driver | Medical bills over $2,000 or serious injury required | M.G.L. c. 231, § 6D |
| Your fault reduces your award | You may recover if less than 51% responsible for the crash | M.G.L. c. 231, § 85 |
| Deadline to file a lawsuit | 3 years from the date of the accident | M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A |
Yes. Massachusetts law requires reporting any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. A police report also protects your claim.
Yes, as long as you're 50% or less at fault. If you're found more than 50% responsible, Massachusetts law blocks you from recovering anything. If you're partly at fault but at or under 50%, your payout is simply reduced by your percentage of fault, under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85.
PIP covers up to $8,000 in medical expenses and a portion of lost wages from your own insurer, regardless of who caused the accident.
Three years from the date of the accident under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A. Claims against government entities have a shorter notice deadline.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident in Quincy, contact Fiorentino Legal, P.C. for a free consultation. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact us or call attorney Christopher Fiorentino of Fiorentino Legal, P.C. at (617) 990-2568 to learn more about your options.
Last reviewed: July 2026
This post was reviewed by Attorney Christopher Fiorentino, licensed in Massachusetts since 2013.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
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